Cyber Shadow is set in a fictional city called Mecastia and tells the story of Shadow, a cyborg ninja who sets out to rescue his fallen clan members, where they are invaded by synthetic life forms that reclaim them for their powers.
Cyber Shadow is a 2D action platformer in which the player must move from point A to point B of each level, where they will inevitably encounter a tough boss fight. In each level, there are several gas stations that automatically serve as checkpoints for the player, and there is the opportunity to replenish health and buy special attack items. After defeating a final boss, there is sometimes a mandatory special challenge (such as climbing faster than a monkey) that rewards the player with an upgrade; this could be a special attack that allows the protagonist to show fireballs, deal more damage, or sprint.
In addition to the standard sword attack, you can also use special attacks that use a special SP counter. By default, you can use a shuriken, but as you progress, you can use the aforementioned rising fireball, as well as a falling sword attack. You can find chests with blue items that will replenish your SP meter.
Some chests also drop gold items that can be used at checkpoints to replenish health, PS and temporary bonus weapons. Depending on the level you are at, the computer will allow you to pick up certain weapons. For example, in the beginning you have a blade that moves when you jump and you can throw it by hitting it with your sword. It’s just a little frustrating that you can’t choose from the available items and that the game dictates a certain skill.
The game also has a little Metroidvania-lite look. In some levels, there are hidden areas that the player must find to properly upgrade a cybernetic ninja. For example, you can improve a character’s health by finding three special gray boxes, but most of them are hidden. Some are hidden in plain sight, while others force the player to hit the walls in hopes of finding a special area.
The boss fights in the game are incredibly fun and intense; the first time you try to take them out, you’ll fumble a bit and take a beating; especially if you’re a healthy boss. But once you get the hang of it and learn the enemy’s patterns, they’re definitely some of the most fun boss fights you can imagine. You have the perfect combination of fun and challenge.
Cyber Shadow’s biggest nuisance is the operating system. Controllers now have usable buttons, which makes me wonder why the developers skipped those buttons and forced players to use the up or down arrows with the attack button to perform special attacks. For example, on the Xbox One, only the X is used for attack and the A for jump. This leaves 2 shoulder buttons, 2 shutter buttons and 2 other face buttons unused. It’s amazing.
The checkpoint system is another minor flaw. The game offers a number of them in different levels, but the control points of the longest levels are relatively far apart. When you die, you rest at the last checkpoint, but sometimes it feels like that’s too far, as some parts of the level require patience; there it takes 20 to 30 minutes to cross. Fortunately, if you defeat the boss and die before reaching the next checkpoint, you won’t have to fight him again.
Cyber Shadow is presented in all its 8-bit glory, reminiscent of classic NES games such as the Ninja Gaiden series, VICE Project Doom and Shadow of the Ninja. The levels are well designed and thought out, but also very demanding and require a lot of muscle memory. Chiptunes’ soundtrack is very upbeat and one of the most interesting in recent years. While it’s not as enticing or memorable as the soundtracks of the above games, it will stick in your memory as it plays over and over in your head.
In my opinion, Cyber Shadow is one of the prime candidates for the Game of the Year award. It’s heavy as a love letter in the era of NES games, a classic 2D action classic. Tight gameplay, a complex and perfectly pixelated presentation, combined with an eye-popping chiptune soundtrack, make for a near-perfect experience. While the difficulty may put some players off, completing the areas and bosses provides an indescribable sense of accomplishment. Don’t let him through.