Cyber ​​Shadow Analysis

The old-school ninja action returns with a highly entertaining adventure that, despite its ups and downs, manages to convince.

When you think of ninjas and video games, names like Ninja Gaiden , Tenchu , Shinobi , Goemon , Strider , Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice or The Messenger inevitably come to mind , to mention just a few examples of the many that exist. and of the high quality that works on this theme tend to treasure, especially popular in the 80s and 90s.

Now, Mechanical Head Studios , a studio made up solely of developer Aarne “Mekaskull” Hunziker , who had been mulling over the idea of ​​making an action and platformer game with pixel art graphics inspired by the 8-bit era since 2011, brings Cyber ​​Shadow , a title endorsed and edited neither more nor less than by Yacht Club Games , the creators of Shovel Knight , whose experience can be seen throughout an adventure that, without being any masterpiece, has managed to hook us on start to finish and make us have a great time.

Old school ninjas

So, this time we find a title that draws directly from great classics like the original NES Ninja Gaiden or titles as legendary as Shadow of the Ninja (known as Blue Shadow in these parts), proposing an adventure full of platforms and action In which we will have to overcome a series of linear levels while we face all kinds of enemies, avoid traps and defeat gigantic and dangerous bosses who will take care of making things difficult for us.

Come to your clan and discover who you are

The story is told to us with beautiful sequences like this one. Although it is full of clichés and almost everything is summarized in stopping the mad scientist on duty in a more or less futuristic world, we have to admit that it has a more elaborate plot background than you would expect in a title of this type.

However, we have one of its most defining characteristics in the fact that there are small touches of progression and even optional backtracking , since as we advance we will acquire skills that will allow us to access places and secrets that previously we could not reach, thus giving us an excuse to repeat phases and look for the life improvements that are hidden on each screen.

ADVERTISING

A room in a sewer with pizza boxes, skateboards and an old television, does it ring a bell?

This attractive idea that usually works so well in metroidvania titles ends up becoming a double-edged sword in this case, since it greatly limits the design of levels during its first bars by having a character that can barely jump , hitting swords and little else. As you can guess, the phases improve as we progress, but it is not until the second half when they finish exploding and show us their full potential with very cool and unique sections in which they will force us to chain numerous techniques and skills, getting us feel like real ninjas.

The level design and the way to place enemies has reminded us on many occasions of titles like the first Mega Man. In fact, we will not be able to duck here either.

The difference between the first and second half is very striking, both due to the variety of situations that they propose to us and because of the rhythm of the game itself, much more frantic and intense, something that the acquisition of the skill has a lot to blame for. of running and making fierce lunges. Anyway, do not expect any master class in video game design, but it is true that the title goes from being simply “entertaining” to becoming a very satisfying, rewarding and challenging experience .

Speaking of challenges, we really liked how the difficulty has been balanced , posing a demanding challenge in which mistakes are punished and where they force us to be very attentive, but without ever reaching unfair or too extreme levels and with control points very well distributed and placed. In general, it is not a very long title and it should not last much more than 5 or 6 hours , a duration that seems more than correct for the kind of product that it is, leaving us fully satisfied.

Take down that boss!

Bosses are the highlight of the game and there are quite a few of them. Of course, we warn you that they are very irregular and we will see a little of everything, from very cool and exciting confrontations to others that become more tedious and boring and that do not quite measure up.

At a visual level we cannot put almost any fault , since, as in Shovel Knight , the artistic style of 8-bit games is emulated, but at a technical level it is noted at all times that it is a current game that would have been impossible on consoles like NES or Master System: multitude of colors, very detailed and gigantic sprites of many bosses, more or less advanced effects and backgrounds that usually have a lot of detail. The animations have also seemed very remarkable and they end up making its graphic section something very striking and that goes directly through the eyes . Here we have been struck by what his art direction draws from classics like Super Metroid in several sections, with a multitude of dark and claustrophobic laboratories and subways full of horrors and unknown materials.

On a visual level it is a fantastic game with a lot of work behind it.

But if there is something about this adventure that has conquered us, it is its soundtrack , composed by Enrique “Pentadrangle” Martín, full of authentic chiptune songs that perfectly set everything we see on the screen with highly varied compositions, moving, catchy and of unquestionable quality. In addition, it has numerous variations to adapt its melodies to the different sections of each phase. For its part, the effects sound great and are very recognizable at all times.

Conclusions

Cyber ​​Shadow is a very enjoyable action and platform game that will make you have a good time as soon as you like these types of classic-style proposals . Although it has a somewhat soulless first half and it is difficult for it to shine, the second knows how to come back to leave us with a good amount of moments and fully satisfactory phases with which we have had a great time putting our skills as ninjas to the test. Highly recommended.

 

by Abdullah Sam
I’m a teacher, researcher and writer. I write about study subjects to improve the learning of college and university students. I write top Quality study notes Mostly, Tech, Games, Education, And Solutions/Tips and Tricks. I am a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence or virtue.

Leave a Comment