Shadow of the Ninja: Reborn

• DEVELOPER: NatsumeAtari
• PUBLISHER: NatsumeAtari, Edigger, United Games Entertainment GmbH
• PLATFORMS: PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S
• GENRE: Platformer / Retro
• RELEASE DATE: August 29, 2024
• STARTING PRICE: 19,99 €
• REVIEWED VERSION: PC

I have not played the original NES version, so my experience is solely based on the newer remake, Shadow of the Ninja Reborn. It was undoubtedly a fun experience, and I was pleasantly surprised by its graphics. However, the gameplay can be challenging to grasp initially, as there’s no tutorial, and it takes some time to adjust. At times, this lack of guidance was a bit frustrating.

You play as either Hayate or Kaede, two master ninjas from the Iga clan, and your mission is to defeat Garuda and his demonic army. You have the katana and kusarigama as your main weapons, and you can wield both of them at once. Plus, there’s a variety of new ninja gear that you can collect and use during your adventure, with a maximum inventory of seven items. If you collect duplicates, their usage stacks, allowing for more frequent use. Some gear is quite effective, while others can feel a bit awkward. Do keep in mind that the gear depletes if not picked up in time.

The game remains faithful to the original’s five stages while introducing a new, more complex fourth stage, bringing the total to six stages. The design is more intricate, featuring tougher enemies and additional challenges. While some enemies can be quite annoying and others relatively easy to defeat, they all share similar movement and attack patterns. Once you familiarize yourself with these patterns, you’ll find most enemies manageable. However, the presence of numerous foes in one area can become frustrating, especially since the controls are not as responsive as I had expected.

I played on the PS4/PC Nacon Asymmetric Wireless Controller on my PC, and the jumping animation and response felt somewhat lacking. Some obstacles were particularly challenging to jump over, as the jumping range was either limited or the wall-running mechanics were difficult to master. The controls for wall movements were hard to grasp, making it tough to use walls to your advantage, and I often found myself avoiding them.

The overall movement wasn’t as responsive as I expected. The same goes for the kusarigama, a chain weapon that didn’t always hit where I intended. Despite these issues, the platforming elements, straightforward gameplay (not too complex in terms of controls), and variety of enemies and bosses kept the experience engaging. It’s important to note that you must defeat the boss at the end of each stage to progress further. Fortunately, the game includes checkpoints that save your progress each time you enter a new section of a stage, making it less frustrating to continue after dying.

I did encounter a corrupted save, where despite reaching Stage 4 with Hayate, the game mistakenly saved my progress as if I were still on Stage 1. At that point, I decided to start over with Kaede. Shadow of the Ninja Reborn proves to be more challenging than it first appears, despite seeming like a game you could complete in under three hours. The bosses, in particular, each have multiple phases, making them increasingly difficult. The game’s difficulty forces you to pay close attention to your health bar and hope you can survive to the next stage. Healing items are scarce, so every mistake feels costly.

That said, persistence pays off. The game includes helpful features for those who are struggling, such as providing more healing and booster items after repeated deaths, allowing less skilled players to eventually reach the end credits. After completing a stage, any sub-weapons you collected become available for future runs, adding some variety to subsequent playthroughs. When starting a new game, you can purchase items for your starting inventory based on your best score.

The game also includes an online leaderboard where you can compete with other players, either in terms of speedrunning or high scores. The original game’s enjoyable co-op mode has been faithfully recreated here. Hayate and Kaede each have slightly different physics, and having a friend join in makes the game a bit easier. The graphics have been beautifully upgraded, showcasing some of the best pixel art you’ll see today. The music, updated by one of the original composers, Iku Mizutani, is also very catchy and enhances the overall experience.

Overall, the game offers a strong sense of nostalgia. As a fan of retro games, I found the experience enjoyable and felt that the time spent playing was well worth it. The game’s strategy is straightforward and clear. However, my main complaint is that some of the movement mechanics feel a bit off. Other than that, don’t miss out on the opportunity to try this beautiful game.

Review copy provided by the publisher

3.8