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Cyber Shadow

With perfect controls, epic boss fights and a banging soundtrack, Cyber Shadow is a superb action platformer that you don't want to miss.
82%Game Brain Score
music, gameplay
replayability, grinding
85% User Score Based on 485 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 37 reviews

Platforms

LinuxNintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCMac OSPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
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About

The world has been taken over by synthetic lifeforms. A desperate plea for help sets Shadow on a journey to uncover what started the path to perpetual ruin. Slash through the techno hordes, leap past traps, and nimbly navigate the ruins of Mekacity.

Genres & Tags
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Cyber Shadow screenshot
Cyber Shadow screenshot
Cyber Shadow screenshot
Cyber Shadow screenshot
Cyber Shadow screenshot
Cyber Shadow screenshot
Cyber Shadow screenshot
Cyber Shadow screenshot
Cyber Shadow screenshot
Cyber Shadow screenshot
Cyber Shadow screenshot
+18
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85%
Audience ScoreBased on 485 reviews
music111 positive mentions
grinding7 negative mentions
  • Cyber Shadow is a well-crafted homage to classic NES games, particularly Ninja Gaiden, with tight controls and satisfying gameplay.
  • The pixel art and soundtrack are top-notch, capturing the retro aesthetic while providing a modern polish.
  • The game offers a challenging yet fair difficulty curve, rewarding players for mastering its mechanics and learning enemy patterns.
  • The game suffers from frustrating level design, with many cheap deaths due to instant-kill spikes and poorly placed enemies.
  • Some controls, such as the parry and dash mechanics, can feel inconsistent and lead to unintended deaths.
  • The story is minimal and lacks depth, making it feel secondary to the gameplay experience.
  • music
    173 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Cyber Shadow" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy synthwave style that complements the game's retro 8-bit aesthetic. Composed by Pentadrangle, the soundtrack is described as both engaging and memorable, featuring standout tracks that players enjoy even outside of the game. Overall, the music enhances the gameplay experience, making it a significant highlight for many players.

    • “If I could describe the music in this game, it would fittingly be synthwave made for an 8-bit setting.”
    • “The music throughout is fantastic and really fits with the cyberpunk world and gets you pumped up for those tough boss fights.”
    • “The soundtrack is pseudo-retro, joining the recognizable 8-bit sound of classic consoles with higher resolution synths and instruments to create a distinct sound fitting the game's setting.”
    • “The music was not memorable to me at all.”
    • “Level design doesn't make much sense often and it feels like you cannot avoid damage most of the segments without waiting a too long time to be fun, balance of some powers vary in a weird way, combat is not precise enough in general, the soundtrack and the graphics... man, honestly, if you compare it to The Messenger, it just disappoints in every way.”
    • “I recommend 'The Messenger' over this: both have banger soundtracks, but the movement feels more natural in that game, you can be more creative with your movement.”
  • gameplay
    158 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in "Cyber Shadow" is a blend of nostalgic 8-bit platforming and modern mechanics, offering tight controls and a variety of challenges that evolve as players progress. While many reviewers praise its responsive mechanics and engaging level design, some express frustration with certain gameplay elements, such as the parry and dash mechanics, which can feel inconsistent or cumbersome. Overall, the game is recognized for its rewarding difficulty and satisfying progression, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its punishing nature and occasional design flaws.

    • “The gameplay becomes faster and more technical with each level, controls are tight and responsive, the enemy and level design is rock solid, each area is interesting and mechanically unique, and I love the music and general aesthetics.”
    • “Genuinely one of the greatest retro 2D action platformers to date, touting lush pixel art mixed with responsive, precision-based gameplay.”
    • “Cyber Shadow's excellent gameplay, level design, variety, and music make it a great modernization of the classic Ninja Gaiden formula.”
    • “The gameplay in this package varies wildly between being a smooth, tight, fantastic platformer and being an endless death fest of misery.”
    • “The trailers promised fast-paced ninja action but the actual gameplay is very bland, slow, and clunky and is coupled with frustrating enemy design.”
    • “My main problem is that when I get stuck in one spot and I die (which happens quickly because of insta-death traps) I have to do parts of the game over again which after two or three times doesn’t make me feel like a master but instead grinds the gameplay to a halt.”
  • story
    103 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is a blend of familiar cyberpunk tropes and nostalgic retro aesthetics, conveyed primarily through text and cutscenes. While some players found the narrative engaging and well-integrated with the gameplay, others criticized it for being predictable, static, or lacking depth. Overall, the story is seen as serviceable and enjoyable, complementing the game's challenging platforming mechanics, though it may not captivate all players.

    • “The story is intriguing; it follows many tropes of cyberpunk fiction but firmly carves out its own place among familiar works.”
    • “I enjoyed learning about the backstory of Shadow and his clan. Discovering what exactly is happening and the ending, despite being quite predictable, was still fulfilling and well-done.”
    • “More than anything else, I am happy that developers are realizing that these kinds of games can tell a far more in-depth story than most games do, and this game has a very well-done story, complete with lore and details in a satisfying quantity.”
    • “The story is played completely straight and it suffers for it.”
    • “The story feels rushed and there is no replay value at all.”
    • “The story is boring or irrelevant at best; I don't have anything to say about it.”
  • graphics
    86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of this game are highly praised for their authentic NES-inspired pixel art, capturing the retro aesthetic while enhancing it with modern techniques. Reviewers highlight the vibrant charm, detailed animations, and unique level designs that contribute to an engaging visual experience, making it a standout in the retro platformer genre. Overall, the visuals are described as beautiful and well-executed, complementing the game's challenging gameplay and nostalgic appeal.

    • “I consider this game to have top-tier pixel art and gorgeous graphics for what it is attempting to be.”
    • “The graphics, music, story, and game mechanics are awesome and everything is very polished.”
    • “The pixel graphics are beautiful and fit the 'cybernetic' theme very well, and the story told through both in-game dialogue boxes and nostalgic 8-bit cutscenes drives it home even more!”
    • “Level design doesn't make much sense often and it feels like you cannot avoid damage most of the segments without waiting too long to be fun. The balance of some powers varies in a weird way, combat is not precise enough in general, and the graphics... man, honestly, if you compare it to The Messenger, it just disappoints in every way.”
    • “If you care more about graphics and DLC in a game, or need an online experience to feel satisfied with difficulty, this is not for you.”
    • “Graphically, the game definitely has a NES feel to it, with options even allowing to simulate CRT and even the 'ghosting' effect from bad wiring.”
  • replayability
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find enjoyment in completing specific feats, others criticize the lack of additional modes and a compelling story, leading to a perception of limited replay value. A few users describe it as a fun time-waster, but many feel it does not offer enough incentive for repeated playthroughs.

    • “9/10 game; the only thing it needs is a map and an alternate mode for some extra replay value besides just feats.”
    • “The feats grant replayability as you need to complete specific actions in the game, either against bosses or by pulling off some specific action at one point or another.”
    • “Replayable.”
    • “I don’t think the game is replayable.”
    • “The story feels rushed and there is no replay value at all.”
    • “[very limited cyber puzzles, low replay value, dull story]”
  • grinding
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in the late stages where repetitive enemy encounters and lengthy checkpoints lead to frustration. The lack of effective abilities and the reliance on trial and error contribute to a gameplay experience that feels more punishing than enjoyable, overshadowing the game's appealing theme and story. Overall, the grinding mechanics detract from the fun, making progression feel laborious.

    • “Suddenly you are just grinding the same sections over and over again because you are forced to play them without any upgrades and every corner is filled with instant deaths.”
    • “However, while the beginning of the game is great, the second half is plagued by tedious sections of the levels that do not have any way of moving through quickly, which is a huge problem if you die after that point.”
    • “The cyber ninja theme is cool, but the classic style game design and difficulty level kind of make the story/theme/tone secondary since that is going to be the primary experience - lots of grinding through checkpoints (which seem to get longer as the game goes on) with trial and error, combined with a bit of luck.”
  • humor
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    • “But the messenger was a bit longer and had more stuff to 100% + a short and funny DLC.”
    • “I don't have a problem with games being self-aware and having some meta humor and fourth wall breaks, but it also feels like every indie game of this type does that now, so it's refreshing to play a game and have it just tell its story.”
    • “Funny story, I was drawing a sprite sheet for my second video game a week before I found out about Cybershadow.”
    • “If you want unfunny jokes and a lazy story (the writing's in the same vein as UnEpic, if that is somehow your thing), go play The Messenger.”
    • “The humor falls flat and feels forced, making it hard to enjoy the game.”
    • “I expected clever wit, but instead, I was met with tired clichés and predictable punchlines.”
  • emotional
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features a surprisingly deep and heartbreaking story that effectively delivers emotional impact, reminiscent of classic NES/SNES titles. Players find the gameplay both fun and satisfying, with mechanics that enhance the overall experience while complementing the emotional narrative.

    • “This game is really fun and fairly challenging, with a surprisingly deep and heartbreaking story.”
    • “Emotional impact the way it intended to.”
    • “Much like Shovel Knight, it takes clear inspiration from the golden NES/SNES era while standing out on its own with satisfying gameplay and a surprisingly touching, if simple, story.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its beautiful pixel art and well-crafted sprites that effectively capture the essence of ninjas, robots, and futuristic cities. Players appreciate the game's color palettes and environmental design, which enhance the ruined yet technological setting, contributing to a compelling narrative alongside challenging gameplay.

    • “Moreover, all the pixel art and sprites are beautiful, atmospheric, and well-crafted, capturing the coolness of ninjas, robots, and futuristic cities.”
    • “I may not be great at platforming, but I loved the atmosphere of this game.”
    • “If you want atmosphere and a surprisingly well-told story to go with your challenging gameplay, then play Cyber Shadow.”
    • “The game's palettes and color choices help build the ruined and technological atmosphere of the environments while still remaining easy to read.”
    • “If you actually want atmosphere and a surprisingly well-told story to go with your challenging gameplay, then play Cyber Shadow.”
  • stability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, users report that the game exhibits a high level of stability, with many noting it is largely bug-free, a commendable achievement in today's gaming landscape.

    • “As far as I can see, the game is bug-free, which is a rarity these days.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game is criticized for feeling exploitative and reminiscent of a low-quality cash grab, detracting from the overall experience and potential of the game.

    • “The bones for a good game are here, but it feels too much like a cheap Unity cash grab rather than a pleasant modern rework of an ancient idea.”
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80%Critics’ scoreBased on 37 critic reviews
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