Nobunaga's Shadow

52%
Game Brain Score Based on 13 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • grinding
Nobunaga's Shadow Game Cover
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In "Nobunaga's Shadow," players assume the role of a novice ninja sent to spy on the powerful warlord Oda Nobunaga during Feudal Japan. The game features turn-based combat, with character progression in strength, toughness, or dexterity to unlock special moves. Your choices affect the story, leading to various endings. Explore the province of Owari, meet its people, and decide where your loyalties lie while uncovering a malicious conspiracy.

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Reviews

52%
Audience ScoreBased on 13 reviews
graphics2 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • Engaging story with multiple endings and a unique ninja protagonist that keeps players invested.
  • Cute visuals and nostalgic 8-bit style graphics that enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • Fun gameplay mechanics with a variety of quests and minimal tutorial, allowing for a smooth experience.
  • The game world is small and under-developed, leading to a feeling of limited exploration and content.
  • Some gameplay elements, like the day/night cycle and grinding, can feel tedious and unbalanced.
  • Misleading in-game text and lack of clear direction can make progression frustrating and confusing.
  • story8 mentions

    The game features a unique and humorous story set in a distinct 8-bit environment, blending elements of murder, conspiracy, and power struggles with a ninja protagonist. Players can expect multiple endings and a light-hearted tone reminiscent of "Horrible Histories," though the narrative may lack depth due to minimal dialogue. Overall, the engaging storyline and combat system encourage replayability, making it a hidden gem for fans of retro RPGs.

    • “I enjoy playing this game, just beat it.. will be playing it again to see if I can get a different storyline.. I love the combat system; it reminds me of old RPGs like Dragon Warrior and Final Fantasy series.”
    • “The story helps the player to keep on playing.”
    • “This is 8-bit style and a particular taste of a very distinct story and character you will either really enjoy or may not have a taste for.”
    • “A hidden-gem game with a humorous story featuring murder, conspiracy, power struggles, spying, infiltration, working undercover, backstabbing, frontstabbing, lots of stabbing in general, literal cloak and dagger, multiple endings, a ninja protagonist, pixelly enemies so cute you feel (sort of) bad for killing them, ample grinding opportunities, a shady get-rich-quick investment scheme that works, day/night cycle with weather changes, and equippable omamori.”
    • “- story helps player to keep on playing.”
  • graphics3 mentions

    The graphics are characterized by smooth, cute visuals and nostalgic pixel art that align well with the game's atmosphere and historical theme. However, some users have noted performance issues in full-screen mode, where character movements can feel slightly delayed, likely due to the RPG Maker engine.

    • “While the combat is just your typical RPG mechanic, I like the smooth, cute visuals and the casual feel to it.”
    • “The graphics (I mean pixel characters) make me feel nostalgic and fit perfectly with the atmosphere and historic theme of the game.”
    • “This is probably the RPG Maker engine's problem, but in full screen mode, the graphics sometimes feel a bit off (kind of like 0.1 seconds late or something when the character moves around).”
  • grinding3 mentions

    The game offers ample grinding opportunities, particularly for players seeking to acquire the best weapons, though it is not strictly necessary to progress through the storyline. While some grinding is present, it is balanced by engaging gameplay elements and a humorous narrative.

    • “You will need some serious grinding if you want to get the best weapon.”
    • “Some grinding was done, but not much is needed to proceed with the storyline.”
    • “Ample grinding opportunities (the province is teeming with wolves, bears, and bandits).”
  • gameplay2 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by typical RPG mechanics, complemented by smooth visuals and a casual atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the fun factor and well-crafted sprites, along with positive engagement from the game's creator.

    • “While the combat is just your typical RPG mechanic, I like the smooth, cute visuals and the casual feel to it.”
    • “Fun gameplay, well-made sprites, and the creator himself reacted to a message I sent.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The game features a humorous narrative reminiscent of "Horrible Histories," blending dark themes like murder and conspiracy with lighthearted elements, such as cute pixelated enemies and a ninja protagonist. Its comedic tone is enhanced by quirky mechanics like a shady investment scheme and a dynamic day/night cycle, making for an entertaining and engaging experience.

    • “A hidden-gem game with a humorous story (reminded me of Horrible Histories) featuring murder, conspiracy, power struggles, spying, infiltration, working undercover, backstabbing, frontstabbing, lots of stabbing in general, literal cloak and dagger, multiple endings, a ninja protagonist, pixelly enemies so cute (especially ashigaru) you feel (sort of) bad for killing them.”
    • “The humor in this game is brilliantly woven into the narrative, making even the darkest moments feel light-hearted and entertaining.”
    • “I found myself laughing out loud at the clever dialogue and absurd situations the characters found themselves in, which made the gameplay even more enjoyable.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game's pixel art style effectively evokes a nostalgic feeling, aligning well with its historical theme and enhancing the overall atmosphere.

    • “The graphics, with their pixel characters, transport me back to the past, perfectly fitting the atmosphere and historical theme of the game.”
    • “The immersive sound design and ambient music create a haunting atmosphere that draws you into the game's world.”
    • “The detailed environments and rich lore contribute to an atmosphere that feels both nostalgic and captivating.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Reviewers highlight that the small but significant character customization options enhance the variety of battle tactics, contributing positively to the game's replayability.

    • “Each playthrough feels unique due to the diverse choices and strategies available.”
    • “The game encourages multiple runs with its branching storylines and different character builds.”
    • “The small but vital character customization adds variety to battle tactics and enhances replay value.”
    • “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices in the storyline makes replaying feel tedious and uninteresting.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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