Shadow of the Ninja Reborn

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 306 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Shadow of the Ninja Reborn Game Cover
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After 33 years in the shadows, prepare to see this legendary action adventure in a new light! Looking and playing better than ever before, Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn is Tengo Project’s remake of a cult classic, that the fans have been waiting for.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 306 reviews
gameplay29 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • Gorgeous pixel art and animations that enhance the nostalgic feel of the game.
  • Challenging gameplay that rewards skill and strategy, reminiscent of classic arcade titles.
  • A well-designed remake that expands on the original with new mechanics and levels, providing a fresh experience.
  • Controls can feel clunky and unintuitive, particularly with jumping and item management.
  • The saving mechanic is confusing, as progress is not saved when pausing the game.
  • Some level designs can feel frustrating, with sections that seem to force damage upon the player.
  • gameplay110 mentions

    The gameplay of "Shadow of the Ninja Reborn" is a blend of challenging mechanics and intricate level design, offering a mix of nostalgia and innovation that appeals to hardcore arcade fans. While the game features a solid and varied moveset, some players find the learning curve steep and the controls occasionally cumbersome, leading to frustration. Overall, it is praised for its depth and rewarding gameplay, though it may not cater to those seeking a more casual experience.

    • “The nuances in the gameplay are surprising and it makes runs interesting.”
    • “Beautiful, polished, mechanically rich platformer that offers methodical and satisfyingly tense decision-making as you wrap your head around each new stage, and gradually replaces it with pure ape-brain flow as you master it and start instinctively speedrunning through.”
    • “Each level is beautifully crafted, with a variety of landscapes and enemy designs that ensure the gameplay remains exciting and dynamic throughout.”
    • “If you were expecting yet more toothless nostalgia bait that won't back up its classic aesthetics in gameplay, you're in the wrong place.”
    • “Onto my criticisms of the game, one being that it would've been helpful to players to learn the game's mechanics organically in the actual game, but instead you have to read the manual just to learn that you can hover to get past a large gap or even wall run, which one of the bosses has an attack that you need to wall run to get out of.”
    • “It is a decent game, I want to stress it is okay, but it does have some glaring issues regarding being annoying for no reason and not utilizing core features and some quality of life to a degree a game should if it's going to demand excellence from players on a gameplay level.”
  • music64 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its lively recreation of the original soundtrack, featuring vivid rock elements that enhance the gameplay experience. Many reviewers appreciate the high-quality composition and the nostalgic feel it brings, although some express a desire for more options, such as a chiptune version. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, complementing the game's beautiful visuals and engaging combat.

    • “The music is a lively recreation of the original soundtrack, with vivid rock music that constantly keeps you on your toes as you progress through the levels.”
    • “This is a fairly tough action platformer, with absolutely gorgeous sprite art, beautiful animation and an awesome soundtrack.”
    • “The music intensifies as you get deeper into each level, drawing you further into the world and making each fight feel that much more epic.”
    • “There really aren't many soundtracks that are calm or steady, even certain cutscenes or the shop.”
    • “The trend with Natsume games not having any main menu music still doesn't do it for me though, save for Rocky and Pocky.”
    • “I also didn't like the new soundtrack.”
  • graphics54 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their beautiful pixel art and vibrant animations, reminiscent of classic 16-bit and NES-era aesthetics. Reviewers highlight the successful blend of nostalgia with modern enhancements, noting that the visuals are both engaging and well-executed, contributing to an overall rewarding gameplay experience. The art style, while more light-hearted and colorful than the original, maintains a high standard of quality that appeals to both casual players and nostalgic fans alike.

    • “Gorgeous visuals.”
    • “Graphically, the pixel art is beautiful!”
    • “The game's artwork, sprites, animations, and VFX are great and pleasing to look at.”
    • “If you were expecting yet more toothless nostalgia bait that won't back up its classic aesthetics in gameplay, you're in the wrong place.”
    • “The original more like realistic approach was replaced by chibi characters and bright colorful visuals.”
    • “Though I still prefer more realistic visuals, while I play I just must appreciate all the nice animations, effects, and how colors blend together.”
  • replayability19 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability due to its complex levels, effective scoring systems, and various gameplay modes such as item unlocks, time attacks, and hard mode. Players appreciate the mastery-based challenge and the opportunity to improve their skills, making it a rewarding experience even with a relatively short campaign. Overall, it is considered a modern arcade masterpiece that encourages repeated playthroughs.

    • “If you dedicate just a little time to it and are open to bettering yourself, you will find a very replayable and challenging game that will just make you feel good.”
    • “There is a great deal of replayability in item unlocks, time attack (with leaderboards), and hard mode.”
    • “There's a lot of strategizing after memorizing the levels, and this game is a very replayable, mastery-based affair.”
    • “Overall, even though it's relatively short with 6 stages, there's enough replay value here and the asking price is more than fair.”
    • “It’s the kind of feature that extends the game’s replayability far beyond its single-player mode.”
    • “Hard but not impossible difficulty with plenty of replayability with the pocket change system and finding all the items.”
  • story11 mentions

    The game's story has been revamped from its 8-bit origins, shifting from an alien invasion to a demon invasion, which some players feel may be too cute for the theme. While the narrative is concise and straightforward, reminiscent of the original, it lacks depth and complexity, allowing players to quickly dive into gameplay without lengthy interruptions.

    • “No longer limited by its 8-bit counterpart, the game has been redeveloped by completely redoing the gameplay, art, animation, and story to a certain degree.”
    • “No load times, no prolonged story to listen to, you just jump straight into the gameplay after you press start, old-school style!”
    • “Oh, and they turned the story from, as far as I understood, alien to demon invasion.”
    • “Maybe too cute for this story.”
    • “Story is short and to the point like the old one.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find certain autoscrolling sections tedious and frustrating, particularly due to challenging enemy placements that can catch them off guard. While mastering the controls requires practice and can lead to repetitive game over screens, the satisfaction of acquiring and refining skills ultimately enhances the experience.

    • “I think some autoscrolling sections are a bit tedious, with the one in the last level being frustrating as the enemy placement can catch you off guard on your first run through of the stage.”
    • “The controls take some learning, enemies won't generously wait for you to practice your wall-running technique, and game over screens can feel tedious.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere retains its essence but has become brighter, enhancing some areas while making others overly colorful. Overall, players find it enjoyable and atmospheric, despite some challenges in mastering the environment.

    • “It was hard to master, but fun and atmospheric.”
    • “The atmosphere is still there, but it's also brighter. While some areas feel much better, others are a bit too colorful.”
  • humor2 mentions

    Players find humor in the shared frustrations of the game's challenging sections, often enjoying the different approaches others take during their playthroughs. This camaraderie highlights the importance of mastering the game's mechanics while providing comedic relief from the difficulty.

  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is not directly addressed in the provided text, which focuses more on gameplay mechanics and inventory management. However, the mention of multiple playthroughs and strategized routing suggests that players may develop a deeper connection to the game through repeated experiences, potentially enhancing emotional engagement over time.

  • character development2 mentions

    While the reviews highlight the impressive art direction and character designs, they do not provide specific insights into the depth or progression of character development within the game. Overall, the focus seems to be more on aesthetics rather than the evolution of characters.

    • “The art direction is great, the new character designs are cool, and the sprite work is immaculate!”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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