Actions are mapped to a very small subset of the available buttons on the Switch controller, and it leaves some of the power-ups and special moves fiddly to execute. What’s also limited by design is the control scheme which is an area that it would have been great to see enter the modern day. There’s nothing wrong with this, but it limits the uptake and makes it much less accessible. In staying true to its core principles of the 90s 8-bit era, Cyber Shadow has alienated itself from the mainstream in favour of a niche group of gamers. Equally, if you like a moderate challenge with the occasional difficulty spike, then I would carefully consider this purchase too. If you are one of these, then Cyber Shadow is not for you. Some players enjoy games for a laidback, relaxing experience. Recommending a game without the forewarning that it will push your skills, and your patience, to their limits, would be unfair. The game is, in parts, phenomenally hard. It’s at the word ‘soulslike’ that Cyber Shadow becomes difficult to review. Our Editor-in-Chief, Benjamin Hayhoe, can attest to just how much patience it took me to defeat this one. For the rest, they were a reminder that there’s such a term as a ‘soulslike’ difficulty… Some required a level of tactical flair that took ages to master, and others reiterated the need for patience. Every boss encounter was unique, providing the chance to go toe-to-toe with a set of fantastically well-presented characters. They highlight just how impactful a good boss fight can be, but only when the mechanics aren’t cumbersome or the patterns too predictable. The same can be said for the boss battles. There’s something special about synergy between the three key elements, and combined they make for a level of craftsmanship that some development houses take years to perfect. Character movement is poised and precise, the levels both intricate and well-thought-out. However, almost every other aspect of Cyber Shadow makes it a game that many will remember as the year goes on.Ĭinematic cutscenes like this implore you to enjoy the story, even if you’ve seen it all before.įor starters, the level design is the perfect complement to the platforming action and ensures that Cyber Shadow remains funky and fresh from start to finish. In the plot department, there is little to write home about. What it does do is share these story beats through cinematic cutscenes, sparking life into tired tropes and through dialogue shared between Shadow and the NPCs he encounters. It’s all very predictable and does little to reinvent the storytelling wheel. Players take on the role of Shadow, a ninja who is on a mission to rescue his clan from machinery that has plagued the land. Developer, Aarne Hunziker, has been known to reference Mario and Contra too, and there’s no doubt that these gaming experiences have shaped the product on offer here. Their influences are clear as day, with Ninja Gaiden taking front and centre, and a likeness to Castlevania and Mega Man too. With a development team comprising of one developer, a composer and a producer, it’s an incredible showcase of talent. Rooted firmly in a throwback 8-bit era, Cyber Shadow is a Ninja Gaiden-esque side-scrolling action-platformer developed by Mechanical Head Studios. I have always been a fan of nature, but I cannot stand these mechanical birds. When all was said and done? Cyber Shadow became one of those games I will always look back fondly on. When we hit a rough patch, well, let’s just say that a few choice words were shared. When I was loving it, I absolutely adored it. From loving to loathing and back to loving again, Cyber Shadow and I shared a love-hate relationship from the get-go. Cyber Shadow is one of the most difficult games I’ve ever played, and it’s equally as difficult to definitively review. If the Bad Boys 2 reference above was lost on you, I’ll lay it out for you now. But guess what? It ain’t gonna break me, Switch Players. Yacht Club Games sent it here to test me. Woosah! Woooosah! Whilst playing Cyber Shadow late one night, I had an epiphany.
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