Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn is a gorgeous beat-em-up with handy features that help it stand out from others in the genre. Some small annoyances pop up here and there, but the game is a great sidescroller that genre fans will dig.
Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn
Developer: Tengo Project & Natsume Atari
Price: $20
Platforms: PS4, PS5 (reviewed), Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC
MonsterVine was provided with a PS5 code for review
Though the original Shadow of the Ninja was released in 1990, I’ve never had the chance to play it. The sharp art of Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn grabbed my attention and made me decide to check it out, and I’m glad I did. It’s a snazzy little beat-em-up with a few fun things that make it unique, with a rather sick aesthetic.
You can play as one of two ninjas – the male Hayate and and female Kaede – in Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn. They can each use their close-range swords and a long chain to dispatch enemies from afar, which is one of the most fun parts of the game. Defeating foes and bosses using the sword and chain can be tense and exciting, and the pleasantly challenging difficulty makes it even better. Some of the platforming is so tight that it becomes a bit irritating, but this isn’t too common.
Outside of the two primary weapons, there are lots of sub-items that you can utilize. Some are weapons like guns, bombs, and caltrops, while others provide health recovery or energy beams on slashes. One of the game’s problems comes with how you navigate the sub-item bar, as you have to stand still, hold a button, and press directional buttons. I would prefer if the shoulder buttons simply went through these items instead, as it would make for a much smoother experience.
“The visuals of Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn are one of its finest attributes, as the pixel art is both detailed and extremely expressive.“
There’s a Time Attack mode where you see how quickly you can finish completed stages, which is a cool extra addition that will likely appeal to the more hardcore players. Another neat feature lets you unlock and carry over sub-items and currency to use in subsequent playthroughs, allowing for strategic planning using your favorite weapons.
The visuals of Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn are one of its finest attributes, as the pixel art is both detailed and extremely expressive. Every enemy has tons of character, and the environments are stunning. The ninja-cyberpunk mix that permeates many of the game’s stages is extremely cool to look at and immediately creates an appealing world that’s unlike those of many other games in the genre.
The Final Word
Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn is a snazzy platformer beat-em-up that combines satisfying combat with a dazzling setting and visuals. The occasional clunky aspect does stand out, but for the most part, this is an exciting and well-made remake for anyone fond of the beat-em-up genre.
MonsterVine Rating: 4 out of 5 – Good
