You perform special moves by holding a direction and attacking, and things like the wall-climb fit naturally into the Ninja Gaiden-inspired combat. Most of the abilities feel naturally implemented. You unlock new abilities by playing through stages, and some secret items give you additional health or spirit. The basic controls and gameplay feel smooth, and it's a genuine joy to play because the simplicity allows you to focus on execution.Īs Cyber Shadow progresses, you unlock additional power-ups, including special attacks that use a spirit meter, the ability to wall-climb and dash, and eventually a charge ability that applies to almost everything you do. You can run, jump, and slash, so it's old-school platforming at its most condensed.

The core gameplay is exceedingly straightforward. There are a few standouts, but generally, the story is serviceable and not exceptional.Īt its core, Cyber Shadow is a clear homage to Ninja Gaiden, much like the recent The Messenger but with fewer meta elements. It's fun but lacks some personality, with most of the characters being forgettable.

The story is told somewhat non-linearly, with new scenes gradually revealing more of Shadow's past and how he came to be in the situation, which adds some flavor to what is otherwise a straightforward story. There are a lot of cinematic scenes, and they're simple but to the point. Cyber Shadow's story is primarily told through simple NES-style cut scenes in an homage to the 'Tecmo Theater' style in Ninja Gaiden.

Cyber shadow metroidvania