âCyber Shadowâ review: classic 8-bit ninja action platforming for the hardcore
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Yacht Club Gamesâ follow-up to Shovel Knight is a lean, mean action platformer that puts your ninja reflexes to the test
Even as weâve entered a new generation of console hardware, the 8-bit aesthetics of yesteryear continue to remain in vogue. Largely, we have 2014âs
Shovel Knight to thank for that, a crowdfunded indie platformer that managed to combine all the best bits of NES-era platformers, resulting in something that felt fresh and unique.
Itâs also been something of a cash cow for developer Yacht Club Games, who followed it up with a number of expansions while its eponymous knight crossed over into every other indie game. In danger of getting stale then, theyâve wisely embarked on publishing to give other 8-bit-inspired developers their chance to shine.
Xbox Game Pass Adds Brand New 2021 Game That Just Released Today
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Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate are back with a brand new game that just released today. In a couple of days, the subscription service is losing eight games, including a popular RPG, but before that happens, it s adding what is arguably January 2021 s second most notable release behind
Hitman 3. More specifically, as of today, Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC can enjoy
Cyber Shadow, a side-scrolling platform-action game from developer Mechanical Head Studios and publisher Yacht Club Games (the makers of
by Donald Theriault - January 25, 2021, 8:00 am EST
I am once again asking for your help in getting Brave Bernadetta this week.
Before we begin a busy week, I must ask you to log into your Nintendo accounts and vote for Bernadetta (either one) in the Heroes Choose Your Legends poll so we can get a sweet looking version. Speaking of my BS, this week is rife with it as the year s first (North American) retail releases are squarely in it: Atelier Ryza 2 and Re:Zero - Starting Life In Another World.
This week s download-only titles are big as well: Cyber Shadow (published by Yacht Club Games) is the headliner tomorrow, but don t sleep on Devolver s exploration title Olija and cyberpunk RPG that actually works Disjunction. For those who like Earthbound-likes, the Citizens Unite game (Citizens of Earth and Citizens of Space) have combined into one - and also swapped publishers. (KEMCO ALERT!)
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If there are two things commonly found in retro games, it s robots and ninjas. Having one game throw the two archetypes together just makes sense, right? Cyber Shadow manages it rather well. Developed by Mechanical Head Studios and published by Yacht Club Games, this is a side-scrolling action platformer about saving a futuristic city from a synthetic army. Inspired by classic 8-bit titles like Mega Man, Shadow of the Ninja, and Ninja Gaiden, this modern take is a stylish, challenging experience.
Playing as the titular Shadow the sole survivor of his ninja clan you start off with little health and basic jump and slash abilities. Of course, things don t stay that simple for long; as you progress through each stage, you ll unlock more and more powers that enhance your robot-destroying talents, as well as upgrades to health and SP (needed for certain moves). It s classic game design, but it works: get through a level, beat the boss, earn an upgrade. Abilities like ninja sta
Since its inception, Yacht Club Games has been recognized for its old-school gaming aesthetic. That s why the team got into publishing, helping developer Mechanical Head Studios release Cyber Shadow. If the Shovel Knight series is akin to NES classics like Mega Man, Cyber Shadow feels much closer to the 8-bit Ninja Gaiden series. And more than Shovel Knight, it harkens back to the old days, warts and all.
Emerging from the shadows
Cyber Shadow tells the story of a dystopic future, where the title character Shadow wakes up in the middle of Mekacity. What was once a bustling metropolis now lies in ruins and is up in flames. That s mainly due to the machinations of Dr. Progen, a brilliant scientist who has gone mad. The key to defeating Dr. Progen lies in finding Shadow s master, but her whereabouts are unknown and a chunk of game is dedicated to finding where she ended up.