Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn | PS5

Hayate, and Kaeda once again battle the forces of evil in this 2024 remake of a 1990 classic pitting them against evil Emperor Garuda in the year 2029. As ninjas on the scene melee weapons, a chain & sickle, and gears make up your arsenal in this all out battle against a futuristic army ...

Fighting your way through six stages of enemy and boss filled encounters as either Hayate or Kaeda you'll collect gears, or limited use weapons/items, and improve your odds in seeing a playthrough to the end. In a game where normal, and hard difficulty are your only choices this task is made all the more difficult though, and even more so as it adheres closely to that original retro experience. Thankfully you don't have to go about it all alone, and can join in for some two player couch co-op fun via the local multiplayer.

In 'Shadow of the Ninja Reborn' graphics are revamped, and redone with a slightly more modern appearance. Still retro in design though it plays fairly much like the original with some newer features, and will test your mettle as a veteran video game player. As either Hayate or Kaeda you are tasked with clearing out the enemies in this platforming action adventure, and in besting the bosses on a per stage basis. All to the tune of an Arcade or Time Attack mode. Each with six stages to complete.

As you choose your mode you will find the option to select normal, hard, or multiplayer. The first two options being solo singleplayer oriented, and the latter a couch co-op mode for two players locally. No matter how you choose to play time will be the partial judge in the online leaderboard placings. In Arcade mode the timer ticks down as you make your way through the stage, and in Time Attack mode it does the opposite. The other deciding factor perp money obtained from killing enemies.

Your goal in each mode, outside of completion in a timely fashion, and with the most money in the bank is to gear up by collecting gears. Putting to use these limited use throwing weapons, melee weapons, and health restoratives/performance boosters as you dish out damage to the enemies. Alongside the gears is your standard issue katana, and a multi-directional chain & sickle for extended reach. Not only can you put these tools to use, but your chosen ninja also has a few acrobatic moves up their sleeves including wall jumps, a wall run, an aerial spin, a downward sword thrust, platform pull-ups, and hanging kicks. This all plays into the intended stylish and fast paced nature of the playthroughs. 

Stages, as they are, are filled with enemies of varying types with different attack patterns that must be paid attention to. This also pertains to the boss battles. You'll need to carefully approach and deal with the enemies as life is very limited. Once your life bar is depleted it's GAME OVER. There are no extra lives, and continuing starts you over at the beginning of the most recent area. Each area, in question, having a starting and ending transition until you make it to the boss. 

Along the way you'll also find chests that can be broken open, and they contain your gears. Gears are limited use bonus weapons or health restoration items that must be used in order. Items like throwing stars, caltrops, or other melee weapons as well as rice balls or energy drinks among other things are included. These limited use gears can turn the tide of battle, and make a seemingly impossible boss fight, doable. That along with the dash maneuver for dodging telegraphed attacks is the means in which you'll defeat your adversaries.

Unlike most remakes this 2024 upgrade of 'Shadow of the Ninja' does feel a bit bare bones outside of the online leaderboards, visual upgrade, and tweaks to mobility and mechanics. While it is host to a gears collection menu, and some quality of life settings it contains little else. Even the CRT scanline filter does little to add to the overall package deal.

The Presentation ...

Shadow of the Ninja Reborn, went from an 8-bit classic to a 32bit or 64bit remake. The changes are very noticeable, and they are very much inline with the NatsumeAtari branding. It has a more cutesy appearance that is both colorful and retro friendly. Character designs are simple yet well animated or articulated. This along with the stage art and enemy design makes for some proper eye candy. It's a game that pops! The soundtrack also pays homage to the classic in that it's retro inspired as well. Making for a complimentary experience through and through.

The Verdict ...

Perhaps to a fault, 'Shadow of the Ninja Reborn' is too much like it's predecessor. It is a brutally challenging game that would fit right in with the 8bit classics it hailed from. Enemies, and especially bosses have attack patterns that are often times unavoidable forcing the player to brute force their way through using the gears on hand. This can be attributed to the tight jumping mechanic, and the way the stages are setup. It's almost too unforgiving at times, and honestly I had to continue more times than I care to admit just to complete the game. 

Being it's made like those difficult 8bit titles, 'Shadow of the Ninja Reborn' does lose some appeal. Even with the new look, and quality of life settings it does little to make the game more modernly accessible. Controls aren't as responsive as they should be, and are a bit loose in execution. It would have been nice to see the base movement mechanics reflect modern controller hardware capabilities. Even the gears cycling could have been better mapped. If you don't mind that true to form trip down memory lane though this might be just what you're looking for.