Cyber Shadow

 Switch
Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Gamer.nl
    Feb 12, 2021
    70
    Cyber Shadow is a solid ninja game that offers an old-fashioned challenge with clever checkpoints. By the end of the game, the shine is a bit off and due to several minor flaws it ends up being just a little too often frustrating.
  2. GameSpot
    Feb 3, 2021
    70
    Cyber Shadow is a solid retro throwback with a few things that drag it down. The feeling of becoming more powerful and being able to take down huge enemy threats with your wits and skills is very rewarding, and the levels when you can use your abilities more freely to overcome challenges are quite fun. It's the trial-and-error areas littered with cheap deaths, demanding exact precision over long and frustrating stretches, that hamper the experience. Still, if you're looking for an old-school-styled ninja game that will test your skills (and sometimes your patience), Cyber Shadow is a worthy contender.

Awards & Rankings

45
#45 Best Switch Game of 2021
44
#44 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2021

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 44 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 44
  3. Negative: 5 out of 44
  1. ZiaCombs
    Jan 29, 2021
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. Outside of one game breaking decision, this game is for the most part absolutely very well done. I would have given the game an 8-9 out of 10 easily. Unfortunately, though, the decision is game breaking.

    The game breaking decision was to omit 80% of the buttons on your controller. The L, R, ZR, ZL, X, Y, Right Analog, and Left Analog are all unused. Now, I fully understand why. The games developer was hell bound on not just making Cyber Shadow an homage to the NES era of games, but rather a replica of an NES game. He wanted not only the gameplay, visuals, and music to feel like an NES title, but he also wanted the control scheme to feel like an NES title, using only the A, B, and D-Pad buttons for gameplay purposes.

    So in forcing the limitation upon himself, he created a control scheme that feels clunky and unresponsive. The most glaring issues were the parry system and the running system. In the heat of the moment when you need precision movement, you will find yourself running even though you didn't want to, or parrying something accidently and putting yourself in a bad situation. Both of those things throwing your timing off in the most crucial of moments and dying because of it. Because of the controls, mind you, not the fact that the enemies defeated you fair and square. The old adage of "Tough but Fair", does not apply to this game at all. The last thing a person wants in a game built to be brutally difficult, is his or her controls to be imprecise. Also the wall climb and jumping felt pretty bad, a little less of an issue that the other examples I gave, but still, locking onto walls when you don't want to is a nuisance. The rest of the specials also felt awkward at best.

    I beat the game in 9.5 hours and hated most of it. But I am very stubborn and competitive, so I felt the need to beat it, the hate growing more and more after each unfair death. I literally have no idea what the story is because I skipped all the cut scenes and dialogue out of anger and simply wanted to beat this game and put it behind me. The idea to make this game as close to an NES game is very novel, and a very cute idea, but it also held back the game immensely.    … Full Review »
  2. Stylelementz
    Feb 2, 2021
    9
    Great game, really enjoying it, style and story is awesome. Best part of the game is the swag blade.
  3. Jcdbengals
    Jan 11, 2022
    7
    Fun game, but not worth even close to 19.99. Wait til price drop to 9.99 or under, then enjoy for a couple days. If physical release comes,Fun game, but not worth even close to 19.99. Wait til price drop to 9.99 or under, then enjoy for a couple days. If physical release comes, then 19.99 makes more sense… Full Review »
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