Cyber Shadow

 Switch
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

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  1. ZiaCombs
    Jan 29, 2021
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand 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.    … Expand
  2. sethdean0
    Sep 9, 2021
    2
    It is a very mediocre game. Not worth the money
    To me. I'd rather buy the messenger or something else
  3. rfloresx
    Mar 6, 2021
    4
    Pros: Great pixel art, and great chiptune soundtrack.

    Cons: The controls are not as tight as other games in the genre, enemy behavior is sometimes inconsistent, and the checkpoints are way too spaced out later in the game... The game just doesn't do anything special enough to warrant slogging through it..

    If you haven't played The Messenger yet, I highly recommend playing that instead!!!
  4. theUglyCasan0va
    Dec 25, 2022
    4
    Really nothing of value here. If you've played one game of this genre, you've played this. Decent music, bland gameplay.

Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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. Nintendo Force Magazine
    May 17, 2021
    85
    Mechanical Head has a winner on their hands. [Issue #51 – March/April 2021, p. 18]
  2. Nintendojo
    Mar 23, 2021
    91
    For those who still keep to the old ways, though, this is the real deal. There are plenty of retro games, including some widely lauded ones, that I feel missed the mark with ill-considered gimmickry, boring level design, and smug pandering. Cyber Shadow’s not that. It’s not a winking nod or cynical nostalgia bait. It’s a worthy successor.
    Read full review
  3. Switch Player
    Feb 16, 2021
    80
    Cyber Shadow is a devilishly difficult action platformer that stays perhaps a little too true to its 8-bit inspirations. It’s excellent, in almost every way, but it’s as challenging as they come and that won’t be for everyone.
    Read full review
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