Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn Review – A Nostalgic Journey into Retro Gaming

When I discovered that Natsume Atari was remaking one of my favorite Nintendo Entertainment System games, Shadow of the Ninja, I couldn’t help but geek out a bit—it took me back to my childhood. I never owned Shadow of the Ninja, so the only time I played it was when my parents dropped me off at my late grandparents’ house. I would set up my Nintendo Entertainment System in the kitchen and then trek ten miles to the local Blockbuster Video just to play the game. Now that’s dedication! But enough about my nostalgia—let’s dive into Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn.

Game Name: Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn
Platform(s): PC (reviewed), PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Developer(s): Tengo Project, Natsume Atari
Publisher(s): Natsume Atari, ININ Games, United Games Entertainment GmbH, Edigger
Release Date: August 29, 2024
Price: $19.99

The original Shadow of the Ninja was a 2D side-scrolling action platformer where you could choose between two characters and battle through swarms of enemies and challenging bosses. As a child, I found it a bit difficult but incredibly fun. Now, decades later, this remake is part of Natsume Atari’s Tengo Project, which has already released several titles including Pocky & Rocky Reshrined and The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors.

Gameplay That Holds Up

The gameplay remains largely intact, though it has received some balancing tweaks. For those who never played the original, it was a two-player affair. I still remember yelling at my cousins when they kept dying, forcing us to restart the game. The health bars could never be displayed simultaneously due to NES limitations. Thankfully, the remake allows for two-player action but is still confined to local couch co-op. It would have been nice to have online multiplayer, but sadly, that’s not an option.

The controls are super precise—exactly what you’d expect from an arcade game. The only hitch is that you can’t select from the various sub-weapons you pick up; you must use them in the order you acquire them, and you can only hold a limited number. This leads to frustration when you discover new sub-weapons that range from shotguns, machine guns, shurikens, and food items to recover your lost HP, and energy drinks to max out your power, which you want but don’t have room for. Do you discard something to make space? Do you use your healing items? This bit does get frustrating.

Just like the NES game, Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn features two playable characters; Hayate and Kaede. Other than one being male and female, there are no differences between the two. Which is fine and all, but I would have liked to have seen something like having one being faster but weaker, and the other stronger but a bit slower.

The stages are divided into three sub-levels, culminating in a boss battle. If you die in any sub-level (and you will), you can continue from where you left off. This feature is much appreciated, as the game can be quite challenging. I’m not saying the game is hard overall, but some moments feel a bit cheap, leaving you frustrated regardless of whether you’re playing on normal or hard difficulty. Ah, the joys of an arcade-style game! There’s also a speed mode for speedrunners eager to showcase how fast they can blast through the stages.

Visuals And Jams Complete The Package

On the surface, Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn looks stunning, featuring updated pixel art and animation reminiscent of classic SNK titles, particularly Metal Slug. The characters, enemies, and stages are vibrant and detailed, showcasing the dedication Natsume Atari has put into this project.

The visuals aren’t the only aspect that received love; the original music has also returned, along with the original composer, Iku Mizani, who crafted new arrangements for the game. As someone who has listened to the original soundtrack countless times, hearing the new tracks brought a smile to my face. There’s nothing like some kick-ass jams to inspire you when you’re trying to strike a sense of fear into your opponents. When a company goes to such lengths to recreate original tunes and involve the original composer, it speaks volumes about its commitment to authenticity.

The only downside is that there’s no in-game jukebox so I can listen to those jams when I’m not playing the game.

Plays Great Without Any Hitches

I played most of the game on my Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally, and the performance was impeccable—no slowdowns whatsoever. I was impressed with Natsume’s optimization. However, I was a bit puzzled by the option to add scanlines, which seems aimed at those who fondly remember arcade experiences. While you can remap buttons, I found the default settings worked just fine. What I’m saying is it runs great no matter what PC platform and the options aren’t that important here. Outside of that, there’s nothing more to say.

It looks good, it runs great. I don’t know how many times I need to say that.

A Nostalgic Arcade Adventure Reimagined

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn is perfect. I had a blast reliving my childhood and taking down enemies with my colorful, animated ninja. Natsume Atari has another hit with Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn, appealing not only to those who played the original game but also to retro gaming enthusiasts and anyone seeking a fun arcade experience. This isn’t just a remake with fancy graphics—it features new content and gameplay tweaks, and, most importantly, it remains as challenging as ever.

On a slightly unrelated note, I can’t wait to see which game Natsume Atari decides to remaster as part of the Tengo Project. Can it please be either Shatterhand or S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team?

Review Disclosure Statement: Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn was provided to us by Natsume Atari for review purposes. For more information on how we review video games and other media/technology, please review our Review Guideline/Scoring Policy.

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