In fact, I was well into a third of the game before unlocking the wall climb skill. You’ll be bashing bosses for many a level with the slim reward of useful but tedious health boosts and uninspired abilities that you’ll rarely use. Normally this is an excellent device to drive a player’s engagement and commitment to the game, yet Cyber Shadow waits an absolute age before dishing out the fun stuff. Just like any 2D action platformer, Shadow gradually gains a slew of abilities which can be used to further explore previous levels. The description of ‘spot-on pacing’ can’t be applied to the lethargic dribble of power-ups that come Shadow’s way. Smooth animation, super-detailed characterisation and a palpable sense of atmosphere – Aarne has perfected the art of 8-bit visual design. What Aarne “MekaSkull” Hunziker of Mechanical Head Games has accomplished is nothing short of astonishing. The 8-bit visuals are, quite frankly, kissable. Because, if like me, your first experience of a video game console was the NES then seeing Cyber Shadow in motion will give you a nostalgic dopamine hit of epic proportions. But can a retro-infused nostalgia fix succeed without having a sense of humour? Whilst The Messenger was a loving parody of retro classics, Cyber Shadow takes itself very, very seriously. But that would be to do Cyber Shadow a disservice.
#CYBER SHADOW PC UPGRADE#
There is always only one pre-selected upgrade available to purchase and certain checkpoints don’t even offer these for sale at all.Cyber Shadow answers a very specific question, namely: What would a modern AAA video game look like if it existed in the eighties? Now, if you’re feeling pedantic you could argue that Sabotage Studio’s The Messenger already answered that question way back in 2018. It’s an interesting idea - restarting a difficult area several times over may prompt spending some essence for a leg up - but it’s fairly restrictive.
These can include a health restore (usually unlocked at each checkpoint by default), a skill point restore, or a special temporary upgrade like a stronger sword or an attacking drone.
The checkpoint/save system in the game means that certain junctions allow players to spend in-game currency on a slight bonus which can help the upcoming portion of the level. Still, most of the level design and difficulty spikes in Cyber Shadow feel nicely balanced. To be fair, Shovel Knight had its share of these sudden game overs as well, but considering the constant knockback damage in Cyber Shadow and the occasionally unkind checkpoint, certain sections will test player patience and even feel outright unfair.
There are plentiful insta-deaths, either via bottomless pits or hazards that may not immediately seem as dangerous as they are. However, there are plenty of antiquated design elements in the game as well, which will feel comforting to some but exasperating to others.
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