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Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn is best suited to players who want demanding, old-school action-platforming, especially fans of the 1990 NES original. Its six-stage campaign, katana-and-subweapon combat and local co-op make it more than a straight visual update, but selected reviews also flag its difficulty, brevity and repetitive fights. It is a less natural fit if you want a long, forgiving platformer.
What kind of game is Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn?
Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn is Tengo Project’s remake of the 1990 NES action game. Set in a dystopian future, it lets players take the role of either Hayate or Kaede. Store and database listings differ on developer and publisher credits: Steam names Winning Entertainment Group Inc. as developer and Winning Entertainment Group Inc., Edigger and ININ as publishers, while Metacritic identifies Tengo Project as developer and ININ Games as publisher. Steam’s listing and Metacritic’s details page are the respective records.
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The game released on August 29, 2024, for PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5 and Xbox Series X. Nintendo’s US page is for a digital Switch edition; check the store for your platform and region to confirm the edition and current availability. Nintendo’s US product page lists its Switch version.
How do the stages and combat work?
Six stages, including one new level
The publisher describes a six-stage campaign: five stages recreate the original game, and the sixth is new. That structure makes the remake both a return to the NES adventure and an addition to it. The publisher’s Steam listing and Nintendo’s description specify the stage count.
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- THIS COLLECTION offers ten timeless action-themed arcade classics that set milestones for today´s TAITO.
- BUBBLE BOBBLE, 1986, ACTION - The original 2 player, co-op arcade version of Bubble Bobble, use your bubble-blowing powers to travel through 100 floors of monsters and rescue your girlfriends!
- RAINBOW ISLANDS, 1987, ACTION - Play as Bubby and Bobby in their human forms! Instead of blowing bubbles, rule with rainbows as you climb to your goal!
- RASTAN SAGA, 1987, ACTION - Guide Rastan the Thief to protect the kingdom of Ceim, battling enemies and a dragon with various weapons.
- DEAD CONNECTION, 1992, ACTION - 4 detectives battle the mafia in an action-shooting game set in 1950s America, uncovering secrets and pursuing Don Nerozzia!
Katana, subweapons and hazards
Combat combines katana attacks with an expanded selection of subweapons. Progress also involves platforming, traps, puzzles and enemy encounters, rather than combat alone. A points-based tool shop gives players a way to customize their loadout. The publisher’s listing describes these systems, but does not establish how much variety or flexibility every player will find in practice.
Can you play co-op?
Yes. The game supports local two-player co-op, with one player as Hayate and the other as Kaede. The cited listings establish local co-op, not online co-op, so don’t buy it expecting to play together over the internet. Steam’s listing and Nintendo’s product page identify the two playable ninjas and co-op support.
Rank #2
- Fight your way through the streets as none other than Shaq Fu himself, voiced by the real deal, Shaquille O'Neal.
- Battle fashionistas, politicians, robots, clones, hackers, flying derrieres, and rappers with your raw fists and smoking hot lead.
- Slip into dirty Barry mode and rack up a killstreak with your handy assault rifle and an abundant supply of grenades.
- Take out the bad guys from a distance with a variety of firearms, including a shotgun, railgun, and machine gun.
- String together power moves like the Barack 'n Rolla and South side smash to create devastating combos.
What do reviews say about its difficulty and length?
The sampled PC and Switch reviews point to a clear trade-off: critics appreciated aspects of the remake’s presentation, while several described the experience as difficult and short. These are outlet-specific judgments, not a universal verdict or a complete cross-platform consensus.
- Difficulty: Nintendo Life called the game “tough,” while Pure Nintendo described it as “exceptionally difficult” and framed that challenge as part of its appeal for players accustomed to early-1990s NES action. NintendoWorldReport noted that enemies and hazards can overwhelm players. Metacritic’s Switch critic excerpts collect these outlets’ assessments.
- Length: Nintendo Life characterized it as short, and GameMAG described a “short campaign.” That may suit players looking for a compact retro-style adventure, but is a drawback if you expect a lengthy campaign. Switch review excerpts and PC review excerpts show the outlet-specific comments.
- Combat and controls: PC review excerpts praise the smooth presentation and modernization, but also raise concerns about repetitive battles and a limited control scheme. Treat these as individual critics’ reservations rather than flaws that every player will experience. Metacritic’s PC critic excerpts include those observations.
- Visuals and audio: The remake replaces the NES-era presentation with modern sprites. The publisher credits soundtrack work to Iku Mizutani and Hiroshi Iwatsuki, and selected critics praised the game’s look and audio. Nintendo’s listing describes the updated presentation; Switch review excerpts include critical reactions.
Who is it best for?
Choose Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn if you enjoy demanding retro action-platformers, want to revisit the original game’s sensibility, or plan to play locally with a friend. Consider another game if you prioritize a long campaign or forgiving modern platforming. For comparisons with another retro platformer, the most useful questions are how forgiving its difficulty is, how much campaign or replay content it offers, whether co-op is solo, local or online, how complex its combat and controls are, how its visuals and audio compare, and how closely it follows its source game.
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- For the first time ever: voices for all major characters
- Remastered graphics with a fresh 2.5D design and cel-shading and new dynamic and expressive cutscenes and animations
- Exclusive bonus game included: Monster World IV original from the Sega Genesis
- Directed by Ryuichi Nishizawa, the original creator of Monster World IV
- Remastered game sounds and soundtrack by Shinichi Sakamoto
Platform-specific details
Store pages can establish edition-specific information without proving that every version has the same features. Nintendo’s US Switch listing includes Fantasy Violence and Mild Blood ratings. The PlayStation Store listing describes basic preset difficulty adjustment, control reminders, pausing and basic control remapping; these details apply to that PlayStation listing and should not be assumed to describe every platform’s options. Nintendo’s US listing and the PlayStation Store page provide those platform-specific details.
As a time-sensitive indicator rather than a critic score, Steam displayed 595 user reviews with 71% positive when its listing was accessed on October 8, 2026. The count and percentage can change. Steam’s live listing shows the current user-review snapshot.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 4 game modes and all-new exclusive scenarios
- Local co-op for up to 4 players
- Face off against more than 40 gigantic battleships
- Modern HD graphics and a great atmospheric soundtrack
- High re-playability with branching stages
Rank #4
- Engage in real-time combat - Fight your way through dangerous monsters in real-time combat - Plant bombs, cast spells, drink potions, and overcome the dangers of Engard
- Journey through an enchanting open world - Discover a beautifully handcrafted retro-inspired pixel art world featuring an overhead perspective t - Immerse yourself in a vast and captivating world bursting with life and unique characters
- Conquer dungeons & solve puzzles - Acquire weapons and armor, and learn magical abilities to overcome complex puzzles & unlock new areas to explore - Navigate your way through murky dungeons & watch out for deadly traps and vicious enemies
- Embark on a quest to save the world - Unravel a tale of betrayal, tragedy and redemption piece by piece - Embark on an adventure to stop your brother from unleashing an ancient evil
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
