DF Retro EX: Shadow of the Ninja Reborn Review - A Peak Pixel Art Remake

[@DebugMenu]

I think John didn’t realise you don’t hold the button to do the extended jump/wall run. You mash jump and can float for ages and can actually run up walls infinitely.

[@HeroOfLegend115]

God bless you

[@chiarosuburekeni9325]

Oh my goodness this helps me out tremendously. I was getting so frustrated with this game as much as I liked it and thought it was beautiful I was getting soooo 😡 at it😅

[@jasubakuhatsu]

I scrolled down to post this too lol. I only figured this out on Stage 5, and it changed the entire game on my second playthrough.

[@quarterburnt]

The frustrating part you can’t get past because of some unknown move captures that NES aesthetic accurately.

[@MrVariant]

7:00 steep learning curve better than title. Took me a while to realize I have to press R to switch back to katana, and hold R with no pausing, to cycle through ninja gear. They really needed an easy mode as you don't even heal between levels. It's as frustrating as wild guns reloaded since you got no checkpoints, but at least it saves between levels.

[@futureskeletons66669]

Brilliant little game and another feather in Tengo Project's cap.

[@Silvergun_Raven]

I wonder if Omega Five will eventually resurface in time?

[@daz-4th882]

now THAT is 16-bit pixeI art no butt-ugIy depth of fieId, pointIess ambient occIusion, _no reIiance on bIoom for atmosphere_ just compIete confidence in the sheer art

[@modology]

that's exactly what I want to see in a modern 2d pixel art game not those 2D-HD aesthetic that looks like they put pixel art into 3d environments and then make everything bloom like fireworks. Pity that not many players can appreciate this straight forward 2d pixel art style nowadays. People are so caught up with spectacles like 3d remake or 2d-hd style

[@djayjp]

Thank goodness they didn't go for a Flash game look!

[@mrlyles2002able]

I'll buy a copy of this game, but if they remake Shaterhand!?! OMG I can't wait!

[@bartvb5059]

DF retro is my favorite content on KZbin. John always delivers

[@tyo101]

His foray into retro game production is great also - check out Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore!

[@vgjhlgjhfuyfjhfjkhgyghj]

Always ❤ what a bloke

[@kormakurgararsson4571]

Wholeheartedly agree. Thank you John.

[@thiagovidal6137]

Same. I love DF retro. I often rewatch episodes like the Water in video games, Doom console ports and Quake history.

[@OutrunCid]

The games you thought you were the only one on the internet who played them, John played them too. Love his passion and attention to detail. And the editing of his content couldn't be any better. The subtle background music is always so perfectly chosen and well mixed. Perfection.

[@IkariDC]

10:18 The original game’s lead composer was Iku Mizutani and they actually brought him back to arrange his songs for this game.

[@kaikiske7436]

Imagine if we got 3-4 of these amazing “remakes” a year. Capcom, Konami, Sunsoft etc should hire these guys.

[@filiformis]

This pixel art looks like the CRT side of a "CRT vs LCD pixel art" comparison.

[@izuthree]

That's an oddly very accurate way to put it, huh.

[@EastyyBlogspot]

I love high quality pixel art matched with so much animation, I know its work intensive but would love to see more, I find this so much more appealing then the low pixel low animation "retro" style

[@nostartia]

So glad to see a review that makes justice to this game. That's exactly the feeling, what if 3D never existed. Following Tengo Project wherever they go.

[@thanksbetotap]

It seems like *everyone* who’s played the game likes it. Really hope it’s a big hit for Tengo!

[@ThomasVvV]

Ehh I just played the Demo and it feels suuuper clunky. Wont buy

[@MrHorst38]

Steam is only "mostly positive" though. Apparently people don't like the unresponsive controls and point out that jumping in this game feels bad.

[@bes5164]

yeah it is a great action platform game

[@islandboy9381]

@@MrHorst38 yet they can sit through Dark Souls clunky ass controls for the same reason, that you have to commit to an action and adapt accordingly

[@superpowerman4354]

Great coverage homie! Other arcade genre devs, please take notes. 1. Put real effort into your true pixel art graphics 2. Great arcade design which actually CHALLENGES the player WITHOUT RPG elements. More of this please, and less Actraiser remake. Hey Capcom, take notes, I want my Final Fight (or even MegaMan) sequel with this level of quality!

[@Zenon00007]

I brought this off Amazon UK yesterday, playing it now, it’s truly amazing…❤️🔥❤️

[@dieseldust27]

Can't go wrong with Natsume games

[@madson-web]

This game looks incredible and plays like a dream

[@leonkenedy4616]

Once I saw this game available I was sure DF was to touch the subject and the bois do not disappoint.

[@astrea555]

looks fantastic. This studio is absolutely mad! Great video john!

[@ankd956]

Imagine if Tengo Project made a new Metal Slug!

[@alexhuffman3505]

That would be amazing!

[@theinvisibleman-e8v]

They don’t own the IP so it will never happen

[@CrossfacePanda]

While I’d like for Natsume to make some deals with other publishers so Tengo Project can work with some outside IPs, I doubt that will happen. At most I can maybe see them work with Natsume Inc (which is a different company from this Natsume where Tengo Project work), and have them help make a Harvest Moon game. But more realistically we can probably expect Shatterhand to be the next Tengo remake. But personally, I’d like to see them work on a wholly new game that’s neither a remake nor sequel. I want to see what they can make in the 2020s without any constraints tying them to old works.

[@springssprangyard8278]

@@CrossfacePanda I'd like a new game yeah but I'd love a Shatterhand remake/sequel too. It's the most likely one, since they technically own the IP, unlike the og NES game and the other stuff they made for the SNES.

[@brandonizaguirre2963]

​@@theinvisibleman-e8v no 💩, sherlock. That's why op said imagine

[@PurpleSanz]

If there is a heaven, whoever decided to make Kaede that thicc has already earned a well deserved spot in it.

[@koomar341]

Lmaaaoooo yeah man coming from visiting Tokyo recently I see anime art is all about the thicc thighs

[@randomcharacter6501]

She def is lol.

[@Jadty]

Men of culture we meet again 🤝

[@csteegs8681]

Perfect body type, perfect comment. ✊

[@modology]

pity that they make the character design cutesy instead of 80s cyberpunk anime style as original famicom design concept art

[@saynotop2w]

This dev sure likes ninja, doesn't it

[@fabio78]

Who doesn't?

[@thiagovidal6137]

Everyone likes ninjas.

[@akaimizu1]

And like the Doomslayer, they definitely make protagonists that can’t stand demons.

[@akaimizu1]

@@thiagovidal6137except maybe certain Pirates.

[@Jadty]

Thiccbros where we at?

[@DGFTardin]

That female ninja sprite is THICC though

[@LeesChannel]

Yeah, they definitely retooled her for modern audiences

[@marcrisa6352]

Fun fact the original game was called Blue Shadow in Europe.

[@tonybarnes2920]

They took a game I barely cared ever existed and made a sequel/remake that's amazing. I wish there'd be more like this. Take mid-to-good games, remake them to be amazing, please!

[@SeaToSkyImages]

"What would games look like if developers had continued to focus on 2D pixel art rather than polygons?" One of the biggest tragedies in gaming for me was the relative death of 2D pixel art when the PS1 and N64 were released. I was a fan of 3D, but absolutely loved watching the evolution of 2D art in gaming. To see it get all but abandoned always struck a nerve with me. Seeing a game like SotN Reborn is like a view into an alternate world or something. It looks absolutely phenomenal.

[@Mostbaleia]

Sega originally planned for the Saturn to have only a 2D graphics processor. Sony ultimately forced everyone to migrate to 3D. I wonder, what kind of games would've come for the sega Saturn if it had been a 2D gaming console.

[@cube2fox]

There were actually quite a few (now forgotten) arcade games at the time that did look significantly better than SNES graphics while still being fully 2D. They had significantly higher resolution and super large sprites. They also weren't really limited by cartridge size. The channel SNES Drunk has a series on arcade games, some of which look amazing.

[@spacechannelfiver]

Would love to see a Treasure retrospective from John. My brief foray into consoling was with SEGA and the Saturn / Dreamcast before resuming my PC stance. Treasure, and actually a few others put out some amazing 2D / Pixel Art titles around then. Hat Tip to SNK also.

[@Mostbaleia]

@@spacechannelfiver Guardian Heroes still is my all time favourite game ever, treasure had something so special back then.

[@sillyskeleton]

Yeah man, it broke my heart when many of my favourite IP's jumped to 3D and never went back.

[@JorgeEscobarMX]

I just finished Blasphemous 2, I'm falling in love with these old games, remade as modern games. Thank you original team that made this game. I bought this yesterday, I'm going to have a lot of fun today.

[@Namistai25]

I really like this "retro" reviews. Thank you John! I will surely play this one.

[@ArturroT888]

Cyborgs and ninjas will never get old! I jumped the TENGO bandwagon with Ninja Warriors and then had to play all their games. Love their work!

[@novrac]

What about multiplayer? That"s what made this game a masterpiece on NES, it was the 1st time i saw a 2nd player using a different character and not just a recolor of the same sprites.

[@LordlyWeeb]

It's there

[@UNSTABLE111]

its there and its glorious

[@nintendianajones64]

What I wouldn't give for a Faxanadu remake. Infernax seems to be the closest.

[@RXR25]

Wow this game is absolutely beautiful

[@cikame]

Indie projects have created some beautiful new pixel art games and tributes to the past but there's something incredibly authentic about this game, i never heard of the original and i'm betting most people haven't either, hopefully it does well. Wild Guns is one of my favourite games and its remaster was beautiful, not as involved as this obviously, just really well made.

[@BubblegumCrash332]

DF Retro is so good it deserves to be its own channel

[@malcolmar]

Just bought this game on Steam to play on the Steam Deck. What a great game and it plays perfectly on the Deck. Win. Win. Later, I will also buy it on the Switch to support the developer.

[@Lonely_Gamer85]

I hope they move onto tokkyuu shirei Solbrain/Shatterhand for their next project.

[@nostartia]

I strongly believe, and wish, that game to be the next they "remake"

[@Lonely_Gamer85]

@@nostartia 🤞fingers crossed🤞

[@ronaldzamora8850]

Most likely they will use 'Shatterhand' brand since Solbrain was under the license of Toei Company who produced the live-action series of the same name.

[@Lonely_Gamer85]

@@ronaldzamora8850 that's a little bummer cause I loved the charactef design in Tokkyuu way more. The one shatterhand looked a little bland in comparrison( I mean just the lead character design).

[@Jacob-dw4vd]

Imagine Shatterhand with these visuals 🤔

[@Jadty]

Oh please! Now I wanna see that being made.

[@PurpleSanz]

There is actually a small Shatterhand reference (or cameo) in the game, which makes me think it will happen in the future.

[@joeszymanski3540]

​@@PurpleSanzReally? Where is it? I must have missed it.

[@PurpleSanz]

@@joeszymanski3540 Remember the "satellite robot helpers" you got in Shatterhand? There is one of those hidden in level 4 or 5 (EDIT: It's actually on Stage 6-1, right before you get the "GO" arrow pointing down), a flamethrower one. There might be more!, but I just finished the game once so far. I will do another run tomorrow, it's always a pleasure to enjoy Kaede's thiccness. ;D

[@joeszymanski3540]

@@PurpleSanz yep the ones from the crates. That's cool I'll look for it on next playthrough thanks! 😂& Yeah They definitely made her thick!! 😁

[@saulocpp]

Does it have the thunder bolt when you hold attack button to charge, which also takes like half of your hit points? I don't think the weapon system was unfair in the original, it required you to time the attack when using the faster or slower weapon. The hook fully upgraded, however, was too overpowered, it devastated bosses if your controller had turbo. Being able to hold either the sword or the hook, but not both, plus the platforming phases, would be a proper challenge now.

[@Flackon]

Looks great. Can't wait for Shatterhand: Reshattered

[@matteste]

What I really like about this remake it just how a fantastic job it does at capturing that distinct arcade sprite art look. It really does look as a lost arcade title.

[@SurrealLeaf]

This game, The Messenger and Cyber Shadow makes my "inner child whos into ninjas" happy.

[@danmakuman]

Try Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider as well ;)

[@Gryzor88]

❤ Natsume/Tengo and preordered a physical Switch copy right after playing the brilliant demo version =)

[@francescobicci3314]

Great choice with Omega Five OST. Nice underrated soundtrack

[@Moonwalker86]

😄😄😄 I just remembered that this is the guy who praised like crazy how stunning the clothes movement on a character are in No Rest for the Wicked game LMAO.

[@meherenow793]

I love remakes that don't change the original game

[@thanks_kojima]

I hope they do Shatterhand next

[@eqjase]

I remember buying Pocky and Rocky for SNES in a sale bin out front of a KB toy. It was 19.99, and there were probably 10 of them in that bin. Can you imagine?

[@G_Rad_Ski]

Right there with Earthbound

[@LeanFuture]

KB Toys!? Wow, I haven’t thought about that store in so many years that I had to dust the memory off 😂

[@robertlawrence9000]

Pocky and Rocky on SNES was one I rented a few times. It was that much fun! I purchased the Reshined version for PS4 on physical and also the digital version. I will be buying Shadow of the Ninja too!

[@ihaveallthecoins2785]

Shatterhand Remake will be their greatest opus! Actually these guys should give Ninja Spirits a go as well.

[@G_Rad_Ski]

Downloaded the demo. One of the fun games my mom bought for me on one of her trips and I had no idea it existed until I played it. Thanks mom!

[@Greenalink]

*I posted this comment to their Twitter but I share it here for YT viewers. The reason why the game only does checkpoint saves after a Game Over is 1 thing: *Achievements* Some of these achievements are deathless full game runs. If the game allowed saves by simply pausing, then a deathless run is a bit more feasible. But their current approach makes it so that getting a deathless achievement is a proper single full run attempt with no safety saves at all as the only way to checkpoint save is to die, preventing a deathless achievement.

[@doggity5149]

They made their game deliberately more annoying for some stupid trophy?

[@Greenalink]

@@doggity5149 A very 90s yep. I'd laugh out loud if the Switch version has no achievements which makes this situation even worse.

[@malcovich_games]

Other titles like Streets of Rage 4 did this better already: split arcade mode and "story mode" that has level select into separate modes. Should've copped this one.

[@FelOld]

​@@Greenalinknah, there was no achievement bs in the 90s.

[@Greenalink]

@@FelOld We did have unlockable cheats in the 90s as a different take of achievement. Moreso for N64 Goldeneye/Perfect Dark with PAR time speedruns and in-game medals in Turok Rage Wars.

[@TIDbitRETRO]

I feel like this game is really good, but something about the controls is just “off”. Not sure if it’s unintuitive mapping for certain moves, or just some occasional unresponsiveness, but it feels like you’re fighting the controls at times and it leads to unnecessary frustration. It definitely looks gorgeous though.

[@DudeDoesthing]

I love the inventory menu! You have to plan your item use and it’s so fun in time attack

[@deathdoor]

I like it all looks so "fluffy".

[@benzost920]

Ninjas are soooooooooooooooooooo sweet that I want to crap my pants.

[@mayanksingh12]

My childhood favorite game.. Kage has been remade😍

[@nenacara]

The running amination and the whole vibe reminds me of The Adventure of Little Ralph

[@moço_aquele]

Little Ralph is what first came to mind when I saw these visuals!

[@James-gj8rn]

I've not played Shadow of the Ninja before but this looks incredible, John's passion for it makes me want to try it, great video John :)

[@serfillustrated4018]

I just want a remake of The Guardian Legend.

[@bes5164]

me tooo but that game has nothing to do with NATSUME

[@serfillustrated4018]

@@bes5164 wELL aCTuaLLy.. smh

[@mikhailp1613]

Shadow of the ninja is one of my fav nes games. I like what they did based on this video, with one minor exception: visuals for main heroes look more comical, the original game had a more "serious" vibe.

[@LemonRush7777]

Looks amazing!

[@RetroCrisis]

Hi John, thanks for sharing. If you get time, try one of my NES CRT shader presets, it'll make the NES footage look more CRT'ish. No pressure

[@kaishmuper]

Great video! Most methodical Tengo game so far, I love it, the movement mechanics feel a lot like Treasure's stuff. 10/10 game

[@waynski1457]

Absolutely loving this game so far. The vibe I get from it reminds me a lot of Strider 2 on PS1, especially in the remixed music

[@robbyrobot3303]

I dislike the pretentious or ironic artstlye many indie games have. This looks so earnest and detailed. Tengo Project is the current king of pixel art

[@cube2fox]

I wouldn't exactly call this pixel art though. I looks like most of the art wasn't done by placing individual pixels with a mouse pointer. Probably lots of it was done by using soft brushes in something like Photoshop, perhaps involving a graphics tablet. And some of the art may have been created at a higher resolution and then downscaled to the target resolution. Though I'm not sure about that. Compare Earthworm Jim and Mega Man on the SNES: The latter looks like proper, simple pixel art, the former was clearly done with more advanced tools.

[@cube2fox]

Or to be more charitable, it may be 50% soft brushes and other tools, and 50% pixel art. Like I said, Earthworm Jim is a good comparison.

[@DudeDoesthing]

This game is a masterpiece. I love the game design and the visuals are some of my favorite in any game. I love playing time attack!

[@PokyBallinBabo]

So glad this game exists! 🥳

[@JohnGuyJohn]

Thanks for binging this game to my attention!

[@GoondocksCastle]

Tengo Project killing it with all of their releases holy shi

[@carlwynia7575]

"Showdown with this metallic worm." I love when video games make me say things that would sound insane when said out of context to non gamers.

[@DrJ3RK8]

I absolutely LOVED the NES game. I'd always play it with a friend of mine, because we were a C64 household :D Definitely one of my favorites of the time though. I picked up this remake a while ago, but haven't had a chance to play it yet. Can't wait to give it a whirl.

[@Rationalific]

Beautiful-looking game, and another excellent review from John!

[@SotNist]

Would have loved to see John take a look at Cygni.

[@Robert-hb9mo]

This new game looks amazing!

[@theinvisibleman-e8v]

Awesome review

[@CorePixels]

That save system is insane. If i play the world 5 then quit out like a normal person, my continue save will be stage 1??? oh nahh. Other that huge thing, it looks good,

[@Chaoskae]

that omega 5 background music❤‍🔥❤‍🔥❤‍🔥

[@Sacrush]

Looks awesome, waiting for my physical copy...

[@akaimizu1]

Glad you made this video while the Switch version still has reasonably priced physical copies out on Play Asia. And the PS versions are out now and available at price.

[@vandammage1747]

Game is indeed gorgeous

[@tomkirbygreen]

Drool… ❤

[@KraftLawrence1]

I really enjoy theg fact theres a degree of scanlines setting, it looks amazing maxed out, but you can choose how pronounced you want it instead of the usual on or off.

[@RionRedemp83]

This actually downscales very nicely in 15khz. The trick is to boot it up in 480x270p@55hz (cirka) then switch over to 480x240p@60hz The game has to be in Borderless window before doing so but after that it looks beautiful 😍

[@HeroOfLegend115]

This is my favorite game that I have played in a while, I have not been able to put it down since picking it up. Another thing to note when discussing the jump controls, the two characters handle a bit differently. Hayate runs slower but has a longer jump, where Kaede has faster foot speed but a shorter, heavier jump.

[@evilalex87]

looks amazing

[@Nolasco.]

I am always conflicted about which version I should get, the Playstation or the Switch, thanks for clearing that up John ❤

[@Nolasco.]

@@PlasticCogLiquid just watch the video my dude, its a great video 😁👍🏼

[@PurpleSanz]

6:42 I ran into the exact same "problem" several times in the game, and I respectfully disagree with you. Here is why: back in the day, games didn't hold your hand by making a tutorial stage, segment or anything like it, no, you had to find out by yourself, which is exactly what I ended up doing when I noticed jumping lacked momentum, so I started trying random old-school combinations until I found that spinning move. Same for the wall run, it just feels so rewarding once you figure it out on your own. It's part of that old-school challenge feeling, this game just nails it! I'm pretty sure at least 80 % of people who played Earthworm Jim 2 back in the day, have absolutely no idea what the Manta Shield is, for example. And that is awesome!

[@ThomasVvV]

2024 and some people still confuse bad trial and error design with difficulty

[@kjetilfrugard8395]

Looks great. On the top of my head, it would be cool to get this style of remake for other NES games like Little Samson, Batman or Castlevania.

[@mrhobs]

DAMN!! How much A** can TENGO PROJECT KICK!!?!?!? 😂 As soon as I saw the new graphics I suspected them, and then when you said the name I was like “OF FREAKIN’ COURE ITS THOSE GUYS!!!” Damn, this is so up my alley!! Absolutely loved what they did with Pocky and Rocky (Kiki Kaikai), hope they keep cranking out these masterpieces!!

[@SigeaIdris]

This looks gorgeous

[@wiegraf9009]

I do want to say shoutouts to Tengo Project/NatsumeAtari for doing a PC release for this game. It's so sad that M2 steadfastly refuse to release any of their work on PC and therefore tie it to platforms that will be more easily lost with time. I understand that this was fairly easy for Tengo Project to do since this was built from the ground up in Unity but it feels like a challenge that M2 should undertake to build a really solid PC compatible framework, and yet they do what they love and that doesn't include PC work. Oh well.

[@gustavobarandas2012]

Looks amazing. I love how the new Castlevania Revisited looks as well

[@masterofdoom5000]

A true ninja game experience, only the capable will be able to make it look good in motion and I appreciate that. It's certainly not easy to make it look easy :D

[@CheckmateStallioN]

Cant wait for my Strictly Limited collectors edition copy to arrive. This game is a delight on the switch OLED. Played the demo and and it's that good I double dipped on PC version too. Blazing Chrome also has stellar pixel art! Strong Saturn vibes

[@TheKayliedGamerChannel-YouTube]

From what ive seen Its really nicely drawn.

[@Gure_Shimo]

People should stop complaining about not beat steages or sections on the first try. That point of many sections in which you don't know what to do, is to force you to learn what skill/action to use to clear it. The complain here is a nonissue.

[@JustinCoats-o6q]

Absolute show stopper. They nailed this. Does this release contain the original game?

[@diehlr]

Now THIS is the way to remake a game. This looks WAY better to me than the cell shaded look in other remakes / sequels like Wonderboy 3, SOR4, etc. This game looks absolutely fantastic!

[@HunterTinsley]

This game is hard as hell. Played some last night with my kid and couldn't get past the third level.

[@Ownko]

Omega Five music! I wish Tengo Project tackles that game again one day but in beautiful pixel art instead.

[@JerryFlowersIII]

I love the soundscape. Especially the grunt of the guy shooting the sword slash, it sounds very Gamecube to me which I grew up with. I'd be curious to learn exactly how they get that quality of audio.