Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn: The Three-Decade Journey of a Cult Classic and its Epic Remake, Out Now on Xbox

The nimble ninjas Hayate and Kaede are finally back in Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn!

Katana? Check. Shuriken? Check. Grappling hook? Check. Ready to tackle Emperor Garuda’s army!

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn is the brand new, unexpected remake of the cult classic Shadow of the Ninja (a.k.a. The Dark Operative: Kage, a.k.a. Blue Shadow, a.k.a. Yami no Shigotonin Kage), originally released in 1990 on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The game was later ported a few times on various Nintendo consoles, before finally hitting Xbox Series X|S with this here remake.

After having earned widespread acclaim from action loving gamers and the wider gaming industry in the 90s, particularly for its co-op gameplay, Shadow of the Ninja is back and better than ever, remade by the original development team, Tengo Project. They might be slightly grayer (I mean, it’s been three decades!), but their passion and commitment for making good ole’ thrilling hack ‘n slash action games have not changed one bit!

Following the success of both Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors and Pocky & Rocky Reshrined, Inin is once more partnering with NatsumeAtari and Tengo Project to dish out another serving of unbridled ninja action to modern consoles.

Set in the far future of 2029 (look, the plot is from the 90s), Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn recounts the tales of Lord Hayate and Lady Kaede, two noble ninjas of the Iga clan on a quest to depose the evil Emperor Garuda and his army of robotic soldiers. A daunting task, but not impossible for ones as skilled and armed as they are.

The Tengo Project trio have worked together on many a Natsume 90s action game. In a recent interview, soon to be available online, they give us a thrilling behind-the-scenes glimpse into the triumphs and challenges of developing Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn, their fourth 16-bit remake and take us on an unforgettable journey through the history and background of this acclaimed development team. Snippets of this interview can be seen in the soon-to-drop Inin launch trailer.

As a love letter to the original game and to platformers of yore, Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn is a full-sized remake that boasts gorgeous modern pixel art and new designs from the original artists, a reworked score based on the original from star composer Iku Mizutani, and an array of additional features that will keep fans busy for more than a couple of playthroughs.

For the real retro game and music aficionados amongst you, Inin will also release a Digital Deluxe Edition, that includes the electrifying digital soundtrack by legends Iku Mizutani and Hiroyuki Iwatsuki, who helped create that iconic Natsume sound!

Pick your favorite character, maybe grab a friend along the way, and prepare to run, jump, climb and fight Garuda’s army across five stages (plus a sixth brand new stage), complete with bosses and mini-bosses!

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn is available now on Xbox Series X|S.

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn

United Games Entertainment

☆☆☆☆☆ 9

★★★★★

$19.99

Get it now

It’s 2029. A vicious dystopian future. And it’s up to two warriors of the night to save the nation! After 33 years in the shadows, prepare to see this legendary action adventure in a new light! Looking and playing better than ever before, Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn is Tengo Project’s remake of a cult classic, that the fans have been waiting for. In this thrilling action-adventure, you will use your striking katana along with a wide variety of weaponry that has greatly expanded from the NES original, as well as the acrobatic finesse of a ninja to face the onslaught of powerful enemies. Although, the challenge does not end here! 6 complex, expansive, and masterfully designed stages test your skills through devious traps and challenging platform puzzles. Critically acclaimed as one of the best 2-player co-ops of its time, Shadow of the Ninja—Reborn lets you play together locally as the legendary ninjas Hayate and Kaede. In addition to the contributions of Tengo Project, this remake also features Iku Mizutani, the star composer who helped create the iconic Natsume sound and renowned tracks for various NES games. Fans of Mr. Mizutani and retro gamers across the world will find delight in his renowned guitar riffs and fast-paced retro melodies! Our fearless heroes, Hayate and Kaede have undergone a massive visual upgrade over their original 8-bit models. And the improvements don’t stop there: From the deadly foes to the no-less deadly stages, every part of this title has been faithfully recreated in stunning high-quality sprites. So, cloak yourself in shadows and slash your way through a treacherous concrete jungle of the future in this dark action gem Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn!