A side-scrolling action game with unique stage design, The Secret of Shinobi is a serviceable experience. You complete levels by saving civilians in each level, riddled with enemies until you go to the third stage where you have a boss fight across 5 worlds. All these levels are 2 minutes long, but it is more than enough time unless you really are trying to explore the levels, of which there is no point. The boss fights are fine, but nothing special, the issue I have with them is there hitboxes which are either difficult to hit or laughably easy to hit. There is no in between. Enemies become more active as the stages go but the stages allow for less movement then you'd like, which can lead to frustrating deaths. You also have a dog with you, who can freeze enemies. It is useless on tougher enemies so you will not find much use for it in the game.
Audio design is satisfactory. The soundtrack is nothing special, but it fits the environments. Hit sounds and other sound effects are also decent. The best part of the audio is the unique power-ups and bonus stages, which have an undoubtedly characteristic sound of it's time. The visuals are excellent, with good sprite work, identifiable enemies and patterns, and the Shadow Dancer himself doesn't look that bad either. Environments and their worlds are thankfully distinct, with nice stages, however the last world is disappointing and feels rushed with it's boring warehouse look. The final boss's room makes up for this.
The gameplay is typical with not much unique features, every level plays out the same way, as do the boss fights, but that doesn't mean it's bad by any means, because it is fun. Controls and movements are excellent with many ways in which you can move in your character in the precise way you would like. Hitboxes apart from the boss fights are fair, however near the end there is a lot more action going, but less room to do things within it. It can lead to cheap deaths and the final stage itself is a lives sink. It also would have been nice if boss fights had no timers since as previously said, the hitboxes can be a bit too small on the bosses. Once you finish the game, the only thing left is to try and increase your high-score.
Shadow Dancer is a short well-made action plat-former romp, just don't expect much else from it.
Audio design is satisfactory. The soundtrack is nothing special, but it fits the environments. Hit sounds and other sound effects are also decent. The best part of the audio is the unique power-ups and bonus stages, which have an undoubtedly characteristic sound of it's time. The visuals are excellent, with good sprite work, identifiable enemies and patterns, and the Shadow Dancer himself doesn't look that bad either. Environments and their worlds are thankfully distinct, with nice stages, however the last world is disappointing and feels rushed with it's boring warehouse look. The final boss's room makes up for this.
The gameplay is typical with not much unique features, every level plays out the same way, as do the boss fights, but that doesn't mean it's bad by any means, because it is fun. Controls and movements are excellent with many ways in which you can move in your character in the precise way you would like. Hitboxes apart from the boss fights are fair, however near the end there is a lot more action going, but less room to do things within it. It can lead to cheap deaths and the final stage itself is a lives sink. It also would have been nice if boss fights had no timers since as previously said, the hitboxes can be a bit too small on the bosses. Once you finish the game, the only thing left is to try and increase your high-score.
Shadow Dancer is a short well-made action plat-former romp, just don't expect much else from it.