Info about Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn:

Official game description:
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Show off ninja skills in the remake of a legendary dark and futuristic classic!
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It’s 2029. A vicious dystopian future. And it’s up to two warriors of the night to save the nation!  
After 34 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.  
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An arsenal of deadly weapons:
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**  
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!  
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Jungle of concrete and steel:
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6 complex, expansive, and masterfully designed stages test your skills through devious traps and challenging platform puzzles.  
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Two ninjas are better than one:
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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.  
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A Star-Studded, Rockin’ Soundtrack:
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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!  
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A fresh new look:
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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.  
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The Lethal Tools of the Trade:
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Use your hard-earned points in the tool shop and customize your loadout for the next play session.  
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Features:
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*   Caltrops, shuriken, and more!
*   5 completely recreated stages featuring devious traps and challenging platform puzzles. Plus, a 6th entirely new stage!
*   Grab a friend and get ready for the critically acclaimed couch co-op!
*   Beautiful modern sprite art as a faithful update to the 8-bit original.
*   Play along with the legendary Hiroshi Iwatsuki’s and Iku Mizutani’s electrifying guitar riffs and fast-paced retro melodies.
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!**
**Extraordinary Artists:**
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**As with the original version, Dynamic Pro handled the illustrations!**  
The key visuals/character illustrations are also by Dynamic Productions, as was the case with the first version in 1990.  
**Dynamic Production**  
Since its establishment in 1969, Dynamic Productions has been engaged in the management of manga artists, novelists and manga authors, including Go Nagai, as well as producing newly drawn manga, planning various events and managing the copyrights of its artists.  
**Mikio Tachibana**  
Born 11 May 1976 in Saitama Prefecture.After working as an assistant to Go Nagai, he made his debut in 2004 and has since published serialised works such as Mazinger Otome and Mazinger Otome Taisen. He continues to publish short manga, newly drawn manga and illustrated works in all genres.

Release date: Aug 29, 2024

Categories: Action Platformer, 2D Platformer, Arcade, Local Co-op, Ninja, Retro Aesthetics, Precision Platformer, Remaster

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 45; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The feedback indicates the game is playable on Linux and Steam Deck-like systems, but not fully seamless: users report that Proton GE9 is needed for smooth performance, and the most recurring gameplay barrier is imprecise, inconsistent controller behavior with underused buttons and an awkward inventory. No crashes, anti-cheat failures, unreadable UI, external launcher problems, or major battery drain are reported in the provided evidence.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $14.99 - $19.99
  - Reasoning: The price-relevant feedback is limited but consistently discount-oriented: one reviewer treats waiting for a sale as a reasonable option, and another explicitly recommends the game on promotion, mainly for NES nostalgia. No review states a specific dollar amount, and the Chinese review concerns racing-mode item restrictions rather than price. These signals support a fair base-game range around the upper teens, with a clear expectation that a sale price is more attractive, so I estimate roughly $14.99 to $19.99.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 2.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: 22.0h
  - Reasoning: Completion reports range from about 50-77 minutes for practiced clears to about 4 hours for initial Normal playthroughs, so 2 hours is used as a practical midpoint for gameCompletion. The 22-hour Kaede exploration quote is the clearest evidence of extended replay/mastery time, so endgame is set to 22 hours. No separate story mode or consistent session-length figure is reported, so storyCompletion and sessionLength are null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Players often face a demanding, tutorial-light opening and report that the game becomes fun after its mechanics click or after co-op partners coordinate strategies. Some reviewers enjoy the arcade action immediately, so the evidence is mixed.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: When everything clicks
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: punishing difficulty; no tutorial or clear item-use guidance; replaying after death can be a slog; co-op automatically forces hard mode; co-op partners must decide who gets each power-up; repetitive motion can cause hand pain
  - Unlock drivers: gameplay mechanics clicking; co-op partners communicating strategies
  - Conditions: co-op defaults to hard difficulty and cannot be changed; co-op is unavailable until finishing the game once or entering a secret cheat; no online multiplayer; remote play options are required; stage design reportedly worsens with progress; shared power-ups affect co-op enjoyment; hand pain or repetitive-motion sensitivity affects enjoyment
- Player Archetypes:
  - Nostalgic NES Remake Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Relive the NES original and see a classic action platformer remade with modern pixel art.
    - Playstyle: Plays with memory of the original, compares the remake to its source, and values faithful old-school action.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: old NES player; nostalgic player
    - Reference games: Shadow of the Ninja
  - Old-School Challenge Master (buy)
    - Motivation: Master a punishing but fair action platformer through practice, pattern learning, and execution.
    - Playstyle: Memorizes enemy patterns and stage layouts, treats each move as a commitment, and replays to improve.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Co-op Partner Strategist (buy)
    - Motivation: Share the challenge and fun of two-player co-op with a friend or partner.
    - Playstyle: Coordinates strategies in co-op, accepts the harder default difficulty, and uses remote-play workarounds when online play is absent.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Castlevania-Style Item Router (buy)
    - Motivation: Use items and planned routing cleverly within a deliberate action-platformer framework.
    - Playstyle: Plans stage routes, manages inventory choices, and experiments with item use across multiple playthroughs.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Castlevania; Castlevania IV


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Beautiful pixel art (weight 0.3): Reviewers consistently praise the gorgeous, colorful pixel art and sprite animation. The visual style is described as juicy, neat, and absolutely beautiful.
- Stunning modern graphics (weight 0.27): Many players highlight the breathtaking, beautiful graphics and visually impressive backgrounds. The modern visuals are considered fantastic and highly appealing.
- Top-tier action platformer (weight 0.19): Reviewers call it one of the best action platformers in years. It is described as an amazing arcade-style action platformer with great level design.
- Tough but fair difficulty (weight 0.15): Many reviewers note the high difficulty is fair and consistent, with a challenging yet rewarding experience reminiscent of NES classics. The challenge is considered tough but fair even on normal.
- Solid mechanics (weight 0.15): The game's mechanics are described as rock solid, well-designed, and reliable. Gameplay feels smooth and refined.
- Satisfying mastery curve (weight 0.14): The game is very enjoyable to learn and master, with controls that feel wonderful once mastered. Players find the progression very satisfying.
- Enjoyable arcade experience (weight 0.13): The game feels like a classic arcade game and is especially suited to players who enjoy arcade-style action and replay value. It offers a fun, old-school challenge.
- Excellent remake (weight 0.11): The game is widely regarded as an excellent, worthy remake of a classic. It is praised for being extremely well-designed and faithful to the original.
- Well-designed enemies (weight 0.11): Enemy designs are great and very well made. Bosses are particularly good, featuring multi-phase patterns.
- Fun two-player mode (weight 0.06): The two-player mode is highlighted as much more fun, making the game enjoyable for cooperative play.

Common complaints:
- Cumbersome item switching (weight 0.28): Item switching is counter-intuitive and cumbersome, often requiring standing still and holding buttons. This slows down gameplay and leads to getting hit while selecting.
- Stiff and awkward controls (weight 0.25): Players consistently describe the controls as stiff, awkward, and terrible, making the game feel unresponsive. This is a widespread complaint across multiple clusters.
- Save system confusion and bugs (weight 0.23): The save system is unclear and buggy: players can only save by pressing EXIT on the game over screen after dying. Pausing and returning to title loses progress.
- Overloaded and confusing input (weight 0.2): The control scheme is overloaded and confusing, with even basic actions like jumping becoming unpredictable. The hang mechanic and wall interactions are particularly inconsistent.
- Sluggish character movement (weight 0.14): The character feels sluggish in both movement and actions, reducing satisfaction and increasing perceived difficulty. Slow attack and jump animations further contribute to this.
- Imprecise controls hinder precision (weight 0.14): Controls are imprecise and inaccurate, which is especially problematic given the game's demand for precision. Difficulty arises from difficult controls rather than design.
- Jump and movement mismatch (weight 0.11): Forward movement speed and jump speed are completely different with no transition, making jumps feel off. Jumping and upward roll feel terrible.
- No key rebinding (weight 0.06): Players cannot change key bindings, including direction keys, which limits accessibility and comfort.
- Awkward without controller (weight 0.06): Playing without a controller is awkward, and a controller is recommended for a better experience.
- New actions feel awkward (weight 0.06): New moves and actions feel awkward to use, adding to the overall clunky feel.

Gameplay feedback:
- Action platformer gameplay (weight 0.36): The core gameplay is a fast-paced action platformer with a full moveset, typical of old-school arcade-style action games. It blends classic platforming with combat.
- Classic NES remake (weight 0.25): The game is a complete reimagining of a classic NES/Famicom title, preserving the original spirit while adding new moves and item systems. It features renewed graphics and updated mechanics.
- Arcade-style design (weight 0.23): The game follows an arcade-style structure, emphasizing replay value over lengthy content. It includes modes like single-player arcade with difficulty levels and 1CC challenges.
- Item management system (weight 0.2): An item selection and management system is present, with seven inventory slots shared between subweapons and healing items. Limited ninja gear items can be used.
- Sword and chain weapons (weight 0.19): Players wield a sword and a chain hook by default, with additional weapons available. The chain attack has long reach but slower recovery.
- Commitment-based combat (weight 0.15): Combat and movement require commitment, with methodical attacks and dodges that lack invincibility frames. The chain attack has long recovery, emphasizing timing.
- High-precision platforming (weight 0.14): Platforming sections demand high precision, with jump sections and drop-through/climb-up mechanics. The game challenges players with precise jumps and timing.
- Hard mode available (weight 0.14): The game offers a hard difficulty option with more aggressive enemies. Multiple difficulty levels, including normal and hard, are supported.
- Wall traversal mechanics (weight 0.13): The game includes wall grab, wall climb, wall jump, hovering, and ladder grab mechanics. These enhance platforming and exploration.
- Two-player co-op (weight 0.11): Supports local co-op play for two players, allowing friends to team up. This mode is available for couch co-op sessions.
- Two playable ninja characters (weight 0.11): Players can choose between two ninja characters, Hayate and Kaede. Each has different performance in running, jumping, and air spin distance.
- Boss battles (weight 0.09): Boss battles are included and resemble fighting game encounters, adding variety to the action platforming. Players must defeat these bosses to progress.
- Six stages (weight 0.09): The game consists of six distinct stages, each likely featuring platforming challenges and enemies. This provides a compact arcade-like experience.
- Infinite continues (weight 0.06): The game offers infinite continues, allowing players to retry without limit. This makes the game more accessible for arcade-style play.

Performance notes:
- Linux compatibility praised (weight 0.04): User reports that the game runs well on Linux distributions Fedora and Bazzite using Proton GE9, with no lag even when using an offboard GPU.

Recommendations:
- Strongly recommended by many (weight 0.31): Numerous reviewers praise the game and give strong recommendations, citing it as a fantastic remake and a pleasure to play. Many say it is worth playing and highly recommended.
- Appeals to arcade and platformer fans (weight 0.26): The game is recommended for fans of arcade games, classic sidescrolling platformers, and action platformers. It is particularly praised for providing a fair, balanced challenge.
- Nostalgia drives recommendation (weight 0.21): Recommendations are often conditional on nostalgia for NES or 90s arcade games, with some saying it's only for nostalgia seekers. Others note nostalgic players may not find much satisfaction.
- Not recommended for general audience (weight 0.14): Several reviewers advise against buying, calling it not a good game or not recommended for purchase. Some suggest saving money and choosing a better option.
- Wait for sale or discount (weight 0.09): Several reviewers suggest buying on sale or waiting for a discount, especially for players who played the original. One says whether to buy now or wait is up to you.
- Casual players may not enjoy (weight 0.09): Casual players who cannot adapt to its rules may not enjoy the game. It requires patience and skill, and not recommended for players not confident in their skill.
- Controller or joystick recommended (weight 0.06): Playing with a joystick or gamepad is recommended, and one reviewer advises against playing without a controller. A controller enhances the experience.
- Hard to recommend broadly (weight 0.06): The game is hard to recommend to a wide audience, as it may drive away players seeking a more balanced experience. It is niche.
- True challenge in 1CC mode (weight 0.06): For those seeking a true challenge, the 1CC mode on hard provides a full range of emotions. It is recommended for advanced action players who actively seek difficulty.
- Modern take on underrated classic (weight 0.06): Reviewers suggest giving it a try as a modern take on an underrated NES classic. It is a fantastic remake that improves on the original.
- Not for modern gameplay seekers (weight 0.06): Reviewers advise not to play this if you want modern gameplay or controls. It is tailored to classic style and may not appeal to those expecting modern conveniences.
- Continue system criticized (weight 0.06): The continue system is a point of criticism, with one reviewer not recommending the game due to it. However, another suggests making use of continues for practice.
- Try the demo first (weight 0.06): Reviewers recommend trying the demo to decide for yourself, especially new players who should only buy if they can beat the demo.
- Mixed feelings on value (weight 0.06): Some reviewers say it is good enough to buy twice, while others say to save your money. Opinions on value are divided.
- Not for side-scrolling platformer fans (weight 0.04): One reviewer warns that the game is not suitable for side-scrolling platformer fans and advises against buying to avoid torture.
- Not for action game enthusiasts (weight 0.04): A reviewer does not recommend buying the game to any action game enthusiast, indicating it may not meet their expectations.
- Play Ninja Gaiden Ragebound instead (weight 0.04): One reviewer recommends playing Ninja Gaiden Ragebound instead for a better experience, implying this game is inferior.
- Second player or solo play (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for playing with a second player or alone. It offers flexibility for different play styles.
- Avoid soundtrack purchase (weight 0.03): One reviewer explicitly advises not to buy the soundtrack, suggesting it is not worth the extra purchase.

Other player notes:
- Remake of NES classic (weight 0.42): The game is a remake of the NES game Shadow of the Ninja (Kage/Blue Shadow). It is developed by the original team, including Tengo Project and Natsume, and re-envisions the classic title.
- Compared to classic action games (weight 0.2): Reviewers compare the game to classic action-platformers like Ninja Gaiden, Castlevania, and Mega Man, noting influences and similarities. Some say it's a better Shinobi game than Art of Vengeance.
- Developed by Tengo Project (weight 0.17): The game is developed by Tengo Project, known for other remakes, and is part of their series of 16-bit style remakes. The original developers worked on this remake.
- Short game length (weight 0.17): The game is considered short, with only six stages and a playthrough on normal taking about three to four hours. It can be finished in about an hour once mastered, and some reviewers completed it in two hours.
- Original NES version more responsive (weight 0.15): Reviewers compare the remake unfavorably to the original NES version, stating that the original feels more responsive and has better controls.
- Great pixel art and music (weight 0.15): The pixel art and animation are gorgeous, compared favorably to Owlboy, Blasphemous, and Metal Slug. The music is fun, fitting, and includes modern arrangements of recognizable Kage themes.
- Difficult and frustrating gameplay (weight 0.14): The game is described as difficult and frustrating, compared to Elden Ring and Dark Souls for its punishing nature. Some find it hard but fair, while others find it purely frustrating.
- Favorable comparison to Tengo Project games (weight 0.12): The game is compared favorably to other Tengo Project titles, though some reviewers prefer Wild Guns Reloaded and Pocky & Rocky Reshrined. It has a more mixed reception than other releases.
- Original dev team involvement (weight 0.1): Members of the original NES title worked on this remake, with the original developers revisiting the game with new knowledge.
- Added new stage and content (weight 0.1): The remake adds one new stage to the original's five, and includes new action and subweapon elements. The story is no longer set in New York.
- Reasonable achievements and no DLC (weight 0.07): The game has a reasonable set of achievements and no additional DLC or battle passes. It also has no seasonal content.
- Controversial art style (weight 0.07): The game features a Q-version art style that is considered controversial, and the pixel art is almost entirely drawn from scratch in 16-bit style.
- Demo available (weight 0.06): A demo is available for the game, allowing players to try it before purchasing.
- Reuses original NES themes (weight 0.06): The game reuses original themes from the NES version and includes modern arrangements of recognizable Kage themes.
- Nostalgia-based purchase (weight 0.05): Some reviewers bought the game at full price out of nostalgia, and the review may be influenced by nostalgic feelings.
- Mastery requires multiple playthroughs (weight 0.05): The game is designed to be mastered over time, requiring dozens of playthroughs, and is not meant to be finished once.
- Manual and display options (weight 0.05): A manual is available in the options, and a scanline filter is available under display settings, though it does not replicate a CRT well.
- Two-player mode supported (weight 0.05): The game supports a two-player mode, but the two playable characters play identically according to the manual.
- Less grim atmosphere than original (weight 0.05): Compared to the original, the game is less grim but keeps the overall atmosphere, and is a competent homage to the past.
- Lack of online multiplayer (weight 0.04): The game has no online multiplayer, but Steam Remote Play Together and Parsec are viable alternatives for playing with others.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.29): Players are frustrated by a broken or unclear save system that loses progress, forcing restarts and long uninterrupted sessions. Controls are often described as stiff, counterintuitive, and clunky, with awkward button combinations and sluggish response. High difficulty, punitive level design, and tedious continue processes compound the frustration, especially during boss fights and platforming sections.
- Disappointment (weight 0.13): Many expected an upgraded version of the classic game but found the remake lacking, with controls that feel worse than the original and gameplay that is janky or not fun. The game is criticized for being too short, too difficult, and having cumbersome item and weapon systems that hinder enjoyment. Changes to art style, music, and core mechanics further diminish the experience for fans of the original.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.09): Satisfaction comes from mastering the game's deliberate controls and challenging gameplay, often after repeated attempts. Players feel a sense of accomplishment when they learn stages, improve over time, and complete difficult challenges like no-continue runs. The feeling of mastery and the rewarding gameplay loop contribute to this emotion.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.08): Players enjoy the game's smooth refined gameplay, fun co-op mode, and solid mechanics. The challenge is engaging, and learning to master the controls and scoring system provides a rewarding experience. The game becomes more fun the more it is played, especially when aiming for a 1cc.
- Admiration (weight 0.08): Admiration is driven by tight controls, gorgeous pixel art, and fantastic level design that showcase excellent craftsmanship. The remake is praised for staying true to the original while elevating the genre, with rock-solid mechanics and a design that requires skill over brute force. Many consider it a masterclass in game design and a love letter to classic action platformers.
- Annoyance (weight 0.05): Annoyance stems from inconsistent controls, especially in climbing and hanging mechanics, and item usage that requires standing still with long recovery animations. Later stages feel intentionally unfair, with precision hitboxes and repeated fall deaths causing health loss. The item pouch usability is poor, and switching items takes too long, disrupting the flow of gameplay.
- Appreciation (weight 0.04): Appreciation is expressed for the beautiful sprites, excellent soundtrack, and attention to detail in visuals and sound. The game is seen as a great homage with bigger maps and more content, and its deliberate design choices are respected for creating thoughtful gameplay. The developers' mercy in granting more healing items after deaths is also appreciated.
- Anger (weight 0.03): Anger is fueled by design decisions perceived as unfair, such as making the male character jump higher and thereby making the female character's platforming harder. Unfair trap hitboxes that burn players from impossible positions and forced hard mode in multiplayer also provoke anger. Additionally, fighting control logic in the last level instead of the boss ruins the sense of achievement.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.03): Nostalgia is evoked by familiar music and classic content that reminds players of playing the original on NES as a kid. Recognizable Kage themes in modern arrangement and fond memories of playing Blue Shadow contribute to this feeling. The game successfully taps into childhood memories of classic console gaming.
- Excitement (weight 0.02): Excitement is generated by stunning art, platforming, and combat, as well as hardcore old-school gameplay that feels like a puzzle. Seeing Tengo Project veterans deliver fantastic action games and anticipating a Shatterhand remake adds to the excitement. Responsive controls and fun commitment-focused combat on PC further enhance this emotion.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Enthusiasm is high for the excellent changes, arcade action, visuals, soundtrack, and co-op experience. Beautiful pixel art and nostalgic music contribute to a standout arcade-style action platformer. The game is praised as a fantastic playthrough that delivers on all fronts.
- Disgust (weight 0.02): Disgust is directed at poor controls compared to the NES version, reversed tool switching, and the overall control system. The awful jumping feel is particularly off-putting. These issues make the game feel unpleasant to play for some.
- Relief (weight 0.01): Relief is felt when the chain mechanic saves the player, or when the game heals their AAA fatigued soul. PC controls being responsive despite forum worries about unresponsive controls in a console demo also provides relief. The game offers a refreshing experience that alleviates concerns.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion arises from dying in stage 3 and being sent back to stage 2 with no save, and from controls on walls or corners after jumping. Bizarre key settings and the inability to rebind to arrow keys or numpad add to the confusion. The save and continue systems are not clearly explained, leading to progress loss.
- Dissatisfaction (weight 0.01): Dissatisfaction is caused by poor controls and a sluggish character, blurry and non-HD visuals, and inconsistent save and continue specifications that make the boss-restart feature meaningless. These technical and design issues detract from the overall experience.
- Love (weight 0.01): Love for the game is expressed through appreciation of the beautiful pixel art and improvements over the original. Players absolutely love the game and find it rules and a lot of fun. The game resonates strongly with its audience.
- Irritation (weight 0.01): Irritation is caused by accidental wall jumps and unreliable grab timing in jump actions, as well as awkward mantling and grappling button combinations causing wrong reactions. These control issues lead to frequent mistakes and frustration during gameplay.
- Wonder (weight 0): Wonder is evoked by the game bringing back memories of renting it with Super Mario Bros 3. The nostalgic experience creates a sense of awe and fond recollection.
- Gratitude (weight 0): Gratitude is felt towards Natsume for fulfilling their promise to bring back the ninjas. The developer's commitment to reviving the classic series is appreciated by fans.
- Pain (weight 0): Pain is specifically mentioned regarding the Garuda battle, which is described as ruined. This indicates a strong negative emotional response to a particular boss encounter.}