Shadow of the Ninja Reborn... Reviewed: A Fresh Take on Retro 2D Gaming

Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn is a must-play for fans of 2D retro games. This 2024 release offers clean 2D pixel graphics, smooth animations, and engaging gameplay that pays homage to the original 1990 “Shadow of the Ninja.” Younger gamers, who often find retro games too stiff, will appreciate the fluidity of this title, reminiscent of classics gems like Metal Slug.

Storyline:

In Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn, you follow the Dark Assassins, Hayate and Kaede, from the Ryuha Shippu clan. Hayate, the future leader, and his senior, Kaede, embark on a mission not only for substantial rewards but also to liberate people from the antagonist’s tyranny. Hayate’s journey is as much about mastering his ninja skills as it is about controlling his temper, with Kaede ensuring he stays level-headed.

Gameplay:

The game features multiple modes, including the standard Arcade Mode and Time Attack Mode, where players can compete for the best times on online leaderboards (serving replay value for those craving competition).

Players can jump, attack, shadow step, and use various weapons and health items. The kusarigama allows for 360 degree long ranged attacks, you're able to wall run, suspend from scaffolding, stand on the handle of your blade for downward attacks mechanics add depth to the gameplay. Don’t forget to use your Ninjutsu attack when things get tough!

  Family Fun  

This game is perfect for family gaming sessions. While it supports two players, you can take turns, just like in the old days. Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn, is available for $19.99 on Switch, Playstation, PC Steam, and Xbox. Physical copies available... here.

Audio:

The music and audio effects in Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn evoke a nostalgic feel, reminiscent of Streets of Rage, Final Fight, and even stages from games like King of Fighters '93 (or possibly from '95, it's been awhile). The retro vibe is strong... in a good way + it feels fresh and exciting.

Price:

While more stages or a stage creation feature would be a welcome addition, Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn is a solid experience at $19.99. A price point of $14.99 might be a sweet spot in my opinion, but the game offers plenty of enjoyment for its cost.

Story 4 - You know the story (as mentioned above), but... if there were an actual (skippable) cutscene in place after the initial splash screens, that would be great. There is a cutscene, but... you have to wait at the title screen before it begins. How many people are going to actually wait around to see it, if they even know its there? Let the cutscene get it's shine.

Visuals 5

Audio 5

Price 5

4.75 out of 5 Cool Points

 + Sophi 

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FTS: Dog Man swoops in for his first... video game adventure!

 

Game Publisher Mindscape Partners with Dav Pilkey for Very First Video Game Inspired by Bestselling Dog Man Graphic Novel Series

NEW YORK and AMSTERDAM – Aug. 8, 2024 – Publisher Mindscape and Dav Pilkey have partnered to bring the bestselling Dog Man graphic novel series to the world of video games. This license agreement grants Mindscape global distribution rights for “Dog Man: Mission Impawsible,” in both digital and physical versions of the game. The worldwide partnership was brokered by The Joester Loria Group, exclusive global licensing agent for Dog Man and Cat Kid Comic Club, on behalf of Writers House and Dav Pilkey.

With his trademark humor and heart, #1 bestselling author and award-winning illustrator Dav Pilkey has made reading fun for kids with the Dog Man graphic novel series, which was launched by Scholastic in August 2016, has sold more than 60 million copies in print and been translated into 47 languages. The latest title in the series, Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder, published in March 2024, was the #1 bestselling book overall (children’s and adult books combined) in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland, and was the #1 bestselling children’s book in the U.K. Pilkey’s Cat Kid Comic Club series, a spin-off of Dog Man, launched in 2020 to critical acclaim and topped bestseller lists worldwide.

"We are excited to partner with Mindscape to bring Dog Man to the gaming world," said Jackie DeMaio, Senior Licensing Director, The Joester Loria Group. "Mindscape's experience and passion for delivering engaging, high-quality games makes them the perfect match for the Dog Man brand. The game joins the upcoming theatrical release from Dreamworks/Universal in providing fans another way to engage with the beloved Dog Man characters, stories and settings.”

Mark Huijmans, owner and CEO of Mindscape, shared his enthusiasm for the project: "Dog Man is a fantastic IP with a huge following, and we are honored to have the opportunity to work with TJL Group to bring this beloved character to a video game. This game is not just a playthrough; it's an adventure that expands the Dog Man universe, offering all fans a chance to play with their favorite characters in a dynamic and interactive way.”

About the Game:

The game "Dog Man: Mission Impawsible" is a 2D side-scrolling platformer featuring fun and engaging puzzle mechanics. Players will embark on an exciting journey across 50 unique levels spanning five different worlds as they pursue the thief who stole the key to the city. Players will explore eight iconic locations from the Dog Man universe, including City Hall, the Giant Marshmallow Factory, and various jails. Each location offers unique platforming challenges and puzzle-solving opportunities, ensuring action-packed and entertaining gameplay for fans of all ages.

Platforms:

The game will be available on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Microsoft Xbox Series X|S.

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For The Walking Dead Game Fans

Best Nintendo Switch Games For Family Fun: TMNT Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants

We're back with more family fun gaming for those like the individual I met during a get together at the beginning of May 2024. Not going into detail, but he was a gamer... and hung up the controller to increase his focus in areas that needed more of his attention (i.e. his family). While commendable, I did see a potential opening in terms of getting his family in on one of his favorite pass times... instead of it being shelved. If it's something you enjoy, and could potentially be something the family wouldn't mind indulging in as well for the sake of more fun times and memories, then... why not? 

Gaming as a family is a great way to bond and spend quality time together. One platform that makes this a bit easier (in my opinion) is the... Nintendo Switch! As mentioned before... gaming can be a great way to teach kids about teamwork, problem-solving, and competition in a healthy and fun way.

In addition to games relieving stress and delivering fun, there are some titles that provide additional benefits that most movies & TV shows don't deliver.

In the case of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants, your children learn about teamwork, and healthy competition. These skills are a great thing to instill at an early age so that they know the importance of working with others and not feeling as if they have to do everything alone. Serve up some delicious pizza and other goodies and enjoy your family game night on all platforms.

The last time I recall playing this game, was actually in the arcade when I took my daughter for a day of fun. This is the expanded version.

This 4-player arcade game takes you on a multiplayer adventure with our favorite turtles in a half shell... and it delivers a decent dose of lightweight action that's safe for kids to enjoy. You fight your way through 6 stages as you work together to take on 13 bosses. This version delivers 3 new stages + 6 new bosses, but... you aren't going in with your weapons and ninja skills alone.

This game also equips you with powerups, specifically one that will send you spinning to send enemies for a loop, and their individual specificials. In addition, you also have the support from other characters that assist you from time to time in order to clear the way. The action is enough to enjoy some family time on a Friday while the pizza being delivered to your place or afterwards. It's a quick jump in a go type of game that's a nice addition to your family game night library. The game can be played with 1 to 4 players on Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox, and PC, so no matter where you game... fun it up and create some awesome memories... together!

Key Features

• Double the Mayhem: Fight your way through six stages and 13 boss battles, including three all-new stages and six new boss battles not present in the original arcade release.
• Play as the Four Turtles: Join Leo, Raph, Donnie and Mikey, voiced by the talents of the 2012 TMNT series (Seth Green, Sean Astin, Rob Paulsen, Greg Cipes), against the evil Foot Clan!
• Unleash Turtle Power: Use special super attacks unique to each Turtle to devastate waves of enemies and find tokens to summon mutant backup to help clear your foes.
• Team Up in Local Co-op: Play with your friends in four-player local couch co-op.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants is out now on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam for $29.99.

This game is rated E10+ for Everyone!

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VOYEE Switch/PC Wireless Controller

Best Nintendo Switch Games For Family Fun: Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Gaming as a family is a great way to bond and spend quality time together. I actually met a mom and her son in December of 2023 and motivated her to not only get a Nintendo Switch for her son but... also look forward to taking advantage of their time together by joining in on one of his favorite pastimes. That's the goal, bond, talk, laugh, enjoy your family time... and make memories that will last a lifetime. As mentioned before... gaming can be a great way to teach kids about teamwork, problem-solving, and competition in a healthy and fun way.

In addition to games relieving stress and delivering fun, there are some titles that provide additional benefits that most movies & TV shows don't deliver. You can learn different languages, how to build computers, how to type or improve WPM's, and then some.

In the case of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, your children learn about teamwork, which is a great thing to instill at an early age so that they know the importance of working with others and not feeling as if they have to do everything alone. Serve up some cheddar-filled mushrooms and other goodies and enjoy your family game night!

Super Mario Bros. Wonder... features 4-player fun that not only gives you the ability to take on baddies on the road to fighting big bad Bowser, but you can revive each other while taking on these colorful stages and their varying challenges. This will certainly come in handy for some during those difficult times on this wonder-full adventure.

In addition to Mario & Luigi, you also have Princess Peach + Princess Daisy representing for the ladies, team Toadstool which includes Toadette + the Blue & Yellow Toads, and Nabbit. Nabbit is one of those characters for individuals who want to join in on family fun... but don't exactly have the noticeable skills to pay the bills. Why? Well, he's invincible, so... no worries about him taking L's, but I still feel like he should be reserved for the individuals who would normally watch from the sidelines. He could be a great stepping stone for them, potentially challenging them to use one of the main characters one day.

This game also features the Yoshi crew, which adds another level of fun. Yoshi allows you to eat enemies, and items, carry other players, and more. Speaking of items on this crazy adventure... you have things like:

Elephant Fruit, which allows you to transform into an elephant able to swing its trunk and trounce enemies, but also other cool moves like smashing through bricks from the side.

Bubble Flower does exactly what you assume, you can use bubbles to defeat baddies or bounce on them to get over certain areas with less effort or reach new heights.

Drill Mushroom gives you the ability to not only drill through the ground like... Mr. Driller, but also through the ceiling... and the list of power-ups goes on.

The replay value goes a long way, which includes badges:

Action Badges - Grants an additional action to your character, like a Parachute Cap that lets you float down slowly after a jump.

Boosts Badges - Gives your character an additional passive ability, like earning coins for defeating enemies.

Expert Badges - This grants an advanced skill to your character, "experts only!".

What's different about this experience compared to other games like New Super Mario Bros games... is what it offers as far as creativity goes. You'd think we were on the dev team with the way they've dialed up the weird in this game, but... to be honest I also get that Super Mario World feeling too. Speaking of which... I'd love to see a Super Mario World remake either in full 2D or 3D. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is available now. Grab a physical copy or a digital copy.

• Find wonder in the Flower Kingdom in the next side-scrolling Super Mario adventure
  
  
• Collect Wonder Flowers for surprising, game-changing effects like pipes coming alive, an enemy stampede, and much, much more
  
  
• Choose from the largest cast of characters in a side-scrolling Mario game, including Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, and other favorites
  
  
• Ease into the action with four different-colored Yoshis and Nabbit who can’t take damage
  
  
• Discover new power-ups like Elephant Fruit, which transforms Mario and friends into an elephant that can swing their trunks and spray water

This game is rated E for Everyone!

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Best Nintendo Switch Games For Family Fun: Sonic Superstars

Gaming as a family is a great way to bond and spend quality time together. It also gives parents a chance to enjoy game time with their children and make memories that will last a lifetime. Gaming can be a great way to teach kids about teamwork, problem-solving, and competition in a healthy and fun way. In addition to games relieving stress and delivering fun, there are some that provide other benefits that most movies & TV shows don't deliver.

In the case of Sonic Superstars, your children learn about teamwork + healthy competition, which are great things to begin grasping at an early age. Sonic Superstars launches October 17th, 2023... and would make for a great launch title for family game night! If you're a big Sonic fan, consider making it a chili dog night!

Sonic Superstars... takes things back to the 2D days of Sonic The Hedgehog with 3D models, and serves up a multiplayer game where up to 4 people can drop in & out of the action as needed. It's the first time a Sonic game allowed for 4-players to play through the full campaign together in the pursuit of harnessing the power of the chaos emeralds to take down the baddies.

When it comes to the 4-player action, you will choose from Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, and... Amy. Your team will take on the likes of the infamous Dr. Eggman, Fang, and Trip as they execute a plan to turn the Northstar Islands giant animals into Badniks.

In Sonic Superstars, you aren't simply side scrolling and going through loops, your team navigates in a variety of ways that bring back the signature moves we know and love, but also new moves as seen here:

In Sonic Superstars, you can:

- 4-player local co-op & online Battle mode

- Multiply, swim up waterfalls, change form, and more with the powers of the Chaos Emeralds

- Multiple paths and secrets

This game is rated E for Everyone!

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Stay here for $81/Night? Yes... Travel 4 Less!