If only all modern action games could perform nearly as well as Nightshade...
User Rating: 9.6 | Nightshade PS2
Gameplay- Remember the old ninja games such as Ninja Gaiden, Shinobi and Strider? Remember how games never used to be easy, but still gave you the capability of barely making it through them alive? Nightshade has that retro action feel that seems to have been lost in games of late. The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Nightshade is "Hard". Nightshade is one of those games that focuses this odd thing that games no longer seem to have much of. I call it Gameplay. If you want an easy game that focuses on cinematics and fancy load screens and menus, don't ever play Nightshade. If you want to play a game that never stops challenging you and almost gives you heart attacks in some areas because of the high level of activity, play Nightshade. I am not much of a fan of 3-D action games. Shinobi (this game's prequel) is the only 3-D action game I think competes at a gameplay level that would rival classics such as Contra III, Castlevania IV (yes, I'm a Konami fan) and Blaster Master. Nightshade is better than Shinobi in almost every single way. The play control is 100% responsive (perfect 3-D gameplay). Enemies will never get in cheap hits (there is always a way to avoid). There are NO dull or boring parts in Nightshade. There is a wide variety of enemies, bosses and stages. The camera problems in Shinobi are non-existent in Nightshade. There are tons of unlockables (even though Nighshade is just so much fun playing, it does not need them). And finally, a difficulty level that is satisfactory (I'm sick of all these easy games). Before I get to the other aspects of this game, get up off your chair now, get away from the computer, go out and buy Nightshade for $39.99. If you like good videogames, you owe it to yourself. Graphics/Sound- Yet again. Wow. The visuals in Nightshade are top notch. You can easily see enemies and power up items that are a hundred yards away from Hibana (Nightshade's primary character). The graphics engine never glitches and I have yet to have one clipping error (accidentally going through walls ect.). Nightshade's graphics engine somehow manages to keep up with the amazing speed of dashing, cutting and jumping that Hibana never gets a break from. That's right, no slowdown, ever. The music is like that of Shinobi with a futuristic twist to it. All I need to say about it, is that I play some stages just to listen to the music in them. There are a wide variety of always appropriate sound effects in Nightshade and the english voice acting is actually... good. Wow. Story- Expect a slightly above average story for an action game. Nothing really that special here, but not disappointing. I've said this before and I'll say it again: If you play an action game for its storyline, there is something wrong with you. Playtime/Replayability- Expect to put in 70 hours to Nightshade if you really want to get everything. Although I will be playing it infinitely simply because it is just so damn fun. You will replay Nightshade on 3 major difficulty levels. Once you have completed a stage you can replay it at any time on the stage select menu to get better times and rankings. Final Recommendation- If you buy one action game this year, buy Nightshade. Unless you suck. -Geusprime
