Revamped Boss Fights & Classic Influence in Shinobi Non Grata

Following the launch of the Nintendo Switch, the Switch eShop lacked available titles and was relatively empty. Players were heavily reliant on Zelda: Breath of the Wild, with few new releases to enjoy. However, Kamiko, a top-down Zelda-like game published by Flyhigh Works, was a bright spot on the eShop. Flyhigh Works has recently published Shinobi Non Grata, an indie game developed by Studio PICO, which is a retro throwback with different inspirations than Kamiko.

Shinobi Non Grata is a finely tuned throwback to the NES-era action platformers, known for being tough-as-nails. Its gameplay has elements of classic titles such as Ninja Gaiden, Castlevania, and Mega Man, with a more cartoonish visual presentation than the darker Ninja Gaiden trilogy by Koei Tecmo. For fans of the brutal-yet-fair highlights of the NES library, Shinobi Non Grata is a modern package with a retro aesthetic, offering some of the best elements of those titles.

Shinobi Non Grata's Modern Polish Makes Boss Encounters Less Maddening

Shinobi Non Grata draws inspiration from the difficult NES-era Ninja Gaiden games, but adds modern quality-of-life features that make the game's challenging boss encounters less frustrating. While pattern recognition and trial-and-error are still necessary, the game's forgiving checkpoint system means players don't have to travel far to get back to a boss. With typically three to four bosses per stage, Shinobi Non Grata offers tense enemy encounters that require players to use their full range of abilities. The quick restart system makes death a natural part of the learning process, and the on-screen indicator before each boss battle adds to the excitement.

Shinobi Non Grata's Ninja Gaiden and Platformer Inspirations Shine Through in its DNA

Shinobi Non Grata draws inspiration from classic action-platformers such as Ninja Gaiden, Castlevania, and Mega Man. The game features waves of one-hit kill enemies, sub-weapons in addition to the protagonist's katana, and challenging platforming reminiscent of its inspirations. The boss encounters are particularly interesting, requiring players to use one of the game's many sub-weapons in a move similar to Mega Man's boss weaknesses. With a focus on utilizing classic elements in a modern context, Shinobi Non Grata is a great addition to the growing list of indies paying homage to the golden era of console gaming.

Shinobi Non Grata is available now for PC and will be coming to the PlayStation 4 and Switch later in 2023.