A Natsume NES action-platformer with a bionic-fisted agent. Excellent combat mechanic, varied levels, top-flight soundtrack. Overlooked but truly exceptional. A must-play.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player12+
Description
Run-and-gun featuring mechanic Nitro battling robots with his cybernetic fists in a futuristic city. Published by Jaleco, released in the USA in 1991. Nitro in side-scrolling view with enriched cybernetic fist combos and imposing robot bosses. NES port of the Shatterhand game.
Shatterhand review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
The hero fights bare-handed, which concentrates the animation on arms and shoulders, and the modules accompanying him form from symbols collected in the level. The urban and industrial scenery, building sites, laboratories, trains, keeps muted palettes cut through by strike effects in bright tints.
The writing exploits the three voices with remarkable density: a very mobile bass, a continuous countermelody, themes built in distinct sections that never repeat identically. The pieces lean toward structured instrumental rock, and each sector gets a theme marked enough to serve as a landmark.
North American run of Jaleco's run-and-gun, the NTSC-U version distributed in limited quantities and long underrated before gaining cult status carried by the NES action community. The value of the American edition climbs steadily as its production quality and music are rediscovered. Desirability rests on this late recognition of a title become a reference among the console's overlooked run-and-guns.
An underrated gem
Rather than firearms, this Jaleco run-and-gun leans on hand-to-hand combat and a system of companion robots assembled from icons you pick up. Its originality wasn't enough to lift it out of anonymity. Its clever progression and punchy action make it an excellent surprise for fans of 8-bit action.
Is Shatterhand still worth playing in 2026?
A run and gun from Jaleco, Shatterhand stars the mechanic Nitro who fights robots barehanded in a futuristic city, his cybernetic fists able to be reinforced by satellite modules collected along the way. The original upgrade system, the snappy pace and a careful production make it one of the NES's best overlooked action games. The difficulty stays high but fair. For a retro action fan, someone curious about Jaleco gems or a collector, the title keeps a remarkable effectiveness and personality.
