Shatterhand cover art

Shatterhand

An NES action platformer where a cyborg punches through robot armies while assembling helper drones.

Here's the argument for where this game sits - disagree freely.
Match your experience?
EXECUTION7 /10READS0 /10VARIANCE1 /10OPTIMIZATION5 /10

the cheat-test profile

The four axes - the argument

Each axis is rated on its own - how far one cheat would trivialize the game here. They don't trade off; low on all four means the game is an experience, not a contest.

  1. Execution

    cheat: Aimbot - perfect inputs

    7/10

    Punch timing, platforming precision against dense scripted enemies.

  2. Reads

    cheat: Out-predict an adaptive opponent

    0/10

    No adaptive opponent; all enemies scripted.

  3. Variance

    cheat: See what's hidden / map the RNG

    1/10

    Fixed level layouts; minor pickup luck.

  4. Optimization

    cheat: A perfect solver / coach

    5/10

    Robot-companion letter combos and routing reward planning.

How to read this

Each axis is named by the cheat that would break the game along it. Execution is the hands. Reads is out-thinking an adaptive opponent. Variance is hidden information & RNG. Optimization is the solvable systems layer. A game's region is the top one or two axes.

These four aren't one rating split four ways - they're independent 0-10 questions. A 9 on one axis takes nothing from the others, and a game low on all four isn't missing data: it's telling you there's no skill here to cheat.

The basis is how the majority actually plays this game - not a niche mode or a personal run. For a game with very different modes (a story campaign versus ranked multiplayer), that's the version most people mean.

Compare with

Similar games

see all →

Ranked by shared genre first, then by how closely the cheat-test profile matches - a cross-genre tag means a pick matched on skill profile alone.

Super Mario 64 cover art

Super Mario 64

Practiced Mastery · 3D platformer

E
R
V
O
Super Mario 64
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest cover art

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

Practiced Mastery · side-scrolling platformer

E
R
V
O
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 cover art

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Practiced Mastery · 2D platformer

E
R
V
O
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Streets of Rage cover art

Streets of Rage

Practiced Mastery · beat 'em up

E
R
V
O
Streets of Rage
The Messenger cover art

The Messenger

Practiced Mastery · retro action platformer

E
R
V
O
The Messenger
Guacamelee! cover art

Guacamelee!

Practiced Mastery · metroidvania brawler

E
R
V
O
Guacamelee!

Game details

Released
1991
Developer
Natsume Co., Ltd.
Platforms
famicom, NES
Modes
Single player
IGDB users
79/100
PlatformHack and slash/Beat 'em upAdventureActionScience fiction