I-Ninja

"A neat game that keeps the action nice and simple, and with its own creative merit."

While I-Ninja may be a little too basic and child-like for some of the more narrow-minded gamers out there, the rest of us will be thoroughly pleased with the sheer simplicity of this this action platformer. Sure, there may be a lack of serious challenges in the game, and maybe the plot could have been a bit more structured, but I-Ninja is still a very enjoyable game for those of you who are looking for a game that you can kick back and play without having to do a lot of thinking. Now let's break it down:

Gameplay
Though it is rather simple, the combat controls make the game quite easy to pick up, unlike some other games that try and make it a challenge just to learn how to fight. The creators did try and spice it up a bit with some interesting combo attacks, which do a pretty decent job of killing the baddies and showing off some of the fancy moves of your character.

The levels in I-Ninja are actually pretty interesting. You'll find yourself running along walls, swinging on chains, and using half pipes to get to higher platforms. You'll run along some baddies every now and then, but the game does a good job of not overdoing it in that department. The concept is to complete the missions to get grades, and when you get enough grades you upgrade to the next belt, making you tougher and stronger. There are five "worlds" that branch off into several levels, and upon completing all of the basic missions of a certain world and beating the boss, you get a rage stone, which gives you a knew special ability that you can access using the D-Pad. Later on you get shurikens and darts, both of which help you take down baddies from a distance. It is a pretty cool experience and was even somewhat creative.
Rating: 7

Audio
The voice of the main character is sharp and aggressive, and can be a little annoying at times. He really doesn't say too much besides the occasional high-pitched scream when he attacks, so it isn't that much of a problem. His master is rather funny and nonsensical, and I enjoyed hearing his little comments before you entered certain levels. Not much dialogue takes place in the game, so it's not much to worry about.

The music isn't really anything too exciting or special, and it certainly isn't the type of music anyone listens to on a regular basis, but it suits the game well. A lot of the time you're so wrapped up in the game that you really don't notice the music playing in the background. It goes hand-in-hand with the game, so there's not really much to complain about.
Rating: 7

Visual
The graphics are what some people might call "kiddy". No one attempted to make this game look realistic, and I'm kind of grateful for it. The characters all have overly large heads and small bodies, and everything is pretty much shown in a cartoonish fashion. This just adds to the appeal of the game, in my opinion, because the game isn't one of intense action, and they didn't try to make it look like one either. The visuals suit the game perfectly and I wouldn't change a thing in that department.
Rating: 8

Replay Value
This is where the game really hurts itself, and bad. The game is pretty fun and enjoyable the first time around, but once you are done it finished with a level, you should be pretty content with no real desire to go back through the experience. But alas, many of the grades are only achievable by going back through a level that you have already played. It gets really annoying having to repeat the exact same level (trust me, it's EXACTLY the same) several times just to get a few more grades. The game is a lot of fun, but probably just the first time around.
Rating: 4

OVERALL
Some people may be a little disappointed with the basic hack-n-slash style of combat, but for what it's worth the game makes a pretty nice display of it. The creative bits here and there, combined with the innovative gameplay make for a pretty nice final product that will satisfy almost anyone who gives it the time of day. Everyone should look into this game, especially if you enjoy games that don't put the emphasis on complexity and difficulty.
Rating: 7

Thank you for taking the time to read this review and I hope you found it informative and useful!

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 07/05/04