Mystical Ninja starring Goemon

"It's time for the INSTANT STAGE BEAM!!!"

This is a strange game... Actually strange is not even close to being a strong enough word here.

GAMEPLAY (The only score effecting category)
This game is a platform game with RPG-style adventuring without the RPG basically. All you get from enemies usually is just some coins to buy better armor and food. Once you buy the armor it is automatically equipped and will take damage for you. You've got INNs and shops just like an RPG but the character development is an element that is missing, so it's basically a platform game with an emphasis on running, jumping, and destroying enemies. You can switch between characters which made the game interesting, and each has their own set of tools and weapons (from a bazooka to a magic camera that makes ghosts solid). Before a large boss, you enter this giant goofy looking robot and engage in combat like a first person fighting game. This was actually fun as there were simple but plentiful combos you can pull off. The dungeons contain the basic compass and map archetypes (named Mr. Arrow and Mr. Ele Phant or something). Basically to sum it all up, it's another game simillar to the Legend of Zelda, but with lots of weird features. The only problems I had here was with the impossible mini-games starting with the box throwing mini-game, if you didn't quite understand what the NPC meant when explaining the game, then prepare to get frustrated. Also, this game was too short even though it was fun.

STORY (spoiler? alert)
Uh... Well some weirdos come in a spaceship shaped like a peach and turn the emeperor's castle into a European style castle... instant stage?!? Your goal is to stop two people known as... Lily and Dancin'?! By collecting pieces to reach them in outer space via a stone circle. I won't tell you what happens at the end but right before you actually fight them they dance this silly song about 'sweet memories' and a 'shepherd'... Uh... This has just now officially become one of the weirdest games on the planet. "INSTANT STAGE BEAM!!!" pretty much says it all.

GRAPHICS
The graphics in the game are your standard 3D platform game graphics, but with large environments. Some of the maps are huge landscapes you have to walk and fight enemies on. This is good, however, the large maps made for some lack of detail on them. The cities and shops are much more detailed in comparison since they're not so big. There isn't much special from your standard N64 video game here. However, how come most of the enemies shoot silver balls at you?

SOUND
There's some weird sound effects in this game, but most of them are standard sounds like explosions and laser beams. The first boss sounds like a lion roaring even though it's a large robotic head. The music is pretty good to match up with the whole Japanese theme of the game, with an awesome rock song in the second half of the final dungeon which sounds REALLY out of place (but it's still awesome). There isn't anything about the sound in this game that will make your ears hurt.

Rent or Buy?
I would personally keep this game if I were you, but if you just want to borrow it from somebody, that will do since the game is really short (I doubt you can find a place that still rents old N64 games). Overall it's worth playing in either case.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 09/17/07

Game Release: Mystical Ninja starring Goemon (US, 03/31/98)