Mystical Ninja starring Goemon

"The BEST N64 Game!!!"

One day, I walked over to my friend's house. He was playing some crazy looking game with some Japanese looking guy hitting people with a pipe. I asked what it was, and he responded, ''Mystical Ninja.'' I soon fell in love. It seemed Mystical Ninja had a few Super NES games. There is also another one for N64, but it isn't like this one. Well then, let's jump on over to the review!

Graphics: 8/10
I've always been a fan of Anime, so this game is pleasing to the anime lover. Even if you don't like anime, this game still looks good. The enemies are nice, and easily describeable, and all the backgrounds are done very well. The weapons also looked really cool. The graphics are a bit like Mario 64's, but with more of an anime influence on them. There weren't really any ''Cinema Scenes'', they used the same graphics for special parts of the game.

Sound: 10/10
Again with the Japanese stuff. People who enjoy Japanese music will be pleased here. There's also nice little sounds when you kill an enemy. The opening theme is very pleasing, with a Japanese man singing in the background. Also, anyone who hears the ''IMPACT!'' song will have it stuck in their head for years. The sound effects are also nice, and they all fit in with the game.

Gameplay: 10/10
The game really shines here. You start with the crazy haired guy Goemon, and his fat friend Ebisumaru. You proceed to meet Yae and Sasuke, two great friends. They each have unique weapons and powers. And later on in the game, each character learns a special skill, such as shrinking, or turning into a mermaid. It is an Action/RPG game, so the battles are always action packed. The bosses are also great fun, as you must find their weakness and exploit it. But one of the most fun parts is the Impact battles. Impact is a giant robot you meet that helps you when the enemy is just too big to take on alone. It goes into first person view mode, and you can see your health, coins, the enemy's health, and your little impact bar. When filled, a special button combination will unleash the ultimate Impact ray. It does major damage. You can also do fist combos and such. Great fun. Then there's walking around villages. You can buy stuff, and sleep at Inns. They always have funny scenes. I found myself using Yae and Sasuke the most, but Sasuke was the absolute best.

Story: 8/10
Certainly not a Squaresoft storyline, but a good one nonetheless. It's very comical, so you can expect some good laughs. Goemon and Ebisumaru are just some scary friends, pulling pranks in the town. But soon, a giant spaceship nears the town. It takes over the castle, and imprisons the king and princess. Uhoh! So, Goemon and Ebisumaru learn about it, and go to save the royal family. Your adventure starts there. The game basically focuses around the heroes, you, fighting against the crazy villains. Great storyline.

Replayability: 10/10
Definantly a 10 here. I've beaten this game more times than I can count. I don't think I ever actually owned the game, either. It can be beaten in one rental. But there's the cat dolls that you'll wanna find, and I sadly never found ALL of them. They can increases your health though. The battles and music are so amazing, and the Impact battles are even better, so I see no reason not to beat this game a few hundred times. Well...maybe not a few hundred, but a lot.

To Rent or to Buy? That is the question: Buy it. Don't make the same mistake I did. Also, the game probably pretty cheap now. You'll want to beat it so much, renting it again and again could just be an annoyance. So buy it.

Statistics:
Graphics: 8/10
Sound: 10/10
Gameplay: 10/10
Storyline: 8/10
Replayability: 10/10
Overall: 10/10
Such a great game.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 10/21/02, Updated 10/21/02