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| The Entertainment Review |
| Genre: Action/Adventure Developer: IO Interactive Publisher: Eidos Interactive |
Over the years a lot of gamers have started to jump onto the Japanese gaming bandwagon, picking up and playing anything that has
made its way over from Japan. Even with this fact being true, many gamers will be a little hesitant to check out “Mini Ninjas.” Not only
does the game take a lot of the classic Japanese themes and market them towards children, but the entire project was handled by IO
Interactive very well.
After players put in some extensive time with the game is will be obvious that “Mini Ninjas” is a very heartwarming tribute to the ninja
culture to come from a non-Japanese studio. From the amazing visuals to the soothing music makes the entire game a treat to play
through. Although the game play is fairly straightforward and somewhat simple, the overall experience of the game is one that should
be experiences by games that like the Japanese culture and ninja films, and it is also a game that is able to be shared with the entire
family.
The story of “Mini Ninjas” is a simple one, as are most of the classic ninja films that have ever been released. An old Ninja Master
senses a great disturbance in the balance of nature and begins to send his most trusted and powerful students down Ninja Mountain
to investigate the problem. With each passing season, the students begin to disappear. After a long amount of time passing the Ninja
Master must send his final two students, Hiro and Futo, to rescue the missing students and find out the reason for the disturbance with
the nature around them.
Of course, like any good ninja film, the Evil Samurai Warlord has returned from his ancient defeat and is using dark magic to turn
innocent animals into mindless minions to do his bidding. It is now up to Hiro and his friends to stop the Evil Samurai Warlord before
the world is torn apart by his improper use of Kuji magic.
“Mini Ninjas” is a third-person action/adventure game that takes all of the classic aesthetics of the ninja genre and removes all of the
extreme violence so that children are able to enjoy it as well. This of course will turn away a number of perspective players right away,
though it really shouldn’t turn anyone away. Despite the lack of violence, the game is a great ninja journey and follows many of the
typical Japanese themes from ninja films. Instead of slashing through a number of evil samurai and seeing blood and limbs fly from
their bodies, Hiro and his friends will attack their enemies which vanish in a cloud of smoke and revert to their former animal form.
As players progress through the game, working their way towards the Evil Samurai Warlord, Hiro will rescue his ninja friends that were
sent before him. With each friend that is rescued, players will have one more character that they will be able to use at any time during
the game. Each character has a Primary Attack, Block Breaker Attack and a Power Attack. The Power Techniques are special to each
character and drain a sphere of Unstable Ki energy that is collected from defeated enemies. Each ninja is also able to sprint, use
stealth to move unseen through bushes and over rooftops, as well as make use of collected and purchased items.
Of the six different characters that are able to be played, Hiro is by far the most powerful of the characters because of his ability to use
Kuji magic. As players progress through the game, players can uncover Kuji shrines which teach Hiro a variety of spells. Hiro is the
only ninja capable of harnessing Kuji magic, and those spells can be extremely effective when fighting against the Evil Samurai Warlord’
s minions.
Even if players are busy looking for Kuji shrines to learn new abilities, there is plenty to look for in the game’s surprisingly open levels.
There is fruit, herbs and mushrooms to be collected for potions and collectible Jizo statues that are tucked in corners around each
level. There is a lot to do in the game, even if the battles are a little straightforward for those who consider themselves to be hardcore
action gamers.
The most stunning features in the game are the visuals and music in the game. Even with its childish appearance, “Mini Ninjas” is a
beautiful game that captures classic Japanese inspired environments with its own unique style of charm. Players will make their way
through bamboo forests, snow topped mountains, and rice fields. Complementing each of the visual landscapes is a breathtaking
soundtrack filled with flutes and drums that will pull any player into the game.
Though the game may not be as deep or as filled with content as many other games being released at this time, but it is still a very
beautiful and fun game that opens up the ninja culture to a younger age of gamers. IO Interactive has a lot of love for the genre and the
stirring environments and music make this journey a lot of fun to experience.
Although the combat is fun and grows as the game progresses. “Mini Ninjas” is a little bit on the simple side and that will throw a
number of gamers off, especially since the boss fights are giant quick time events and button prompts, which are very disappointing.
Other than that, the game seems to be a nearly perfect game to introduce younger gamers to the classic Japanese stories and ninja
quests so many have learned to love over the years. Many will consider the game to be more surprising than a ninja attack.
made its way over from Japan. Even with this fact being true, many gamers will be a little hesitant to check out “Mini Ninjas.” Not only
does the game take a lot of the classic Japanese themes and market them towards children, but the entire project was handled by IO
Interactive very well.
After players put in some extensive time with the game is will be obvious that “Mini Ninjas” is a very heartwarming tribute to the ninja
culture to come from a non-Japanese studio. From the amazing visuals to the soothing music makes the entire game a treat to play
through. Although the game play is fairly straightforward and somewhat simple, the overall experience of the game is one that should
be experiences by games that like the Japanese culture and ninja films, and it is also a game that is able to be shared with the entire
family.
The story of “Mini Ninjas” is a simple one, as are most of the classic ninja films that have ever been released. An old Ninja Master
senses a great disturbance in the balance of nature and begins to send his most trusted and powerful students down Ninja Mountain
to investigate the problem. With each passing season, the students begin to disappear. After a long amount of time passing the Ninja
Master must send his final two students, Hiro and Futo, to rescue the missing students and find out the reason for the disturbance with
the nature around them.
Of course, like any good ninja film, the Evil Samurai Warlord has returned from his ancient defeat and is using dark magic to turn
innocent animals into mindless minions to do his bidding. It is now up to Hiro and his friends to stop the Evil Samurai Warlord before
the world is torn apart by his improper use of Kuji magic.
“Mini Ninjas” is a third-person action/adventure game that takes all of the classic aesthetics of the ninja genre and removes all of the
extreme violence so that children are able to enjoy it as well. This of course will turn away a number of perspective players right away,
though it really shouldn’t turn anyone away. Despite the lack of violence, the game is a great ninja journey and follows many of the
typical Japanese themes from ninja films. Instead of slashing through a number of evil samurai and seeing blood and limbs fly from
their bodies, Hiro and his friends will attack their enemies which vanish in a cloud of smoke and revert to their former animal form.
As players progress through the game, working their way towards the Evil Samurai Warlord, Hiro will rescue his ninja friends that were
sent before him. With each friend that is rescued, players will have one more character that they will be able to use at any time during
the game. Each character has a Primary Attack, Block Breaker Attack and a Power Attack. The Power Techniques are special to each
character and drain a sphere of Unstable Ki energy that is collected from defeated enemies. Each ninja is also able to sprint, use
stealth to move unseen through bushes and over rooftops, as well as make use of collected and purchased items.
Of the six different characters that are able to be played, Hiro is by far the most powerful of the characters because of his ability to use
Kuji magic. As players progress through the game, players can uncover Kuji shrines which teach Hiro a variety of spells. Hiro is the
only ninja capable of harnessing Kuji magic, and those spells can be extremely effective when fighting against the Evil Samurai Warlord’
s minions.
Even if players are busy looking for Kuji shrines to learn new abilities, there is plenty to look for in the game’s surprisingly open levels.
There is fruit, herbs and mushrooms to be collected for potions and collectible Jizo statues that are tucked in corners around each
level. There is a lot to do in the game, even if the battles are a little straightforward for those who consider themselves to be hardcore
action gamers.
The most stunning features in the game are the visuals and music in the game. Even with its childish appearance, “Mini Ninjas” is a
beautiful game that captures classic Japanese inspired environments with its own unique style of charm. Players will make their way
through bamboo forests, snow topped mountains, and rice fields. Complementing each of the visual landscapes is a breathtaking
soundtrack filled with flutes and drums that will pull any player into the game.
Though the game may not be as deep or as filled with content as many other games being released at this time, but it is still a very
beautiful and fun game that opens up the ninja culture to a younger age of gamers. IO Interactive has a lot of love for the genre and the
stirring environments and music make this journey a lot of fun to experience.
Although the combat is fun and grows as the game progresses. “Mini Ninjas” is a little bit on the simple side and that will throw a
number of gamers off, especially since the boss fights are giant quick time events and button prompts, which are very disappointing.
Other than that, the game seems to be a nearly perfect game to introduce younger gamers to the classic Japanese stories and ninja
quests so many have learned to love over the years. Many will consider the game to be more surprising than a ninja attack.
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