Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Surf Ninjas throws you straight into the action, casting you as one of the royal brothers in ninja training with barely any exposition. The game’s 2D side-scrolling structure relies on classic platformer conventions: you navigate through multiple stages filled with ledges, gaps, and environmental hazards. While the learning curve is gentle, seasoned players will appreciate how quickly the combat system reveals its depth.

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Combat is mapped to just two buttons: one for jumping and the other for attacks, with directional inputs on the D-pad unlocking punches, kicks, throws and intricate combos. You can even unleash aerial attacks if you time your jumps precisely. Though the moveset might sound limited, chaining together ground and air assaults feels surprisingly fluid, and defeating foes often requires switching between nimble platforming and precise hand-to-hand combat.

Between levels, an options screen lets you check your stats—health, strength, reflex, fight—and use Adam’s trusty Game Gear for battle hints. You can also summon Zatch, your ninja ally, for a powerful screen-clearing attack or equip weapons like shurikens, fireballs, knives and swords. Coins collected from vanquished enemies serve as in-game currency, letting you purchase bonus time, extra lives, weapon upgrades, hints or even a complete health regeneration.

Graphics

Surf Ninjas embraces the early ’90s pixel aesthetic with bright, bold colors and chunky animations. Backgrounds vary from the neon-lit docks of Venice, California, to the ornate rooftops of the Patu San palace, each location featuring distinctive details that keep the eye engaged. Enemy sprites, from standard ninja grunts to the more menacing Colonel Chi’s elite guards, are well-designed and easily distinguishable in the heat of battle.

While character animations aren’t groundbreaking, they’re solid enough to convey a sense of weight and impact when you land a punch or kick. The fluidity of movement—running, jumping, attacking—remains consistent throughout, minimizing instances of “floaty” platforming that can plague lesser titles of the era. Boss encounters often feature larger, more detailed sprites that stand out against the background art.

Special effects like shuriken trails, fireball bursts and Zatch’s signature attack are rendered with satisfying flourishes. Occasional palette swaps to indicate damage or power-up modes help you keep track of your status in the thick of combat. Though it doesn’t push the hardware to its limits, Surf Ninjas’ visual presentation is more than serviceable and offers a nostalgic charm for retro-game aficionados.

Story

Surf Ninjas is loosely based on the 1993 New Line Cinema film of the same name, but it takes a stripped-down approach to narrative. The game omits the movie’s elaborate origin story—where the surfers discover they’re heirs to the hidden kingdom of Patu San—and instead drops you directly into ninja training. This can feel abrupt to fans hoping for a faithful adaptation, yet it maintains a brisk pace suited to arcade-style gameplay.

The core plot revolves around Colonel Chi’s plot to usurp the Patu San throne by eliminating the last two heirs—your playable brothers. Each stage represents a step in your journey to rescue the kingdom, from a bustling palace restaurant to the shadowy beachfront warehouses of Venice, and finally to Patu San itself. While narrative beats are conveyed largely through brief interstitial screens, they provide enough context to drive your quest forward.

Dialogue is minimal but peppered with lighthearted quips that capture the film’s tongue-in-cheek spirit. Enemy encounters and level objectives quickly establish Colonel Chi’s machinations without bogging you down in exposition. The trimmed-down storyline may disappoint players seeking cinematic immersion, but it ensures that the focus remains squarely on dynamic action and nimble platforming.

Overall Experience

Surf Ninjas delivers a compact, action-oriented platformer that balances straightforward level design with a surprisingly versatile combat system. Fans of ’90s side-scrollers will appreciate the tight controls, responsive animations and the variety of locations. The absence of a deeper narrative introduction may feel jarring, but the game’s relentless pace keeps you engaged from start to finish.

Replay value hinges on your desire to master combos, discover hidden power-ups and improve your stage completion times. The coin-collecting mechanic and in-game store add a light layer of resource management, rewarding thorough exploration and skillful play. Summoning Zatch at a critical moment can turn the tide of battle, introducing a fun strategic element.

While not a blockbuster tie-in, Surf Ninjas stands on its own as a solid retro platformer with enough depth to hold your attention. Its straightforward design, combined with the nostalgic appeal of pixelated ninjas duking it out in sun-soaked locales, makes it a worthwhile addition for collectors and newcomers alike seeking a bite-sized ninja adventure.

Retro Replay Score

6.2/10