Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Ninjatown delivers a crisp, intuitive tower defense experience tailored perfectly for the Nintendo DS. Players place up to eight different kinds of Ninja Huts along set pathways to fend off waves of demons led by the nefarious Mr. Demon. Each hut type—ranging from Wasabi pea-shooting Sniper Ninjas to hulking Mountain Ninjas—boasts unique attack patterns and upgrade paths, giving you ample strategic options as you progress through 36 levels.

The game’s pacing is carefully calibrated: standard levels clock in at around 10–15 minutes each, making it easy to jump into a quick defense mission or settle in for a longer session across one of the nine themed districts. Every third level introduces a boss fight that challenges your tower placements and forces you to adapt on the fly. This structure keeps the gameplay fresh and encourages experimentation with different ninja combinations and upgrade orders.

What really sets Ninjatown apart are the Ol’ Master Ninja Powers, which leverage the DS’s unique hardware. You can blow into the microphone to unleash a gust of wind that pushes enemies back, or rapidly tap enemies onscreen in a short minigame to inflict extra damage. These interactive mechanics inject bursts of action into the otherwise strategic gameplay, ensuring you’re never just sitting back watching towers fire.

Graphics

Ninjatown’s visuals are a vibrant homage to Shawn Smith’s Shawnimals universe, featuring charming, cartoon-style artwork that looks just as lively on the DS’s dual screens. The crisp sprites and bold color palette make each Ninja Hut and enemy type immediately recognizable, even during the thick of battle. Backgrounds are hand-drawn with a whimsical flair, giving each district its own personality—from misty mountain valleys to bamboo-lined courtyards.

Animations are smooth and expressive. Ninjas leap into action with satisfying arcs, peas zip across the screen with cartoonish impact, and explosions are colorful without ever feeling jarring. Despite the DS’s hardware limitations, frame rates remain consistently stable, even when dozens of enemies and projectiles clutter both screens. This optimization ensures that gameplay never suffers due to graphical slowdowns.

The user interface is equally well-designed: menus and buttons are cleanly laid out on the touchscreen, making hut placement and power activation intuitive. Visual cues—such as health bars, upgrade icons, and wave indicators—are clear and easy to read. The overall presentation strikes a perfect balance between style and function, keeping players immersed and informed.

Story

While tower defense games often sideline narrative, Ninjatown weaves a lighthearted tale around the invasion of Mr. Demon’s minions. You’re the grandmaster guiding your band of Ninjas through nine distinct districts, each with its own backstory and visual theme. The progression feels like traveling through the Shawnimals universe, meeting quirky characters and facing off against uniquely themed bosses at the end of each zone.

The story’s charm lies in its simplicity and humor. Dialogue snippets between levels introduce each new threat with tongue-in-cheek flair, and character portraits—drawn in Shawn Smith’s signature style—add personality to otherwise routine announcements. This injects a family-friendly sense of fun that keeps players engaged without demanding heavy narrative investment.

Although the plot doesn’t take more than a few hours to complete, it provides enough context to make each victory feel meaningful. The escalating stakes—rescuing captured Ninjas, thwarting demonic artifacts, and ultimately confronting Mr. Demon himself—tie neatly into the gameplay loop. For a game of this genre and length, Ninjatown strikes a satisfying balance between story and strategy.

Overall Experience

Ninjatown stands out as one of the most charming and accessible tower defense titles on the Nintendo DS. Its approachable learning curve welcomes newcomers, while the variety of Ninja Huts and interactive powers offers enough depth to satisfy strategy veterans. The short, bite-sized levels make it perfect for on-the-go gaming, and the inclusion of boss battles adds memorable peaks to each district’s progression.

The game’s six to eight hour runtime won’t overstay its welcome, and optional challenges—like perfect wave clearances and high-score pushes—invite replayability. Whether you’re playing at home or during a commute, the DS’s dual screens and touch controls are put to excellent use, making every interaction feel purposeful. Sound design and music complement the visuals, with upbeat tunes and satisfying sound effects that underscore each ninja attack.

Family-friendly, visually delightful, and mechanically robust, Ninjatown is a standout title for DS owners looking for a fun, strategic experience. It rewards thoughtful planning and quick reflexes in equal measure, and its playful presentation ensures that both kids and adults will find something to love. For fans of tower defense seeking a portable fix, Ninjatown is a must-have addition to your library.

Retro Replay Score

7.8/10