Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The Ninja delivers a robust and varied gameplay experience that keeps players on their toes from start to finish. As Kazamuru, you’ll master an array of ninjitsu techniques, toggling between stealthy assassinations and full-on combat encounters. The core mechanic of transforming into a wolf adds a unique layer of strategy, giving you access to new traversal options and surprise attacks on unsuspecting foes.

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The game’s thirteen areas each present distinct challenges, from dodging rolling boulders in the rocky gorges of Step 2 to skillfully arranging logs as makeshift bridges in Step 5. These environmental puzzles are intuitive yet demanding, requiring both precise timing and a sharp eye for detail. The level design encourages experimentation—occasionally, secret shortcuts or hidden scroll fragments lie off the beaten path, rewarding diners for exploring every corner of Ohkami province.

Combat encounters scale in complexity as you progress, introducing ninja adversaries with specialized abilities. Kuno-ichi use acrobatic flips to evade your strikes, while fire-blowing ninjas require you to deflect or dodge searing projectiles. Each enemy type demands a different approach, ensuring that battles never feel repetitive. The pacing strikes a smart balance between intense boss melees and quieter platforming sections, making the overall flow of progression smooth and engaging.

Boss fights against elite Ohkami retainers, such as the imposing Ninniku warrior, feel like true tests of your mastery. You must read attack patterns, time counters, and leverage your wolf form’s burst damage to emerge victorious. With checkpoint placement that avoids frustrating restarts and a modest health-replenishment system, the game rewards skillful play without being overly punitive.

Graphics

The Ninja’s visual presentation is a loving homage to early Edo-period Japan, rendered in vibrant pixel art that feels both nostalgic and fresh. Lush green fields are contrasted by deep red shrines and moss-covered stone walls, immersing you in the atmosphere of Ohkami province. Animations are fluid, with Kazamuru’s wolf transformation unfolding in a swift, cinematic flourish that enhances the sense of power.

Level backdrops are richly detailed, from the wooden planks of riverside towns to the ominous spires of the Ohkami castle. Subtle parallax scrolling on layered backgrounds imparts depth to each scene, while occasional dynamic weather effects—like drifting petals or sudden rain showers—add mood without distracting from the core action. Enemy sprites are distinct and well-animated, ensuring you can quickly identify threats even in the heat of battle.

Special effects shine during ninjitsu techniques: the crackle of ethereal energy around shuriken throws, the dust clouds kicked up by high-speed sword strikes, and the ghostly afterimage trail when executing a dash move. These flourishes not only look great but also provide invaluable visual feedback during fast-paced encounters. The UI is clean and unobtrusive, allowing you to focus on the stunning pixel environments.

While the game may not push modern polygon limits, its coherent art direction and meticulous sprite work prove that strong style can outshine raw graphical horsepower. The Ninja strikes a perfect blend between retro charm and contemporary polish, making it appealing to both old-school enthusiasts and new players alike.

Story

Set in Western Ohkami province during the peaceful decades of Japan’s Edo era, The Ninja unfurls a tale of tyranny and liberation. Following the death of the benevolent feudal lord, the ascension of the malevolent Emperor Gyokuro smothers the land in fear. With the princess imprisoned in the bowels of Ohkami castle, the people’s hope seems all but lost—until the arrival of Kazamuru.

Kazamuru’s journey is driven by a clear and compelling objective: locate the five sacred scrolls scattered across thirteen perilous areas, assemble their hidden wisdom, and free the princess from her dungeon cell. The narrative unfolds organically through brief but evocative cutscenes, in-game dialogue, and environmental storytelling. Minute details—such as tattered banners in a once-prosperous town or murmurs of villagers hiding in alleyways—imbue the world with a lived-in realism.

The stakes feel personal, especially when you witness Gyokuro’s iron-fisted rule in action: patrolling ninja squads enforcing curfews, fields scorched by fire-breathing enemies, and anguished whispers that echo through deserted temples. Each recovered scroll sheds light on the princess’s plight and the true extent of Gyokuro’s dark sorcery, building momentum as you draw closer to the final confrontation.

The story’s pacing is brisk yet balanced, allowing for moments of quiet reflection between intense combat and platforming. While the primary narrative is linear, optional side areas and hidden lore fragments encourage curious players to piece together subplots about rival ninja clans and the mystical origins of the wolf transformation. This layered approach makes the tale of The Ninja feel richer than a single rescue mission, offering meaningful context that motivates your quest.

Overall Experience

The Ninja stands out as an engaging action-platformer that masterfully blends tight controls, inventive level design, and atmospheric storytelling. It challenges players of all skill levels with a well-calibrated difficulty curve, ensuring that each triumph—whether defeating a formidable boss or uncovering a hidden scroll—feels genuinely earned. The mixture of combat, platforming, and puzzle-solving forms a satisfying loop that never overstays its welcome.

Sound design complements the visuals superbly, featuring traditional Japanese instruments that swell during climactic battles and soften to gentle koto plucks in serene shrine backgrounds. Audio cues during enemy attacks and transformation sequences enhance situational awareness, making the entire experience more immersive. Load times are minimal, and the game runs stably even during the most frenetic encounters.

Replay value is bolstered by optional challenges and collectibles. Completing stages without taking damage, uncovering secret passages, or mastering time-trial runs unlocks bonus material and concept art, rewarding meticulous players. Whether you’re focused on simply experiencing the main story or striving for 100% completion, The Ninja delivers hours of compelling content.

For fans of retro-inspired action titles, historical samurai dramas, or anyone seeking a crisp, narrative-driven platformer with a unique transformation mechanic, The Ninja is a must-play. Its seamless combination of gameplay variety, evocative art direction, and engaging narrative ensures that Kazamuru’s quest will resonate long after you’ve rescued the princess and reclaimed peace for Ohkami province.

Retro Replay Score

7/10