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Developer: Argonaut
Publisher: Namco
Release Date: Nov. 18, 2003
Systems: PS2 (reviewed), Gamecube, Xbox, PC
ESRB Rating: T
Official Web site
0:00 I remembered hearing some vaguely good things about this action-platformer years back, so when I saw it for $5 on a clearance rack, I couldn't say no.
0:01 The Namco logo just got attacked by shurikens. The Argonaut logo is slashed in half. I don't know which is preferable.
0:02 "Feel my steel," says our hero ninja as he automatically beats up a bunch of generic-looking bad guys in the background of the title screen. Everything is very rounded and pleasantly old-school cartoon-style.
0:03 In a cut scene, our hero jumps across some steps. He finds his sensei chained and guarded by generic grey ninjas. He takes out the guards quickly and slashes the chains, then takes out a big green monster just as quickly. A red thing rises from his gaping maw. When the Ninja grabs it he goes berserk and kills the sensei. Wait, what? Did that actually just happen? "What have I done? Master... you're dead." Ghost sensei tells him these special rage stones are valuable and have to be retrieved. "Ugh, he's dead and still all he can think about is my training," says our hero. Er, you
were the one who killed him.
0:04 There's a busted giant robot on the beach. He was governor of this region, according to sensei. A robot governor? Hey, just like Schwarzenegger!
0:06 On to the action. Attacks are suitably button-mashy, but it's relatively easy to redirect and dodge as I attack. I like the double jump, too. So far, so good.
0:07 I can run up walls. How? Because I'm a NINJA, that's how!
0:08 I just chopped a bad guy in half. He divided into two even pieces with gooey green goo inside. Yummy!
0:09 Jumping on a rail makes I-Ninja grind along it. When was it decided that every action game should have grinding?
0:10 Hitting the jump and spin attack buttons at the same time does a nice little uppercut thing. Reminds me of the Ninja Turtles games.
0:11 I die rather abruptly. I didn't even realize I was taking damage. They could make it a little more apparent.
0:13 I get
déjà vu for
Sonic Adventure as I run around a vertically banking track at full speed, using my chain as a turning anchor. Nice to watch, but pretty easy.
0:15 HA! Now that I took out the big laser, I'm rolling around on its spherical eye, smashing enemies along the way. I love it!
0:16 An "eye bowling" mini-game has me rolling down the inside of a pipe, dodging pillars and hitting carefully placed enemies for strikes. This is way more fun than it has any right to be.
0:17 I roll to the end and get caught up in an energy field. "Mission complete." That was fast.
0:19 Back to giant robot beach. I find a secret entrance blocked by an energy field. The next mission has me going in to steal back the big guy's heart. "Yeah, sure, gotta go, see ya." The Ninja's annoyingly flippant remarks are really getting on my nerves.