Nil-Ninjahtic: Ronin
- November 13, 2015
- Blaze Epic
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreNil-Ninjahtic: Ronin is a pseudo 8-bit action platformer. While it integrates gameplay mechanics of the previous titles in the series, they are combined in a manner which differentiates itself from its predecessors.
PC
Windows
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features smooth and responsive controls, making character movement enjoyable and fluid.
- Nil-Ninjahtic: Ronin offers a nostalgic 8-bit aesthetic and challenging gameplay that appeals to fans of retro platformers.
- At a low price point, the game provides a decent amount of entertainment, especially for those who enjoy difficult platforming experiences.
- The game suffers from clunky controls and poor level design, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- There is a lack of innovation, as it heavily recycles assets and mechanics from previous titles in the series, making it feel repetitive.
- The absence of checkpoints and save options can lead to significant frustration, especially given the game's high difficulty level.
- gameplay18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing its clunky controls, unsatisfying mechanics, and impractical level design, which detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the integration of previous mechanics and find the game enjoyable for its short, action-packed sessions, others feel that the boss mechanics disrupt the flow and fail to align with the core gameplay. Overall, the game struggles with polish and responsiveness, leading to a janky experience that may not satisfy seasoned gamers.
“While it integrates gameplay mechanics of the previous titles in the series, they are combined in a manner that differentiates itself from its predecessors.”
“I personally rate this game 7/10 for the really fun gameplay.”
“If you want a short, small-sized game that would last 2-3 hours of gameplay that is full of action and adventure, then this is the game for you.”
“It's janky and unsatisfying to play... and any experienced gamer will tell you, the handling, responsiveness, and general gameplay feel of the control scheme must be well polished for this kind of game to succeed.”
“Unfortunately, this is something the developer seems to have phoned in, with little to no apparent gameplay testing.”
“The game is about mobility, but these bosses certainly didn't involve the core gameplay.”
- music8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally effective, adapting well to different environments and enhancing the overall experience, though some players find it forgettable and lacking in new tracks compared to previous installments. While it serves its purpose, there are mixed feelings about its quality, with some noting it as a personal drawback. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, despite some criticisms.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“Entering different areas of the game, whether it be in the streets of Japan or in the locker room of a gym, will change the music to suit the appropriate setting, a feature not usually found in smaller platformer games.”
“Still retaining that great music from the previous games, fun parkour sections, fair difficulty, and style.”
“The only main issue that personally bothered me was the music.”
“Secondly, yes, some music tracks return, but I see a lack of new ones, and this might be because they are very forgettable, which is a shame because you can make really good tracks.”
“Nil-ninjahtic Ronin might not have the best music around, but it serves its purpose extremely well.”
- story6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story has been criticized for being unoriginal and lacking excitement, with some players finding it boring and forgettable. The narrative revolves around a character in a coma, undergoing mental repairs, but fails to engage players due to weak writing and a lack of innovative world-building or mechanics. Overall, the storytelling feels outdated and uninspired, leaving players wanting more depth and creativity.
“Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“The game story is basically you're still in the same coma from the last game and someone, it could be aliens or humans, has you strapped into an animus machine and is trying to repair your mind bit by bit, and that's about it.”
“In a game like this, I'm actually surprised that now of all times you're starting to forget how to tell a story in gameplay.”
“The story itself isn't thrilling; you could say it's boring.”
“The game story is basically that you're still in the same coma from the last game, and someone—could be aliens or humans—has you strapped into an animus machine and is trying to repair your mind bit by bit, and that's about it.”
“The writing is not that interesting to begin with, and by the time you finish a chapter, you will have difficulty remembering what the story was about.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The graphics have been criticized for their outdated retro pixel art style, which feels obsolete compared to modern standards, and there are significant technical issues such as glitches and poor hitbox accuracy. Users noted a lack of resolution options and graphics tweaks, contributing to an overall negative impression of the visual experience. While some appreciated the nostalgic 8-bit aesthetic, it ultimately fell short for many players.
“The graphics look good for an 8-bit game.”
“A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
“There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
“Glitches everywhere, badly reactive jump (you have to wait like 0.2 seconds after every action if you want to jump right after), hitboxes not corresponding to visuals.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that Gamemaker Studio is often associated with the creation of retro-style games that are perceived as low-effort cash grabs, suggesting a negative view of its monetization practices.
“Gamemaker Studio is most commonly used to make retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent glitches, delayed jump responsiveness, and mismatched hitboxes, which detract from the overall gameplay experience.
“Glitches everywhere, with a badly reactive jump (you have to wait about 0.2 seconds after every action if you want to jump right after). Hitboxes do not correspond to visuals.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experienced constant frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the overall experience.”
