Ninjahtic
- June 26, 2015
- Blaze Epic
Ninjahtic is a single-player action/adventure platformer that combines platforming, puzzle-solving, and stealth elements. Players explore an ancient civilization on floating islands, using the environment to solve puzzles and defeat enemy robots. The game features open-ended levels, skill-based challenges, and a original soundtrack, all created by the developer.
Reviews
- The game features enjoyable parkour mechanics, including wall jumping and sliding, which can provide a fun challenge for players.
- The retro pixel art style and soothing soundtrack create a charming atmosphere that some players find relaxing.
- Despite its flaws, many players appreciate the game's low price point and find it to be a decent option for casual gaming.
- The controls are often described as clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- The game suffers from a lack of clear direction and map systems, making navigation and backtracking tedious.
- Many players feel that the overall presentation and level design are lackluster, with repetitive visuals and uninspired mechanics.
- gameplay15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it enjoyable and simple, while others criticize the janky controls and frustrating mechanics, particularly the wall-run and jump features. While the game offers nostalgic and fun elements for those seeking a break from more complex titles, the lack of polish and frequent backtracking can detract from the overall experience. Ultimately, it appeals to fans of retro-style games who prioritize mechanics over presentation.
“This is a very nice simple game with simple mechanics but with dynamic; for those who want to take a break from AAA 3D games, it may not be the prettiest but it's fun.”
“Good albeit simple gameplay mechanics (jump/slash).”
“Nice controls, simple yet fun mechanics.”
“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 nostalgia and decent gameplay is lost in the sea of frustration that is the broken wall-run mechanic.”
- music11 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its calming and soothing qualities, enhancing the overall atmosphere, especially for fans of retro-platformers. While some players find the soundtrack enjoyable and fitting, others note that it can be repetitive and lacks variety. Overall, the music contributes positively to the experience, though opinions vary on its memorability and impact.
“Nice simple game with a soothing soundtrack.”
“If you like retro-platformers with a nice soundtrack, you will love this game.”
“The music is great, it's very calming and makes the game's atmosphere even better.”
“The controls feel fairly unresponsive, the music is repetitive as hell, and the movement and combat - the central tenets of these retro platformer style games - just feel off, like they don't quite flow as eloquently as, say, the movement in Super Meat Boy.”
“The music is modern synth, with pads and such doing a very generic job of setting the atmosphere.”
“The music is fairly relaxing, but the loop in it does not grate too hard and could use more variety.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a retro 8-bit pixel art style that some players find charming, though it lacks modern resolution options and graphics tweaks. While the visuals are described as neat and fitting for the post-apocalyptic theme, opinions vary on their overall impact, with some enjoying the nostalgic aesthetic and others feeling it detracts from the experience. Overall, the art style contributes to the fun of the gameplay, despite some criticisms regarding the final boss design.
“The art style is neat and the stages were plenty of fun.”
“The post-apocalyptic visuals were cool, and some fun bosses (except for the last one).”
“The game is still solid, and I like the art style of this one. It's another screen-based wall jump platformer, but it's trying to be more action-adventure than a wall glider simulator.”
“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.”
- story4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story presents a moral about perseverance and the unpredictability of life, contrasting with a lack of exposition and depth. Set in an ancient Mayan refuge overrun by robots, the narrative revolves around a treasure-hunting quest that can feel engaging if executed well, offering a sense of adventure.
“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.”
“Done right, it can feel like a quest within a quest, or a standout in the adventure.”
“+ no exposition or story to speak of.”
“The story starts out in some ancient Mayan refuge that's been taken over by red robots and security drones, and your job is to get some treasures from the site.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has limited replayability, primarily appealing to those interested in speedrunning or who appreciate its pixel art and retro gameplay. While it offers a decent challenge, many players feel it lacks sufficient content to warrant multiple playthroughs.
“And this game is cheaper than a rental, which is essentially what it is - not exactly short, but not worth more than a couple of days, and no replay value unless you want to speedrun the whole thing.”
“- I can't see any replay value here.”
“Verdict: definitely buy this if you like pixel art, retro (simple) gameplay, challenge, and don't care much about presentation, length, or replay value.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the games is described as inconsistent, fluctuating between immersive experiences and mere decorative backgrounds. While some players appreciate the calming music that enhances the atmosphere, there is a sense of familiarity in the platforming and puzzle elements that detracts from the overall experience.
“The music is great, it's very calming and makes the game's atmosphere even better.”
“I'm beginning to think that Blaze is losing faith in his ability to design new games. The atmosphere of each game fluctuates between feeling immersive and feeling like a pretty background picture. Some of the platforming tropes and puzzles are starting to feel very familiar. Having played all three Ninjahtic games already, I can say (with certainty) that this feeling isn't going to go away.”
“The music is great; it's very calming and enhances the game's atmosphere.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that Gamemaker Studio is often associated with the creation of low-effort, retro-style games that are perceived as cash grabs, suggesting a negative view of its monetization practices.
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, prioritizing profit over player experience.”
“In-game purchases are heavily pushed, making it difficult to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
“The reliance on microtransactions detracts from the overall enjoyment and immersion of the game.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious due to frequent backtracking, yet some appreciate the challenge it presents in terms of progress.
“The you-don't-know-if-you're making progress style of gameplay is slightly tedious because of frequent backtracking.”
“Grinding feels like a never-ending chore rather than an engaging part of the game.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay motivated and enjoy the overall experience.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report that movement can be somewhat buggy when using a controller, specifically mentioning issues with the Xbox 360 controller, though it's unclear if this affects other controllers as well.
“Movement can get a bit buggy with a controller (I've only tried on the 360, so I'm not sure about others).”