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
- Fun little ninja platformer with enjoyable wall jumping, sliding, and stealth kills.
- The art style is neat, and the music is relaxing, contributing to a pleasant atmosphere.
- Offers a decent challenge for platformer enthusiasts, making it a good option for quick fun.
- Controls can be frustrating, particularly with wall runs and jumping mechanics that feel inconsistent.
- The game suffers from excessive backtracking and lacks a map system, making navigation tedious.
- Presentation is lackluster, with repetitive level design and a general feeling of being a low-quality, amateur project.
- gameplay30 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Gameplay is characterized by a mix of simple mechanics and nostalgic elements, appealing to those seeking a break from more complex titles. However, players frequently express frustration with clunky controls, particularly regarding the wall-run and jump mechanics, which detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, many find the gameplay enjoyable and recommend it for fans of retro-style games, provided they are not overly concerned with presentation or polish.
“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.”
“The nostalgia and decent gameplay is lost in the sea of frustration that is the broken wall-run mechanic.”
“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.”
- music22 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as soothing and calming, enhancing the overall atmosphere, particularly for fans of retro-platformers. While some players appreciate the relaxing quality and well-executed sound effects, others find the music repetitive and not particularly spectacular. Overall, it contributes positively to the experience, though it may not stand out as exceptional.
“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.”
“+music is fairly relaxing, the loop in it does not grate too hard and sound effects are well done.”
“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.”
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“The music is modern synth, with pads and such doing a very”
- graphics14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a neat 8-bit retro art style that complements its post-apocalyptic setting, providing a fun visual experience across various stages. While the visuals are engaging, some players noted the lack of modern graphical options and tweaks, which may detract from the overall experience. Despite these limitations, the art style is generally well-received, contributing positively to the game's solid platforming mechanics.
“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 visuals are 8-bit retro, the music is good but nothing spectacular, and the platforming is usually challenging but neither unfair nor so tough that I'd consider stopping - with the notable exception of the end boss fight, which was uncharacteristically silly.”
“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.”
“A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- story8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal, lacking significant exposition, and revolves around a quest set in an ancient Mayan refuge overrun by robots and drones, where players must retrieve treasures. While the narrative can feel like a layered adventure, it ultimately serves as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a compelling storyline. The overarching moral emphasizes resilience and the unpredictability of life.
“Done right, it can feel like a quest within a quest, or a standout in the 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.”
“+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.”
“+no exposition or story to speak of.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game has limited replayability, primarily appealing to those interested in speedrunning rather than extended playthroughs. While it offers a decent challenge and retro aesthetics, many players feel it lacks sufficient content to warrant multiple play sessions.
“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.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the games is described as inconsistent, oscillating between immersive experiences and mere visual backdrops, which may indicate a decline in the developer's creativity. However, the calming music is highlighted as a strong point that enhances the overall atmosphere. Familiarity in platforming tropes and puzzles contributes to a sense of stagnation in the game's ambiance.
“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 atmosphere feels inconsistent, often lacking the depth needed to fully engage players. It sometimes resembles just a backdrop rather than an integral part of the experience.”
“While the music is calming and enhances the atmosphere, it can't compensate for the overall lack of immersion in the game world.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious due to frequent backtracking, yet many appreciate the challenge it presents and enjoy the sense of progress it offers.
“The you-don't-know-if-you're-making-progress style of gameplay is slightly tedious because of frequent backtracking.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report that movement can be somewhat buggy when using a controller, specifically noting issues with the Xbox 360 version, 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).”
“Movement can get a bit buggy with a controller (I've only tried on the 360, so I'm not sure about others).”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that Gamemaker Studio is often associated with the creation of low-effort, retro-style games that prioritize profit over quality, leading to a perception of it being a platform for "shovelware" and cash grabs.