Ninjahtic Mind Tricks
- June 26, 2015
- Blaze Epic
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Get on itch.io Store"Ninjahtic Mind Tricks" is an 8-bit hack-and-slash platformer with stealth, adventure, and puzzle elements. Levels are open-ended, requiring the use of environment and abilities for progression. The game features various platforming challenges, enemies of different types, and a fully original 8-bit soundtrack .
PC
Windows
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a fun and engaging movement system with wall jumping, dashing, and stealth elements that enhance gameplay.
- The art style is visually appealing, with a retro 8-bit aesthetic that adds charm to the game.
- The controls are generally smooth and responsive, allowing for enjoyable platforming and combat mechanics.
- The game suffers from repetitive gameplay, requiring players to defeat all enemies in a room to progress, which can become tedious.
- Collision detection and controls can feel stiff and unresponsive at times, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- The story and character development are poorly executed, making it difficult for players to connect with the narrative.
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics feature a charming "pseudo 8-bit" retro style with enhanced contrast and cartoon-like outlines, creating a visually appealing pixelated aesthetic. While the art style is praised for its neatness and improvement over previous titles, some users note the lack of modern graphical options and resolution adjustments. Overall, the graphics are celebrated for their nostalgic appeal, though they embrace a deliberately outdated design.
“The art style is neat and the stages are even better than the last game.”
“The world around you is drawn in a self-titled 'pseudo 8-bit' retro style, but this time there appears to be more contrast in the art style and the outlines of the characters and objects, so everything looks like a pixelated cartoon.”
“The game's graphics are 8-bit awesomeness; the controls are smooth, and the platforming and combat feel natural to pull off.”
“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.”
“This is no first-person shooter; this is a tiny retro platformer with chunky graphics.”
- music7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed feedback, with some players noting a lack of variety, as levels often feature similar tracks or recolored samples. While one player expressed a desire for different music for each level, another praised the atmospheric quality of the jazz soundtrack, highlighting its evocative nature and ability to create a relaxing experience. Overall, there is a call for more musical diversity to enhance the gameplay experience.
“I love jazz for its atmosphere, particularly evocative soundtrack, and curious juxtaposition of noir and late Tokugawa/early Meiji ronin stories.”
“I relaxed for 5 ♥♥♥♥ minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“The only thing I would change about the game is maybe having different music for the levels.”
“I'm not too far into it, so I don't know if the music ever does change or if it's continuously the same track.”
“If it never changes, I want an option to turn it off so I can listen to my music when I play; otherwise, I hope further levels change it up.”
- story5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The story in the game has been criticized for its poor writing and convoluted plot, particularly regarding the introduction of a rival character and an implausible teleporting woman, which detracts from the overall experience. Reviewers feel that these narrative choices lead to a lack of coherence and engagement in the storyline.
“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.”
“My only problems with this game come from the story and the writing... and maybe some of the boss fights, but I'll get to that later.”
“But then the story starts to go downhill as they outright tell you that they've programmed a rival for you.”
“But then the story goes a little far off the rails when, apparently, you're following some woman around town that has the ability to teleport... I'm sorry, who!?”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay features engaging freerunning and midair mechanics, adding a unique flight element to the experience. However, many players find the controls to be janky and unresponsive, indicating a lack of polish and thorough testing that detracts from overall enjoyment.
“You're going to encounter some interesting freerunning, wall-rebounding, and midair mechanics, as there are notes of flight to be found in every game.”
“The gameplay is so good, but there are a couple of problems I could name off.”
“The handling, responsiveness, and general gameplay feel of the control scheme must be well polished for this kind of game to succeed.”
“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.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and repetitive, as it requires clearing every monster on the screen to progress, which lacks challenge and disrupts the game's flow. The necessity to revisit nearly every area further exacerbates the monotony, making the experience feel laborious rather than enjoyable.
“Given that there are a ton of small rooms at the beginning of the game (after the tutorial), this game is immediately tedious and repetitive.”
“To progress, you have to kill every monster on the screen, which is tedious rather than fun, and not challenging at all.”
“The fact that the game forces you to go through almost every screen twice just doubles the tediousness and completely ruins the game's flow.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently praised as satisfying and often hilarious, contributing significantly to the overall enjoyment.
“Satisfying and often hilarious.”
“Funny game!!!”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its evocative jazz soundtrack, which enhances the noir aesthetic and complements the intriguing blend of late Tokugawa and early Meiji ronin narratives.
“I love jazz for its atmosphere, particularly the evocative soundtrack and the curious juxtaposition of noir and late Tokugawa/Early Meiji ronin stories.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
“Despite the intriguing setting, the atmosphere fails to engage, leaving players feeling disconnected from the experience.”
“The game's atmosphere is overshadowed by repetitive elements, making it hard to appreciate the intended mood.”
- 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.”
