The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 282 reviews
  • music
  • gameplay
  • graphics
The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors Game Cover
Starting at €19.50Buy now
Get on Steam

"The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors" is a self-remastered game based on the 1994 spinoff of Taito's 1987 arcade classic, "The NinjaWarriors." The game features five android ninjas, each with unique techniques, and offers both single-player and two-player co-op modes. It maintains its 16-bit style while expanding the playfield, adding new backgrounds, animations, and explosive pyrotechnics, as well as multiple difficulty levels and multiple soundtrack options.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 282 reviews
music48 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning pixel art and animations, showcasing the developers' experience and attention to detail.
  • Each character has unique playstyles and abilities, adding depth and variety to the gameplay.
  • The remaster includes improved mechanics, new characters, and multiple soundtrack options, enhancing the overall experience.
  • The final boss is frustratingly difficult and poorly designed, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
  • There is no save feature, requiring players to complete the game in one sitting to unlock new characters.
  • Some gameplay mechanics, such as hit detection and blocking, feel inconsistent and can lead to frustrating experiences.
  • music88 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its fantastic quality and the inclusion of multiple unlockable soundtracks, including remastered versions of the original arcade and SNES scores. The soundtrack enhances the overall experience, complementing the game's impressive pixel art and fluid gameplay, making it a standout feature that adds depth and replay value. Overall, the music is described as "kickass" and "god tier," significantly contributing to the game's nostalgic and engaging atmosphere.

    • “The music is absolutely fantastic, the animations are the work of a team that has been doing this for 30 years and it shows.”
    • “The soundtrack alone is god tier.”
    • “Presentation is also amazing with top tier 2D pixel art and a kickass soundtrack.”
    • “No real bells or whistles beyond unlocking the original soundtrack after a playthrough and the new characters Yaksha and Raiden.”
    • “Really hope players can choose to switch back to the original stage 5, like switching between music in the SNES version or the Once Again version.”
    • “(I only wish the game had the Mega CD redbook audio soundtrack)”
  • gameplay52 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is generally praised for its simplicity, fun mechanics, and engaging side-scrolling beat 'em up action, enhanced by beautiful pixel art and a great soundtrack. While the addition of new characters and co-op play is appreciated, some players noted issues with character balancing and hit detection that detract from the experience. Overall, the game offers a polished and addictive gameplay loop that encourages skillful play and replayability, making it a solid choice for fans of the genre.

    • “An excellent side-scrolling beat 'em up with good art, mechanics, animations, and a well-made remake that adds a lot to the game.”
    • “The game is not difficult by all means, but what makes it attractive is the not overly difficult gameplay, the correct set of special moves each character has, and the fact that it does not feel grindy and tedious. It's one of those games that you want to challenge yourself to beat as fast as possible.”
    • “Awesome music, fun and challenging gameplay, and just an all-around good game.”
    • “Gameplay issues and erratic hit boxes, however, prevent me from loving this old school game.”
    • “Bad character balancing where two characters can't even jump so you can't avoid ground bombs, and one can't even grab which is a huge mechanic in the game.”
    • “The 2 player co-op and 2 new characters are appreciated but I was hoping this would have various gameplay improvements.”
  • graphics40 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the improved pixel art, animation, and overall aesthetic that enhances the nostalgic feel of the original SNES title. The remaster is noted for its vibrant visuals and fluid combat, making it a standout in the beat-em-up genre. Overall, the combination of stunning graphics and a great soundtrack contributes to an engaging gameplay experience.

    • “The graphics are amazing, some of the best pixel art I've seen.”
    • “This is an incredible beat 'em up with excellent pixel art graphics/animations and great music.”
    • “The visuals and audio are obviously improved but it's still a flawed beat-em-up that takes under an hour to beat with very little additional content and very few improvements.”
    • “The combat is fast and fluid, the pixel art graphics are improved (and in widescreen) and look lovely, and the arranged soundtrack sounds great.”
    • “Visualshock!”
  • story12 mentions

    The story is generally viewed as simple and minimalistic, focusing on a nihilistic theme with a central objective of assassinating a character named Banglar. While some players appreciate the nostalgic elements and the straightforward plot, others feel that the lack of cutscenes and depth detracts from the overall experience. Despite this, the engaging gameplay and unique character designs keep players returning to the game.

    • “I still come back to it to try to beat my times and enjoy the story; it's really simple, but I like it.”
    • “Whole new experience, but the story, plot, main enemy, and objective were still the same: assassinate Banglar.”
    • “Not that the story was a big draw, but it would have been nice if they added a couple of cutscenes.”
    • “A minimal nihilistic storyline, with some badass ninja androids kicking the crap out of an entire army and some creative design decisions that make all of them play a bit differently.”
  • replayability12 mentions

    The game's replayability is generally viewed as strong, particularly due to its diverse characters, each offering unique gameplay experiences, and features like unlockable content, hard modes, and time attack challenges. However, some players feel that additional downloadable content or updates could further enhance its longevity. Overall, the polished gameplay and multiplayer options contribute significantly to its replay value, making it appealing for both casual players and speedrunners.

    • “Can be played by 2 players (was originally a solo player game), highly replayable and speedrunner friendly.”
    • “There are unlockable characters, soundtracks, hard mode, and time attack to add replay value, but the super polished and fun gameplay does the heavy lifting here.”
    • “Every character is their own world, with their own mobility, special attacks, grabs, and such, which greatly enhances replayability since every one of them is such a different experience.”
    • “I'm not sure this game has a meaningful replay value.”
    • “A DLC or an update with more playable content would expand the life of the game.”
    • “If you like beat 'em ups, fast-paced moment-to-moment gameplay and replayability, I recommend Ninja Saviors as well as Natsumi's other titles on Steam.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and aggravating, particularly due to the slow pace of the ninja character and limited effectiveness of throwing attacks. However, some appreciate the overall gameplay for its balance of challenge and fun, noting that it doesn't feel overly grindy and encourages players to complete it quickly.

    • “It's doable, but very tedious and aggravating since you have a slow ninja and roughly only one, maybe two of your throwing attacks will have any chance to work.”
    • “The game is not difficult by any means, but what makes the game attractive to me at least is the not overly difficult gameplay. The correct set of special moves each character has makes the game fun, and it does not feel grindy and tedious. It's one of those games that you want to challenge yourself to beat as fast as possible.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by users who express a deep appreciation for its nostalgic value and the successful enhancement of a beloved classic, indicating a strong connection to the game's legacy.

  • optimization2 mentions

    The game is praised for its smooth performance and enjoyable gameplay, reminiscent of classic SNES titles, complemented by great music.

    • “The game runs smoothly, great music, and it's as much fun as playing it on an SNES.”
  • humor2 mentions

    Players find the humor in the game stems from its "hilariously awful" design choices, which lead to a mix of frustration and amusement during gameplay. The questionable decisions made throughout the game contribute to a comedic experience, especially during time attack runs.

    • “I have multiple top times in this game's stage time attack, but doing a whole run is just hilariously awful because there are so many questionable decisions.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The reviews highlight the game's stunning pixel art and character designs, but they do not provide specific insights into character development. Instead, the focus is on the visual style, soundtracks, and gameplay mechanics, suggesting that character growth may not be a central element of the experience.

  • stability2 mentions

    The game demonstrates excellent stability, particularly on the Steam Deck, where users report smooth performance.

    • “Runs great on the Steam Deck.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors

Videos

Similar Games