Title: Ninja Crash
Format: Xbox Live Indie Game
Genre: Action & Adventure
Release Date: October 16, 2012
Developer: Team Devil Games
Price: 240 MSP
Rating: Violence = 1/3, Sex = 1/3, Mature Content = 1/3
It was just another ordinary day when the master’s cheese was suddenly stolen. So naturally he sends his crew of super awesome ninjas to retrieve it. Sigh. Can’t a ninja ever get some peace? Apparently not, but it sure makes for some co-op battle goodness. Your mission: defeat all the baddies by destroying their lanterns and protecting your own. Button mash your way to the top of the stage and above your enemies to pop their lanterns before they get yours. It can be tough on your thumb after a while, but there are plenty of power ups to speed up the process and help defeat the enemies. And the controls are ridiculously simple, so anyone can pick up a controller and join you on the quest to reclaim the cheese!
The environment plays a surprisingly huge factor as you progress through the game. Watch for falling objects and protruding spikes that can destroy your lanterns before you’re even out the gates. Your own pals can get you killed too - bumping into a comrade can bounce you toward the tip of an enemy’s sword. And even though those bombs are awesome, it’s wise to use caution as you can end up charred right along with the bad guys.
Aesthetically, Ninja Crash is absolutely stunning. The Farseer Physics Engine works extremely well and the gameplay is super smooth. The graphics are beautiful and polished, and with a 1080p resolution you can enjoy your aerial ninja battles in full HD glory.
Even with nine levels the main campaign feels a little short, but the plethora of unlockable ninja skills and various multiplayer modes give Ninja Crash great replay value. There is no online multiplayer at the moment, but you can play through the campaign with a friend or up to four players in competitive mode. Overall, Ninja Crash packs a real punch for the price; it looks, feels and plays like an arcade game, but at just three bucks this indie gem is a steal.
S&S Rating: 9.5/10 @missjendie About: Jennifer Roger is a fine arts student from the Chicagoland area. You can follow @missjendie on Twitter or visit her blog atmissjendie.com
