G.G Series: Ninja Karakuri Den

Genre: Action-Platformer / Arcade

Players: 1

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Review:

Ninja Karakuri Den is an Arcade-style Action-Platformer released on the Nintendo DSi via the DSiWare service in 2010 and then grandfathered into the Nintendo 3DS eShop when that system was released. In this game, players take the role of a constantly-jumping ninja trying to destroy a bunch of spinning cogs in mid-air while avoiding the attacks of enemies. Why does the ninja hate these cogs? Who knows.

The presentation in this game uses retro-style 2D pixel art visuals with decent animation backed by repetitive music with a melody seemingly inspired by the Feudal Japanese time this game presumably takes place in (note: this same music was later used in G.G Series The Hidden Ninja Kagemaru). It’s nothing especially noteworthy, but it works well enough for the game.

The gameplay itself is fairly unique within the genre. The ninja you play as is constantly automatically jumping, and any platform he lands on will disappear, with another platform appearing elsewhere. Players control the ninja through his movement, by having him throw one of his limitless supply of shurikens, or by doing a mid-air horizontal dash. Using these abilities, players must use their shurikens to take out cogs that appear in the stage, all without falling off of the stage. Meanwhile, enemies will appear and try to attack you, and while their attacks do no damage, they can potentially send you careening the wrong way and force you to fall.

All of this works out to a pretty fun and unique Arcade-style experience where you’re trying to accomplish your task in each level, tossing tons of shurikens and avoiding enemy attacks while always keeping an eye out for where you’ll land. Juggling all of these things is a fun challenge.

I do have a few complaints here. This game is level based, but it seems like something that would be so much better if there were an endless mode, with cogs and enemies constantly appearing, and the battle becoming increasingly more unmanageable as the platforms continue to disperse in unpredictable patterns. Sadly this is not something you can do in this game. Also, I’m frustrated that this game requires players to repeatedly tap the attack button instead of holding it down – this seems like a pointless way to force players to work their thumbs rather than genuinely adding a challenge to the game.

However, while there are absolutely ways that Ninja Karakuri Den could be improved, it still remains an excellent Arcade-style Action-Platformer, and one that is absolutely worth the low $2 price tag. If you enjoy Arcade-style Action, this is absolutely a game you’ll want to get before the Nintendo 3DS eShop before it closes in March 2023 (later this month!).

tl;dr – Ninja Karakuri Den is an Arcade-style Action-Platformer that has players taking the role of a constantly-jumping ninja trying to take out spinning cogs with shurikens and evading enemies without losing his footing. This is a fun and unique game that’s absolutely worth its low $2 price tag, and you should be sure to grab it before the Nintendo 3DS eShop before it closes in March 2023 (later this month!).

Grade: B

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