Save the Ninja Clan

Genre: Platformer

Players: 1

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Review:

Save the Ninja Clan is a Platformer released in 2017 on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, and ported to PlayStation Vita and Nintendo Switch in 2018. In this game, players take the role of a trio of color-swapping ninjas who must rescue kidnapped townsfolk from a clan of evil ninjas.

The presentation here is pretty terrible, using simple 2D visuals that seem like they could have been created on MS Paint backed by a forgettable repetitive soundtrack. Clearly, this is a game that is banking on its gameplay being the sole selling point.

That gameplay comes in the form of a Platformer roughly in the style of Super Meat Boy, and if this a budget version of the sort of gameplay we got there, this would be fantastic. Unfortunately, multiple issues get in the way.

The game lets you swap between three different ninjas – the green ninja has a double-jump and as such is clearly the best. The blue ninja can run fast, and as such is the one speed runners will probably want to use the most. Finally, the black ninja can create a smoke cloud to dodge enemy attacks, which is to say he’s basically useless and you’ll be playing the other two the majority of the game and simply jumping over enemy attacks or taking out enemies before they can attack you in the first place.

Unfortunately, swapping between ninjas isn’t instantaneous, meaning that transitioning when you need one in a hurry is clunky and can be frustrating. What’s more, you can’t choose which one to start with, meaning that when you’re repeatedly re-playing a tough level where you need, say, the blue ninja at the start, you’ll have to swap to them each and every time, which can get old really quickly.

Even worse than this, the controls are laid out in an odd manner, and the game won’t let you re-map them. Jumping using A and then tossing a knife using Y feels awkward, especially when you have to be doing it as a part of a series of jumps. And to make matters worse, this game’s controls are nowhere near as smooth and responsive as Super Meat Boy’s controls, and I repeatedly found the game outright missing my button presses when I was trying to jump.

There’s one more issue to address here – the Switch Tax. Even in a budget game, this is still an issue, and where Save the Ninja Clan was only $1 on PC and $3 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, Nintendo Switch owners will have to pay $5 to play it (not accounting for sales).

Look, the Nintendo Switch isn’t hurting for great Platformers, and while Save the Ninja Clan is still cheaper than Super Meat Boy, even after a 400% price increase over the original release… I would still suggest just paying more to get an actual good game. Or, if you really want a great ninja-themed platformer, get N++, or get 10 Second Ninja X, or get Ninja Striker!, or one of the countless other good ninja games on Nintendo Switch. Don’t bother with this one.

tl;dr – Save the Ninja Clan is a Platformer where players play as a trio of ninjas racing through hazardous levels to save the people of their town. Unfortunately the ugly presentation, spotty gameplay, and frustrating control issues make this a ninja game that dishonors its ancestors.

Grade: D+

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