NinjaGuy, Immunity Studios’ debut game, is a 3D action-adventure platformer, launching October 15 for iOS. This game was designed to incorporate some of the unique abilities of the iPhone and iPad with innovative console-like controls.
Story
In NinjaGuy, the player takes control of the game’s titular protagonist on his quest to become a true Ninja. To do so, Cow-Sensei’s newest student must battle his way through a series of worlds until he reaches and defeats the Minotaur. Along the way, NinjaGuy meets many unique characters with hilarious personalities – though not all of them are particularly friendly.
Gameplay
NinjaGuy offered hands-down the most innovative gameplay experience I’ve encountered on an iPhone game. It emulates console controls with a soft joystick on the left-hand side of the screen and a series of buttons and controls on the right. This combination of controls provided for an amazing number of moves and abilities, depending on how the player taps, swipes, or holds a “button.”
The boss fights were quite robust and challenging, with each requiring a different gameplay mechanic; this, combined with the varying environments, kept gameplay from feeling stale. The game also rewards the player with the ability to learn special moves, like a whirlwind in which the character spins around, slashing multiple enemies with his sword at once.
The only thing that made the controls less-than-perfect was the slight friction incurred as a result of not having a screen protector on my iPhone. The naturally slick screen is great for simple swipes and taps, but the more rapid and complicated the move was, the more difficult it was to perform. I highly recommend against attempting the game without some sort of covering on the screen; otherwise you’re in for a couple of VERY frustrating boss fights.
Audio
The soundtrack featured some quaint Asian-inspired elements that complemented the game’s theme nicely. However, the voices in the game were questionable. They were understandably Asian-accented, but quite heavily so; many characters came across as borderline-offensive Western stereotypes of Asian culture.
In the end, the voices were slightly off-putting but mostly unobtrusive. Playing with the volume down did not detract from the game’s charm, which, after all, lay in its unique gameplay.
Visuals
Gameplay isn’t the only thing that Immunity Studios got spot-on. NinjaGuy‘s graphics are simply some of the best I’ve seen on a iOS game. The lush 3d environments were surprisingly beautiful even on a small screen, and the colorful character design provided for a similarly astounding immersive experience.
Overall
NinjaGuy is a highly playable game that represents all that other mobile game developers have striven for on the platform. While I’ve been impressed by many iOS apps before, a game has never been one of them. NinjaGuy is a representation of the fact that finally, mobile gaming has caught up with other iOS technology.
NinjaGuy launches for iOS on October 15, and is currently in development for Android and desktops. The game is free to download, with an in-app payment option after the first two levels. Screenshots, trailers, and wallpapers, as well as NinjaGuy news and updates, can be found at www.ninja-guy.com.