The Ninja Warriors/The Ninja Warriors Again (SNES, 1994)
Graphics-8.5 Sound-8 Control-8* Challenge-7.5*
Level Design-7 Frustration-8* Fun-7 Originality-5
Overall Score-7
*As Kunoichi (the girl)
+
Three different playable characters (robot ninjas) with different move-sets offering some replay value
Some good bosses (green dude, final)
Decent amount of moves (grab and throw (three different ones)
Somersault dodge
Somersault kick (Kunoichi)
Block (character walks backwards instead of turning around when blocking)
TMNT/SoR-style attack combo (you can also perform an alternate finish move by pressing up on the d-pad - requires a full smart bomb energy bar and drains part of it)
Rocket air dash (Ninja only))
Difficulty options (normal/hard) - one new enemy on hard mode (female ninja)
Pick up and throw objects (see Two Crude Dudes, here you can't move while carrying them though)
Smart bomb (need to wait for a full energy bar, gets reset if you're knocked down)
Good art direction and use of colour
Evenly placed checkpoints
Decent length (8 stages)
Enemies also get hit by most traps
+/-
Invincible during finisher/while picking up/throwing an object/enemy
Can't move while attacking
Block mapped to punch button (can't block immediately, can't turn around to block if you're mashing attack)
Time limit (only a problem during the final boss)
No lives (unlimited continues, start at checkpoint after death, return to last checkpoint after dying to a boss)
No control config
No alternate weapons
Grab time is very short
Alternate finishers aren't really needed (smart bomb damages all enemies and bosses)
-
Somewhat sluggish control (you'll often see an enemy attack coming but not be able to dodge due to being in the middle of your own attack, often can't block an enemy combo after getting hit from the first attack)
Uneven AI (too easy to throw most enemies, some enemies will walk right into your punches)
Very short invincibility time after getting knocked down
Cheap hits (falling missiles, foreground objects obscuring the view, some boss attacks, enemies attacking from outside the screen)
Trial & error (boss patterns, enemy drop kicks, fast enemy ambushes (dwarves))
Repetitive (no pits or platforming sequences)
The large robots are easy and too resilient
1-player only
No running
Level Design-7 Frustration-8* Fun-7 Originality-5
Overall Score-7
*As Kunoichi (the girl)
+
Three different playable characters (robot ninjas) with different move-sets offering some replay value
Some good bosses (green dude, final)
Decent amount of moves (grab and throw (three different ones)
Somersault dodge
Somersault kick (Kunoichi)
Block (character walks backwards instead of turning around when blocking)
TMNT/SoR-style attack combo (you can also perform an alternate finish move by pressing up on the d-pad - requires a full smart bomb energy bar and drains part of it)
Rocket air dash (Ninja only))
Difficulty options (normal/hard) - one new enemy on hard mode (female ninja)
Pick up and throw objects (see Two Crude Dudes, here you can't move while carrying them though)
Smart bomb (need to wait for a full energy bar, gets reset if you're knocked down)
Good art direction and use of colour
Evenly placed checkpoints
Decent length (8 stages)
Enemies also get hit by most traps
+/-
Invincible during finisher/while picking up/throwing an object/enemy
Can't move while attacking
Block mapped to punch button (can't block immediately, can't turn around to block if you're mashing attack)
Time limit (only a problem during the final boss)
No lives (unlimited continues, start at checkpoint after death, return to last checkpoint after dying to a boss)
No control config
No alternate weapons
Grab time is very short
Alternate finishers aren't really needed (smart bomb damages all enemies and bosses)
-
Somewhat sluggish control (you'll often see an enemy attack coming but not be able to dodge due to being in the middle of your own attack, often can't block an enemy combo after getting hit from the first attack)
Uneven AI (too easy to throw most enemies, some enemies will walk right into your punches)
Very short invincibility time after getting knocked down
Cheap hits (falling missiles, foreground objects obscuring the view, some boss attacks, enemies attacking from outside the screen)
Trial & error (boss patterns, enemy drop kicks, fast enemy ambushes (dwarves))
Repetitive (no pits or platforming sequences)
The large robots are easy and too resilient
1-player only
No running