Ninja 1987 Review (PlayStation 5)
Ninja 1987 Review, Take a nostalgic dive into the 80s with pixel art graphics and chiptune music that captures the vintage sound. Ninja 1987 features 7 levels filled with enemies and traps. Our hero can wield shurikens and unleash powerful ninjitsu attacks. Encounter challenging end-level bosses and in-game screens that unfold the story while remaining true to the total arcade gameplay of the 80s.
Ninja 1987 Review Pros:
- Beautiful 8-bit graphics.
- 148.2MB Download size.
- Platinum trophy.
- You get the Playstation 5 and the PlayStation 4 versions of the game.
- Action platformer gameplay.
- The tutorial is a page of controls, what power-ups do, and what the bars mean.
- Excellent chip tune-inspired soundtrack.
- CRT filter option.
- Passing GO! (always when going screen to screen), will create a restart point.
- Lives-based system and a game over lets you go back to the main menu or continue from the last GO! You passed.
- Ki is what you need to use special attacks and abilities.
- Four drops – health, shuriken, restore kit, and 500-point capsules.
- Health bar-based system.
- Tight responsive controls.
- 2D game world with animated backdrops.
- Big huge boss encounters.
- You can wall climb and wall jump.
- Melee and ranged attacks.
- Fast loading times.
- You have a good shot at finishing the game thanks to the continue system.
- It plays like a modern game but feels like a retro game.
- Seven acts to unlock.
- Your best score is shown in each act.
- Act select screen.
- You can replay acts.
- It is a lot of fun to play.
- Combo counter.
- Minimal color palette which is fitting for the era it’s going for and is very impactful.
- Many enemy types and you have to learn their patterns or triggers for success.
- Excellent presentation from the act splash screens to the billboards and locations.
Ninja 1987 Review Cons:
- You cannot remap the controls.
- No actual game options.
- The tutorial is just text and images.
- Scores don’t always show on each act’s best score.
- Has the annoying knockback on hit mechanic. I was hoping that died out but seems not.
- You are very sticky when it comes to jumping near walls and It can cause real problems.
- Boss battles are big difficulty spikes.
- Hot detection can sometimes feel a bit off.
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Ninja 1987:
Developer: SEEP
Publisher: Ratalaika Games S.L.
Store Links –
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Summary
Ninja 1987 is a nostalgic dive into the 80s with its beautiful 8-bit graphics and excellent chip tune-inspired soundtrack. The game is a compact 148.2MB download and offers both PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 versions. As an action platformer, it features tight, responsive controls and a health bar-based system. The 2D game world is brought to life with animated backdrops and big, huge boss encounters. Players can enjoy melee and ranged attacks, wall climbing, and wall jumping. The game also boasts fast loading times and a lives-based system where passing GO! creates a restart point, making it easier to continue from where you left off.
The game has a minimal color palette that fits the retro era it’s aiming for and is very impactful. The presentation is excellent, from the act splash screens to the billboards and locations. The tutorial, however, is just a page of controls, power-ups, and bar explanations, which might not be very engaging for some players. The game also has a CRT filter option and a combo counter, adding to its retro charm. There are seven acts to unlock, and you can replay acts to improve your best score, which is shown in each act.
On the downside, the game has some issues. You cannot remap the controls, and there are no actual game options. The tutorial is just text and images, which might not be very helpful for new players. Scores don’t always show on each act’s best score, and the game has the annoying knockback on hit mechanic. Jumping near walls can be problematic due to the sticky mechanics, and boss battles present big difficulty spikes. Hit detection can sometimes feel a bit off, which can be frustrating during intense gameplay.
In summary, Ninja 1987 is a fun and engaging action platformer that successfully blends modern gameplay with a retro feel. Its beautiful 8-bit graphics, excellent soundtrack, and tight controls make it a joy to play. However, some issues like the inability to remap controls, the knockback mechanic, and hit detection problems can detract from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, the game offers a lot of fun and nostalgia for fans of the genre or time.