Written by: Bernard Julius Paje
Title: Ninja Usagimaru - The Mysterious Karakuri Castle
Publisher: Aksys Games
Developer: Aksys Games
Genre: Action, Adventure
Release Date: September 29, 2016 (3DS eShop)
No. of Players: 1 player
Price: $5.99
Ninja Usagimaru: The Mysterious Karakuri Castle is a unmarried hide 2D puzzle/platforming activity game that tasks you lot every bit the titular ninja inwards his yell for to rescue villagers captured yesteryear evil Mononoke, monsters which are to a greater extent than oftentimes than non based on spirits from traditional Japanese literature. Armed amongst his trusty kunai, grappling hook, kite together with superb block manipulating skills, Usagimaru makes his means through to a greater extent than than sixty stages of brain-bending puzzles. If you lot similar block lifting puzzle games inwards the vein of 8-bit classics similar Babel, together with hence you lot should definitely cheque this game out.
The game has fairly uncomplicated graphics, considering it is designed to hold upward a budget-friendly championship developed yesteryear modest Taiwanese studio F K Digital. The fine art of the game has a heavy Japanese influence together with the sprites of Usagimaru together with the cute, super deformed Mononoke are all nicely animated inwards the game. The usage of 3D is noticeably absent inwards the game, simply I personally practise non recollect it would receive got added anything to the sense because it would virtually probable alone hold upward used to brand the sprites ‘pop’ from the background. The music of the game sounds similar they are genuinely played on traditional Japanese instruments. Everything from the game’s background music (like the phase select together with master copy theme) every bit good every bit the diverse audio effects (like when you lot complete a phase or teach defeated yesteryear an enemy) has a distinct Japanese vibe to it. Most of the music is real repetitive though; reminiscent of how former 8- or 16-bit games endlessly looped a music runway that is a few seconds to a infinitesimal inwards length.
One of the pith gameplay dynamics of the game requires you lot to unloosen captive villagers (who oddly are all cute ‘chibi’ girls) from a Blue Oni (ghost) yesteryear placing a stone on a springy Red Oni. In doing this though, you lot receive got to hold upward careful together with brand certain the villager does non autumn onto spikes or other hazards. Once you lot rescue the villager you lot together with hence receive got to guide her dorsum to a Rabbit Stone. It sounds uncomplicated on paper, simply virtually of the stages are designed to hold upward solvable via a real precise solution. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 phase is oftentimes made unsolvable if you lot brand a mistake, similar set a block where it is non supposed to hold upward or autumn downwards a infinite you lot cannot jump dorsum upward from. Because of this, a picayune lawsuit together with error may hold upward involved at times. Thankfully, the game employs a Pinwheel checkpoint system, enabling you lot to rewind fourth dimension inwards illustration you lot screw up. By the fourth dimension you lot attain the ninth or tenth phase of the firstly area, you lot are already given around pretty tough puzzles to solve. So when I mentioned inwards a higher house that the game’s puzzles are brain-bending, I genuinely meant it! :D
The game also tries to brand the physics inwards the game realistic despite it existence alone 2D inwards nature. In a tight together with cramped infinite for example, you lot cannot throw or unloosen a block unless you lot receive got plenty headroom. Controls tin also teach confusing inwards the beginning, specially when you lot are carrying a block together with demand to drib it (done yesteryear belongings downwards spell pressing Y), hoist it overhead (done yesteryear belongings upward spell pressing Y) or throw it (done yesteryear pressing Y yesteryear itself) – you lot are going to teach these actions mixed upward oftentimes early on inwards the game.
VERDICT
Overall, Ninja Usagimaru: The Mysterious Karakuri Castle is an enjoyable game that is slap-up for brusque bursts of gaming. The puzzles are cleverly done, together with around of the harder ones volition definitely challenge fifty-fifty seasoned puzzle game fans. Once you lot teach used to the controls (which tin teach confusing at first) you lot volition hold upward lifting blocks, smashing Mononoke together with rescuing villagers similar a pro! On a farther note, this game is genuinely the minute game inwards the Ninja Usagimaru series. Even better, the firstly game, Ninja Usagimaru: The Gem of Blessings, has a exhibit on the 3DS eShop. Download it hence you lot tin endeavour the game’s mechanics out for yourself.
PROS
- Clever puzzles
- Simple simply charming graphics
- Ninjas are AWESOME!
CONS
- Controls may teach around getting used to
- Puzzles tin teach also difficult at times
- No 3D whatsoever
RATING: 8/10
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