| Mini Ninjas | |
|---|---|
Mini Ninjas cover art |
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| Developer(s) | IO Interactive Magic Pockets Robosoft Technologies (Mac OS X) |
| Publisher(s) | Eidos Interactive Warner Bros.[1] Feral Interactive[2] (Mac OS X) |
| Distributor(s) | Square Enix Valve Corporation |
| Designer(s) | Jeremy Petreman, Henrik Hansen |
| Composer(s) | Peter Svarre |
| Engine | Glacier Engine |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows Nintendo DS PlayStation 3 Wii Xbox 360 Mac OS X[3] |
| Release date(s) | |
| Genre(s) | Action-adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Rating(s) |
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| Media/distribution | Optical disc, online distribution |
Mini Ninjas is a 2009 action-adventure video game developed by IO Interactive and published by Eidos Interactive for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360.[5] A Mac OS X version of the game was released on July 8, 2010 by Feral Interactive.[2]
Contents |
The game is a third-person action adventure game, featuring six playable Mini Ninjas each with their own unique abilities, weapons and skills that can be switched between at any moment once they have been rescued. Special weapons and equipment to collect and use include caltrops, shuriken, different bombs and fishing rods, and a multifunctional ninja hat, as well as a variety of potions and food items. Magic can be used by the main protagonist Hiro, his spells including fireball and lighting attacks, camouflage and time manipulation, among others.
There are also various ingredients and 100 hidden Jizo statues scattered through the game, that can be collected for special achievements or trophies, which encourages level exploration. The game contains no graphic violence, and defeating an enemy actually only sets an animal free from an evil spell.
Long ago, after the Evil Samurai Warlord was banished the first time, an era of peace and tranquility descended upon the empire for more than 300 years. The dark castles he had built were abandoned and slowly fell into ruin and the villagers across the countryside no longer lived in fear. As the years went by, the secret of the powerful Kuji magic was hidden away in ancient shrines, and the people of the villages and towns went back to their daily lives. Then one day, something changed. Terrible storms began to brew over the mountain on the distant horizon. Floods and earthquakes began to appear in the flatlands. At Ninja Mountain, The Ninja Master could see that something was terribly wrong in the world. Mysterious figures were seen hunting and caging animals for unknown reasons. The truth was that the Evil Samurai Warlord had returned, using the forbidden Kuji magic to transform innocent animals into mindless samurai warriors to use to recapture his dark castles and take over the world. But, by using the Kuji magic for evil purposes, the Evil Samurai Warlord was once again upsetting the balance of nature, bring the wrath of the gods down upon the earth in the form of ravaging storms. The larger his armies grew, the worse the storms became. The Ninja Master knew none of this yet... though he knew that something must be done and made it his unbreakable oath. He sent his best ninja to discover the truth of the storms, but no word returned from the ninja. One by one, he sent another, but again and again... nothing. Until he was left with only two left, Hiro and Futo. The Ninja Master was hesitant to send his last two, but he knew the fate of the world would lay in their hands.
Mini Ninjas was announced on January 19, 2009, along with the first official trailer.[7] The game's origin lies in the developers' desires to make a game that they could "play with their kids".[8]
Mini Ninjas has been critically well-received. As of April 2011, its average scores according to GameRankings are 80% (Wii), 61.90% (DS), 75.52% (PlayStation 3), 72.56% (Xbox 360) and 75.67% (PC).[9]
GameSpot gave he game an 7.5 out of 10, saying: "Whether you're big or small, there's a lot to like about these little ninjas and their lengthy journey."[10] IGN gave the PS3 version of the game an 8 out of 10, finding this "family-friendly ninja affair" to be "an extremely pleasant surprise".[11] The Guardian awarded the game 4 out of 5 stars, concluding that the game's "constant charm renders it calming and even relaxing to play" and "any parent watching Mini Ninjas being played will find it hard to resist the temptation to have a go over their own."[12]
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