I-Ninja
PS2
Namco
Namco’s action/platformer “I-Ninja” attempts
to rekindle the spirit of Mario, Sonic and Crash Bandicoot by
combining elements of all three while adding some interesting
twists. As the cute but fierce “Ninja,” gamers hack,
slash, run and jump through mostly linear levels and collect
“Grades” which unlock new maps and skills. The monotony
of the fun but brainless platforming is broken by mini-scenarios
that resemble classics like “Marble Madness” and
“Punch-Out.” Homages like this are welcome additions
but aren’t enough to match the addictive gameplay found in
Mario’s 3-D adventures. “I-Ninja” is clearly a
tribute to the immortal gaming gods in a next-gen environment.
It’s a fun little number, but it doesn’t dig deep
enough to reach videogame nirvana.
Rating: 3 stars
—Jared Newman