I-Ninja

Developed by Argonaut Games

Published by Namco

Playstation 2,…

I-Ninja

Developed by Argonaut Games

Published by Namco

Playstation 2, GameCube, and Xbox

One recent trend in video gaming that I’m thankful for is the quantity of good, technically sound games that actually have a sense of humor. “Disgaea: Hour of Darkness” set the tone, “Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga” exemplifies it, and “I-Ninja” hits it home.

As a ninja named – appropriately – Ninja, you square off against the forces of O-Dor and their minions – called the Rankz – who have been wreaking havoc all over your island. (Rankz, as in odor? Rankz, as in “rank and file”? It takes a commendable effort to pun twice at the same time.) You trek through several themed stages, each with a handful of levels and sub-missions, preparing for the final confrontation. It sounds like standard fare, but there’s nothing “standard” about this experience.

For one thing, each level is beautifully unique. Perhaps you have to roll a giant eyeball down a ramp while negotiating pits and moving platforms. Perhaps you have to command a giant robot in a boxing match against a sea monster. Perhaps you have to man a gun turret and shoot down battleships. I could go on for an entire page of “Perhaps you have to …” statements and still have leftovers. The gameplay is so beautifully varied that no part of the experience becomes tired or repetitious. Furthermore, after you’ve finished a level, you can go back through and complete it again, this time with a qualifier, such as a time limit or a kill count.

The graphics do their job, and are neither spectacular nor inadequate. The same goes for the music, but you’re not going to be listening to the music. You’re going to be listening to the characters talk. You’re going to listen to your Sensei – whom you accidentally decapitated at the beginning of the game – blather inspirational messages and give you the low-down on each level, or you’re going to “Ssh!” him if you feel he’s getting too wordy and annoying. You’re going to shout a battle cry when you jump into the fray, and you’re going to feel disappointed after you run out of opponents and you hear poor Ninja shout, “Must … kill … more stuff!”

If there’s one stumbling block, it’s the controls. Three-dimensional platformers are notoriously tough to handle, and all of the tricky moves that I-Ninja flaunts make getting around in the game a task of pure skill. While grappling and sliding down pipes don’t take much getting used to, tasks such as running across walls will give you trouble deep into the game.

Despite being a one-player experience, “I-Ninja” is as enjoyable to watch as it is to play. Featuring intricate attention to detail, a classic formula and a funny streak a mile wide, “I-Ninja” is the “Young Frankenstein” of video gaming. Mel Brooks would be proud.