Ninjabread Man
Ninjabread Man is a platform video game by developer and publisher Data Design Interactive. The game was released on the PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Windows in Europe in July 2005. A port for the Wii was released in September 2007 in Europe and Australia, and 3 October in North America. Ninjabread Man was published as part of Data Design Interactive's 'Popcorn Arcade' brand of Wii games.
Ninjabread Man | |
---|---|
North American boxart, Wii version | |
Developer(s) | Data Design Interactive |
Publisher(s) | Metro3D Europe (PlayStation 2 and PC) Data Design Interactive (Europe, Wii) Conspiracy Entertainment (North America) |
Engine | GODS engine, Havok, RenderWare |
Platform(s) | Wii, PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows |
Release | PlayStation 2
|
Genre(s) | Platformer |
Mode(s) | Single player |
Ninjabread Man received unanimously negative reviews from critics, being heavily criticized for its controls, camera system, graphics, story, and short length.
Gameplay
Ninjabread Man is an action-adventure platformer. There are three levels in the game, plus a tutorial level.[1] In order to proceed to the next level, players must collect eight power rods to activate a teleporter.[2] The Ninjabread Man can attack enemies directly with a samurai sword via a shake of the Wii Remote, as well as throw shurikens from a distance using the Wii Remote's IR functionality to aim. When the player completes a level and plays it again, a menu appears with a second mode available, ‘Score Pickups’. If the level is completed again in this mode, the player will unlock ‘Time Attack’ mode. Completion of this mode unlocks the ‘Hidden Pickups!’ alternative mode.[2]
Reception
Ninjabread Man received unanimously negative reviews upon release. The PlayStation 2 version of the game has a 31% average rating on GameRankings,[3] while the Wii version has an average of 17.5%.[4] On Metacritic, the Wii version of the game has an average score of 20/100, based on 6 reviews.[5] The PC version of the game was not reviewed by any major publication.[6]
IGN gave the Wii version a score of 1.5/10, saying: "It’s buggy, often completely broken, somehow manages to have frame issues in tiny levels, and is completely ruthless if (and when) younger players die."[7] Thunderbolt gave it 1/10, criticizing the game's length and the unimaginative use of the character as key flaws.[1]
Cancelled sequel
Despite the negative reception of the first game, on 23 January 2008, a sequel titled Ninjabread Man II: Blades of Fury was announced.[8] Not much information nor a release date had been issued, but it had been revealed that Data Design had created a website asking for the fans of the game to give ideas for the sequel. It is likely the sequel will never be developed due to Data Design ceasing development in 2009. On August 24, 2012, Data Design went out of business, making a direct sequel unlikely to happen.
See also
- Anubis II, another Data Design Interactive game part of the MythMakers Range of titles.
- Myth Makers: Trixie in Toyland, another Data Design Interactive game part of the MythMakers Range of titles.
- Rock 'n' Roll Adventures, another Data Design Interactive game part of the MythMakers Range of titles.
References
- Morton, Philip (6 January 2008). "Ninjabread Man Wii review". Thunderbolt. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
- "IGN: Ninjabread Man". IGN. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
- Ninjabread Man Reviews
- Ninjabread Man Reviews
- Ninjabread Man (wii: 2007): Reviews
- Ninjabread Man
- Bozon, Mark (8 January 2008). "Ninjabread Man Review". IGN. Archived from the original on 29 March 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
- "Data Design Interactive » Highlights » Ninjabread Man – Blades of Fury". Archived from the original on 12 February 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2008.