2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Refreshing and fun!, April 25, 2003
This review is from: Legend of the Mystical Ninja (Video Game)
The plot - saving the princess from the evil Otafu army - leaves much to be desired, but the included mini games and the gameplay make up for that ten fold. Back when the SNES and the Genesis were the consoles competing for your money, this game was sold pretty inexpensively, but it's still a favorite of mine.
There are dozens of little games you can play like lottery, maze, quiz, concentration, horse-racing . . . just to name a few. Gradius is also playable during your journey.
The boss fights are pretty epic for an SNES game. A lot of thought went into making them just difficult enough for a challenge while keeping them engaging and fun at the same time.
The soundtrack is a classic example of catchy chiptunes, with a flavor of traditional Japanese and that characteristic dissonance found in their music.
Also of note is the co-op system, in which two players are on the screen at the same time a la Contra. You can even ride on each other's back or compete in mini-games.
Fun little game that any gamer should have.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mindless fun from the 16-bit era, May 7, 2002
This review is from: Legend of the Mystical Ninja (Video Game)
Long ago in the ancient city of Oedo (or was it just Edo?). . . ah, forget it. Here's the scoop! The game is both a multi-scroller (meaning you can go up and down as well as left and right) and a side-scroller, depending on what part of the game you are in. The Legend of the Mystical Ninja is a whacky action-adventure video game and has to be one of the best to hit the Super NES. In addition to whacking baddies with a drain-pipe, wet towel, flute, or yo-yo, you get to play lots of fun mini-games and travel across ancient Japan in search of whatever. I have only four complaints: the game can get too hard, Goemon was renamed Kid Ying, Ebisumaru was renamed Dr. Yang, and my favorite female ninja, Yae, is not playable.
Sorry if this review seems a little vague. I'd tell you the storyline but there really isn't one.
I also recommend Pocky and Rocky -- if you can find it
Amazon!! Get your pictures straight! This is not Pro Evolution Soccer 4!!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun, lighthearted Japanese gaming experience from Konami, February 4, 2008
= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
This review is from: Legend of the Mystical Ninja (Video Game)
This game is/was fantastic! It's sooo Japanese. That's the first thing that comes to my mind--I'll explain later. I first played it about 15 years ago...yep, it's fairly old. It was an early SNES game. I remember it was around the time of classic Street Fighter 2. Those were the days, ah how nostalgic. I played it again last year on computer emulator, and it was just as charming.
This is a 1 or 2 player co-op game, which is always fun with a friend. The experience is richer if you've got a buddy alongside you. Along with Double Dragon for NES, this was one of the early great co-op games I played. Both heroes have the same abilities but some differences in appearance. Some parts of the game are straight up 2-D platforming sequences. Other parts of the game have a 3-D element where you can move up and down as well as left and right.
I don't remember how many levels there were, maybe 8. Each one takes under an hour if you're decently skilled, so it's a short adventure. The first half of every level is the 3-D part, which tended to be humorous and lighthearted with a bit of exploration. Still, it's a pretty straightforward game and you won't be doing much, if anything, in the way of puzzle solving or mazes--but I think this is good and keeps it simple without dead ends. You just run through the levels and dispose of the wimpy goons that come your way. The weapons and goons are really funny, not very serious at all. The 3-D parts also have small shops and huts you can enter to perform various interactions. There is a money component to the game: you get some for beating goons, and you can spend it in shops to buy various goodies including health, armors, and ability powerups. You can also throw it as a projectile weapon in fact. Another way to earn it is by performing a number of "jobs" in some of the huts which require dexterity and timing with controller. They're fun, especially if you compete with a friend. Other huts just have random villagers you can talk to, some serious and some comical. A final type of hut has this judo instructor who charges you heftily but teaches you these special, magical techniques you can use in the levels. These aren't required but make the levels easier and more entertaining.
Onward to the 2-D parts of the game. They're distinctly different. The 2nd half of each level is where the 2-D shows up, and the music and tone become more serious. More importantly, enemies become harder and better timing and skill are required--for example jumping around on spinning platforms, avoiding spikes and fireballs, etc. Somewhat Mario World-ish. Each level dutifully concludes with a boss battle, and the fights are all good.
Like any good game, the difficulty level starts low and increases reasonably. The story and characters were solid I thought. It involved kidnappings and some high level ninja clan who the lowly heroes had to take on. The music and sound effects were unique and amazing IMO. I mentioned at the start how this game really reflects a Japanese character--more so than any other game I have ever played. And that is one of it's strongest points for me. Anyone would know right away that this is not an American game you are dealing with. Games like Mario or Zelda you might mistake for American if you didn't know better, but not this one. Every character and song oozes Japanese flavor. It's neat, check it out.
This is one of the longer reviews I've written, but it's because I have fond memories of this game and this time period of gaming. I highly recommend giving this game a whirl if you're able to. Konami puts out solid, Japanese styled games for those who are into them. I've stressed that aspect of the game many times now--it's just that I miss that foreign feel and I've always enjoyed games that have it, most recently DDR, or early versions of it anyway. I am always on the lookout for more!
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