Previous Next

It's a fun existence, this ninja-ing lark. Pick up your nunchukas, shuriken and other, equally difficult-to-spell implements, set foot out of the door and kill someone. Honourable or *what*?!

You take control of Mr. Ninjutsu, battling through a host of scrolling levels. Enemy ninjas, hiding inside their houses, rush at you should you go anywhere near the vicinity of their doorways. You begin the game with only your feet for protection. And no, they're not for legging it when the going gets tough, but for stomping on the heads of the baddies. Kill three, and you're awarded a new weapon. Five lives are yours at the outset, but be careful, this isn't the friendliest of areas, so you're gonna need them.

I enjoyed playing Ninja Commando, although it has a bugbear in that the difficulty setting is perhaps a little on the high side. Graphically I have no moans, well, maybe the sprites are a touch minute, but they are cutely animated, with bending legs when the characters are about to jump.

There are a pleasing range of tunes and effects incorporated within the program, my favourite being the bubbly title track which manages to set the frenetic pace of the game just right. Although I think £2.99 is a bit steep, Ninja Commando has what it takes to keep you playing. For a while, anyway.