Ninja Reflex (Nintendo DS) Review

When you think that a game like Mario Party DS gives you 70+ minigames for just a bit more money, it is almost insulting that EA thought they could get away with flogging this 'demo title' for £20. So, what's good in Ninja Reflex? Well, it looks, sounds, and plays wonderfully well. The graphics are beautiful and everything is really well designed. The game is easy to navigate, it makes great use of the DS touch screen and it is great fun. You get to drag the stylus across the screen to mimic swishing around a sword, chucking throwing stars and swinging nunchucks. Oddly, most of the targets you have to hit aren't actually people. After playing through the six minigames we were fully expecting to be told we were now to be sent on a big old mission around the world doing ninja stuff. Alas, this doesn't happen, instead the game ends. Bugger...

You are guided through the (mini-)game by a moderately insane Japanese sensei who delivers chunks of wisdom and advice before you take your task. It is all rather charming and fun and whilst never serious Ninja Reflex is never corny or cheesy. All the dialogue is well scripted and nicely sampled to deliver an immersive experience whilst you train to become a ninja master.

Once you've played through the six mini-games and smiled at the charm of this title there isn't much left to do. The multiplayer mode allows you to pass your DS around a circle of friends and take it in turns to be ninjas. Whilst it is all well and good doing it on one system to get rid of the need for substantial loading times, it does somewhat ruin the experience of what could've been an excellent multiplayer title. Imagine taking on your mates at clever little ninja challenges in real time. Cool, eh? Well, you can't, which is a bit of a kick in the teeth. Turn based multiplayer just isn't the same.