Mini Ninjas

a game by | IO Interactive, and Io-Interactive A/S |
Platforms: | XBox 360, Android, DS, Wii, PC (2009), Playstation 3 (2009) |
Editor Rating: | 8/10, based on 1 review, 2 reviews are shown |
User Rating: | 8.7/10 - 3 votes |
Rate this game: | |
See also: | Action Games, Action Adventure Games, Ninja Games |
Japanese culture and Ninja games are a hot trend in the gaming industry. Titles like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Nioh, and Ghost of Tsushima have found immense success recently, and while those homages to Japanese culture are amazing, their difficulty and themes are not suitable for all ages. Mini Ninjas is the family-friendly, child-approved and straightforward alternative to those titles, think “Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time”, but on a smaller scale.
Way of the Ninja
In Mini Ninjas the Ninja Master of your hidden village senses a disturbance in the balance of nature after three centuries of peace. The game starts after the best ninjas from the village are sent on a mission to investigate such disturbance and are never seen again. You play as Hiro and act as the last hope to re-establish peace and order, discover the truth behind the mysterious events happening around the village, and find the whereabouts of the Ninjas that have disappeared.
Use Your Imagination
While the main character Hiro is the only one with the ability to use Kuji Magic, which are scrolls you find along your journey that unlock unique spells, that doesn’t mean that the other five playable characters are any less fun. With 12 unique spells, plus 5 unlockable characters Mini Ninjas offer different ways to approach the game, its enemies, and puzzles.
Exploration
The maps are not huge and invite exploration. The game is filled with breakable objects, “secret” places, temples, scrolls, and potions (or stand-alone ingredients for crafting potions) that help extend the game's length a bit. Jizu statues are the only true collectibles in the game, and the only side-quests are the ones provided by the Teng. Overall, it is a beautiful game where exploration is encouraged, the concise map offers freedom without feeling overwhelming.
A Worthy Adventure
The game is beautifully designed, from sound effects to voiceovers, from the soundtrack to the gorgeous cutscenes everything creates an immersive experience and fun experience. Combat options like smoke bombs, stealth mode, power attacks, Kuji Magic, and collectibles add to the immersion and consequently enjoyment of the game.
Hiro the Hero
While regular combat can get repetitive if you don’t explore all the options the game gives you, the boss fights are epic, they feel unique, look very cinematic, and are amazingly fun. The epic feeling you get from those moments in the game are probably the best part of the journey
Mini Ninjas is a simple game, with straight-forward combat and progression. The biggest selling point for me is how family-friendly the game is while faithfully depicting the beloved traits, magic, and culture from Japan. The game is clearly intended for a younger demographic, the mechanics, puzzles, and guiding system are all tailored so that anyone can enjoy the experience. Obviously, a more accessible and kid-friendly game doesn’t provide the same level of challenge veteran gamers have come to expect with more recent titles, but that should not stop, neither old nor young gamers from enjoying the game.
Pros:
- Family Friendly
- Immersive and loyal depiction of the Japanese/Ninja culture
- Unique Boss Fights
- Beautifully crafted cutscenes
Cons:
- Combat can feel repetitive during the mid-game
- Not very challenging
- Very short campaign/story
Download Mini Ninjas

System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP

System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP

System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP

System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP

System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP

System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
Game Reviews
From The Minds that brought you people bursting into flames and falling into a tank full of sharks in Hitman: Blood Money, comes a game about fuedaf Japanese assassins. Yet there are no prostitutes, drugs, strangulation or pyrotechnic shark attacks in Mini Ninjas, for this is a family title. This is a world where the bodies of your victims disappear in a magical cloud, leaving behind small fuzzy animals that merrily hop away into a cartoon landscape.
Set in a mystical Japanese world of samurai, ninja and talking bird people, Mini Ninjas tells the tale of Hiro, a relatively diminutive ninja, as he sets off on an epic quest to defeat a bald-headed villain who transforms cute little animals into evil minions. (And no, his name isn't Robotnik.)
Bouncing through the world, Hiro learns new tricks and magical powers, concocts potions, engages in rudimentary hide-in-the-bush stealth gameplay and fights the usual array of lesser enemies and bosses. It's all very cute and jolly, but there is a distinct lack of depth or wit behind the cuteness, and so little to keep older gamers occupied for long.
The visuals are a little dated too, and might have looked more impressive with some cel-shading effects, rather than the fairly basic 3D on show.
The biggest flaw however, for a game whose story revolves around a team of ninjas, is its distinct lack of a co-op multiplayer mode. Even Sonic had Tails to play with, but here each ninja must fight alone, and so Hiro must magically swap places with one of his allies rather than summon them to stand beside him. This is a simple game for simpler minds.