Ninja or Die: Shadow of the Sun is a 2D platformer that requires precision jumping to explore the levels as well as take out enemies. The fall of humanity was foreseen by your mother who was a master thief, the cataclysm transformed you, a common pickpocket into a lethal ninja with amazing mobility. It seems that in this mess you were trapped in a loop of chaos, perhaps not to kill you but to protect you from something way worse on the outside. You will zig zag your way up walls, collect resources, rescue villagers and more as you make your way through this chaotic roguelite game. Will you escape this endless cycle or will you fall?
Starting the game there is a 10 level tutorial and while that sounds like a lot they are relatively short and simple each teaching you a different mechanic about the game. Your sole form of movement is jumping. If you are using mouse and keyboard controls, you aim with the cursor and jump by using the left click, holding down left click will make you jump further. When you jump into enemies you will attack them with slashes automatically, charged jumps tend to do more damage. Along the way you can find and unlock chests which will give you valuables, things from equipable times, healing foods, and weapons you can throw. You can throw items you are carrying with the right click button instead of the left click to jump. Finally you can find secrets using your cursor to look around the edges of the map and when you first jump you are invulnerable to damage which is useful when avoiding traps. Once you go through all of the tutorials you are dropped into the Starting Village at which point if you jump off the edge of the cliff to the left of the map you will be able to start the first mission. The level design is rather convoluted and confusing but the starting missions are easy to get through so you can get more of a feel for the design. The sound design and music is on point, the pixelated art style is great but does get very flashy and in your face sometimes. Overall this game has a unique and interesting concept in story and gameplay design.
While the concept of the game is interesting I have found a few issues here and there. The jumping is very disorienting as the only form of movement combined with the small and convoluted level design makes it very hard to traverse. With keyboard and mouse the aiming for jumping seems to lag behind or just not follow the exact movements of the cursor, that being said the game is probably much easier and smoother to control using a controller. Another thing is that the tutorial, while it’s quick doesnt need to be 10 whole levels at the start. They could teach one or two mechanics in one level for example, teaching us the movement by jumping and the charged jumping in the same level since they build off the same mechanic, the unlocking chests and obtaining valuables are also similar and could be in the same level. Overall the game has a solid foundation but is a little lackluster when it comes to the movement mechanics and level design.
Ninja or Die: Shadow of the Sun is a roguelite platformer where you use your amazing mobility to jump your way to victory. Events of the cataclysm have brought humanity to ruin and you must fight your way through enemies to survive. Jump up walls, slash enemies and uncover secrets as you progress. Is there an end to the chaos, that is for you to find out. The jumping can be disorienting and hard to control but is an interesting mechanic to say the least. I am giving this game a 6 out of 10 because while the concept of the game is interesting there are a few aspects where the game falls a bit short.
Ninja or Die: Shadow of the Sun is available for PC via Steam.
Related: Reviews by Brianna Keller
I enjoy a wide variety of games from intricate survival/adventure games to simple platformers. I am also a sucker for a good story game.
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