Mini Ninjas Review

By Dan Whitehead Published 10 September, 2009

Pyjama party.

Version tested: Xbox 360

When kids learn to ride a bike, they usually have a parent trotting alongside with a guiding hand on their back. After a while, they notice the hand has gone, turn around and see that they've been riding solo without realising it. That's also how a good kids' game should work. Early handholding should slowly drop away, leaving the young player capable of feats they wouldn't have dreamt possible at the start.

Mini Ninjas, a kid-friendly offering from Hitman studio Io Interactive, has the tools to pull off this balancing act, but rather bizarrely it seldom puts them to use. There's a nifty and varied little adventure game here, but only occasionally does it peek out from under its button-mashing disguise to let you know it exists.

The story is pure kung-fu cheese. A six-strong troupe of miniature martial artists have been dispatched to bring down an enemy rather conveniently known as Evil Samurai Warlord. All but one have been captured along the way, so it falls to Hiro, the smallest of the gang, to free his pals and lead the way to victory.

Each rescued companion becomes a playable character with a unique skill, and you can switch among the expanding roster at any time to use an archer, a big guy with a hammer, the agile melee fighter and so on - all timeworn genre tropes, but all perfectly fine for a game aimed at an audience too young to be jaded. Hiro is the most flexible, however, thanks to his use of Kuji magic, which gives him a wide variety of offensive options, from electrical storms and tornados to stealthy shrubbery disguises and the ability to possess any wildlife wandering around. This enables you to sneak past groups of enemies or, if you possess a boar or bear, to attack them.

'Mini Ninjas' Screenshot 1

This boss attacks with clouds of fart. Judging from my 7-year-old's reaction, this is the funniest thing ever.

There are also ingredients growing in the gameworld that can be plucked and used to mix potions, which are based on recipes you buy from wandering merchants using coins you get from smashing scenery objects. You also find shuriken and caltrops this way, while Hiro's hat doubles as both an arrow-proof shield and a boat. Use your fishing rod and you can catch fish, which are stored in your inventory as health-restoring sushi. Kuji shrines grant you new spells, if you can find the appropriate flower to offer, while bushes and trees can be shaken to dislodge fruit.

Levels are linear and self-contained, but do a good job of offering plentiful open areas where you can nose around. It's here that the Hitman lineage makes the most sense, since the solid bedrock of gameplay concepts means there are lots of ways you can approach enemy encounters. You may want to sneak past enemies by crawling through long grass, or disguising yourself as a rabbit. You could clamber up to the rooftops and take them down from afar with ace archer, Shun. You could jump off a cliff, use Hiro's hat to navigate treacherous rapids and emerge behind your foes, free to take them by surprise or simply slink into the shadows.

Or you could simply dash over and beat them up. Chances are, you'll end up choosing this path of least resistance. For a game with a bubbling belly full of potentially cool ideas, Mini Ninjas never really requires you to use any of them. In theory this is good - making the game accessible to kids who just want to mash stuff up. In practice it means things never escalate in the way you'd hope. Daddy never steps back and lets you pedal on your own, so there's little incentive to do anything more than the bare minimum to get by.

'Mini Ninjas' Screenshot 2

Different enemy types require slightly different tactics to beat, but nothing too taxing.

Admittedly, ignoring the botany fetch quests and failing to hoover up enough experience orbs to advance through the game's simple level-up system does mean that fights become trickier later on. This is purely because you'll have less health and few potions to restore it when it gets depleted, and the disappointingly sparse checkpoints make progress something of a chore if you keep getting beaten.

But even if you play on the hardest difficulty setting, this is a phenomenally easy game. It feels like Io wasn't confident in its ability to handle a younger audience, and so erred on the side of caution. The result suggests interesting directions and hidden depths, even flirts with RPG concepts, but then darts away from exploring them fully, back to the comfort zone of melee combat, presumably for fear of scaring off the kids. It's a shame, since kids are capable of handling surprisingly complex game design provided its introduced in the right way. Just look at Pokémon.

All this is compounded by a dearth of additional content. There's no co-op play, even though the foundations of the game seem ideal for it and it usually works brilliantly in kids game - you just get a single-player story. Admittedly, it's of a decent size and will last for as long as most grown-up games if you're looking for all the collectables, but there's not much reason to return to the game after completion.

With its charming presentation and appealing mixture of whimsy and irreverence, Mini Ninjas comes tantalisingly close to being something very special. Had it trusted its young audience, and made its fun ideas more than just optional diversions, we could be looking at the next great original pre-teen gaming franchise. What we've ended up with is a game loaded with promise that sells itself short in the execution. There's no doubt it'll entertain the kids, but it won't challenge them.

6 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Dan.

About Dan Whitehead

Dan has been writing for Eurogamer since 2006 and specialises in RPGs, shooters and games for children. His bestest game ever is Julian Gollop's Chaos.

Read more articles from Dan by visiting the Dan Whitehead archive page.

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Comments (44) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • muscleblade #1 2 years ago

    I almost bought this for my daughter today. I will be holding off for a few more reviews.

  • cyacomini #2 2 years ago

    From early videos I thought this looked a bit like the classic Kung Fu Chaos - sadly not the case.

    The demo was absolute garbage so not sure this will sell any more than about 12 copies, well not until it's £9.99 in the bargain bins of course.

    Sad really, showed so much promise!

  • Muneeb #3 2 years ago

    A shame. I was one of the few that were looking forward to this. I was worried, when playing the demo, that there was too much hand-holding and that the combat never really opened fully - instead it stuck to a simple button mashing fest.

    Admittedly Eurogamer did a poor job of updating the game page for this game. In fact they still don't have any previews up even though several sites have had previews (IGN & Gamespot for example) and there a videos missing and screen shots are all old. I was disappointed, along with others, that this had happened.

    Oh well. I will give the game a buy anyway as at least it is trying to so something other than being another post-apocalyptic shooter or whatever else.

  • swissorc #4 2 years ago

    I had a real soft spot for this game when I saw the trailer of the fox being hunted by those big old ninja social comentary aside I was thinking this could be a guilty please and have secretly been hoping for a relatively good critical reception so I could by it for my ummmm gf "cough Cough" myself

  • BBIAJ #5 2 years ago

    Pre-ordered this from Zavvi when they had it listed for £17.95.

    They now have it down for £29.95, so I guess I got lucky!

  • Damn_Skippy #6 2 years ago

    Everything apart from the fighting was good in the demo...a lot of wasted potential.

  • wizlon #7 2 years ago

    This is a kids game? I bought it for myself, I thought it was brilliant :D

  • SL33PY #8 2 years ago

    That's too bad to read :(
    It looked very promising. I guess, I'll have to pass this one

  • penhalion #9 2 years ago

    I have to agree with this as the demo was pretty boring to me and required no skill what so ever.

  • myiagros #10 2 years ago

    I really enjoyed the demo, it was pure fun, and didn't take it self to seriously. I think it will be a great game for playing to lay back and relax.

    Like BBIAJ i preordered this when listed for £17.95, and am looking forward to it far more than some of the more high profile end of year releases.

  • andywilkie35 #11 2 years ago

    I thought the demo was fine, for £17.95 I couldn't resist ordering either

  • TopKatt #12 2 years ago

    I'll probably be getting this for my kids, they both loved the demo, especially being able to play as the giant panda!

  • Zebula77 #13 2 years ago

    Hmm, thought this would score higher. Absolutely loved the demo (one of the few that I actually played through twice). Thought the mix of exploration, Zelda-like quests and fishing, stealth and combat was well balanced. Suppose it suffers in the long term, but I'll be getting this either way.

  • twoism #14 2 years ago

    I think many people are crying out for an HD/current gen alternative to Zelda, and this is probably the only game that fills the gap....especially since Okami went handheld, and Beyond Good & Evil 2 got put on indefinite hold.

  • miiiguel #15 2 years ago

    Poor review, imo. Sorry.

    Why: Shallow. Seems like writer didn't even tried. Like... "oooh, kids game, let's write a TV-Guide style article".

  • HuggyAtHome #16 2 years ago

    Also gave the demo a spin - looks good and had some nice ideas, but I binned it because, as Dan points out, it was too easy to just mash the X button without any thought of using the other skills you had.

    Such a shame as I could have used the kids as an excuse to buy it for myself.

  • iago71 #17 2 years ago

    Okami went handheld???

    I didnt know about this - PSP or DS????

  • Ergates_Antius #18 2 years ago

    Enjoyed the demo. Whilst not exactly challenging, it was always fun.

  • space_ace #19 2 years ago

    i-ninja!

  • Max_Powers #20 2 years ago

    Will sell 12 copies and be in the bargain bin within weeks.

  • muscleblade #21 2 years ago

    @miiiguel

    I thouth the review had some good points from playing the demo. But if you loved Kung Fu Panda you could do worse for an easy 1000G i guess. The game seems way to easy and dull for an adult and even boring for a child. Why bother?

    I will let my daughter play the demo later to see if she likes it. If she doesnt this game doesnt stand a chance.
    Edited by 1 at 10/09/09 @ 12:51

  • Optimaximal #22 2 years ago

    I actually tried the demo of this last night off of Steam. It's both overcomplicated (fudged control system, radial menus, excessive inventory) and sparse (spammy combat & visual style missing any and all charm) in areas where IO could really have made strides...

    They had the chance to make it like the LEGO games, but it seems to be missing any and all of the requirements to appeal to both kids and adults - a crucial factor of the LEGO games is it that Traveller's Tales seem to know how to target to both markets...

    I guess since WBIE bought TT, EIDOS felt the need to try and recreate it's success with LEGO Star Wars 1. Can IO do no right unless they're working with Agent 47?

  • schnide #23 2 years ago

    IO dear.

  • spookyzombie #24 2 years ago

    I'm enjoying playing this game. It's nice to play something a little bit different on my 360. I personally see this as a 7/10.

  • Baranga #25 2 years ago

    The gameplay reminds me of Jade Empire.

  • HonestJoe #26 2 years ago

    Shame but I'm not surprised. Ninjas are supposed to be badass right, not cute...

  • tossetaz #27 2 years ago

    Damn, was hoping this would turn out to be good - IO could really use a financial success after Kane & Lynch, I'm afraid the only triple-A (if I may dare categorise their latests game as that) Danish game developer will be closed :(

  • miiiguel #28 2 years ago

    @ muscle: I didn't "love KFP", I just liked it. There's stuff inbetween "love" and "hate". Though I wasn't juding the game, I made a comment on the review, for a moment I had to check the url, as I thought I might be on a "l33t games site".
    It might be bad, or not as good, but what I understood from the review was the writter wasn't really in the mood for the genre in the 1st place.

  • rogueJT #29 2 years ago

    Graphically style is very Wink Waker - right down to the puff of smoke when enemies are vanquished.

  • Beek4257 #30 2 years ago

    @Miiiguel

    Didn't you promise to write nothing but utter nonsense for a whole week? What gives?

  • miiiguel #31 2 years ago

    It made sense?

    /blushes

  • darc #32 2 years ago

    "There's no co-op play, even though the foundations of the game seem ideal for it and it usually works brilliantly in kids game"

    That really surprised me, too. Very nearly rented this last night, then decided against it. It at first looked like the sort of game my wife and I would enjoy in a post-work stupor. It looks a little too light for either of us to play on our own more than once or twice. Bummer, we could use a fun, light co-op game.

  • Optimaximal #33 2 years ago

    'Damn, was hoping this would turn out to be good - IO could really use a financial success after Kane & Lynch, I'm afraid the only triple-A (if I may dare categorise their latests game as that) Danish game developer will be closed :('

    I wouldn't be too sure - aren't they an 'internal' EIDOS studio, ergo would be last up against the wall? Also, they'll forever be loved for their work on Hitman - I don't think anyone could really take over that and the games have the same 'effect'...

  • bodypopper #34 2 years ago

    Can you play as Agent 47?
    Agreed, it'll be going for a tenner by Xmas.
    Surely this sort of thing would work better as an impulse buy Xbox arcade/PSN download.
    Edited by 1 at 10/09/09 @ 16:48

  • Beek4257 #35 2 years ago

    @miiiguel

    Well it wasn't complete nonsense.
    Like say: "I buy anything with the name Halo on it". LOL and LOL

  • Sharzam #36 2 years ago

    I really like these sort of games, ok iam 25 but the simple bit of fun they have in platformers and smash -em-ups (if thats a genre) with this art style is great.

    I saw some videos and thought i like the look of it so tried the pc demo and i feel that this would end up as it did. A good game with some nice ideas however they didnt expand on it so ended up with a run of the mill game while fun does nothing else , but here is a question do we always need spot on, evolutionary or revolutionary game play ?

  • Dr.Mott #37 2 years ago

    OK, thanks IO. Now make a new Hitman please.

  • harhol #38 2 years ago

    The demo reminded of a PSX action-adventure game (in a good way!) so I might buy this.

  • dingo75 #39 2 years ago

    OK, thanks IO. Now make a new Hitman please.

    We might even buy "Mini Ninjas" when it's 50% off on Steam as weekend deal if you show us some Hitman goodness! :p

  • metallicorphan #40 2 years ago

    so this game should be good then?...you gave Wolfenstein a 6 and that was at least an 8 for the single player IMO

    the demo was half decent(okay not astounding),can this game really be as low as 6?

  • 4thVariety #41 2 years ago

    6/10? I guess we won't be seeing any ads for MiniNinjas on this site then. ;)
    And if Eidos asks von Dan Whitehead's head, it might just be the CV entry necessary for Dan to get a job at Giant Bomb.

  • Meho #42 2 years ago

    A very fair review. This game has a lot of things that you can do but very few things that you need to do. Sneaking is pretty useless since you don't get XP for it and since combat is so easy anyway. I am playing it on hardest and it's as unchallenging as it gets. I am sure children are better than this.

    Although, the art direction is not bad and the game is comfortable to play so I feel even the score is OK.
    Edited by 1 at 11/09/09 @ 11:16

  • endgame #43 2 years ago

    eurogamer, i love u for being a hardcore magazine when it comes to reviewing games. but for the first time, i think u went too far. 6/10!? no, too low. u know very well it deserves a 7/10. u see, i agree with most of the review but not all of it. the combat is easy on the medium difficulty level and u know what, i like it that way. i like to have fun while playing a game, at least the first time i'm playing it. so i don't have anything against the combat system. actually i think it's awesome sometimes. because u can switch between characters and approach a situation in so many ways. i just love that. but in the end, i know why u gave it a 6/10. the graphics r ok, actually beautiful sometimes, music as well but what u don't get is the atmosphere. it's something that only a true Japanese fan would truly appreciate, something that only shogun - total war managed to create, and for that, i think u fucked up when u chose the reviewer for this game.

    to everyone else, my advice is, if u like funny games, if u like to play something easy and just relax, if u like to sometimes stop and look around, listen to the in game music, if u are a Japanese fan, BUY IT! it's worth the 39.99$. not euros! i did, and i enjoyed the hell out of it. the developers need your support on this one. and if u offer it, who knows, we might get a #2. :)
    Edited by 1 at 15/09/09 @ 19:40

  • Bluetooth #44 2 years ago

    Ugh, how disappointing that a developer that could make such a masterpiece like Hitman has to resort to stereotypical, kungfu "hiyah!" rubbish. Move on.