1-Bit Ninja - iPhone Review

1-Bit Ninja – Kode80

Platformer

Price: $1.99

When I first saw video of this game I couldn’t help but get excited. I thought back to my Gameboy days and Super Mario Land. While this game looks like a classic pixel-perfect 80’s handheld game, it plays quite differently and has a cool feature unlike any platformer I’ve seen.

As a ninja consisting of only 1-bit, you of course have one main objective: To find your missing gametoy. Sadly, the story isn’t built upon throughout the game, but this can be overlooked. The visual comparisons to Super Mario Land are no doubt valid, with it being an obvious inspiration. However, this is no child’s game, it’s as hardcore as it gets.

The premise takes the mold of a typical platformer; run right, collect coins, collect larger coins, hit a flag pole at the end of each level, locate secrets with ninja 3d vision, and of course you can’t run left. Ok, so those last two may be a little strange. Let’s expand. Can’t run left you say? Yes, only running to the right is allowed. Controls are simple; touch the left side of the screen to move RIGHT, touch the right side to jump, and swipe your finger on the top of the screen to transform the 2d view to 3d.

Now, what I said earlier about running only to the right isn’t completely accurate. There are springs placed throughout the levels to allow you to run left to collect more coins and those large coins I mentioned earlier. This adds a puzzle type effect to each level, and also creates some frustrating moments as you find yourself 1-pixel in front of a coin, no way to go back and get it. There are 5 coins in each level that can be collected, in 20 levels. If you collect all 100 coins, you are truly a machine and I want to shake your hand. Many coins are located in seemingly impossible locations, some within those hidden areas. The hidden areas can only be located by switching to ninja 3d view. Doing this will stop the action, as you are swiping the top of the screen to see what’s upcoming. The secret area’s terrain is disguised as a solid area, when in fact it’s in another plane further back.

I like the fact that once you collect a large coin and complete the level, you aren’t required to go back and collect it again to add it to your overall coin pot. This allows you to focus on the ones you missed, so you can become a true ninja coin collector must easier. In case you missed it, that was a joke. This is an EXTREMELY difficult game. Just completing a level, even without snagging a coin, deserves a pat on the back. If you are a true ninja and manage to collect all 100 coins, you get a cool feature added to your experience. You can play the game with 3d mode with stereoscopic glasses. While I can’t comment on how awesome it really is (because I don’t have Ninjavision®), I can say that’s an awesome incentive to keep pushing forward in your quest.

If you’re a hardcore platformer fan or if you just like to listen to great retro video game music, then this is the game for you.

Rating:

4.5/5.0