🥕🥕🥕 Review: Ninjin: Clash Of Carrots "Surprisingly endearing carrot-based frolics" 🥕🥕🥕 #GameDev @NinjinClash

Ninjin: Clash of Carrots
Rating: Ice Cool

When I first received this game for review, I must admit that, from the trailer I assumed it was a tedious endless runner, possibly ported from mobile platforms and so I began to set up the rickety stool and noose, however, I was hugely surprised to see that the game offers far more depth and challenge than I initially expected.

Ninjin: Clash of Carrots is a 2.5d game that, has elements of a ‘Runner’ game but, as the title opens up, introduces mechanics usually seen in Bullet hell shooters and other Shmups. Playable in either single player or local and online modes, each level has you as the titular ninja-rabbit pegging it across a horizontal plain fending off enemies and collecting the carrots that they drop (they are stolen carrots though, so don’t feel too bad about your constant vegetable thievery), evading ever-more-difficult waves of enemies as you do so.

There were a few things that grabbed me about Ninjin, the visuals are sharp, vibrant and fun and the inclusion of an over-world map to split out the stages as well as adding such a variety of weapons, ninja accessories and the overall sense of fun about it all works in its favour. There are also boss battles and a huge amount of different tactics required to succeed from dash-attacking to lobbing knives and shurikens to simply using acrobatics to get out of the way in some situations. What starts off simply enough can quickly escalate into twitch-tastic frantic stages requiring swift fingers and the right equipment.

If you are on board with the game, there isn’t much in the way of negatives beyond the fact that each level is essentially the same with new additions, you will always be running, attacking and dodging but this accessibility and the shortness of the levels (the longest is around 5-6 minutes) feels like a bonus due to the style of gameplay, it’s a game that you can either smash through for a couple of hours or maybe just dip in for ten minutes and still feel like you are making progress.

Summary
Ninjin: Clash of Carrots is a great little game, a colourful art style, bouncy audio and satisfying yet simplistic gameplay with various stats given at the end of each level alongside badges to be earned and speed-runs to be beaten. 

It’s not the most complex or in-depth game you’ll play this year but if quick blasts of speed-running action are your bag, it’s an awesome title to pick up.

Right, I’m off to polish my Katana.

💧❄️ RATING: ICE COOL ❄️💧

Ratings Explained

ICE COOL (Great Game Recommended)

MELTING (Recommended with reservations, one to consider if you are a fan of the genre)

MELTED (Not A Recommended Purchase)