First of all, is there a game with a better title than Ninja Jajamaru? If there is, I’m not saying the name out loud. Secondly, this game is just as fun as the title.
It is brought to you by ININ Games, who have recently removed many Ninja JaJaMaru ports. We’ve already reviewed his pair of two titles, The Lost RPGs, released in 1989 and his 1990. Ninja Jajamaru Retro CollectionContains 5 Famicom and Super Famicom games released between 1985 and 1994. deluxe edition You can add it for just $10. That’s all well and good, but here I’m going to focus only on the Yokai Great Battle + Hell. why? Because it’s a brand new title that deserves direct attention.
Like any game with a torch, Yokai Battle has a very simple premise. You are a ninja and have to kill countless enemies before you get killed. Actions take place in a single-screen scenario, but often require scrolling in a cardinal direction to see everything. Not only does it make combat look a little bigger, but it’s actually… a little bigger, so I dug a little deeper… do you think?
Enemies appear from set locations across multiple levels, and it’s up to the ninja to jump and drop between floors to eliminate threats. You can drop down from anywhere, but to move up you must first break a certain section of the floor above (it will reappear after a while). You can also stun enemies if they are in the breakaway section when you hit, but the same applies to yourself. Positioning and timing are the keys to success.
Thankfully, the ability to destroy property isn’t the only weapon. Your ninja is equipped with infinite shurikens (or other weapons, depending on the character) that are highly effective at clearing the enemy screen. This allows you to charge straight at the enemy until the shuriken hits. Of course, you can always jump or drop the floor to get away, but there comes a point soon when brute force through the stages stops working. It’s possible, but it’s all part of the routine.
However, eliminating your enemies is not your only job. They drop Jalecoins and “souls” when killed. You’ll want to pick these up and trade them in for additional characters with different rewards and unique abilities. Content helps keep things interesting.
Also interesting is the availability of various power-ups. The best of them are giant frogs that eat their enemies and spew fireballs. Nothing is much better than that, and you’ll need to time your use of these power-ups as you progress through the more difficult stages.
Everything got messed up very quickly and I was barely in the game before I decided to switch the jump/attack button controls. Allowing players to simply adjust controls is favored by developers. Additional props for building in single-screen, two-player mode. + Hell is best experienced with friends.
Oh, and just to clarify, +Hell in the title is an unlockable mode that makes enemies even harder to defeat, but allows you to level up your character’s RPG style. It’s elevated from your standard burst of arcade entertainment to something that requires more time and thought. Combine that with the aforementioned unlockables and achievements, and there’s quite a bit to get your attention.
Yokai Battle’s biggest success, however, is how it captures the spirit of the era it’s paying tribute to. Tight and responsive like an old arcade cabinet. Audio can be modernized or enjoyed in a contemporary style. It’s a new game, but the developers have completely nailed the NES vibe.
I have no idea how all of this fits into the Ninja JaJaMaru franchise.It’s certainly a far cry from the gameplay of lost RPGIt also looks different enough from the games included in the Deluxe Edition that it makes that package a better buy for those seeking nostalgia (arguably, physical versionBut if you’re just looking for a nice throwback that isn’t a direct repeat of a previously played game, Ninja JaJaMaru: The Great Yokai Battle + Hell is a worthy fight.
