Ninja Shodown

However you end up playing Ninja Shodown, it's unlikely that it will hold attention for more than a handful of rounds. The core mechanics are solid, the action is relatively fast and fun - especially in four player mode on a big screen - and it can be rather entertaining. However, the difficulty spikes and lack of depth in single player, coupled with the lack of modes, no online and minimal options in multiplayer, ultimately make the game little more than a brief but fun time filler. It's becoming more and more apparent that party games like this need more meat on the proverbial bone to stand out, and in this respect Ninja Shodown struggles to make its mark.

If this were any other platform or if this were released much later in the system's life, Ninja Shodown wouldn't be anything extraordinary. The multiplayer does the job, albeit without much flair, while the rest of the modes are more frustrating than enjoyable. On the Switch, however, the title barely has any competition, so those looking for a party-style combat game will find it more appealing despite the $15 price. If you can find Ninja Shodown for cheap and you're guaranteed to have a bunch of friends over often, then give this game a look until some of the stronger multiplayer combat titles hit the scene.

Ninja Shodown is one of those games where the Multiplayer shines more than the single player experience.  That's not to say the game isn't fun alone; it is, but there's more mayhem to be had in multiplayer, especially Versus Mode.  It's hard to recommend for $15 if you don't plan to play with friends, especially with no online play, but if you have some friends who want to kick up some ninja-style mayhem, you'll want to check it out.

_________________________ “Nothing is more satisfying than blasting your buddy from across the screen with a rocket launcher

Ninja Shodown was made for quick and intense experiences. Slaughtering successive waves of enemies is fun but Ninja Shodown needs to improve on its combo system (or near lack thereof) and on movement detection to make it less frustrating, while its multiplayer mode deserves more appraise.

The control issues are very difficult to get around and they rob you of the opportunity to really enjoy the gameplay. There are a number of modes to choose from that do vary up the details but at the end of the day there's no escaping the fact that the core experience is pretty flawed. This all makes it very hard to recommend when there are so many other better multiplayer titles available.

Fun but shallow game without enough game modes to be entertaining for long enough.

The inclusion of dabbing in a game about ninjas tells you a lot about both the experience itself and the thoughts behind it. Is it serious? No. Is it worth bothering with? Not unless you’ve got some friends over for a party.

All said Ninja Shodown may be trying its best but it simply isn’t very much fun to play. The control issues are very difficult to get around and they rob you of the opportunity to really enjoy the gameplay. There are a number of modes to choose from that do vary up the details but at the end of the day there’s no escaping the fact that the core experience is pretty flawed. This all makes it very hard to recommend for anyone but the twitchiest of gamers.

Ninja Shodown is not the most original title around, but it provides raw competitive thrills that will have you begging for one more round. The bare bones package is a tough sell for $15, but those willing to suit up may find their next multiplayer addiction here.