Platform:

Game Boy

A basic top down action rpg/adventure starring the cute ninja-kun character.

There aren't that many adventure games on the Game Boy, so this is a welcome addition to the library. The ninja and feudal japan theme is a fresh one for the action adventure theme, too. And it features some really nice and very japanese tunes. It also has a rather extensive collection of inventory items for various use.

The graphics are simple as can be expected from the platform it's running on (although it has some surprisingly detailed cutscenes inbetween), and the movement is rather slow. The battle system lacks feedback and polish compared to games like Link's Awakening, but it works alright once you get used to it. The boss battles are usually a little underwhelming, where the secret is mostly mashing the attack button as fast as possible with the boss usually dying before you do. Progression is less through finding items, than through story events, and it involves some back tracking just to get the story to progress because you needed to talk to a certain guy after you spoke to some other person. Because of this the progression is unnecessarily obtuse, so I was more than once seeking help in an faq.

While the game is flawed from today's perspective, it's still very charming, so it's a game that will grow onto you. If you can look over its shortcomings, and you're in for a nice adventure on the Game Boy.