February 28th 2025.
Ninja Five-O is not your average police officer on the beat. This game, which was once considered rare and valuable, has finally been re-released for everyone to enjoy. Originally known as Ninja Cop in Europe, this game has an interesting history and has now become available in a digital format for a more affordable price.
In today's world where most games are only available in a digital format, it's hard to imagine a time when video game rarity was a common occurrence. But back in the day, many games were not released in Europe and if they didn't immediately become a hit in their country of origin, they were at risk of disappearing forever. However, times have changed and now we have the luxury of being able to play games from the late '70s on various platforms. For example, a game like Radiant Silvergun, which we originally paid £150 for as a Japanese import for the Sega Saturn, can now be purchased on the Switch or PC for only £15.
Although Ninja Five-O may have passed us by when it was first released on the Game Boy Advance in 2003, we became aware of it a few years later and managed to purchase it for £60. However, nowadays it would cost a lot more to buy physically, but thankfully it's now available as a digital download for only £20.
The history of Ninja Five-O is quite mysterious and not well understood. Despite being created by Hudson Soft, the same minds behind Bomberman, and published by Konami, this game was never released in Japan. It's unclear why this decision was made, as the game seems to have been made with a Japanese audience in mind and then translated for the Western market. However, due to its initial failure and limited release, it quickly became an urban legend, known for both its quality and rarity.
The game draws inspiration from classic ninja titles such as Shinobi and the original 2D Ninja Gaiden games. However, it brings its own unique ideas to the table, making it stand out from being just a clone. In the game, you play as protagonist Joe Osugi, who goes to work dressed as an old school ninja and must stop a group of terrorists who possess magical kabuki style masks.
The first mission involves stopping a bank robbery by eliminating all the non-hostage enemies. Like in Shinobi, you have a sword and infinite shuriken at your disposal. Non-ninja enemies are relatively easy to defeat, and if you're lucky, they may drop extra energy that can power up your shuriken to three levels, with the final level unleashing a laser projectile that can pass through enemies. Additionally, there's a special meter that, when filled, allows you to unleash a powerful magic attack similar to a smart bomb.
One of the game's unique features is the grappling hook, which you must use to swing and leap onto platforms, similar to Spider-Man. This requires skill and is tested in increasingly complex levels filled with laser beams, dangerous machinery, and moving platforms. The level and enemy designs are diverse, with challenging boss battles, but the game's difficulty is unforgiving, with shuriken levels hard to maintain and a health bar that can quickly disappear.
This remastered version of the game offers modern conveniences, such as the ability to rewind time and new save and load options, which make it easier to overcome the game's demanding difficulty. For a Game Boy Advance game, Ninja Five-O is visually impressive, especially considering its low budget. However, when played on a modern TV in full screen mode, the small sprites can look unappealing. Shrink the screen size and use the filter, and the game still looks surprisingly good. Alternatively, playing in portable mode on the Switch is the best option.
In addition to the modern features, this remastered version includes both versions of the game - Ninja Five-O and Ninja Cop - a music player, and a museum of artwork, box art, and scanned manuals. This is a lot more than what many high-profile retro releases offer.
One might assume that a re-release of a Game Boy Advance game, which originally ran at a resolution of 240p, would only appeal to hardcore retro gamers. However, that is not the case with Ninja Five-O. This game could be released as a new indie title today, and no one would know it's actually 22 years old. It's a well-crafted portable game that knows its identity and executes it almost perfectly. Ninja Five-O may have been purposefully old-school when it was first released, but its charming simplicity remains just as endearing today.
In summary, the remastered version of Ninja Five-O for the Nintendo Switch is a very welcome release of one of gaming's best-kept secrets. Its retro charm and unique gameplay make it just as entertaining today as it was 22 years ago on the Game Boy Advance. With great graphics, diverse gameplay, and modern features, this game is a must-try for fans of classic ninja titles.
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