Ninja Five-O
{{Short description|2003 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}{{Infobox video game
| title = Ninja Five-O
| image = Ninja Cop cover.png
| caption = European cover art
| developer = Hudson Soft
| publisher = Konami
| director = Gen Suzuki
| producer = Hitoshi Kimoto
| designer = Gen Suzuki
| programmer = {{ubl|Hajime Hosokawa|Katsuhiko Hosogai|Yasukazu Majima}}
| artist = Osamu Ōe
| composer = {{ubl|Aya Tanaka|Hiroyuki Tsuboguchi}}
| released = {{Video game release|EU|April 11, 2003{{Cite web |date= |title=Ninja Cop |url=http://www.chipsworld.co.uk/detProd.asp?ProductCode=8199 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040126213717/http://www.chipsworld.co.uk/detProd.asp?ProductCode=8199 |archive-date=January 26, 2004 |access-date=January 17, 2024 |website=Chipsworld}}|NA|April 17, 2003{{Cite web |title=Ninja Five-O |url=http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/categories/products/product.asp?pf_id=233235 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030410213116/http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/categories/products/product.asp?pf_id=233235 |archive-date=April 10, 2003 |access-date=January 17, 2024 |website=EB Games}}{{Cite web |date= |title=Ninja Five-O |url=http://gameboy.gamezone.com/gamesell/p21860.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317231716/http://gameboy.gamezone.com/gamesell/p21860.htm |archive-date=March 17, 2007 |access-date=January 17, 2024 |website=GameZone}}}}
| modes = Single-player
| platforms = Game Boy Advance
}}
Ninja Five-O, known in the PAL region as Ninja Cop, is a 2003 action-platform video game developed by Hudson Soft and published by Konami. It was released for the Game Boy Advance in North America and Europe in April 2003. Players take the role of Joe Osugi, a ninja who must stop a terrorist group influenced by mystical masks. It was first announced at "Konami Gamers' Day" in early 2003.
The game received generally positive reviews from video game critics, but it failed to garner sales and is often regarded as one of the most sought-after handheld games.
The original version was re-released on February 25, 2025 for Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.{{cite web|title=EXCLUSIVE: GBA Classic Ninja Five-O Announced for PlayStation and Switch {{!}} IGN Fan Fest 2024|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/exclusive-gba-classic-ninja-five-o-announced-for-playstation-and-switch-ign-fan-fest-2024|last=Bailey|first=Kat|website=IGN|date=February 21, 2024|access-date=February 25, 2024}}{{Cite web |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Ninja Five-O for PS5, PS4, Switch, and PC launches February 25 |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2025/01/ninja-five-o-for-ps5-ps4-switch-and-pc-launches-february-25 |access-date=January 23, 2025 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US |archive-date=January 22, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250122144307/https://www.gematsu.com/2025/01/ninja-five-o-for-ps5-ps4-switch-and-pc-launches-february-25 |url-status=live }}
Gameplay
Ninja Five-O is an action game centered around Joe Osugi, a ninja tasked with stopping a terrorist group influenced by the Mad Masks, masks that give the wearer obscene power. As Osugi, the player must defeat the terrorists and rescue hostages through five missions with three levels and a boss battle.
Development
The game was developed by Hudson Soft.{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/01/16/ninja-five-o-2|title=Ninja Five-O|last=Harris|first=Craig|work=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=January 16, 2003|accessdate=January 18, 2018|archive-date=January 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118104854/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/01/16/ninja-five-o-2|url-status=live}} Ninja Five-O was first announced in January 2003 during "Konami Gamers' Day", where they announced along with fifteen other games they would publish in 2003.{{Cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/article_47238|title= Konami Gamers' Day launches 2003|last=Bramwell|first=Tom|work=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|date=January 17, 2003|accessdate=January 18, 2018}}
Despite being developed and published by Japanese video game companies, it was never released in Japan for reasons unknown.{{cite web|url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/ninja-five-o/|title=Ninja Five-O / Ninja Cop - Game Boy Advance (2003)|last=Kalata|first=Kurt|work=Hardcore Gaming 101|date=August 1, 2017|accessdate=January 18, 2018|archive-date=January 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118181105/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/ninja-five-o/|url-status=live}} The US box art was illustrated by Julie Giles, who designed other Konami packaging such as the Castlevania and Metal Gear franchises.{{cite web|url=https://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/09/promotional-consideration-behind-the-boxart/|title=Promotional Consideration: Behind the boxart|last=Caoili|first=Eric|work=Joystiq|publisher=AOL|date=March 9, 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317132915/https://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/09/promotional-consideration-behind-the-boxart/|archivedate=March 17, 2011}}
Ninja Five-O was released in North America and Europe in April 2003.
In February 2024, it was announced that Limited Run Games will develop a version in cooperation with Konami for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.{{Cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/24079053/konami-ninja-five-o-gba-switch-ps5-limited-run-games |title=Konami's re-releasing one of the rarest Game Boy Advance games |website=Polygon |date=February 21, 2024 |access-date=October 5, 2024 |archive-date=October 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007092725/https://www.polygon.com/24079053/konami-ninja-five-o-gba-switch-ps5-limited-run-games |url-status=live }}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
|MC = 82/100{{cite web | title=Ninja Five-O for Game Boy Advance Reviews | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/ninja-five-0/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance | work=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive | accessdate=June 18, 2016}}
|GI = 8.25/10{{cite magazine | title=Ninja Five-O | magazine=Game Informer | issue=123 | date=July 2003 | page=122}}
|GamePro = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine | author=DJ Dinobot | date=April 29, 2003 | title=Ninja Five-O Review for Game Boy Advance on GamePro.com | url=http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/gameboy_advance/games/reviews/29134.shtml | magazine=GamePro | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050308183609/http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/gameboy_advance/games/reviews/29134.shtml | archivedate=March 8, 2005 | url-status=dead | accessdate=June 19, 2016}}
|GSpot = 7.9/10{{cite web | first=Ryan | last=Davis | date=May 1, 2003 | title=Ninja Five-0 Review [sic] | url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/ninja-five-0-review/1900-6026090/ | work=GameSpot | publisher=CBS Interactive | accessdate=June 18, 2016 | archive-date=September 13, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913122427/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/ninja-five-0-review/1900-6026090/ | url-status=live }}
|GSpy = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web | first=Steve | last=Steinberg | date=May 2, 2003 | title=GameSpy: Ninja Five-O | url=http://gba.gamespy.com/gameboy-advance/ninja-five-o/5834p1.html | publisher=GameSpy | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051110135326/http://gba.gamespy.com/gameboy-advance/ninja-five-o/5834p1.html | archivedate=November 10, 2005 | url-status=dead | accessdate=June 18, 2016}}
|IGN = 8.5/10{{cite web | first=Craig | last=Harris | date=April 21, 2003 | title=Ninja Five-O | url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/04/21/ninja-five-o | website=IGN | accessdate=June 18, 2016 | archive-date=August 16, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816124006/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/04/21/ninja-five-o | url-status=live }}
|NP = 4/5{{cite magazine | title=Ninja Five-O | magazine=Nintendo Power | volume=168 | date=May 2003 | page=140}}
|rev1 = The Cincinnati Enquirer
|rev1Score = {{Rating|4|4}}{{cite news | first=Marc | last=Saltzman | date=May 20, 2003 | title=Three for the road | url=http://cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/052003_3gba.html | newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071120210919/http://cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/052003_3gba.html | archivedate=November 20, 2007 | url-status=dead | accessdate=June 18, 2016}}
}}
Upon release of the game, Ninja Five-O received "favorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. It was chosen as runner-up for "GBA Game of the Month" by IGN for the month of April 2003, behind Golden Sun: The Lost Age.{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/02/gba-game-of-the-month-april-2003|title=GBA Game of the Month: April 2003|author=IGN Staff|work=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=May 2, 2003|accessdate=January 23, 2018|archive-date=September 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912050032/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/02/gba-game-of-the-month-april-2003|url-status=live}}
In a retrospective review from Nintendo Life, Perry Wild praised its level design for having a balance between the platforming and combat aspects in the game.{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/gba/ninja_five-o|title=Review: Ninja Five-O|last=Wild|first=Perry|work=Nintendo Life|publisher=Gamer Network|date=November 5, 2016|accessdate=January 30, 2018|archive-date=January 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131200817/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/gba/ninja_five-o|url-status=live}}
Ninja Five-O received awards and nominations from several gaming publications. GameSpy named it the third best Game Boy Advance game of 2003,{{cite web|url=http://archive.gamespy.com:80/goty2003/gba/index8.shtml|title=GameSpy's Game Boy Advance Games of the Year|author=GameSpy Staff|publisher=GameSpy|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041222115802/http://archive.gamespy.com/goty2003/gba/index8.shtml|archivedate=December 22, 2004|url-status=dead}} as well as the Best Platform Game for the system.{{cite web|url=http://archive.gamespy.com:80/goty2003/gba/index14.shtml|title=GBA Winners Wrapup|author=GameSpy Staff|publisher=GameSpy|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050216134552/http://archive.gamespy.com/goty2003/gba/index14.shtml|archivedate=February 16, 2005|url-status=dead}} It was also chosen as the "Best Game No One Played" by IGN.{{cite web|url=http://bestof2003.ign.com/articles/463/463091p1.html|title=IGN.com 2003 Awards: Best Game No One Played|author=IGN Staff|work=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018071312/http://bestof2003.ign.com/articles/463/463091p1.html|archivedate=October 18, 2006}} IGN later listed it at number 23 in their list of the top 25 Game Boy Advance games of all time.{{cite web | first=Craig | last=Harris | date=March 16, 2007 | title=Top 25 Game Boy Advance Games of All Time | url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/03/17/top-25-game-boy-advance-games-of-all-time | website=IGN | accessdate=June 18, 2016}} In 2008, CraveOnline featured the game among top 10 Ninja games of all time, calling it "weird, fun, challenging, and a great homage to another awesome ninja game from the 8-bit era, Shadow of the Ninja".{{cite web | first=Jeremy | last=Azevedo | date=September 18, 2008 | title=Top 10 Ninja Games Of All Time | url=http://www.craveonline.com/site/150214-top-10-ninja-games-of-all-time | publisher=CraveOnline | accessdate=June 18, 2016 | archive-date=September 20, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920130648/http://www.craveonline.com/site/150214-top-10-ninja-games-of-all-time | url-status=live }} According to GameFan, "Ninja Five-O was one of the biggest sleeper hits of 2003. Given lackluster sales it's unlikely to spawn a sequel, but with everything it got right the first time one can only imagine what might have been."{{cite magazine | first=Michael | last=Crisman | date=July 6, 2011 | title=Ninja Five-O RETROspective | url=http://gamefanmag.com/gf-retro/ninja-five-o-retrospective | magazine=GameFan | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103073820/http://gamefanmag.com/gf-retro/ninja-five-o-retrospective | archivedate=November 3, 2011 | url-status=usurped | accessdate=June 18, 2016}}
Ninja Five-O is now seen as one of the most sought-after games for the Game Boy Advance, with IGN listing it as "Extremely Rare".{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/06/15/gba-gems-ninja-cop|title=GBA Gems: Ninja Five-O|last=Harris|first=Craig|work=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=June 15, 2005|accessdate=January 18, 2018}} By 2013, Pocket Gamer listed it as one of the most expensive handheld games, noting that a copy of the game was being sold on eBay for £70 while a boxed copy went for £200.{{cite web|url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/3DS/Shantae/feature.asp?c=52396|title=Top 10 most expensive and valuable handheld games of all time|last=Brown|first=Mark|work=Pocket Gamer|publisher=Steel Media|date=July 18, 2013|accessdate=January 18, 2018|archive-date=August 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807034755/http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/3DS/Shantae/feature.asp?c=52396|url-status=live}}
{{clear}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/gameboy-advance/ninja-five-o}}
- [https://playretro.it/2025/03/05/giudico/ninja-five-o-recensione/ Playretro.it : Ninja-five-o remastered Review]
Category:Game Boy Advance games
Category:Game Boy Advance-only games
Category:Video games about ninja
Category:Video games about police officers
Category:Side-scrolling video games