Ninjabread Man
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Short description|2005 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| image = Ninjabread Man.jpg
| caption = North American boxart, Wii version
| developer = Data Design Interactive
| publisher = {{Plainlist|
- Metro3D Europe (PlayStation 2 and PC)
- Data Design Interactive (Europe, Wii)
- Conspiracy Entertainment (North America)
}}
| released = {{Plainlist|
- PlayStation 2
- {{vgrelease|EU|13 July 2005}}
- Microsoft Windows
- {{vgrelease|EU|23 July 2005}}
- Wii
- {{vgrelease|EU|21 September 2007|AUS|27 September 2007|NA|3 October 2007}}
}}
| genre = Platform
| modes = Single-player
| platforms = Wii, PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows
| engine = RenderWare, GODS Engine, Havok
}}
Ninjabread Man is a 2005 platform video game by developer and publisher Data Design Interactive. The game was released on the PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Windows in Europe in July 2005. A port for the Wii was released in September 2007 in Europe and Australia, and on 3 October 2007 in North America. Ninjabread Man was later published as part of Data Design Interactive's 'Popcorn Arcade' brand of Wii games.
Upon release, Ninjabread Man received universally negative reviews from critics and was criticized for its camera system, graphics, lack of story, short length, and controls; the Wii version received even lower reviews for its use of motion controls and has been listed as one of the worst games of all time.
Gameplay
File:Ninjabread Man Screenshot.png
Ninjabread Man is an action-adventure platformer. There are three levels in the game, plus a tutorial level. In order to proceed to the next level, players must collect eight power rods to activate a teleporter.{{Cite web |title=IGN: Ninjabread Man |url=http://pc.ign.com/objects/889/889343.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070820104237/http://pc.ign.com/objects/889/889343.html |archive-date=20 August 2007 |access-date=15 July 2010 |publisher=IGN}} The Ninjabread Man can attack enemies directly with a samurai sword via a shake of the Wii Remote, as well as throw shurikens from a distance using the Wii Remote's IR functionality to aim. When the player completes a level and plays it again, a menu appears with a second mode available, ‘Score Pickups’. If the level is completed again in this mode, the player will unlock ‘Time Attack’ mode. Completion of this mode unlocks the ‘Hidden Pickups!’ mode, in which the player must find pickups.
Development
Ninjabread Man reportedly started development as a planned third entry in the Zool series, a 2D platforming series released for the Amiga. Not much is actually known about the pitch, though it is believed that Zoo Digital Publishing (Zool
The game was first announced in November 2004 as Myth Makers: The Ninjabread Man, originally intended to be part of the company's Myth Makers series before having the suffix removed during release.{{Cite web |title=Data Design Interactive add 3 more Playstation 2 games to the Myth Makers™ Series. {{!}} GamesIndustry.biz |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/data-design-interactive-add-3-more-playstation-2-games-to-the-myth-makers-series |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=www.gamesindustry.biz}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
|EuroG=1/10 (Wii){{Cite web |last=Lyon |first=James |date=16 October 2007 |title=Popcorn Arcade Roundup |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/popcorn-arcade-roundup-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201015093048/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/popcorn-arcade-roundup-review |archive-date=15 October 2020 |access-date=13 October 2020 |website=Eurogamer}}
|JXV=5/20 (Wii){{Cite web |date=7 November 2007 |title=Test : NinjaBread Man |url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00008196-ninjabread-man-test.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201015141129/https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00008196-ninjabread-man-test.htm |archive-date=15 October 2020 |access-date=13 October 2020 |website=Jeuxvideo.com |language=French}}
|NLife={{rating|2|10}} (Wii){{Cite web |last=Dickens |first=Anthony |date=4 November 2007 |title=Ninjabread Man Review (Wii) |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2007/11/ninjabread_man_wii |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014064312/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2007/11/ninjabread_man_wii |archive-date=14 October 2020 |access-date=13 October 2020 |website=Nintendo Life}}
|rev2=Thunderbolt
}}
Ninjabread Man received unanimously negative reviews upon release. The PlayStation 2 version of the game has a 31% average rating on GameRankings,{{Cite web |title=Ninjabread Man Reviews |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/929656-ninjabread-man/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090728050516/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/929656-ninjabread-man/index.html |archive-date=28 July 2009 |access-date=14 July 2010}} while the Wii version has an average of 17.5%.{{Cite web |title=Ninjabread Man Reviews |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/wii/938506-ninjabread-man/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605115714/http://www.gamerankings.com/wii/938506-ninjabread-man/index.html |archive-date=5 June 2010 |access-date=14 July 2010}} On Metacritic, the Wii version of the game has an average score of 20/100, based on 6 reviews.{{Cite web |title=Ninjabread Man (wii: 2007): Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/ninjabread-man/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110223124/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/wii/ninjabreadman |archive-date=10 January 2008 |access-date=11 January 2008 |website=Metacritic}} The PC version of the game was not reviewed by any major publication.{{Cite web |title=Ninjabread Man |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/944380-ninjabread-man/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523104625/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/944380-ninjabread-man/index.html |archive-date=23 May 2009 |access-date=14 July 2010}}
IGN gave the Wii version a score of 1.5/10, saying: "It’s buggy, often completely broken, somehow manages to have frame issues in tiny levels, and is completely ruthless if (and when) younger players die."{{Cite web |last=Bozon |first=Mark |date=8 January 2008 |title=Ninjabread Man Review |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/844/844327p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329085231/http://wii.ign.com/articles/844/844327p1.html |archive-date=29 March 2010 |access-date=15 July 2010 |publisher=IGN}} Thunderbolt gave it 1/10, criticizing the game's length and the unimaginative use of the character as key flaws.{{Cite web |last=Morton |first=Philip |date=6 January 2008 |title=Ninjabread Man Wii review |url=http://www.thunderboltgames.com/reviews/article/ninjabread-man-review-for-wii.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100228181419/http://www.thunderboltgames.com/reviews/article/ninjabread-man-review-for-wii.html |archive-date=28 February 2010 |access-date=15 July 2010 |publisher=Thunderbolt}}
{{Clear}}
Cancelled sequel
On 23 January 2008, a sequel titled Ninjabread Man – Blades of Fury was announced.{{Cite web |title=Data Design Interactive » Highlights » Ninjabread Man – Blades of Fury |url=http://217.199.176.105/ddigames/?p=16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212084553/http://217.199.176.105/ddigames/?p=16 |archive-date=12 February 2008 |access-date=1 February 2008}} It was never released, and Data Design Interactive went out of business in 2012.{{Cite web |date=2020-05-01 |title=NinjaBread Man 2: Blades of Fury [Wii - Cancelled] - Unseen64 |url=https://www.unseen64.net/2020/05/01/ninjabreadman2-blades-fury-cancelled/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924225141/https://www.unseen64.net/2020/05/01/ninjabreadman2-blades-fury-cancelled/ |archive-date=24 September 2022 |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=Unseen64: Beta, Cancelled & Unseen Videogames! |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=DATA DESIGN INTERACTIVE LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03817591 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924225139/https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03817591 |archive-date=24 September 2022 |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk |language=en}}
''Rock 'n' Roll Adventures''
{{Infobox video game
| title = Rock 'n' Roll Adventures
| caption = European boxart
| developer = Data Design Interactive
| publisher = {{Plainlist|
- Data Design Interactive (Europe)
- Conspiracy Entertainment (North America)
}}
| released = {{collapsible list|title=17 September 2007|Wii
{{vgrelease|EU|17 September 2007}}{{vgrelease|NA|11 October 2007}}PlayStation 2
{{vgrelease|EU|2007}}Windows{{vgrelease|EU|2007}}}}
| engine = GODS Engine, Havok, RenderWare
| genre = Platform
| modes = Single-player
| platforms = PlayStation 2, Wii, Windows
}}
Rock 'n' Roll Adventures is a platform video game developed and published by Data Design Interactive and Conspiracy Entertainment. The game was released in Europe on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, and Wii on 17 September 2007 and in North America on 11 October 2007. The game is considered an asset flip of Ninjabread Man.
=Gameplay=
Like Ninjabread Man, there are three levels, plus a tutorial. In the tutorial level, the game will show the player what controls to use. For the rest of the levels, the player must collect all eight Power Rods. The enemies of the game are drum parts like cymbals.
The game uses the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. Flicking the Nunchuk upwards allows the player to jump. Swinging the Wii Remote swings the player's guitar.
=Reception=
The game has received poor reception. IGN gave the game a 3.0/10, criticizing it for non-interesting graphics, sloppy gameplay, and bad controls.{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Danny |date=18 December 2007 |title=Rock 'n Roll Adventures Review - Wii Review at IGN |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/841/841408p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221095740/http://wii.ign.com/articles/841/841408p1.html |archive-date=December 21, 2007 |access-date=11 January 2011 |publisher=IGN}} Official Nintendo Magazine pointed out that the spine of the box misspells the title as "Rock n' Roll Adevntures".
See also
- Anubis II, a similar Data Design Interactive game