Return of the Ninja
{{Short description|2001 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|image = Return of the Ninja coverart.png
|caption =
|developer = Act Japan
|publisher = Natsume Inc.
|designer = Tarō Sasahara
|producer = Naoki Eriguchi
Hiro Maekawa
|artist = Reiko Hirota
Kōichi Mashimo
Masanori Kitsuta
|composer = Kiyoshi Kusatsu
Yoshio Watanabe
|programmer = Kunihiro Takahashi
Takanori Kuwana
|released = {{vgrelease|PAL|March 30, 2001|NA|April 28, 2001}}
|modes = Single-player
|platforms = Game Boy Color
}}
Return of the Ninja is a platform game with stealth elements developed by Act Japan and published by Natsume Inc. for the Game Boy Color in 2001 as a spiritual successor to 1990's Shadow of the Ninja.
Gameplay
The player takes role of a ninja (either the male Tsukikage and or the female Saiyuri), using the D-pad to move and the buttons to jump and attack. Various special items called Shinobi Tools need be collected to master the five arts of ninjutsu (Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, and Heaven) and proceed through the game. Guards may alert the others and can be avoided. The player's rank at the end of each stage is determined by how fast the level was completed and how many times the protagonist has been spotted by human enemies, and cards can be awarded to the player.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/17/return-of-the-ninja|title=Return of the Ninja (Preview)|last=Harris|first=Craig|date=November 16, 2000|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|access-date=February 1, 2019|archive-date=February 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202095307/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/17/return-of-the-ninja|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesector.dk/2001/04/04/return-of-the-ninja/|title=Return of the Ninja|language=Danish|last=Schou|first=Henrik|date=April 4, 2001|website=GameSector|access-date=November 13, 2015|archive-date=November 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117014936/http://www.gamesector.dk/2001/04/04/return-of-the-ninja/|url-status=live}}
Plot
{{no plot|date=November 2015}}
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Reception
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 70%{{cite web|url=https://www.gamerankings.com/gbc/579227-return-of-the-ninja/index.html|title=Return of the Ninja for Game Boy Color|website=GameRankings|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=2019-02-01|archive-date=2019-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202041915/https://www.gamerankings.com/gbc/579227-return-of-the-ninja/index.html|url-status=live}}
| Allgame = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=26018&tab=review|title=Return of the Ninja - Review|last=Thompson|first=Jon|website=AllGame|publisher=All Media Network|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116092633/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=26018&tab=review|archivedate=November 16, 2014|url-status=dead|accessdate=February 1, 2019}}
| GamePro = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|url=http://gamepro.com/nintendo/gameboy_color/games/reviews/13206.shtml|title=Return of the Ninja Review for Game Boy Color on GamePro.com|author=Uncle Dust|date=April 13, 2001|magazine=GamePro|publisher=IDG Entertainment|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050318183746/http://gamepro.com/nintendo/gameboy_color/games/reviews/13206.shtml|archivedate=March 18, 2005|url-status=dead|accessdate=February 1, 2019}}
| NP = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|title=Return of the Ninja|magazine=Nintendo Power|publisher=Nintendo of America|volume=141|date=February 2001}}
}}
Return of the Ninja received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. Retro Gamer highlighted it as one of the most memorable games about Japanese warriors.{{cite magazine|title=Return of the Ninja|magazine=Retro Gamer|publisher=Imagine Publishing|issue=129|page=47}} Nintendo Power gave it an average review nearly four months before the game was released.
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References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/gameboy-color/return-of-the-ninja}}
Category:Game Boy Color-only games
Category:Side-scrolling platformers
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Video games about ninja
Category:Video games developed in Japan
Category:Video games featuring female protagonists
Category:Video games set in feudal Japan
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