10 Second Ninja X: Review

This game was reviewed on a Nintendo Switch OLED

Reviewed by: Ke'Juan Valentine

If you're a speedrunner or a perfectionist who thrives on high scores, "10 Second Ninja X" might just be your cup of tea. Personally, I never saw myself as the pixel-perfect type, but hey, who doesn't love a good challenge now and then? Curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to take the plunge into this whirlwind of a game to see what the fuss was all about.

So, picture this: you're a ninja – yeah, classic stuff, right? But hold up, you're not on a journey to rescue princesses or vanquish ancient evils. Instead, you're caught in a crazy showdown against an evil pirate named Greatbeard. This bearded menace captures you and now you're on a rampage to obliterate his robot army, one 10-second slice at a time, to prove that you are the fastest ninja around. It's like being thrown into an action-packed blender, and I was curious to see if I could survive the whirlwind.

Let's talk visuals. The game's graphics take you on a nostalgia trip, harkening back to the glory days of 2D classics like Sonic on the good ol' Sega Genesis. And that evil pirate, Greatbeard? He's like the spiritual cousin of Eggman, complete with his own lineup of captive critters stuffed into metal shells. It's a throwback nod that hits just right. Also, can we give a shoutout to those charming character designs? Adorable doesn't even cut it.

Now, onto the heart of the matter – gameplay. Lightning-paced would be an understatement when you're racing the clock with a mere 10 seconds to spare. Fail a mission? No worries, you're back at it faster than a hiccup. But, and here's the catch, this can also lead to some hair-pulling frustration. The game doesn't shy away from repeatedly putting you in the fail zone, just so you can rack your brain for that optimal ninja ballet of death. And when you do conquer a level, the sting is real if it's only awarded you a single star out of three. Talk about motivation to step up your game. The levels themselves are a blast from the past, featuring old-school challenges like electrified fences, zappy robots, and even metallic foes with a serious fashion sense. Oh, and don't forget the difficulty setting that lets you decide whether you're in for a relaxing ride or a gut-wrenching gauntlet. If you do get tired of playing the same thing, the game does provide extra minigames which give you fabulous rewards for completing them, such as "hint tokens" which you can use to see the quickest way to solve a puzzle in a mission.

Now, about the controls – simplicity is the name of the game. The A Button is for throwing your ninja stars, The B Button for jumping, Y Button for slashing with the quickness, and X Button for interacting with the world and the characters on the ship. I do enjoy that the controls are quick and easy, which makes it accessible to anyone to pick up on.

The story? Well, let's just say it takes a back seat. Dialogue's more about cracking jokes between characters, and I'll admit, a few got a chuckle out of me. But the real star here is the gameplay, and it's not afraid to wear that crown loud and proud.

In conclusion, I would give "10 Second Ninja X" a solid 6 out of 10. It's a good distraction, a time-waster that might not see a revisit from me. The whole race-against-time shtick isn't quite my cup of tea. Yet, I won't deny the fun I had in the moment. If you're down for a throwback challenge that'll leave you cursing and cheering in equal measure, "10 Second Ninja X" could be the whirlwind you're looking for.

Reviewed by: Ke'Juan Valentine