Ninjas assemble

I never played the original, I was introduced to this game while it was available on the Xbox Game pass, specifically because it can be played co-op with up to three players. Given that criteria we thought we would give it a try and I am glad we did. The game is mission based rather than open world; you are set in a small hidden village where you are set tasks from and follow the story.

Basically, you’re a ninja with mystical powers that you upgrade with experience. There are multiple options to choose from meaning the three of us had differing skill sets.
I expected the game to be relatively short and bearing in mind I replayed a few missions; I sank over thirty hours into the game before completing the story which just seemed to go on for ages. I don’t mean that in a bad way; it was long enough to progress through the upgrades tree and feel badass without out leveling the ever-strengthening enemies.

Can you play it Solo? Absolutely! If anything, you can achieve more solo because you can dictate the fighting style more but like with most things, the game is more entertaining with more than one ‘player’.
As you progress the story introduces more powerful and varied opponents and there are collectibles and money to find on each level so there is plenty to keep you going. You need money to buy the usable items like healing potions and smoke bombs (you’ll use those a lot) and to unlock different weapon and armour styles, including colours all of which are purely cosmetic.

I had a lot of fun playing this game, so much so that I purchased it when it left the game pass.
Multiplayer connectivity is about the smoothest experience in online gaming I have seen, although you can only join when in the village before a mission; there is no mid-game drop in option.

Originally published on 15 September 2022.