I-Ninja

I-Ninja is a video game developed by Argonaut and published by Namco. It was released for the PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube. A Game Boy Advance version of the game was announced, but it has been canceled. The game was advertised with the tagline "No one's taller than the last man standing." Although not too popular with the general public, it has gained a cult following.

As a result of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe buying the exclusive distribution rights for Europe, that part of the world saw only the PlayStation 2 and PC versions released.

Game Mechanics
The main character in I-Ninja, called simply "Ninja," has a variety of acrobatic abilities that are used throughout the game. In addition to basic skills such as running and jumping, Ninja can jump a second time in the air, although this second jump is less powerful than the first. Ninja can also spin his sword around while midair for a limited time and use it to fall slower than normal to bridge large gaps. This sword-spinning can be done immediately after jumping, but is delayed if performed after a double jump.

Ninja can also use the shape of the environment to his advantage. Throughout the game there are several uniquely designed walls that Ninja can run on, either up to reach a higher platform, or across to bridge a gap. Ninja can only run on walls for a limited time, and will fall off once this time is up. If he is running up a wall, then he will pull out the tip of his grappling hook and use it to slow his fall. Ninja can also jump off of these walls and use his helicopter sword to reach a platform. Sometimes two walls are placed across from each other; Ninja can use these to jump back and forth to move upward.

Also placed around the world are halfpipes that Ninja can use to ascend. By running up one side, Ninja can use the speed from running back down to run farther up the other side, and so forth to reach the top.

Throughout the world there are points where Ninja can use his Grappling Hook to swiing across a gap. When Ninja nears one of these points, he will hear a clinking sound, indicating that he can use his Grappling Hook. Another use for the Grappling Hook are short racetrack-like areas where Ninja must run faster than a mote of light chasing him. In these areas there are usually sharp curves that have a grappling point in the center, which Ninja can use to round the curve.

Some levels have bars that Ninja can grind on using his wooden sandals. Many times these bars have gaps in them which Ninja must jump over.

Certain levels also provide Ninja with explosive darts and ricocheting shuriken to use against his foes. Both of these can be aimed using a first-person view, but shuriken can also be thrown with an auto-aim feature.

Occasionally Ninja will encounter an enemy that will leap into the air with him (in classic anime fashion) to battle. The two will remain suspended in a sort of flying void until the foe is defeated. While in this void, Ninja flies around and can dash, slash with his sword, perform an unblockable but heavily delayed thrusting attack, and throw shuriken if he has them.

As Ninja attacks he will build an attack gauge that, when filled to certain levels, can be spent to temporarily enhance his abilities. As Ninja progresses through the game he will gain access to more of these abilities; using them he can increase his strength, heal his life bar, ride a giant shuriken to quickly slay foes, or even become invincible, which allows him to greatly harm enemies in his viscinity without even touching them. When Ninja becomes invincible, he says "I-Ninja!", which provides the game with its namesake.

Machines
I-Ninja's usual action-platformer gameplay is kicked to the sidelines in more than a handful of the game's sections, as certain levels require I-Ninja to use machines he finds to achieve his goals. Sometimes this is as brief and simple as hopping into a missile turret to blast open a door before hopping off for more Ninja action, but in a few instances an entire level will be devoted to an alternate form of gameplay.

Among the arsenal available to Ninja are turrets with remote-control missiles or machine guns, a submarine armed with torpedoes, rolling robotic spheres which navigate similar to Marble Madness, a stationary mecha that fires reloading rounds and a charged up laser attack, and even a giant robot that throws punches and dodges a la Nintendo's Punch-Out!! series. Operation of many of these machines will provide the user with a first-person view as well as a new HUD.

Rage Stones
Rage Stones are storyline elements, appearing each time you defeat a boss. The first one is found before the Robot Island area. Ninja, despite warnings, always touches them and goes psycho. The first kills his Sensei, and the others nearly kill other Guardians.

Trivia
The Ninja is voiced by Billy West, who has been the voice of both lead characters for Ren & Stimpy; at times in I-Ninja, Ninja sounds just like either Ren or Stimpy.

The in-game cinematics, as well as the intro and ending movies, were created by famed animators Don Bluth and Gary Goldman who worked on films such as The Secret of NIMH, The Land Before Time, and Anastasia, as well as classic arcade games such as Dragon's Lair and Space Ace.