MRM

Mark of the Ninja: Remastered Overview I really enjoyed this one. It was a game that served the purpose I wanted it to - a simple but not too simple 2-D platform game, with a fair amount of puzzles and short mini levels not requiring extended periods of playtime; a game that I can play when I’m too tired for anything too demanding or needing my full attention but engages me still at a low level. At one point, I wanted to finish the game quickly, though that was because I had discovered a game called Nier:Automata on SkillUp’s channel where he claimed it to be one of the best if not the best experience media entertainment can offer delivered through a video game. I almost considered not finishing it, but the game was good enough that I played it to the end, and I am not one to continue playing a game that I do not like. The Good The art style is visually appealing and easy on the eyes which is important considering that I couldn’t finish Narita Boy because the visuals and art style in that game evoked significant nausea 5 minutes into playing. I actually changed over to Mark of a Ninja simply because it looked better and less nauseating. The controls are mostly fluid and easy to learn - key for a game that I intend to finish quickly. The puzzles engaged me without requiring me to use 100% of my brain - which made the game playable even when I was extremely exhausted from a heavy ICU shift (something that did happen) By offering a variety of mechanics, the game gives room for one to develop a preferred play-style. You can decide to be super stealthy (get that true ninja experience) or be very aggressive and face all your enemies head on, though the latter is way more difficult. It's also not necessary to unlock everything in your arsenal to finish the game. You can use whatever you have and beat all levels without getting stuck simply because you have to unlock some special ability which in turn requires you to collect certain items in-game. I didn’t even try to unlock everything in this game and I managed to finish it with what can be considered a basic kit. The Bad The story is really weak and didn’t peak my interest at all. By the time I got to the ending, I was indifferent as to which choice I would make on who to kill. The fact that I looked up the outcomes of each choice on the internet without feeling like I spoiled anything for myself is testament to the dull plot. Should it have been more engaging? Nope, not for me at least. I play these kind of games to unwind, solve easy puzzles and finish the game quickly. The controls sometimes get clunky and I often died because my character would do not what I intended. Like mounting a wall vs jumping to the next platform and things like that. Wasn't a big problem though. It gets a little repetitive as you progress with the only big change being the variety on enemy types, who also don't change that much. I never found a way to track progress, and for I game want to finish quickly, knowing how far I am from beating the game so I can start a new one is very important. Otherwise I feel like the story is being dragged too much, which I did feel at some point. Final Remarks Overall, a good game. Definitely fun. Worth the while. Would I recommend it? Yes, if you want something fun and light. Will I replay it? Probably not.