Need pizza quick? Call a teenage ninja!
At first glance Ninja Pizza Girl looks like the kind of game we’ve seen plenty of times before over the years, a side scrolling platformer with a parkour feel, but what makes it different from the others is that it’s a game with a message. The developers Disparity Games are a family outfit from Down Under, and have woven a story into the game that deals with emotional issues that will resonate with teenagers and young adults, concerning bullying, self-esteem and identity, and consequently has received endorsements from the Queensland and Australian governments.
In a neon lit high rise dystopian near future, you play Gemma, a teenage girl who delivers pizza for her dad’s small pizzeria. The quickest way to do this is by running and jumping around the roof tops and balconies of the high-rise blocks, which is of course the perfect job for an out of work ninja. It’s not that simple though as the big corporation Pizza Mega Corp wants to put you out of business and will deploy underhand tactics to disrupt your movements by getting their many delivery ninjas to attack and then mock you as they put you on your backside. You must get Gemma (and the hot pizza) to the customer before the timer runs out. Now I’ve never been the best at this type of game and normally would quit after half an hour of frustration but the developers really want you to play this game, so thankfully they’ve added a feature where you can adjust the speed of the game. With the game slowed down slightly to match my aging reflexes and away I go at a level that is challenging but not too frustrating.
The controls are nice and easy as you run, jump, slide and wall jump your way through the level, despatching enemies with either a slide or flying kick. The route to your goal is marked by neon signs on the wall so you don’t get lost and as you finish each level you get a grade on how well you’ve done from D to A, which encourages you to replay levels to try and get the top A grade. If you get hit by enemies too often, Gemma gets more depressed, and the bright neon cityscape gradually washes out to a dull grey as her mood darkens. To cheer her up you need to perform well, or spent the credits you collect on each level to cheer her up. You do this back at the menu screen to treat her to a nice bubble bath, hot chocolate or maybe the latest video game. Gemma is also a budding seamstress so you can treat her to a nice new outfit which will also make her happy.
The levels gradually get more difficult as you go, albeit only slightly, and can be a bit samey, so its really only the story and its humour that keeps you engaged over a long period. Completing the game will probably only take about 4 hours but there is also a speed run mode where you can register a time on a global leaderboard. There’s also a big head mode that unlocks and a first-person view, which would be a great addition if only for the fact that the controls don’t remap from the usual side scrolling perspective.
Although only a relatively short game, Ninja Pizza Girls humorous and engaging storyline, coupled with a striking look and pumping soundtrack, elevates it a little above the run of the mill platformer it would otherwise have been.
Game: Ninja Pizza Girl
Genre: Side Scrolling Platformer
Developer: Disparity Games
Publisher: Disparity Games
Price: £7.99
Website: www.disparitygames.com
Many thanks to XCN for the review copy.