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Here’s What Happens When You Steal A Ninja’s Donut - Ninja Chowdown Review

4K View2022-07-22

Sit down, because it’s time we had “the talk.” There comes a time in every young person's life when they begin to notice changes. We all go through it. You may notice a heightened awareness in your senses. Changes in your body such as increased agility and dexterity. And an insatiable desire to experiment with new tools and objects in the savviest ways. I am, of course, talking about that unique and special time of life called the ninja phase.

For me, it happened when I was first introduced to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but it didn’t stop there. Movies like Three Ninjas and games like Tenchu helped cultivate my desire to strike out of the shadows against my foes. Hundreds of dollars worth of martial arts classes later, I have to say I'm still not much of a ninja. But to this day, I appreciate the aesthetic of the ancient Japanese feudal assassin. So it was no surprise that I was drawn to a badass action runner where you play as a donut-loving, karate-chopping shinobi.

With its beautiful, retro-style pixel art and fatty-food-loving protagonist, Ninja Chowdown brings the nostalgia of my shuriken-wielding days while offering a freshly baked and addictive game to boot!

Developed by Dummy Dojo and published by Abylight Light Studios, Ninja Chowdown is an action-runner with side-scrolling shooter elements that was initially released in 2020. The first thing I noticed about this game was the beautiful care and attention that went into the artistic design. It's a really pretty game, with vibrant colors and well-drawn images that perfectly highlight the food-related theme. It even managed to give me a junk food craving while playing!

The narrative is nothing to brag about, but it fits with Ninja Chowdown’s overall wacky experience. Playing as Donatsu, our portly hero, the mission is to recover a golden donut, otherwise known as the “Knownut.” It's enough of an excuse to take you through multiple stages where you'll face off against pun-themed enemies such as Sushi Sam and Pierate Pete. Ninja Chowdown knows precisely what type of game it is and manages to keep a light-hearted feel while offering some quality gameplay.

If you’ve played Cookies Must Die or read my review, you’ll find something very similar in the game mechanics in Ninja Chowdown. Not only do both games have food themes, but both incorporate a slow-motion element to the gameplay that requires you to aim and shoot at your opponents. In Ninja Chowdown, I used the left side of the screen to jump and collect donuts, whereas the right side of the screen threw weapons of various types at my opponents. And although there are some user reviews complaining about the game’s aiming system, it worked just fine for me; I found the controls smooth and easy to use on my iPhone 13.

That being said, Ninja Chowdown isn’t easy. I died several times while playing, and it was annoying that I had to restart a stage after being hit by any enemy just once. Luckily, the levels themselves are short enough that starting over is no big deal. All the stats and coins you've amassed are collected when you continue. It was extra fun collecting enough donuts to become a giant unstoppable blob rolling over all those who opposed my sugar-fueled ninjitsu wrath!

There are also achievements and weapons available for purchase using the in-game currency you collect. You can pick up pets and different outfit choices that add to the fun. I upgraded from a ninja throwing star to throwing swords and changed Donatsu's outfit to a pink surfer with a salmon-colored pig companion that complimented my new threads.

I should be clear that Ninja Chowdown doesn’t charge real money for every one of these little items. They’re paid for with in-game cash only. What limited monetization the game has is totally reasonable. For players who want to remove advertisements from the game, it’s a one-time fee of $3, Which feels very fair considering the excellent artwork, items, and pets you have at your fingertips.

My only criticism is that the gameplay in Ninja Chowdown can become quite repetitive. Running for donuts and dodging enemies can only hold my attention for so long. Still, it’s the perfect time-waster in short bursts. I could pick it up and play it while waiting for a bus or for the kettle to boil, putting it down, and then returning later.

At the end of the day, Ninja Chowdown offers a fun experience. You're a ninja after a donut, for crying out loud! The creativity and artwork alone make it worth checking out. And like a donut, though I don't think this game is a hearty meal in and of itself, it offers the perfect snack for when I want to hop in quickly and get something tasty in return.

SCORE: 4 STARS OUT OF 5

PLAY IF YOU LIKE:

• Cookies Must Die. If you've played this food-themed delight, you'll notice similarities in the side-scrolling, shooting-styled controls in Ninja Chowdown.

• Temple Run. If you like running and avoiding objects in Temple Run, you'll also find that in Ninja Chowdown. Except for this time, you're running toward something!

Did you have fun playing Ninja Chowdown? And what's your favorite food-themed game? Let me know in the comments section.

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