GungHo Entertainment's free-to-play bubblegum battle royale, Ninjala, has kept players on their toes since its admittedly rocky launch last week. The colorful ninja fighter seems rather simple at first glance, but studious ninjas are quickly uncovering all the small secrets to success as they zip across Eagle City.
Players new to Ninjala should start off by playing through the game's tutorial and carefully reading through the in-game rules. This sounds obvious, but it's particularly important to emphasize in light of frequent (valid) criticisms that Ninjala's mechanics are difficult to understand, if not largely unexplained. The game's interface is certainly not the most intuitive, but to the creators' credit, the information is mostly there, albeit easy to overlook. Tutorials/infographics aside, players should be sure to peruse the game's complete instruction manual, which is available through the in-game Help menu (the "Online Manual" option) or on Ninjala's official website.
Mastering the game's partially luck-based battle system is key to any warrior's success. Although Training Mode is suggested for beginners, it doesn't offer ninjas the opportunity to practice defensive maneuvers, so free battles are highly recommended as well. Aside from knowing the general controls, players should also be sure to have a solid grasp of Ninjala's unique rock-paper-scissors-style parry system. Ninjas who have already swept past the basics can proceed to their first secret to success:
Know Your Weapons
Rather than the eight bubblegum ninja protagonists, players should turn their attention to their tools. Nobody expects a ninja to master every weapon, but a player can't expect to rise through the ranks without a sound understanding of Ninjala's twelve available weapons. Players should focus on identifying two things: which weapons they're comfortable using, and what each of the weapons actually do. Simply put, a ninja should play to their own strengths - and knowing what opponents are capable of is an immense advantage, regardless of a weapon choice. Players should note that weapons will also affect a ninja's movement speed, so bear that in mind when selecting a weapon.
Move or Hide
Ninjala pays homage to Splatoon in both its design, and in the amount of mobility and stealth it grants its players - use those gifts! Ninjas have the ability to leap twice, run up walls, air dash, shapeshift, and slide along gum-rails. One of the most easily overlooked battle tactics is simple evasion.
If a ninja is being chased, they can dash to a nearby wall, then run up and zoom away with a Gum Boost (ZL+B while mid-air); or they can dart around a corner and turn into an inconspicuous trash can. Also, the standard jump is surprisingly quick and effective in a getaway. The point is, there's hardly ever a reason to simply run away from, or towards, an enemy in Ninjala. Players should however be wary of overusing their S-Energy - try and rely on simple jumps and dashes when possible.
On a similar note, if a ninja is on the run or low on health, they should remember their shapeshifting abilities. It's worth mentioning that there are two variations of the Gum Morphing technique, too: Gum Morph, and Gum Utsusemi. Gum Morph will turn the ninja into a copy of nearby stage decorations (e.g. trash can, flowerpot) when the A button is pressed, whereas Gum Utsusemi will either transform the player into a cute statue (with Down on the d-pad) or create an additional copy of the statue in front of the player (with Right on the d-pad.) Gum Morphing can be a subtle way to prevent an opponent from scoring a special Ippon KO.
Don't Forget The Drones
It may be tempting to dive into the nearest bubblegum showdown with a giant ninja axe, but players should actually keep a careful eye on the drones that spawn throughout the stage periodically. Each time a drone is hit (and destroyed), valuable points are generated. Moreover, every drone destroyed will extend the player's S-Energy gauge, and once the gauge is at 8 or more units, players can craft a powerful "big" version of their weapon.
Small drones increase S-Energy capacity by 1 unit, and large drones grant players 2 additional units. That said, drones are especially critical when playing Ninjala on a team with friends, seeing as nearby teammates also benefit from small drones being destroyed, while all teammates benefit from the destruction of the larger ones. Another unofficial benefit of drones is that they offer players a sneaky way to camp. Players can wait for ninjas to approach a spawned drone before launching a surprise attack.
Shinobi Cards
Part of every ninja's battle equipment is the passive Shinobi Card option. All accounts start the game with the "Sudden Burst" card, but players have the option of using the Ninja Medals earned in-game (bronze, silver, and gold ones) to purchase the 9 other Shinobi Cards. Each of the cards offers players a distinct advantage in battle, ranging from heightened ninja senses to exploding Gum Utsusemi - make sure to check them all out and pick the right fit.
Each of the Shinobi Cards can also be enhanced with additional effects by applying Assist Codes, which are earned through gameplay as well. Equipping a thoughtful combination of Shinobi Cards and Assist Codes will help tip tight battles in a smart ninja's favor. And if it seems difficult to settle for just one power-up, players can use Ninja Medals to unlock up to 3 additional Shinobi Card slots. This is a crucial component of battle equipment and should not be overlooked when devising a weapon kit.
Despite a rocky launch, Ninjala has proven a stylish free-to-play hit for owners of the Nintendo Switch. With over 1 million downloads to date, the wacky ninja fighter continues to attract new fans with its unique design and gameplay, regardless of its controversial consumable cosmetics. And although superficially simple, the battle system clearly has some layers to uncover for the attentive player.
Ninjala is available now on Switch.
Source: GungHo Entertainment