You want to talk about a fusion of not only food but also of countries? How about ending up in Nuevo Tokyo, formed on betrayal, fire, and power? Welcome to the creative world of Mexican Ninja, developed by Mad Bricks and published by Amber Studios. This is your host, Beast, and a shoutout to Keymailer for supplying the key to this indie roguelite action game. There will be no spoilers during this review, so sit back, grab some Tempura Tacos, and let’s get into this!
Talk about a Culture Shock
Imagine, if you will, two factions forming a new feudal regime. The Yakuza and the Narcos becoming Narkuzas, a new ruling class in Nuevo Tokyo. Could you imagine turning on your TV and seeing this on the news? I bet your Culo would pucker tighter than coal forming a diamond! What’s next? Well, that’s up to you and some rebels to take down the five heads of the Narkuza to make the land free to the people and safe to walk around again. It’s time for the Mexican Ninja to step up and begin THE REVOLUTION!
That’s it for the story, let’s get into the gameplay!
The Fusion of Roguelite and Action!
Real talk, I see the appeal of this genre; it is a learning experience to truly “Get GUD” as you progress through Nuevo York. Honestly, it is a fun action title where you start with one power-up that you can build up as you go. Enemies come in a pattern, and that is not a bad thing, as you can prepare for each ambush. The deities that you run into will grant you certain blessings for your journey; you will have two at a time, and if you choose can swap them out. My personal favorite is the AOE farting ability that, if you level up properly, can also cause burn damage. That’s right, the power of shrimp tempura and Cochinita Pibil will be the death of my enemies. Smell my vengeance…SMELL IT!!
The layout does feel like a mobile game where your heavy attack has a cooldown, and it does show your button layout on the screen. RT and LT act as your power-ups. You have a jump button that also can be equipped with an attack and your light attack, which is your main bread and butter. Yes, there is a parry mechanic and a dodge mechanic, which is a risk-and-reward system in play.
Also, the clothes make the ninja as you go through each level and pick up random quests; you can unlock more costumes. Keep in mind that each one has its own stats and buffs. It is not just about looking when it comes to the drip you wear for the occasion!
Know Thy Jutsu!
Here is where things get a bit dicey. YOU WILL DIE…A Lot! But that is okay; you will learn from your mistakes, and whatever money you accumulate will be used on your skill tree. The funny part is when you die, a garbage truck with a vacuum sucks you up and takes you back to your training grounds. It is a creative way to see how you did before your death in a Nuevo Tokyo newspaper, showing how many enemies you took out and how much you made. I love the creative title it had: “The Pinche Ninja was found Dead like an idiot in some dark corner of Nuevo Tokyo.”
As stated, you have two areas to upgrade yourself; the first area is “The Way of Donkey” where you put points in Courage, Abundance, and Mindfulness. Then you have the “Mero Mero” Skill tree. It deals with Survival, Martial Arts, and Combo Power. The longer you last, the more money you obtain to max out each skill tree. I would advise learning how to dodge and parry as best as possible.
Vast Lands of Nuevo Tokyo:
The atmosphere in Mexican Ninja works well and hits the right visuals that make me wish I could explore more of the areas. The developers took the art direction of mixing both Mexican and Japanese culture into a nice melting pot. When it comes to the music and sound design, it all meshes well to fit the mood and action. You almost feel the give that you have when hacking through enemies. I do wish that the explosions on the barrels had a stronger effect. Honestly, the grit of the streets reminds me of my time playing the Shank series. Hits that right level of gore and danger with every attack and silliness. Hell, there are even traps laid out that you have to be careful with tripping, and even that has its own beautiful animation warning.
One tip: depending on what missions you accomplish, you can unlock other costumes for the Mexican Ninja. Keep progressing to discover more.
Do you prefer Saki over the Tequila?
I think I only have one issue, and that is the parry mechanic in the game. I wish there was a dedicated parry button instead of it being tied to the heavy attack. It is fairly easy to parry, as the enemy’s attack aura surrounding them, it gives you enough room to time the parry. Also, I do not like that I can’t disable some floor bear traps that inflict element damage, but you can lure enemies into them, which is a nice touch. That’s about it.
Final Showdown in Nuevo Tokyo:
This is something not in my wheelhouse when it comes to Roguelite games. But Mexican Ninja hits the right spot for me as a Beat’em Up fan. It has humor, replay value, and solid gameplay that anyone can get into. There is a soul here that the developers wanted to convey; they wanted to make a genuine, no-nonsense game. I say no nonsense because the game just works; you have a plan of action, and you find a way to get from A to B. There might be multiple incidents, but that’s the fun of getting good.
Mexican Ninja gets 4.5 out of 5 Beastly Paws. I am hoping it gets nominated during the Game Awards this year, because I am having fun. It could use a co-op mode, though, but that’s about it. Check out Mexican Ninja, which is out now on Steam, Xbox Systems, and PlayStation Systems. Hopefully a Nintendo Switch version is in the works, but we shall see. All right gamers, time to pack it up and ride off into the sunset. – Beast Out –
Final Verdict:
