Mini Ninjas

Mini Ninjas is a linear third-person action-adventure game. It features six playable Mini Ninja characters, each with their own unique abilities, weapons and skills. Players can collect special weapons, including caltrops, shuriken, different bombs and fishing rods, and a multi-functional ninja hat, as well as a variety of potions and food items. The main protagonist, Hiro, can cast spells, including fireball and lighting attacks, camouflage, and time manipulation.

Hiro can also possess spirits, such as animals, for a short period of time. Spells are cast using Ki, which is dropped by enemies and can be replenished with potions.

In ancient Japan, an era of peace and harmony has existed ever since the evil samurai warlord Ashida was defeated at the hand of a wise ninja master. In the wake of Ashida's defeat, the ninja master hid the secrets of Kuji magic, which grants one power over nature, in various scrolls contained in shrines across the wilderness. Three centuries later, at Ninja Mountain, the ninja master has trained six orphans in the way of the ninja with the aid of the mountain's tengu inhabitants. The youngest of these ninjas, Hiro, possesses the power to control Kuji magic. Hiro lives on the mountain in peace alongside his friends - clumsy but strong Futo, flute-playing Suzume, archer Shun, tiger-like Tora, and spear-wielding Kunoichi.

The long-lasting peace begins to slowly erode when mysterious events begin to occur across the countryside, including the disappearance of animals and sightings of armored samurai in the wilderness. The ninja master eventually learns that Ashida has returned, and is using Kuji magic to convert forest animals into deadly samurai warriors. The ninja master sends Kunoichi, Tora, Shun, and Suzume to investigate Ashida's army, but all are captured behind enemy lines. Reluctantly, the ninja master then sends out his last ninjas, Hiro and Futo, after teaching Hiro how to learn Kuji spells from the hidden shrines across the country. Hiro and Futo rescue Suzume from the samurai and infiltrate the Earth Castle, where they defeat an enormous samurai boss; subsequently, the castle explodes, and Ashida becomes aware of the existence of the new ninjas.

Mini Ninjas was announced on January 19, 2009, along with the first official trailer. The game's origin lies in the developers' desires to make a game that they could "play with their kids", and thus bears the lowest ESRB rating ever given to a game developed by IO Interactive, Everyone 10+, a major departure from its other games that target older audiences.

The game was released in North America on September 8, 2009, and in the United Kingdom and PAL territories on September 11, 2009, for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360. A version for Mac OS X, developed by Feral Interactive, was released on July 8, 2010.

The game received "mixed or average reviews" on all platforms except the Wii version, which received "generally favorable reviews", according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.

GameSpot said of the game, "Whether you're big or small, there's a lot to like about these little ninjas and their lengthy journey." The Guardian concluded that the game's "constant charm renders it calming and even relaxing to play" and "any parent watching Mini Ninjas being played will find it hard to resist the temptation to have a go over their own." Sean Garmer of 411Mania gave the Xbox 360 version a score of eight out of ten, calling it "a very good first effort from IO Interactive. The story will keep you involved and they added plenty of things to try to extend it.