Friday, August 5, 2011

Parasitus: Ninja Zero (XBLIG): "A Next-Gen 2D Adventure Game Tribute"

Parasitus: Ninja Zero is a game by the XBLIG developer 'Heart Attack Machine'. It pays homage to the classic 2D side-scrolling adventure games of old. In fact you'll find that a lot of the game's elements are similar to games like Castlevania, and Contra. Unlike those games I found the graphics in Parasitus to be much better, and they seemed to be done in HD. Whether or not that is the case I don't know. The game's plot is told without words, but with a visual 2D story that pretty much lets you know what's going on. It seems that the hero of the game was blasted back in time from 20XX following a conflict against an unknown alien race. As this hero/ninja you must eradicate the aliens/undead that populate the game. There was no actual ingame dialogue stating this, but the cinematic intro spoke for itself.

Gameplay in Parasitus is unique, and doesn't really mimic any retro style game I know. As your character kills a certain amount of enemies you will be rewarded with new combos. These combos are necessary for further progress in the game, and for eliminating certain types of enemies. You'll find that each enemy in the game requires a certain tactic, and combo to defeat them with minimal damage to your character. The combos in the game consist mainly of a combination of 'X', 'Y', and 'R.Shoulder' buttons. The X, and Y buttons are used for attack while the R.Shoulder button is used to block. The 'A' button is used for jumping, and the 'L.Thumbstick' is used for movement. I'm not sure if the game mentioned using the D.Pad for movement, but It did work.

If I remember correctly there are about seven levels in Parasitus. Each level's design is made similar to that of levels that you would see in a Castlevania, or Contra game. At the end of each level you will face a boss creature. These bosses range in size from small to screen size, and require various methods to defeat. Before you ever make to one of these bosses you will face many obstacles that includes spikes, flames, and even conveyor belts. If you hope to succeed in completing the game you will definitely need to learn the combos, and master the wall jumping technique. Wall jumping plays a huge role in the game, and learning how to execute it properly will save you from gaining a lot of damage at times. There are different difficulty settings to choose from in Parasitus which add to the game's replay value. There is also a secret waiting for you at the end of the game if you are good enough to complete it. The game can be difficult even on easy if you don't take the time to learn the game. I actually ended up playing through one of the levels several times, so I know what I'm talking about.

After completing Parasitus: Ninja Zero I felt like I had accomplished a major feat. It took me a while to master the combos, and figure out which one to use on what enemy though. I probably should have went through the tutorial, but I'm a gamer who likes to jump right into a game. If you get this game I definitely suggest that you do the tutorial, and memorize the combos you earn. If you like Castlevania, or Contra then I honestly believe you'll enjoy this game. It features some serious blood effects, gore, beautiful graphics, an awesome soundtrack and even a secret that is revealed at the ending of the game. It's solid tribute to those 2D side-scrolling adventures of the past. For 240 msp ($3) you are definitely getting your moneys worth.

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