In a game so heavily based on quick reflexes and precision, moments like this are maddening.įortunately, Mark of the Ninja does so much else right that it’s easier to forgive lapses. If not, you’ll just hide and unhide from the vase endlessly while the guard’s carcass just sits there, waiting to be noticed by other foes. If you knock out a guard near a vase you can hide behind, you have to make sure you’re in the exact right spot to pick him up and dump him somewhere to obscure the body.
Most of these result from the same button being used for multiple context-sensitive actions. That graceful design isn’t without flaws, however. The art is never overpowered by a stealth vision or anything it’s all just in plain sight so the smooth animation can always be on display. At a glance, you can see areas that are lit or unlit, potential obstacles to sneak into or hide behind, enemy placement and line of sight, and more. The screen communicates so much information while never getting too overwhelming. While lots of nuance is added as you progress, the basics focus on using the darkness to move deftly around the environment to complete objectives.
That part is made up of a variety of side-scrolling levels where your hero has to sneak around environments, silently taking down or avoiding enemies. The story isn’t why I wanted to play Mark of the Ninja, though, but it’s a nice backdrop for the true focus: the gameplay. The game follows that thread with many twists and turns along the way, all told during and in between levels thanks to gorgeous animated cutscenes that could easily be ripped from a hand-drawn cartoon. He is bestowed with the titular mark, a tattoo that grants powerful abilities but also slowly drives its wearer insane. Your heroic ninja gets embroiled in a war between the ideals of classic ninja styles and modern technology. Minor hiccups are all that stymie Mark of the Ninja on Switch, along with a few irksome control problems. It elegantly and effortlessly communicates so much in a way that is rarely overbearing while still letting the gorgeous art and style shine through. Playing it for the first time on Switch in its 2018 Remastered form shows clearly why this game was so critically adored at launch because truly, this is one of the best stealth video games ever made. Mark of the Ninja’s beloved legacy dates back to its 2012 debut on Xbox 360.
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