The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors Reviews
While I would have personally preferred the addition of three player support, or even extra stages or modes, Natsume and Project Tengo did a great job of resurrecting a classic for modern audiences and adding two new playable characters.
It’s like being a kid again, and stands as yet another essential Switch release you really should own.
The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors is that kind of slice of classic cake that brings with it the pros and cons of a bygone era, but at least it's the kind of game that makes you lust for the nostalgia-tinted days of funnelling coins into an arcade stand and engaging in some cathartic mayhem. Easy to pick up action, retrotastic visuals and a chance to feel like a hero with a power fantasy that works delightfully well on the Nintendo Switch.
A fantastic blast from the past that remasters a long-forgotten classic that should now be recognised as one of the best scrolling beat 'em-ups ever.
A remaster of a remake - or something along those lines - this is an exceptional beat 'em-up experience.
The Ninja Saviors – Return of the Warriors should be considered a must-have for fans of side-scrolling beat ’em ups. It has some flaws, but it’s still a standout title in the genre that remains fun to play thanks to the updates that have been made.
Altogether, Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors is an exemplary update to the 1994 original. Both the new and returning characters have impressive move-sets. Discovering how to implement these techniques is very rewarding. The eight stages aren't especially creative, but they all have strong fundamentals. If players want a spot on the online leaderboards, then they have to take as little damage as possible, and accurately gauge threats. While it is fun to mash on hapless grunts, targeting elites is the only way to survive. This is one beat em' up gem that you don't want to miss.
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. A saying which sums up exactly how, and why, this game has stayed so very true to its source material. Initially released for the arcades in 1987 under the title of “The Ninja Warriors”, the game was quickly ported to home consoles to capitalise on its success. In 1994 there was a sequel (or remake depending on how you look at it) created for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System under the same name. It would then be an agonising 25 years until the next time these ninjas would grace our screens; however, the wait was definitely worth it.
Natsume shows one more time its mastery updating 16 bits classics, now with a beat'em up that keeps amazing and entertaining as the first time... For somple players maybe falls short in length and leave you wanting more: the 8 levels can be completed in less than 2 hours. Even with that, it's very fun and another hit for those that love couch coop.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Ninja Saviours: Return of the Warriors may be out to save the world from brain washed humans, but they may just save a dying genre of games that I miss something chronic.
The lack of massive changes to The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors bears a naked truth - there wasn't much needing to be changed in the first place. A challenging and resolutely satisfying side-scrolling slasher, fans of the IP's vintage and retro actioners in the genre at large will find much to enjoy here.
The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors is a surprisingly dense beat-em-up that is lots of fun to play, and the old school aesthetic does it wonders.
Ninja Saviours: Return of the Warriors is a nice addition to the PS4 library for fans of Taito, or really anyone over 35 that could remember the original or the Super Famicom version. The inclusion of the co-op mode will make it more appealing to play with friends. It’s rather short and without the nostalgia factor it doesn’t really bring anything to the table that can’t be found elsewhere in abundance and as such I think it’s going to be overlooked by many people as ‘another arcade port’ Ninja Saviours: Return of the Warriors has earned the Thumb Culture Bronze Award, fun for a short play here and there but not a game to sink any real time into or boredom will strike from the shadows.
In a similar regard to Tengo Project's development of Wild Guns Reloaded, Tengo's game works well as a remake, because The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors retains the essence of a well-loved SNES beat-'em-up.
With a modern take on side-scrolling beat-'em-up graphics and a fun set of gameplay ideas, this remake of the classic '80s brawler will take you down a fun nostalgia trip.
I couldn't be happier about the return of the Ninja Warriors. The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors takes classic arcade action and updates it for a brand new era of ninjas. Combat is slick and addictive, and every level is more enjoyable than the last. Unfortunately, the ride just ends far too soon, and without any extra modes or stages to battle your way through after the credits roll, this is an excellent but ultimately far too short experience. I hope the Ninja Warriors stick around longer the next time they return.
The Ninja Saviors is a blast from the past, and shows to newcomers what the fuss was about twenty years ago in both the arcades and the console market: pure, unadulterated fun for one or two players, as if it was september of 1994.
Review in Italian | Read full review
A great exponent of, almost forgotten, beat’em up that will make you relive the lovers of the genre better times.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
However, in being a remake of the 1987 and 1994 versions, it also fails to bring anything too interesting or unique to the table. It's a fairly easy recommendation to brawler fans, but I think a wider audience would be better off with the Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle, given its much stronger value proposition. Not that it needs saving, but Return of the Warriors isn't quite the savior of the brawler genre.
The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors is a refreshing take on a classic game. Its fast paced action and beat 'em up styles feels like a natural fit on the Nintendo Switch. With its updated graphics, audio, and game modes, it makes this game perfect for a quick fix for action and chaos.