Welcome to Modojo, 
Ninjatown Review
Written by Chris Buffa on Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Lots of huggable ninjas, head-bopping music, addictive tower defense gameplay.
We wish the top screen map was bigger.
After years of spilling real blood, ninjas turned to video games, where they achieved success battling demons and exacting revenge on village burning chumps. Now those silent and deadly killers turn to a new venture: cookie baking. At least that's what they do in SouthPeak's entertaining DS game, Ninjatown, where the goal is to not only spend those cookies wisely, but also beat up Mr. Demon's evil minions.
Whereas most ninja games involve lots of bloodshed and decapitations, Ninjatown is a cute tower defense game appropriate for all ages. These guys would much rather make cookies (the game's currency) than mix it up with hooligans, but when their arch nemesis launches an attack, they have no qualms settling the matter with their fists.
In order to protect Ninjatown, you build huts that contain various types of ninjas with different abilities. The Wee Ninja, the most common unit, makes up for his lack of strength with a resistance to poison, zombification and stun attacks. Meanwhile, the Business Ninja (yes, the Business Ninja), drinks caffeine to imbue himself with lightning fast reflexes and the power to distract his enemies. And if you'd rather turn up the heat, there's always the fire throwing Lava Ninja.
After building these huts (tap an open space with the stylus and select your ninja of choice), you watch as your ninjas beat up waves of menacing demons. Meanwhile, you'll want to use those Ninja Star Cookies (you earn more after defeating bad guys and clearing rounds) to construct additional huts and level up your ninjas.
In addition, there's a wireless two-player mode that plays just like the single player game, except you compete to clear enemies until one of you runs out of lives. If you both own copies of the game, you have access to all the maps. You can play using one game card, but you won't be able to access all of the maps, ninjas or enemies.
No matter how difficult things became, we almost always had a smile on our faces because the game's so cute. Its multicolored ninjas look adorable in their ties, eye-patches, construction and top hats. The cowardly mayor, the wise Ol' Master Ninja; we want to run up and squish them all. Even the demons look cuddly.
This candy coated exterior is complimented by catchy ninja music that perfectly fit's the theme. It's the kind of stuff that pumps you up and makes you happy, even as your little ninjas get destroyed.
With that, you have no excuse to avoid Ninjatown. Its loveable characters, appealing music and addictive tower defense shenanigans make it an ideal pickup, especially for younger gamers that love pajama wearing warriors.
