NYAN-TECH (XBLIG, 2011)

NYAN-TECH
Developed by Dot-Zo Games
Released for XBLIG (2/2011)

NYAN-TECH is a 2D platformer with a unique twist. There are blocks in each level that can be activated and turned off with the push of the corresponding button. This is definitely an interesting mechanic and it gives NYAN-TECH a feeling of freshness compared to other puzzle-platformers. The game features forty levels and the challenge factor ramps up as you go along. Stages feature a key you must collect before you're allowed to hit the exit door and you'll be required to juggle turning on/off the blocks as you navigate across platforms. It gets very tricky in the later stages but I never found myself frustrated at the game, probably because the controls are extremely tight and I always felt that I was at fault when I fell into a pit of spikes. NYAN-TECH features some great, simple pixel-art that packs some great animation. If you're a fan of retro 2D platformers, NYAN-TECH is only a buck and is worth every penny. Or it was, as unfortunately this was exclusive to the XBLIG and hasn't been released for anything else since.

Final Verdict: NYAN-TECH is a simple yet addicting 2D platformer and back when it was available on XBLIG it sold for $1. Definitely was worth every penny!

Related Links:
Ninja Bros - Xbox Overview
Ninja Escape - Xbox Overview
Ninja Train - Xbox Overview
Horse Race Starter - Xbox Overview
Nyan-Tech Review - XBLIG.co
Nyan-Tech Review - Indie Gamer Chick
Nyan-Tech - GameFAQs

Ninja Train (XBLIG, 2009)

Ninja Train
Developed by dot zo games
Released for XBLIG (8/2009)

Wao! that's NINJA! (Xbox Overview disclaimer: This was the actual product description from the developer for Ninja Train.)

Ninja Train is the second release on XBLIG from developer dot zo games. The game is a 2D platformer-runner title where the screen will auto-scroll to the right and you'll make an effort to collect as many coins along the way. Your character has a double-jump and can dash in the air, making him quite mobile. Ninja Train is not a bad game, but it doesn't really do anything to stand out in the genre of runner games. The 2D graphics are extremely basic but pack some charm (as with all releases from dot zo) and the music sounds very ninja appropriate, but there just wasn't enough to it that made me want to come back to it. I found I could complete most stages by just mashing the jump button and holding right, at least in the few levels featured in the trial. Overall, the game looks nice and plays decent enough but I'd recommend some of dot zo games' better offerings first, such as Ninja Bros.or NYAN-TECH.

Final Verdict: Ninja Train is a nice looking 2D style runner game that lacks the gameplay to hook you in. Unless you're an absolute ninja junkie this one's hard to recommend.

Related Links:
Ninja Bros - Xbox Overview
Nyan-Tech - Xbox Overview
Ninja Escape - Xbox Overview
Horse Race Starter - Xbox Overview
Ninja Train - GameFAQs

Ninja Escape (XBLIG, 2010)

Ninja Escape
Developed by dot zo games
Released for XBLIG (6/2010)

"Ninja,fall,next,Ninja,fall,next...10stage!wao!"

The above were the exact words posted for the game's description back when XBLIG was still active. Ninja Escape is dot zo games' fourth entry on XBLIG. It sticks with the same graphical style of the developers' previous effort Ninja Bros., but this time the game is all about freefalling. You will start on a platform and drop down below you, with other various platforms you can trigger with the face buttons. Most of my time spent with Ninja Escape involved my character plummeting to his death as I just couldn't get a feel of exactly how you're supposed to not die when you crash into the ground. There's some method to slow your character, and I did manage to squeeze my way through the tutorials but I felt no more educated on how to play the game for having done so. Upon smashing into the ground your ninja will turn into a spirit who can go left to retry or right to skip to the next stage. The full game retails for $1 and will give you 10 levels, and while that is a bit meager it does at least keep track of high scores. Give it a shot if ninja freefalling with retro 8-bit style graphics sounds like a good time to you, but personally I'd recommend Nyan-Tech or Ninja Bros (both from this same developer) as they are much more enjoyable.

Final Verdict: Ninja Escape is a confusing game where you freefall and try to land on your feet in the quickest time possible. Hardcore ninja junkies who love 8-bit style graphics might dig this, but for everyone else I'd recommend some of dot zo's other XBLIG games over this one.

Related Links:
Ninja Bros. - Xbox Overview 
Nyan-Tech - Xbox Overview
Ninja Train - Xbox Overview
Horse Race Starter - Xbox Overview
Ninja Escape - GameFAQs
Ninja Escape - Giant Bomb

Horse Race Starter ホースレーススターター (XBLIG, 2009)

ホースレーススターター Horse Race Starter
Developed by dot zo games
Released for XBLIG (8/2009)

ホースレーススターター　Horse Race Starter is among the strangest titles I've encountered on XBLIG. Once you begin the game, you are greeted to a green field, you'll see a pixelated crowd at the bottom and your character in a box to the right of the audience. A speech bubble pops out of your guy, stating "Press A," which when pressed will fire the pistol and off from the right side of the screen the horses come racing in. They very small, but made of some solid pixel art with great animations, including riders falling off their horse occasionally. The odd thing is, you have no control over the actual race at all, you just shoot the gun to start the race, watch the race and once it's over the game will load up a new screen at which point you rinse and repeat. I'm not sure if it ever ends, and the programmers didn't put a pause game feature to exit out properly, so you'll have to dashboard out when you're finished. I played the game for the trial's duration, and I must say there was something strangely calming about just sitting back watching the pixelated horses racing, but I can't say this is a title I have any desire to return to just the same.

Like of all dot zo's other titles on XBLIG, the game retailed for only a dollar so while the gameplay was limited it was also very cheap. The game was listed in the store with the Japanese kanji and was a bit tricky to find in the XBLIG back when it was still open. In order to find it without searching in the store on the 360, you had to navigate to indie games, select the genre tab, and you'll find it under "Other," after scrollling through like 250+ titles to find it (it was way in the back). The game title was somehow misspelled as Horse Race Stater, further making this title a bit more confusing. Horse Race Starter definitely isn't dot zo's best output, but it is still an interesting title nonetheless.

Final Verdict: ホースレーススターター　Horse Race Starter is an odd title where you press the A button to fire gun, watch the horses race and then do it all over again, and again, and again... If you like oddball games you may like this one.

Related Links:
Nyan-Tech - Xbox Overview
Ninja Bros - Xbox Overview
Ninja Escape - Xbox Overview
Ninja Train - Xbox Overview
Horse Race Starter - GameFAQs

Ninja Bros. (XBLIG, 2009)

Ninja Bros.
Developed by dot zo games
Released for XBLIG (10/2009)

Ninja Bros. is a 2D puzzle/platformer title with 8-bit style pixel graphics. The game has a unique gimmick which involves you controlling up to four different ninjas simultaneously, each on their own separate playfield. While they each move at the same time when you press a direction, they jump independently and are controlled by the face button matching their color scheme. Each ninja's playfield features a door, which often has to be unlocked with a switch, that you must navigate all ninjas to in order to complete the stage. It makes for some very unique puzzles that will really make you think once you get further in. The game makes great utilization of its gimmick and levels get more intricate as you progress. Several levels feature collectibles so there's some replay incentive if you want to go back and snag them all. The game also has "Ninja Awards," which function as achievements, which is a nice way to round out the package. Ninja Bros. offers up four different difficulties and for a dollar that's more replay value than you could ask for! Fans of old-school puzzle platformers should definitely give this one a look! As far as I cant tell this game only ever released exclusively for XBLIG so it will be quite tough to play this one if you didn't already have it downloaded.

Final Verdict: Ninja Bros. is a unique & well-crafted 2D puzzle-platformer that fans of the genre will have a blast playing! At only one dollar this one was a steal back when XBLIG was around!

Related Links:
Nyan-Tech - Xbox Overview
Ninja Escape - Xbox Overview
Ninja Train - Xbox Overview
Horse Race Starter - Xbox Overview
Ninja Bros. - GameFAQs
Ninja Bros. - Giant Bomb