Akane the Kunoichi (XBLIG, 2011)

Akane the Kunoichi
Developed by Haruneko
Released for XBLIG (5/2011)
Also on PC/iOS

Akane the Kunoichi is a 2D platformer that is an homage to retro ninja titles, specifically the Shinobi games. Don't let the boobs on the cover fool you that this another throwaway indie title! The main difference between Akane and Shinobi is that you play as a female, but your still taking down enemies by throwing your weapons at them, though rather than shuriken you'll be using kunai. The level design is solid and tends to make use of platforming a bit more than the old Shinobi titles did, but the controls are up to the task and navigating the levels is a good time. You have five acts, each with three levels. At the end of each third level you'll face off against a boss. The game also has its own achievement-style challenges you can unlock for a little replay value. Haruneko has shown us with both Akane the Kunoichi and Amazing Princess Sarah that they can design a competent 2D game that's a lot of fun to play! It's a bit of a shame that this one didn't get ported over to the Xbox One like Sarah did, but it did receive mobile and PC ports so it is still playable. I wouldn't count on it coming to the One as I can't see Amazing Princess Sarah selling that well on the platform, but I could be wrong. Regardless, Akane is a solid effort and totally worth your time, though I'd probably stay away from the mobile versions as it's best played with a controller.

Final Verdict: A cool throwback to old-school ninja games, fans of Shinobi should have a good time with Akane the Kunoichi!

Related Links:
Amazing Princess Sarah - Xbox Overview
Akane the Kunoichi - GameFAQs
Haruneko - Developer Page
Akane the Kunoichi for PC - Steam
Akane the Kunoichi Review - Indie Gamer Chick
Akane the Kunoichi Review - Die Hard Game Fan

Amazing Princess Sarah (XBLIG, 2014)

Amazing Princess Sarah
Developed by Haruneko
Released for Xbox Live Indie Games (7/2014)
Also Released for PC/IOS/Xbox One

Today we'll take a quick look at an indie game called Amazing Princess Sarah. I decided to check out the trial for this game because I liked the pixel art in the screen shots. The huge boobs on the front don't hurt in grabbing one's attention at first, but to be honest that made me think initially this would just be another one of those cheap sleazy games you'll commonly see on the indie marketplace. You know what they say about judging books by their covers? Well that definitely applies here as right from the get-go you'll see that this title has a level of polish far beyond that of your average indie game.

Amazing Princess Sarah is a 2D action platformer. The controls are tight and precise, allowing you to navigate the platforms and dispose of your enemies with ease. You are also allowed to pick up many objects in the environment and throw them at enemies for big damage. Once an enemy has been put down you can pick them up and throw them as well! This is definitely a cool mechanic and has been well implemented. The game goes for that retro look, with a pixel graphic style reminiscent of 16-bit titles of the past. There is a lot of detail for so few pixels, so everything is easily identifiable and have quite a bit of charm as well. The zombies look like they came right out of Ghosts 'N Goblins! The music and sound design is of high-quality as well.

When XBLIG was still a thing, the game retailed for $4.99, which is a hefty price compared to your average $1 indie title. This would be the primary reason I never pulled the trigger on this one. I wasn't able to get past the first stage while playing the trial version, so while I did enjoy the level design I saw I'm not sure how well it will hold up throughout the title. It's also worth noting that this got a re-release on the Xbox One in 2016, this time with achievements! I snagged it on sale at some point so I'll inevitably get around to review the full game at some point.

Final Verdict: I got a bit of a 2D Castlevania/Ghosts 'n Goblins vibe from the trial, which in my book is definitely a good thing. If that sounds like something you'd enjoy then I'd say give it a try.

Related Links:
Amazing Princess Sarah - GameFAQs

Ace Gals Tennis (XBLIG, 2010)

Ace Gals Tennis
Developed by Haruneko
Released for XBLIG (4/2010)

I've enjoyed the majority of tennis video games I've played over the years, so to me it was a no-brainer to at least give Ace Gals Tennis a shot. In this review I'll only be looking at the trial version of the game, which used to be available on the indie games marketplace for $2.99. The game tries to lure you in with what is intended to be some moderately sexy artwork on the title screen. It's a bit of a let-down that the in-game characters just look like your average Xbox Live avatars rather than resembling the character select screen artwork.

The gameplay for Ace Gals Tennis is a bit different than your average tennis game in that you don't control your movement. The game will automatically guide you to where you need to be, so you just have to focus on timing the return. I couldn't quite get the hang of the super shot, but there is a way to time a quick return that will likely score. The lack of direct control really didn't appeal to me and as a result I found myself really struggling to even complete a set. If you've ever played tennis on Wii Sports, it's a bit like that but without the innovative motion control stuff. As far as game modes go, there is a quick match and career mode, so if you do happen to enjoy the gameplay then there is a little bit to delve into. I didn't find Ace Gals Tennis horrible by any means as the game does feature a nice overall presentation, but I do prefer a bit more control in my tennis games. Those who like their tennis games as simple as possible might get some enjoyment out if this game, but I think most would rather plan any of the Virtua Tennis or Top Spin titles.

Final Verdict: Ace Gals Tennis just simply can't compete with the retail tennis titles that came out on the same system. I'd recommend any of the Top Spin or Virtua Tennis titles for your tennis fix over this, but if you find those titles too complicated this one may be worth a look.

Related Links:
Ace Gals Tennis - GameFAQs
Haurneko - Official Site