Cubic Ninja Review

The best way to use a new technology is to go all-in. At least that must be the motto behind Cubic Ninja as this title features nothing but the Nintendo 3DS’ gyroscope. That is to say that it does not have any buttons at all. Yep, none at all. This is basically a Wii platformer on the 3DS.

You play as CC, a cube-shaped ninja (as the title suggests) out to save a princess. In order to do this you will tilt your way through the world getting from the start of a level to an end-point. There’s nothing terribly innovative about any of this, except for the input device.

I have never been opposed to using motion controls for creative uses. The problem comes up when the controls themselves become an impediment to gameplay. This is readily apparent when you attempt to play around with the three-dimensional world that CC lives in. Having the character move towards you means tilting the system towards you, obscuring your vision in the process.

While the gameplay mechanics can detract from the experience, the platforming is actually quite solid. You get a nice variety of obstacles, hazards, and even occasional boss battles. The game will take you only a few hours to beat, unfortunately. Throw in a level creator and time attack mode; that’s about it. It is also worth noting that due to the movement necessary to play, Cubic Ninja does not support 3D.

Cubic Ninja is a fresh concept that you would be more likely to find on an iPhone these days than a 3DS. It is a fun and imaginative game that would probably be better suited for a $20 budget release than the full $40 that Ubisoft is asking for it. When the red clearance tag gets put on it, give Cubic Ninja a second look.