#ninjatown

Ninjatown

Remember Electronic Gaming Monthly? If Famitsu is THE gaming magazine of Japan, then EGM was its closest western equivalent. Their April fools jokes were so legendary that they even impacted the development of actual games (see Street Fighter The Movie The Game‘s Sheng Long), and their wide berth of talent have been hanging around the world of gaming journalism and other odd corners for a long time. Dan “Shoe” Hsu became the main face of gaming journalism’s more abrasive turn in the mid 2000s, Seanbaby has become a comedy writer mainstay on a variety of platforms, and countless accomplished critics have come through their doors at least once. And then there was former editor Shawn Smith, who left and started making cute ninja themed toys.

The Ninjatown line is still going today, complete with a COVID cloth mask decorated with little ninja buddies, there to protect you and those around you. There are a few simple mobile games out these days, but the most notable part of the Ninjatown legacy today is Ninjatown on the Nintendo DS from 2008. EGM even game Shawn a big shout out, announcing the game’s development to their large audience. A game where cute little ninja plushies fight cute little demon plushies is definitely hardcore Gamer stuff. Funny thing is the game kind of is, despite the cute looks. This is a proper capital G Game in every sense, and a real gem for the handheld. 

‘Ninjatown’

[DS] [USA] [MAGAZINE] [2008]

Nintendo Power, Holiday 2008 (#236)