Zzap


Ninja Scooter Simulator
By Silverbird
Commodore 64/128

 
Published in Zzap #41

Ninja Scooter Simulator

Through a mysterious city you ride your Dream Scooter, leaping over walls and holes with the aid of stunt ramps. It's a race against time to complete each scrolling stage, and points are awarded for pulling stunts on your scooter in mid-air.

As you race along, enemies such as policeman, skulls, cars, and skateboarding skeletons (!) hinder progress, losing Ninja valuable time should they collide. Similarly, collision with walls and falling into holes loses time as the Ninja recovers. The Ninja's speed is slowed by gratings which are dotted around the levels, and the game is over if you run out of time before reaching the finishing line.

PG

This has the general appearanc of the arcade game Metrocross (ignoring US Gold's pretty unspectacular conversion), but scores low on the playability stakes due to the hit-and-miss style needed to complete a level.

Ninja Scooter Simulator

Scooter stunts do nothing to help gameplay, and largely low quality graphics don't exactly encourage you to go on. Rushing along streets soon becomes tedious, so only Metrocross addicts need buy.

ME

I don't now about anyone else, but I've never heard of a Ninja riding into battle on a scooter before! Despite the strange moniker, this isn't a simulation at all, it's only a Metrocross clone, and a bad one at that.

The lifeless sprites drift about over bland, repetitive racetrack graphics and the sound is so unrealistic, it's pointless. The control also leaves a lot to be desired.

Ninja Scooter Simulator

Often I shouted at the computer in frustration, calling it a cheat. Budget price of not, I still think that one poor version of Metrocross is quite enough, thank you!

Verdict

Presentation 48%
No loading tune/screen and standard options.

Graphics 29%
Smooth scroll marred by feeble backgrounds and sprites.

Ninja Scooter Simulator

Sound 39%
The choice of meagre effects of forgettable music.

Hookability 64%
Any Metrocross variant generates some initial interest.

Lastability 27%
Haphazard play and very little variation soon invoke boredom.

Overall 30%
Only a die-hard Metrocross addict would find this addictive.