I started making first Shukuchi Ninja as a bit of a fun hobby just to do something and pass the time. I was working as a freelance sports retailer but then COVID happened and there were no sports to trade so to keep myself busy I decided to see if I could make a little game. It’s always been something I’ve wanted to do but never had the time or money to do – add that to the fact that I can’t draw, I can’t compose music and I can’t code to save my life , I knew it was going to be a challenge.
One day I remembered Construct 2, a game making software I had looked at many years ago, and it sounded like the perfect place to start looking as I remember it being more of a visual/drag-and -Drop engine was. Obviously C2 was made obsolete years ago, but C3 had replaced it. I found a few templates and started learning how the engine worked. Then I found the perfect template, a small physics-based throwable object that immediately shouted “crazy ninja game”!
After tinkering around for about 3 months, adding the abilities that are now in the game and making the graphics look better with pre-made game content etc. I had about 15 levels done but no real goal for the game, the sport was back so I stopped development.
On the other hand, another lockdown, sport wasn’t what it used to be so I reopened C3. I decided to create an actual character design (remember I couldn’t draw or use graphics software back then) so I paid a designer to create some simple mockups. After that, it gave me the impetus to try and quit the game. I’ve fully completed the characters and found someone to animate them. I then invested in some nice backgrounds, tile maps, and some custom music. At that time I had made about 40 levels, but stopped developing for family reasons.
Development picked up speed again after a few months, adding more details to give the game a little more life until I finally had it finished. What I enjoyed most was the roughly 18 months it took me to create the first operational version: from some very mundane parts of game development (like adding details manually) to discovering that there are much simpler ways there are things to do and to have to repeat them – it all contributed to the final product and was part of an amazing learning curve!
My main inspiration for Shukuchi Ninja was the ancient Japanese culture as a whole. I was trying to find a way to combine the typical pop culture aspects of the ninja (cool, fast and mysterious) with the honorable samurai and what a samurai actually fought for. For example, the small circle that appears around the ninja when you toss him around is the symbol for the seven virtues of Bushido, the code of samurai warriors. I’m by no means a game developer with real talent, but I’m full of drive, determination and the imagination of a child and I’m very happy with what I’ve achieved! If you want to get started with game development but don’t know where to start, get game creation software and start learning. You’ll find that you’ll learn many other skills along the way, including creating your own graphics (yes, I can create some myself now, but I still can’t draw!). Shikuchi Ninja is available today on Xbox!
Shukuchi Ninja
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$4.99
$3.99
Travel through ancient Japan as the Shukuchi ninja who was banished from his former clan for wanting to live a more honorable life. Travel through vast areas and defeat the Shukuchi Ninja’s newfound enemy to bring peace and prosperity to a time of turmoil. A full action-packed adventure awaits you with over 70 levels, 7 annoying bosses, an inspiring storyline and unique controls – there is no other game like this! Literally translated, shukuchi means earth-shrinking method of moving at great speed, a skill our hero has perfected over years of training. Take control of the Shukuchi Ninja and fly through the air at amazing speeds, attack enemies with your ninjatō, throw shuriken (ninja stars) at hard-to-reach enemies, and instantly teleport to quickly deflect enemy attacks. With the power of healing, you must also help the Shukuchi ninja to keep him from dying!
