Video preview Ninjala: first contact with Nintendo's Battle Royale
Available on Nintendo Switch on May 27, Ninjala was offering several open beta sessions these days to familiarize us with the concept of the game. And to sum it up, we can imagine what the result would be if Splatoon and Fortnite were to meet.
Let's start at the beginning: the artistic direction. This childish and colorful style immediately reminds Splatoon. The menus and outfits of the characters have an urban side that reminds of street art. The good looks of these children and young adolescents as well as the humorous animations are inspired by the world of cartoons. Moreover, depending on the damage caused, pop-ups straight out of comics appear.
When the first part begins, you have the choice between 8 characters, each with many elements of personalization: hair colors, skin, fashion accessories and distinctive signs. We're not going to lie, it's always fun to configure your character. In addition, since appearance has no effect on performance, you can really enjoy yourself.
Before embarking on the battle, you find your hero in the apartment that acts as a hub. This is where you have access to the wardrobe to modify its appearance, its equipment, the cards that add bonuses to the game as well as the transformations that allow it to blend in with the decor. Not all available weapons have the same stats and abilities, so be sure to choose the one that best fits your fighting style. Obviously, thanks to your experience you will be able to unlock more content.
So far, we've only had two modes. Training against a computer to perfect his techniques and the Battle Royale where it is each for his skin. The goal is to score as many points as possible. This will involve the destruction of drones scattered throughout the arena, but also the number of dead and objects picked up.
Controlling your character is particularly enjoyable. The movements are fluid and the sequences follow each other without a hitch. There is a real impression of lightness when moving, especially during jumps, dash and routes on the walls. Because yes, your little avatar has the advantage of running wherever it wants. What give an illusion of freedom very appreciable.
Clashes benefit from a lot of dynamism and if an adversary succeeds in reaching you, it will be difficult then to get rid of it. This means that you have to redouble your efforts to defend yourself, especially thanks to the bubble of your bubblegum. When two fighters cross their weapons, a fun mini game of stone / leaf / chisel takes place and the winner takes over. Special attacks related to your equipment work with a gauge system, which pushes to use them wisely.
Lots of possibilities and therefore but tons and combos to memorize. Despite the tutorial, the first parts are not easy to understand. The first few times can seem difficult and a bit messy. Training can help, but it will never replace a real battle with real opponents where speed is of the essence. We will see what happens with more games once the game becomes available.
The first of the three sessions was not the most successful, as the connection with the servers, no doubt saturated, proved to be disastrous. Added to that were a few small bugs and lag times. Remember that this is a non-final version of the game and that these little bugs should disappear the day it is released. Let's hope so.
Ninjala is based on a fairly specific economic model for a Nintendo console game. It is indeed free-to-play. There is no doubt that the success of the firm's mobile games prompted him to think about it. Like Fortnite for example, there are items and rewards to acquire. The title will even offer battle passes and new features for each new season.
This first contact with Ninjala was able to pique our curiosity. The game seems to have a lot to offer and we look forward to discovering other arenas and skills. See you on May 27.
By k-miye, Journalist igamesnews.com
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