Stardock's Lightweight Ninja is just that — lightweight. But that doesn't keep it from being a lot of fun.
What began as a training project for interns is now a side-scrolling adventure game for the personal computer, complete with a likeable protagonist named Ty the Lightweight Ninja, an orphan raised by a billionaire called Mr. eX. The game centers around destroying Mr. eX's rival.
The game is animation at its most charming, with graphics that are reminiscent of Nintendo favorites like Mario Brothers. But the backgrounds twist and wind and shift in a most interesting way. The graphics are much simpler than most games nowadays. But they're easy on the eyes.
The goal is to move as fast as you can across tricky terrain and through enemies, gathering gems and using weapons and power-ups. The faster you move through the levels, the faster you earn bonus points.
Ty can jump, run, throw and duck. Mostly, though, he seems to jump.
You can also save games.
One of the drawbacks is also one of the game's strengths: It's pretty basic. That means it's an ideal offering for children or adults, though it probably won't captivate too many hard-core gamers who are used to the super animation and intensity of games that require much more robust computer systems. The demands here are pretty modest.
It plays on Windows 98/ME, Windows NT or Windows 2000. It sells for $19.95.
And its lack of gore is very refreshing.
My brother and I both enjoyed the game, though Dave complained that it only had nine levels and could be worked through in a relatively short time. It should keep me occupied for weeks.
E-MAIL: lois@desnews.com