Ninja Pizza Girl is a platformer like no other. I was constantly surprised by an engaging story and new mechanics that always kept the gameplay fresh and interesting. I had originally assumed that this platformer was only interested in best times and perfect runs throughout its levels, but what I found was a heart-melting coming of age story about adversity, bullying and resilience.
When I first fired Ninja Pizza Girl up, I thought it would be another speedrunner with minimal character investment or story. By the time I finished, I was deeply invested in the struggles of the protagonist, Gemma, and rooted for her every success. The story for Ninja Pizza Girl shows just how much difference a really engaging tale can make; it kept me pushing on because I wanted to know more, I needed to know more, and by the time it was over I was sad to see it end. Not only do you experience the story, but you can feel the love of the team behind the game. The whole thing feels organic and has a lot of heart.
Gemma’s dad quit his job at a big corporation to run his own business making pizzas; he believes that freshly-baked quality pizza is the best thing there is and that a fresh hot pizza can make all the difference in someone’s life. It’s Gemma’s job to deliver them before they get cold, specifically in two minutes or less. The story ensues from there, navigating through different parts of the city to deliver baked deliciousness to different customers.
The game mechanics seem quite simple at first. Like any sidescrolling platformer you run in a single direction, jump over obstacles or duck and slide under them. Other game mechanics are quickly introduced like the jump kick to break through barriers, whilst objects like trampolines and fans change how you traverse the rooftops. Gemma is very well animated and for the most part she seems to flow from one manoeuvre to the next allowing an effortless free flow across the roofs. The city, in which it seems to be constantly raining, appears grey and cold, with very few hints of life or character and the music beat starts off very low and slow. However, once you begin to gather momentum the music begins to pick up and the world explodes with colour and sound – lights gleam a rainbow of colours and life seems to emerge throughout the scenery and backdrop. This is a reflection of Gemma’s mood – she loves running and is happiest when she’s hurtling over the city as fast as possible.
This flow of colour and beat compels you to keep up your momentum, because if it drops, the city returns to its bleak, almost colourless disposition, forcing you to try and keep that motivated feeling alive. This is where one of my slight grumbles comes in to play. Sometimes due to the level design, obstacles or enemies can be a little oddly place, or it’s a bit too tricky to spot rival ninjas hiding in the backdrop, leading to your flow being disrupted unfairly. I also had an issue with the collectables which are scattered through each level, as many are on different paths, and collecting them all requires multiple playthroughs of each level. While this isn’t too big of an issue, it does eliminate the possibility of a perfect run through, collecting everything in the way.
The collectables scattered throughout each level can be spent on a variety of ‘swag’; the recycle symbols can be used to buy new clothes and TLC items for Gemma, while the QR codes unlock special items like developer interviews, concept art and modifiers for completed levels such as big head mode and double jump. There are also custom difficulty sliders which allow you to change how much time you have and how aggressive rival ninjas are. I found this a particularly nice touch as it offered more depth than the traditional easy-medium-hard settings found in most games.
One thing I found interesting in this speedrunner was the inability to fall off the bottom of the screen, as there is always a solid path along each course meaning that it is impossible to die. I found that this detracted most of the difficulty away from each level, knowing that if I mistimed a jump I could always just keep going by rolling, no matter how far I fell. Instead I would lose valuable time and have to take a longer route around.
Graphically, Ninja Pizza Girl is impressive. The foregrounds are well detailed and show off different aspects of the city, while the lavish backgrounds show of the looming corporate skyscrapers. With the art style and the great use of colour, the skyscrapers are well-lit but almost colourless, while the slums seem more alive and yet darker. The dystopian feel offers a great mix of neon colour and empty light to create an oppressive, yet hopeful atmosphere. With graffiti scattered throughout the slums, the city really feels like a character in its own right.
Most of the cutscenes play out in a comic format, exploring the lives of various people around the city and how Gemma is able to affect each life with pizza; from getting two shy lovers to express their feelings to helping a friend find her confidence. Gemma as a character is shown to be flawed, to be under-confident, and that’s what makes her feel alive, but all the characters give the city a sense of being lived in by real people, each with their own desires and dreams.
I deeply enjoyed Ninja Pizza Girl. By the end I felt connected to the characters and to the developers at Disparity who made the game. Ninja Pizza Girl has an amazing amount of character and heart for something that at first glance looks like it’s just a speed-running platformer. I was able to see the influences and messages of those who created the game and overall it felt very organic and crafted. The characters portrayed many messages about self-confidence, bullying and overcoming adversity and in the end it has left a lasting impression with me. An amazing accomplishment.
Nice review!