I’ve never much cared for the rain. I know this is hardly an original line of thought, but I fear my particular aversion was bred into me. My mother and uncle have an almost allergic reaction to the stuff, with many a family walk being fraught with tension as ominous grey clouds gathered in the skies above. However, as much as my lineage and I despise the rain, all it can inflict upon us is dampness. Not so for the unfortunate hero of Ninja Rain, the new little time passing game for iOS and Android. If he gets hit by even a single drop of rain, he is literally severed in half and killed. And unfortunately for him, he seems to spend his days caught right underneath a sheet of it.
The premise of the game is simple and humorous for its lack of explanation. Who knows why this little guy is stuck out here under deadly clouds when there are clearly buildings in the background? He just is. Training perhaps. Anyway, you control the afflicted ninja in his attempts to dodge the weather. You tap the screen to where you want him to move, and he teleports to that point. You’re not restricted to the horizontal plain either; this little guy has put in enough training already to be able to levitate anywhere on your screen. There is a small amount of lag between when you press the spot you want him to go, and when he actually gets there (during which time he is no doubt mentally preparing the teleportation). You soon fall into the rhythm though, and are able to pre-empt the small delay. It’s an engaging system; you’re never left waiting as the frequency of the rain demands your rapt attention at all times.
Your score is counted in seconds, with each second you survive the game counting as a point. The highest I managed to achieve was 239, which took a considerable amount of concentrated effort. There is no soundtrack as such, just the pitter-patter of the deadly rain, an ominous reminder that your life is on the line at all times. The longer you last, the faster the raindrops fall, until, in the later stages, your index finger is smashing the screen like a man possessed. There are two separate Asian-themed backgrounds to choose from, and both are gorgeous; one a dark stormy blue and the other a hazy, attractive orange. Overall, the game is a fun little time-passer complete with a unique concept which manages to eek out genuine tension. For those looking for a quick game or two on the train or between meetings, you’d do well to seek out the mystic secrets of Ninja Rain.
Aim a well-placed high kick at the iTunes or Google Play store to get your chopping hands on Ninja Rain for free.
