Ninja Five-O: Cult-Classic GBA Game Gets Modern Re-Release on Feb 25

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Summary

  • Ninja Five-O, a cult-classic GBA game, will be re-released on modern platforms with minimal changes.
  • Originally named Ninja Cop, the title gained popularity with a North American and European marketing move.
  • Konami confirmed the re-release by Limited Run Games for PS4, PS5, Switch, and Steam with added quality-of-life features.

Among the popular sequels to the legendary game Ninja Gaiden, the elusive Ninja Five-O, initially released in 2003, has been officially announced for re-launch on contemporary gaming platforms. Known as one of the scarcest games for the GameBoy Advance, this Japanese title’s rarity was partly due to its limited cartridge production run. Now, more than two decades later, modern consoles will have an opportunity to experience Ninja Five-O, providing a chance for current gamers to discover one of the gaming industry’s most underrated treasures.

In certain areas, the video game known as Ninja Five-O is called Ninja Cop. The “Five-O” part was a marketing strategy used for the North American and European versions of the game, drawing inspiration from the 60s TV show Hawaii Five-O which was popular at the time. This game was created by the Japanese company Hudson Software, but it wasn’t released in Japan, although the reasons remain unknown. In regions where it was launched, Ninja Five-O has become one of the most elusive Game Boy Advance titles, with some copies selling for over $1,000 on eBay.

Konami has announced that the classic game, Ninja Five-O, is making a comeback on February 25. It will be available for purchase on PS4, PS5, Switch, and Steam. The standard edition of the game costs $34.99 across all platforms, while the Collector’s Edition bundles (which have already sold out) were priced at $79.99. Unfortunately, physical copies from the official website are also sold out. However, players can pre-order the digital version for a discounted price of $21.24. It’s worth mentioning that this isn’t a remake; the game will retain its original controls and graphics. However, some enhancements have been made to modernize the gaming experience.

Konami Set to Re-Release 20-Year-Old Game with Minimal Updates

Previously, it was made known that the revival of the game “Ninja Five-O” is being managed by the U.S. company Limited Run Games. This new version takes the game out of the exclusive list for Game Boy Advance systems. Despite this re-release, only a couple of enhancements have been made – quick save and instant rewind are the only new additions. Quick save enables players to leave the game at any moment without concern for checkpoints, similar to many contemporary games. The instant rewind function, perhaps influenced by “Prince of Persia”, empowers players to roll back time up to five seconds.

Many enthusiasts consider the forthcoming re-release a squandered chance, as Ninja Five-O is among the Game Boy Advance (GBA) games that warrant a remake. However, on the positive side, this port will offer numerous gamers the opportunity to play one of the greatest action platformers in gaming history, which was previously difficult due to the need for emulators or expensive purchases on eBay. Now, players can conveniently buy it like any other contemporary game, enabling them to either reminisce about past experiences or observe how games appeared two decades ago.

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2025-01-22 18:06