From the start Ninja Reflex feels cheap and shallow. The menu system is overly simple, and seemingly cut-and-paste from party games we have seen before. You start by creating a "ninja name" for yourself by combining adjectives with nouns to rest on something ninja-like. They all sound resoundingly cheesy when said aloud, with titles like, "Heavenly Lotus", and "Hard Monkey". I finally said, enough and just rested with the name, "Solid Snake".

After you move into the thick of the game you are greeted by an old sensei, who spouts overly wordy dialogue about what it is to be a ninja. The might, mind, and spirit of ninja training. It all sounds like he is reciting the foreword from some Bruce Lee book.

Finally, once the game begins you are treated to six whole mini-games! Yes, friends, I said six. They try and trick you by saying, "36 game variations!"In reality, its the same six games with differing objectives. Truth be told, those objectives don't really even vary that much either. You will be forced to endure these "objectives" in the same six games over and over, progressing through the ranks, going through belt tests, until you surpass the black belt level and become a ninja.