American Ninja Warrior Challenge Review- American Gladiator

From the TV show to the videogame, players and people from around the world are looking to make a statement in the ultimate challenge there is, American Ninja Warrior. American Ninja Warrior is a sport, simulator to what was known back in the back as American Gladiator, requiring though a bit more speed, determination and will to succeed. It’s just as much of a mental experience as it is physical. So for those who’d love the challenge, considered it or just wasn’t mentally there, this is your time to shine. This is the American Ninja Warrior Challenge.

I Am a Ninja Warrior

American Ninja Warrior is all about completing some of the most vigorous obstacle courses and taking the title itself as your own. In the videogame you have a bit more leniency, as you can take on the course or practice. Just like the TV Show it’s a fight to the end and stamina is everything.

With some modes allowing up to 4 players, you can choose between Quick Game, Career Mode and Ranked. What’s fun about American Ninja’s quick game mode is the choice of how difficult you’d like your course to be, ranging from Practice to Ninja Killer. During the run on the obstacle, expect your character to grow tired.  Just like the show, your will to succeed is based on the adrenaline rush and the hype of the crowd. Stamina is everything.

Ninja Warrior Challenge does what it can to make the experience personal as you can create your own character, play style and set the pace for their development. In career mode you have 5 seasons to create the strongest warrior possible. This process is achieved through completing try-out obstacles, qualifiers and city finals, working your wat to the Nationals. That big stage known as the American Ninja Warrior Challenge where you only have one shot to complete the course in the fastest time. Luckily the minor events will help you earn some cash to faster develop your character throughout their career. While considering the option to pay for quick training, I’d recommend saving to buy more obstacles to train as hard as possible which ultimate will increase your overall attributes faster during workouts.

Climbing the Ultimate Wall

Running through a course is intense and makes you feel like the ninja you never were. Or want to be! The drive to win surreal as you become invested in your character and understand first hand how failure is felt as you drop into a pool of defeat. I took a bit of time trying out the Quick Game on each difficulty as they all have different level designs and create more of challenge as you increase your selection. Just remember as your stamina drops, hype up the crowd to increase your speed and momentum.

While the Ninja Warrior Challenge has its positive vibes, there’s one too many brick walls. It all begins with the lack of customization. The trailers show off how you can create your own players, but it fails to mention the lack of uniqueness and personal involvement. I can’t even type my own name in the game! This would make sense if they commentators were saying the name of each contestant, but they aren’t. In fact, the default names are so uncommon, I could barely create a normal John Doe or Smith if I wanted to. Instead its hippotaskua or Bob IHadababy-Itsaboy. Yes, I used the Geico commercial name here, but that’s even more common than some of the options.

The game crashed a few times too many when failing an obstacle, which was a headache in career mode since I still had one to two more chances to complete the course. And while on the course, quite often would my player walk when I was trying to run, causing me to waste too much time on the clock. Ultimately pushing my player position back too far to win the challenge.

Player models and the course itself is very appealing, especially for those who ever played Dorito’s Crash Course. I had fun learning the curve in the Ninja Challenge and playing on the game mechanics, when they worked (walking more than running). Taking on the spider, panel lifts and jumping around the course was very pleasing and a nail biter, never wanting to fall and take the L. The online ranking (at the time of the review) had little to no ranks showing either low usage of the online or little participation.  Offline though shows to the replayability to keep you coming back for one more attempt at becoming the American Ninja Warrior.

Verdict

American Ninja Warrior Challenge is as entertaining as an episode and offers the same thrill as a contestant experiences when making their way onto the platform.  Aside from the inconsistencies, biggest being the game crashing, I’d recommend this being a great time for the family!