Title: NINJA versus NINJA
Publisher: Out of the Box
Players: 2
Ages: 8+
Time Per Game: 15-20 minutes
MSRP: $24.99
Description
Ninja versus Ninja pits two players against one another in a game of strategy, risk and chance. The tri-fold board opens to present two opposing dojos, each divided six-by-six into squares. In the center is a three-by-six square neutral zone.
Each player takes control of six plastic ninja figures (complete with plastic swords prepared for attack), black versus red. Gamers take turns rolling two four-sided dice (themed with a sword through the middle) to get number combinations between two and eight. The player then moves one of his figures exactly that many spaces, either in a straight line or with one 90-degree turn. A reverse move can also be made once one has breached enemy territory.
A player goes on a “mission” when he departs the home dojo with a ninja. Only one ninja from each side can be on a mission at any one time. Once a mission is commenced, that ninja must return to the home dojo by the third turn or the piece is eliminated from the game.
The objective is to risk venturing as deep as possible into the enemy dojo, while still having enough moves to make it back before the mission ends. A shadow ninja marks how deep one makes it into the enemy dojo, 
and points are awarded when the ninja returns home safely, noted by a ninja master traveling down a point track. A secondary (or arguably another primary) objective is taking out enemy ninjas by landing on the same space at the end of a turn.
A player wins when he has either accrued seven points from trips to the enemy side, or eliminated all opposing ninjas.
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Bill’s Impressions
It is the combination of strategy, risk and chance that makes Ninja versus Ninja a fun game. I like that the games we played ended in a healthy mix of elimination and score win conditions, proving it works well with different strategies. The number of characters and rules about missions make setting up missions an important part of the strategy, along with using characters to sometimes block the escape path of an enemy, or taking one out when all else fails at the end of that dooming third turn.
Obviously, there is also some risk in how far one travels into a base, and chance in whether the player can get the right rolls of the dice to make it out alive. One can also use this chance to play the odds, such as positioning directly in front of an enemy where he can’t be reached (as one is not a possible combination of the dice), or staying in the two and eight range, rather than four, five and six, which are bound to come up more often.
The characters have a certain charm and the game is short, so it can be absorbed in small doses. In the same respect, however, the game is often fast because there is not a lot to it. Six characters can be eliminated quickly, especially in the close-quarters of the small board, somewhat hindering the strategy aspect of the game which might be enhanced by a more involved playing field and ability to attack with more than one character at a time. One can’t help but think this is a work in progress toward the Pirate versus Pirate game to be released this year, which is to incorporate a third player, thereby adding more strategy to the mix in something that may resemble Chinese Checkers, with players forced to attack and defend on multiple fronts. Still, I found the game entertaining, and the younger crowd not yearning for deep strategy should enjoy it as well.
Rating: YAY
Kevin’s Comments
I groaned when I first heard the title of the game. I’m getting sick of the overexposure of ninjas (pirates too, and I fear the fun of zombies will start lacking its luster soon). It’s a crutch for creating an identity. At least it is more fitting in Ninja versus Ninja than other exploitations like the video game Pirates vs Ninjas Dodgeball.
The gameplay is simple but fun due to mixing of offensive and defensive strategies. It’s too bad that every time I was really getting into it the game would end abruptly. It is a great strategy game for novices, but doesn’t offer enough long term playability.
Rating: NAY
Sarah’s Thoughts
I thought the game was fun, even though I didn’t win either time I played. I found that it was much easier to just eliminate my opponent’s ninjas than to try to earn points. The few times that I did get points, I was only able to rack up one or two at a time, afraid that if I went too far into my opponent’s dojo I wouldn’t make it out. The game reminded me of chess with much cuter pieces. I actually appreciated the simplicity in the number of ninjas on a team, because it was much less to keep track of and the game, while not short, didn’t feel like it was too long.
Rating: YAY
Verdict
YAYs – 2
NAY – 1
