Narcos and Yakuzas have joined forces, Nuevo Tokyo has fallen under their control, and apparently there’s only one person capable of sorting out the mess. Thankfully, he’s brought a sword.
After attracting plenty of attention with its colorful Mexican-Japanese setting and wonderfully over-the-top approach to roguelike brawling, Mexican Ninja officially launches today. Developed by Madbricks and published by Amber Studio, the fast-paced 2.5D roguelike beat ’em up combines old-school arcade combat with randomized runs, evolving builds, Mexican Jutsus, and a criminal organization known as the Narkuzas.
It’s an idea that’s difficult to mistake for anything else. Mexican Ninja takes the familiar button-mashing fun of classic arcade beat ’em ups and throws it into a world where Mexican and Japanese cultures have collided, complete with spirit powers, outrageous abilities, and enough attitude to fill the streets of Nuevo Tokyo.
Now, after giving players an early taste through its Steam demo, it’s finally time for the full rebellion to begin.
Welcome to Nuevo Tokyo
Mexican Ninja takes place in a future where Mexico and Japan have collided in what the game describes as a “mess of fire, power, and betrayal”.
From that chaos came the Narkuzas, a ruling class created when Narcos and Yakuzas joined forces and established a new feudal regime. They’re now firmly in control of Nuevo Tokyo, but a rebellion is beginning to form on the outskirts of the city with its sights set on the five heads of the Narkuza clan.
That’s where you come in. Getting rid of them means fighting through gangs of enemies using quick attacks, dodges, positioning, and carefully timed strikes, with combat designed to be easy to pick up but considerably harder to master once combos and different builds enter the equation.
Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from looking good while doing it.
Become a Better Mexican Ninja
Every run gives you another opportunity to develop your fighting style through different powers and upgrades, allowing you to experiment with new builds instead of relying on exactly the same moves each time.
Then there are Mexican Jutsus. These special abilities sit alongside ninja skills learned from el Mero Mero Sensei and powers granted by Mexican-Japanese spirits, giving you increasingly ridiculous ways to deal with the Narkuzas standing in your path. You can also hunt down hidden outfits to make sure your Mexican Ninja looks the part while doing it.
Progression continues through the brilliantly named Way of the Donkey, Mexican Ninja’s skill tree that lets you further customize your fighting style as you play.
Old-School Brawling Meets Roguelike Progression
Madbricks isn’t hiding where some of its inspiration comes from. Mexican Ninja is designed as a return to classic arcade beat ’em ups, but with the progression and replayability of a modern roguelite.
That means slicing and punching your way through groups of enemies is only part of the equation. Learning the combat, discovering powerful combinations, and deciding how to develop your character during each run all play a part in how far you’ll make it.
It’s also difficult to separate any of that from the game’s personality. From the stylized streets of Nuevo Tokyo to its exaggerated characters, dark comedy, and Mexican-Japanese mashup, Mexican Ninja clearly knows exactly what kind of game it wants to be.
Even its Steam page spends almost as much time insulting and encouraging you as it does explaining how the game works.
Time to Take Back Nuevo Tokyo
After months of trailers, showcases, and a playable demo giving players a chance to step into the shoes of the Mexican Ninja, launch day has finally arrived.
The game releases today on PC via Steam.The Narkuzas have had the city to themselves for long enough. Grab your sword, learn some Mexican Jutsus, follow the Way of the Donkey, and go introduce them to the one problem they probably weren’t expecting… The Mexican Ninja.