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Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja

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7.8 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 21 critic reviews
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Based on 9 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Atlus USA

Developer: Ninja Studio

Genre(s): Role-Playing Game

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)

Release Date: February 20, 2007

Summary

Finally, a dungeon RPG strong enough for a man... but played as a hot chick! Drop your stylus, you pansy, and get back to the old school, hardcore, monster bashing we all grew up on! See if you have what it takes to conquer the impossible levels and gruesome bosses. After all, does it get any better than the feeling of cold steel at the palm of your hands? Hi there! I'm Izuna! So you see, we were canned because "Ninjas are sooo yesterday," and now we're looking for a nice place to settle down... That stupid lord... Just wait'll I get my hands on that jerk! So anyways, we found this quaint little village, but... Everyone's actin' all weird. Grandboss's acting like a kid... Shino-Sis's all mean... What's going on!? I mean, what is up with this place!? Features deep, challenging labyrinths that change every time you enter. Use Talismans to cast spells or power up your equipment. Customize and power up your weapons, which gain strength over time. [Atlus USA]

Cheat Codes & Hints: GameSpot Hints & Cheats

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Gaming Target

If you're looking for a serious story of epic proportions and melting the senses graphics and sounds, Izuna may not be your cup of tea, instead you might want to pick up Final Fantasy III. If you're looking for a solid dungeon crawler packing a challenge, Izuna is the ninja for you.

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Worth Playing

You may not be worthy of playing Izuna. Chat with the Oracle a few times, and maybe you'll figure out if you are.

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GameZone

Izuna is one rough quest, and the old-school gameplay and unforgiving difficulty are a stark contrast to the story’s lighthearted tone. However, if you’re looking for a good story and one tough cookie, then this one is for you.

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Deeko

The action may grow somewhat trite and drawn out and the whole "someone looted me while I was passed out" aspect kind of sucks, but the attention to old school detail and gameplay really packs a mean wallop and the localization is incredibly amusing and fun.

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1UP

If you're in the dark about Roguelikes but still want a taste of one, it's better to start with the more accessible Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Its difficulty is more gradual, it's got touch-screen controls, and it features more than one party member, which is easier to deal with than Izuna's solitary dungeon-crawling. But those who already love the genre -- or want to "graduate" from Pokémon -- will still find great enjoyment from Izuna.

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AtomicGamer

A fun game. While it is often incredibly difficult, you’ll eventually get through the dungeons.

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Cheat Code Central

Izuna will find its fans, but it will also alienate plenty of gamers that may be expecting a funny, fuzzy, anime frolic.

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GamePro

While the quirky game play and novelty of random content may not keep younger gamers coming back for dungeon runs, Izuna will certainly entice old-school RPG fans simply as a challenge to their gamer's ego.

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IGN

A game that’s everything but mainstream, and while it will appeal greatly to its intended niche audience casual gamers and fun-loving current-day RPG fans are forewarned; this game is hard, merciless, and a blast from gaming’s “kill or be killed” past.

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RPG Fan

Nothing more than a short and simple game that provides a thoroughly unsatisfying experience. While the localization is excellent, not only is there not enough of it, what's already there is lost in the torrent of monstrous difficulty, subpar aesthetics, and an overly simplified game system.

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GameSpot

Despite its simplistic nature and barbaric difficulty level, Izuna: The Legend of the Unemployed Ninja can be intensely satisfying.

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NintendoWorldReport

A true Rogue derivative, Izuna’s difficulty and depth will likely only be appreciated by fans of the genre.

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Nintendojo

Without learning how to best use the items and talismans available to Izuna, this is a frustrating trip. But for those who enjoy the way Izuna forces players to use more than just a handful of attacks, the strategy of battle and the joy of victory can be quite fulfilling.

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Play Magazine

Izuna, like all Rogue style dungeon crawlers, takes patience, dedication, and the type of gamer who is a glutton for punishment. [Jan. 2007, p.83]

Nintendo Power

You'll be thrown into the deep end right at the start, and will probably have to play each dungeon over and over again to master it. [Mar. 2007, p.88]

G4 TV

A little bit of humor and a fun bunch of characters go a long way towards making all the dungeon-hackery go by smoothly.

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Games Radar (in-house)

As long as you’re comfortable with a great degree of difficulty (and a bit of monotony), and provided you’re comfortable with your own mortality, Izuna offers a reasonable distraction.

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Eurogamer

Any prospective patron should be well-prepared for an extremely challenging relationship that will strain even the most-committed Rogue-devotee. But, for the very few fans still looking to recruit in that toughest of niche sectors, Izuna is a worthy hire.

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Pocket Gamer UK

She's got a cute smile and there are some nice touches, but Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja doesn't help the inexperienced, and doesn't reward the skilled. Don't hire this dungeon-crawler.

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Modojo

While the characters are funny and there is a definite old-school/hardcore edge to the design, only those in the market for a tough-as-nails dungeon crawler are likely to find enjoyment here.

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Game Informer

Punishing players and withholding any reward adds replay, right? At first I thought this game was a joke, but I was wrong. It’s a joke and total garbage.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.8 (out of 10) based on 9 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Patrick R gave it an8:
I see alot of reviews complaining about mortality and the loss of all items as being the deal breaker. I'll admit that at a time I was often getting killed and loosing it all, but once I got into the flow of the game, dying is a very avoidable scenario. I also find the system for powering up weapons rewards skilled players alot more then people claim. I find working towards being able to power up my weapons with various talismans and tricks to be very rewarding.

M gave it a6:
What's the point in having randomly generated dungeons when you have such shallow combat and have the levels looking all the same? It hardly affects the experience, I think it would have been better if they just made a single design for every dungeon that actually looked good. Putting talismans on your weapons was pretty cool but I think it would've been a lot better if the game was more lenient with them letting you easily put a couple on your sword without grinding, reminds me WoW. The game is only good for it's characters and simple story but the game isn't really big on that either.

Dave O. gave it a9:
Izuna requires a little bit of time and patience to figure out how the mechanics work, but once you do, it's really an excellent game. Many reviewers have called it "unforgiving", but in fact that's not true at all. In Izuna, dying is really not a big deal, as you get to keep all your experience points, and you can just jump back in and start playing again. Over all, it's a well-designed game with addictive gameplay and nice visuals and music.

DJ T gave it a9:
Back before most of the DS players were around. There was a little ASCII based computer game called Rogue. You can still find it around on the web. It was fun because there was TONS of replay value since the dungeons and items changed every time you played! In a world dominated by story driven games like Final Fantasy. Simple adventure games like this are forgotten. It's simple, different every time, and worth the few bucks you'll spend on it. It can be frustrating, but so can sitting through hours of NPC conversation in the latest Final Fantasy 300 or whatever they are up to now.

Grant S. gave it a3:
Izuna and Shino are irresistibly cute and sexy, and the game at it's heart is a descendant of Rogue, being a Mysterious Dungeon game. As a NetHack fan who adored the concept of something like Shiren with a character as cute as Izuna as the lead role, I really wanted to like this game. However, there is no nice way to say it, the gameplay sucks. I stuck it out to the end and unlocked the EX Dungeon, the 100-floor dungeon that starts you out at base stats and no items, offering the ultimate challenge and permadeath. However, it is at this point that the game boldly shows you that not only is it totally lacking in the necessary depth, but it's also cheap and broken. The random level generator isn't the best on the planet, and traps will often do 200 out of 300 damage on the first level, and you'll be swarmed by enemies that you can't run from or fight, leaving you dead without a chance. Just download the wallpaper, fantasize about Izuna and Shino, and go play NetHack. You'll be glad you didn't waste your money on such a poor game. I really wanted to like this game. :(

Scott H. gave it an8:
The game can be frustrating at times but at the same time its fun. You just have to remember that everything you pick up is disposable and if your bag is full then you aren't using the items fast enough. The character are funny, translations are good and the action is tense. PS: I don't think the Game Informer guy was in the right mindset while playing this game.

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Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja

Game Info

Summary

What The Critics Said

What Our Users Said

Upcoming &
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