GungHo Online recently launched its free-to-play Switch title Ninjala, a game which has been repeatedly compared to Nintendo's Splatoon series (and not just by us).
However, GungHo Online CEO Kazuki Morishita – speaking to our good friends over at Eurogamer – has been sure to underline the fact that, while there are certain similarities between the two, they both provide very different experiences.
I know the colouring and the style does look like a Splatoon but when people actually played a game we hear a lot of them say this isn't actually like Splatoon. Splatoon's a very good game, and personally I really like it - I'm really happy that people say it's like Splatoon - but I'd like people to play it and see it's very different from Splatoon, and for people to enjoy it on its own terms.
Splatoon's more a shooting game, and this is more close combat - it is team battles with 4 players on each side, but there's also battle royale which is a free-for-all. If you play the game, you'll see it's totally different. They're both really good games - and Splatoon is a game I really admire. If you could write that, and maybe we can do a collaboration with them!
He also explains why the company picked Switch as the target platform:
When we started planning, the Switch had just come out so we thought we'd try it out. It's designed to be played with other platforms - like PS4, PC - but I want the age range to be for younger kids, so I think it's the right target for it.
Given that Ninjala is, at present, exclusive to Nintendo's console, could we potentially see the two titles crossover in some kind of event? GungHo has worked closely with Nintendo in the past, fusing its Puzzle & Dragons series with the world of Super Mario on 3DS, so it's not beyond the realms of possibility.
[source eurogamer.net]
Comments 27
Peoples keep saying it looked like Splatoon.
Take a look their weapon.
Didn't you see their weapons like Keyblade from Kingdom Hearts?
And moreover, i saw a wall climbing from Ninjala Battle, exactly like Sora did on Kingdom Hearts.
I thought this was a Splatoon spinoff lmfao
While the art style is similar, I feel like a crossover with (or rather an invitation to) Smash Ultimate will be more likely than with Splatoon.
Gameplay-wise, Ninjala is nothing like Splatoon.
Dumb question but is it true this game is banned in some countries as I heard for example it was banned in my native country because of mircotransactions
(The Netherlands)
@Anti-Matter I'd say the Splatoon comparison really comes from the look of the game, the fashion aspect and of course, it being a 4v4 online focused game.
Ninjala= Splatoon, paint brushes only.
But seriously, it’s not bad. Just had my first go at it, play that points mode and came 1st, so that was cool. It feels a bit slow though and I’m not talking about lag.
I’m not sure I really like the “honing in” as soon as you swing your weapon, that it does.
But overall, I like it, I could see myself putting a few hours into it.
Yeah, of course they would. Who wouldn't want their new unheard of game crossover with a multi-million selling franchise? That's some next level exposure.
@Moon Gungho is a master at collabs so if anyone can pull it off then it's them.
If they wanted less Splatoon comparisons maybe they should have kept the cool designs from the 'Episode 0' short and not turned them into kids for whatever reason.
Just lazy comparisons IMO. The only similarities are the colors and 4v4 combat. Not nearly the same aesthetics or gameplay.
That's like saying Mario is the same game as Megaman. "But they're both platformers!"
@conditionals They probably figured the kids would appeal go a larger audience or something, which I think there's some merit to.
Can anyone confirm if it has native voice chat like Fortnite? If it does, is already a way better game than Splatoon.
Heh, this game has always looked awful to me in every way.
It's clear that it's a cash-in based on Splatoon's success, and while squids + ink makes sense both from a mechanical gameplay standpoint, and from an "aesthetic" one.
This looks like these guys wanted a Splatoon clone and threw darts to decide what to put in the game.
I mean, ninjas and bubblegum? Why?
@Kalmaro also reading the interview on Eurogamer he did say he was inspired by kids playing ninja with sticks so I guess that's a pass. But still, the Episode 0 designs were cool.
@IronMan30 did you read the article? They say that themselves.
If there's a co-op mode or gets one at some point, then maybe I'll check it out. I wished more games did that "PvE" thing where your team tries to survive waves of cpu enemies, with bosses thrown into the mix and stuff.
@Joeynator3000 That would be amazing! It reminds me of Salmon Run back on Splatoon. But that difficulty scaling was insane. If you had one bad teammate on Professional, you were going to lose.
@Reigestugatensho yeah I heard about that mode...it was going to make me get into Splatoon 2 but...then I heard that you can only play it at certain times...ugh. T.T
I haven't played many of the PvE modes out there honestly, but one that I was flat-out addicted to was Garden Warfare's. (the original, lol) I wished there were more like that one, I liked the charm and stuff it had. xp
@Anti-Matter No, is not even aesthetically the same wall running had been before the age of kingdom hearts and ive seen no key blades after playing for about 20 hours. This definitely has a much more Splatoon vibe in every way =:3
@Arnold-Kage interesting not sure, there is microtransactions and a battle pass nothing new but it's all cosmetics so nothing game breaking. There is also a 5 dollar offline story mode if you like as well =:3
What are people taking offence comparing this to Splatoon??? They saying it's a similar not a complete rip off, and the art style, vibrant colors, made up brands and just playful nature of the game warrants a fair comparison in my opinion. It's a really nice looking game totally fell in love with the art style same as I did with Splatoon, is a nice wholesome game really enjoying it so far =
looks at characters Yeah ok, those characters look like they were at least partially inspired by Splatoon.
Well this obviously isn't at all a copy of Splatoon, I just like pointing out how similar the characters are.
I'll probably get this.
In that sense then it's more similar to Smash then. Though when I played it, I found it really flexible. If you follow that leader, it could have the strong potential to become much more than just button mashing against the opponent.
@Quix
Yeah it bin confirmed that the micro transaction are why it not allowed in the Netherlands. Think it dumb, but it seems parents can't be bothered to find out what their kids waste money on
@Arnold-Kage yeah I find it pretty dumb, especially when they say they consider it gambling in some places =
@Quix
Heard that too, and they consider loot boxes gambling in parts of the EU. Still it always the small developers who they take action against. Have not heard any news their banning games from EA, Actionvission/blizzard or 2k for example when their income for an huge part is because of loot boxes.
Now if they go after pay to win games you won't hear me complain. However cosmetics are an choice, and like I said earlier if an child spend way to much money on that stuff it should fall on the parents to stop them. Not the government
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