A delightful action game pretty well in-line with NES classics like Demon Sword, but with a much tighter structure and some incredible pixel art and music. As a first play, I did encounter a few stages and fights that tested my reflexes, really emphasizing that the arcade-style experience leads to a lot of the game's value. Full-scale replays, digging into patterns and placements, and finding the best ninja tools for every situation seem to be the main appeal; the game seems poised for speed/challenge runs where the only real motivation to keep playing is to get good.

SNG is quite short and sweet, clocking in around maybe 4-5 hours (less if you're Good At Video Games), but worth the price of admission for the detailed aesthetic and banger tunes alone. Very similar to Steel Assault in the "big things in small packages" vibes. Pretty easy recommend if stuff like the aforementioned, or even Metal Slug/Contra/Megaman are your jam.