Surf Ninjas

Surf Ninjas is exactly the sort of licensed game that sounds like somebody combined two unrelated ideas and decided not to ask questions. Released in 1994, it is based on the film and puts the player into an action-oriented adventure involving martial arts, enemies, and, naturally, surfing. The combination is gloriously nineties, with the game leaning into the movie's strange mixture of comedy, action, and teenage fantasy. Gameplay is straightforward, focusing on moving through stages, dealing with opponents, and trying to stay alive while the scenery does its best to make everything look more exciting than it probably is. It is not a technically sophisticated title, but it has an unmistakable period charm. Surf Ninjas is best approached with modest expectations and a sense of humor. If nothing else, it proves that there are very few genres that cannot be improved by adding a surfboard and several ninjas.