
Ninja Boy
1990 Action
Zen: Intergalactic Ninja packs a surprisingly deep platform experience into the tiny Game Boy cartridge. The game’s three‑quarter‑view graphics give a pseudo‑3D feel, while multidirectional scrolling lets you wander through twelve distinct stages spread across four disaster‑zone themes. Each zone feels purposeful: you’ll rescue wilted flora from acid rain, battle the toxic venom of Sulfura, douse blazing fires on an oil rig besieged by Oil Slick, and crawl through a plutonium mine teeming with Garbageman’s gaseous minions before the final clash with Lord Contaminous. Adjustable difficulty and extra lives keep the challenge fair, and the occasional recycling‑themed bonus round adds a quirky, eco‑friendly twist. Critics were split but generally positive – the Fort Worth Star‑Telegram gave it 8/10, Power Unlimited a solid 90/100 (calling it one of the best Game Boy platformers with versatile locations and cool action), while the Paisley Daily Express offered a modest 13/20, noting it plays nicely but brings little novelty.
Zen: Intergalactic Ninja follows an alien superhero turned eco‑warrior named Zen, who is sent on a mission to retrieve a buried geocrystal. The crystal’s safety is crucial, but the villain Lord Contaminous aims to shatter it and doom Earth’s environment. Zen teams up with Jeremy Baker, Earth’s destined “starchild,” and a group called the Recycled Heroes, battling through twelve distinct levels. Along the way they rescue flora from acid rain, fight toxic venom, douse raging fires, explore a hazardous plutonium mine, and confront Garbageman’s gaseous minions. The adventure culminates in a final showdown with Lord Contaminous, where Zen must protect the crystal and prevent ecological disaster.
Edited by Maya Carter

1990 Action

1992 Action

1994 Adventure
