Give the radical ninja some love.
One of the game’s best features is its fun boss battles. When your sword makes contact with a boss, the sword usually flies out of your hands. Some players might find this annoying, but trying to retrieve your sword while dodging fireballs, arrows, or throwing stars gives each boss battle a welcome sense of danger.
Thankfully, the game developers didn’t weaken the game by rehashing bosses (a shortcut that many game developers have used). In fact, after dedicating some time to the game, you might sense that the game developers were quite fond of the wacky, distinct characters they created, and you might grow fond of the characters, too.
Each boss possesses a unique identity. For example, at the end of stage one, the boss Death Breath will try to crush you with his unusually large head; at the end of stage four, the centipedal creature Green Grub will try to pierce you with its fangs while you slice off chunks of its body.
Kid Niki has treasure rooms and shortcuts hidden throughout the game, which adds a layer of depth. Players who haven’t visited Kid Niki for over 15 years still remember taking the shortcut through the fish’s belly; exiting through the fish’s anus is unforgettable.
The play control in Kid Niki is solid, and the controls are as simple as they are in Contra (use one button to shoot; use the other button to jump). But the simplicity doesn’t detract from the fun. Kid Niki has a spunky personality and deserves more recognition in the NES community.