Ninja Five-0 is one of those GBA games that makes you wonder why more people don’t talk about it. You play as Joe Osugi, a cop who’s also, you know, a ninja—because why not? The first level throws you right into it: shurikens, wall jumps, and this weirdly satisfying grappling hook that lets you swing around like Spider-Man with a bad attitude.

It’s not just mindless slashing, though. Some enemies take a few hits, so you’ve gotta time your strikes or sneak past them. And the hostages? Yeah, you’re rescuing them too, which adds this weird tension where you’re trying not to get shot while also not letting civilians get caught in the crossfire. The controls feel tight, and the sprite work has that classic GBA charm—bright colors, smooth animations, and just enough detail to make the levels pop.

Honestly, it’s like someone mashed up Shinobi with a cop drama, and it somehow works. If you’re into action-platformers that don’t hold your hand, this one’s a blast.