Ninja Five-O

There are games whose price on the collector's market tells a story all by itself — and Ninja Five-O is one of them. This action platformer from 2003 shipped in such small numbers that over the years it became one of the most expensive and sought-after titles in the entire Game Boy Advance library.

But fans don't worship it just for its rarity. Ninja Five-O is above all a superbly playable action game that cleverly combines two ideas: sword combat in the spirit of classic ninja games and grappling à la Bionic Commando. Your ninja carries a hook you can latch onto ceilings or platforms, swinging across chasms, over enemies, or shortcutting your way through a level.

And the magic lies precisely in that swinging. Once you catch the rhythm, movement turns into a fluid, almost dance-like flow — you slash hostages free with your liberating blade, swing through the air, and land exactly where you need to. It's the kind of control that takes a little practice, but once you master it, it delivers an unmistakable sense of freedom and command.

The levels blend action, a touch of platforming agility, and hostage rescue, all while keeping the pace brisk and the combat system clear. The game earned high marks from those lucky enough to play it — sadly, thanks to the small print run, there weren't many of them.

That very rarity makes Ninja Five-O a double-edged legend: on one hand a celebrated gem, on the other a title that few can get their hands on in its original form without seriously deep pockets. For the average player, that leaves emulation as by far the most sensible route to finally experiencing this underrated classic and finding out why it stirs up so much fuss.

It's a reminder that quality and availability don't always go hand in hand — and that some of the best games of their era stayed hidden purely because too few of them were ever made.

Why play: For fluid ninja action with addictive grappling — a cult rarity best enjoyed today through emulation.