How many mines would a ninja mine if a ninja could mine mines? Er, on second thought, this would work better with a mime. But could a mime fly from one wall to another, collecting diamonds and stars, avoiding spikes and crushing obstacles in the blink of an eye? Not very likely. Ninja Miner by SilenGames is a quick-fire arcade game with a puzzly disposition. Your goal is to pick up all the diamonds in the level, at which point you can keep playing (in order to get the three stars as well) or exit through the same door you entered from. To do this, either use the mouse or the [arrow] keys. There are twenty-four levels, each with a different size and layout and lots of added object to help/hinder your progress. Some might include portals, or tools you have to use to break crates, or coloured blocks controlled by levers.

All this seems easy enough at the start; however, our little ninja is so overexcited by the joys of being a miner that he'll zoom through a tunnel as long as his little feet will carry him. In other words, once he starts running along a straight line, there's no stopping him, so you'll have to carefully calculate your route if you want to clear a level. Add to that a good number of spikes on the walls (some of which you don't even see until the ninja runs into them), and you've got yourself a nice little conundrum. This is not to say that the game is frustratingly difficult – the solutions might be obscure when you play some levels for the first time, but it's so much fun that you really don't mind trying again, and again if needed. The 3D graphics work well with this type of game and the vibrant colours contribute to the pleasant environment. And for those who like an extra challenge, there are 65 achievements to reach.

With its fast pace and bouncing off the walls, Ninja Miner has an almost pinball feel to it. You'll have to think on the fly, react quickly and keep your eyes open at all times, and you'll have a lot of old-school fun doing it.

Play Ninja Miner