Ninjala Launch Trailer Is A West Side Story Homage, For Some Reason

Ninjala is coming to Switch as a free-to-play title on June 24, and the game's launch trailer shows off some of the frantic action you can expect in its eight-player battles. It also, for some reason, opens with a strange little homage to West Side Story.

The musical, which was adapted into a film in 1961 and is getting remade by Steven Spielberg, is about a clash between two teenage street gangs, and a love affair between members of opposing sides. While Ninjala also has warring gangs, it's not clear whether the game's Story mode will deal with any of the complex themes of the musical--although it seems unlikely.

The trailer also shows plenty of gameplay footage, so you can check out some examples of the unique powers each character will possess, and witness some intense brawls. Despite an aesthetic that looks like it's inspired by Splatoon, the gameplay is clearly very different.

You can watch the trailer below.

Ninjala previously held two betas to improve its online functionality, and was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is exclusive to Nintendo's console.

Ninjala is also getting an animated spin-off featuring these characters.

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