History VideoGame / Ninjala

* WhamLine: When Lucy asks if they could leave if they wanted, everyone falls silent. She's then simply told that she "wouldn't want to."

** [[spoiler:Ron and Jane would do the same. But for Jane however, [[IAteWhat she does that by accident.]]]]

* BackgroundMusicOverride: During a match, the music changes to the selected song of the player in first place every so often. The song for your character is always heard at the start, then changes every to the song of the player in first place at the time mid-game. If more than one player has the same song, it simply restarts for the leading player. This keeps going until the final 30 seconds, which has its own track.

[[folder:Animated Shorts]]

The game gets his own anime series that premiered on January 8, 2022.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ninjala.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:'''''Ippon!!''''']]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/switch_ninjala_hero.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''Ippon!!''[[note]]Clockwise, from upper left: Ron, Kappei, Burton, Jane, Lucy, Berecca, Van and Emma[[/note]]]]

* MixedAncestry: Implied. Due to ninja clans originating in Japan before immigrating during the Meiji Restoration, all the characters have Japanese ancestry somewhere on their family tree. Also enforced as the children must have some ninja ancestry in order to compete in Ninjala.

* BattleRoyaleGame: Unlike the regular Battle Royale mode, Season 7 schedules a Featured "Last Ninja Standing" Battle that plays this straight. 8 players fight until only one remains, disabling respawn, and the stage adds in two layers of electricity to isolate everyone to smaller spaces and damages stragglers overtime.

* DifficultButAwesome: The Piercing Mixer is a [[LimitBreak Ninjutsu attack]] with a relatively small hurtbox and leaves one a sitting duck (getting hit while using Ninjutsu cancels the attack.) However, if one goes up to a high place, such as the monitors in WNA Academy, and knows what they're doing, they have a vantage point from which they can reach most of the map and potentially [[OneHitPolykill rack up several IPPONs in a row.]] In addition, it temporarily allows you [[XRayVision to see enemies through walls]], so you can go hunt someone down after the attack ends.

* FantasticNuke: The Fujiyama Rocket Gum Ninjutsu is, well, [[ShapedLikeItself a gum rocket]] which travels in a straight line from where you aim and explodes upon contact with terrain. It's relatively slow, but it's usually an instant IPPON on anyone trapped in the blast radius. You get stunned when it hits ''[[HoistByHisOwnPetard you,]]'' but not harmed, meaning that you can jump into the fray with a full gauge and [[ActionBomb explode yourself,]] since there's almost no delay when you shoot at the ground, and score tons of IPPONs at once.

** WolverineClaws: Season 7 introduces the Paw-xing and Ogre Gloves, allowing for hand-to-hand combat.

* TooAwesomeToUse: Cosmetic weapon skins are this to an extent, as they are consumable items. If you got a cool or even rare weapon skin from the Gumball Machine, you're probably not gonna want to use it in a match as it will disappear from your inventory afterwards.
** As of Season 3, players can personally subvert this if they purchase the Ninjala Pass, which grants them unlimited use of obtained weapon skins for its duration. Newly obtained skins also count to this.

''Ninjala'' is a free-to-play CompetitiveMultiplayer online arena brawler video game developed and published by Creator/GungHoOnlineEntertainment for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, released on June 24th, 2020.

* BalefulPolymorph: The Beyond the Gum Special turns whoever's caught in it into a an ice cream-shaped statue with Gumchi's face, only allowing them to run and jump, leaving them helpless.

* DeadlyGas: The Gum Gas Gum Ninjutsu releases a cloud of [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin gum gas]] that gradually damages any enemies inside and results in an IPPON if someone's health goes down to 0 while in the gas.
* DecoyGetaway: As akin to a ninja or their decendent, players can transform into items in order to blend into the enviroment, though they can still move around as long as they do not use a Gum Guard or Gum Boost. They can also leave behind NinjaLog items called Utsusemi, and even make them into bombs with the right Power Card. The effect doesn't last forever and, since battles are hectic, it's rarely garunteed that players can stay hidden.

* HealingSpring: The spring in the middle of the Shinobi City stage gradually increases the max S-Energy of whoever's soaking in it. It's an effective way to get S-Energy fast, but you don't get points like with destroying drones.

* OneHitKill: While most Gumjutsu attacks can deal heavy damage, or all if hit enough times, the Tenchi Muyo attack is an instant IPPON if it connects just once.
** The Baiting Shark Gum Ninjutsu is also this, Ippon'ing anyone who steps on the scroll that summons a ThreateningShark.

[[folder:Animated Shorts]]
* AerithAndBob: The names of the main eight characters range on a spectrum of this. The most Aerith-Sounding one among them would have to go towards Berecca.
* AlternateTimeline: The game takes place in an AlternateUniverse of Earth where ninjas had a major influence on global history and their imagery dominates pop culture. The names of many geographic locations are different, such as Eagle City in Komerika (New York City, USA), and the country of Oedo (Japan).
* BigWHAT: Berecca screams this after Burton tells her that their lab machine is about to blow up.
* BitchInSheepsClothing: After the success of creating the ninja gum, Ron wastes no time to reveal himself as a ninja with an intent to kill Burton and Berecca.
* TheConspiracy: There are a lot of implications that the WNA has some hidden motives. The Space Ninjas in the Story Mode seem connected.
** Ron is revealed in the shorts that he's investigating the company after being targeted for his failed assignment.
** Jane becomes suspicious when she discovers she hired by WNA's Intelligence division to hack data from its R&D department.
** A loading screen in the game hints that winning Ninjala is the key to discovering WNA's true purpose.
* DoubleTake: While Burton is explaining Ninja-Gum to Berecca, he turns into a child half-way through the explanation. Berecca looks at him for a moment while wondering if her father knew about the gum, then immediately looks back at Burton in shock.
* EagleLand: The description for Episode Zero states the setting to be Eagle City in the country of Komerika.
* FountainOfYouth: A side effect of the ninja gum; after beating Ron, Burton and Berecca turn into children.
** [[spoiler:Ron and Jane would do the same. But for Jane however, [[IAteWhat she does that by accident.]]]]
* ImprobableUseOfAWeapon: The Ninja Caliber introduced in Season 2 is a large broadsword used as a surfboard instead of the conventional way.
* InterfaceSpoiler: The game's art spoils the fact that Ron [[spoiler:eventually turns into a ninja kid just like Burton and Berecca]].
* MagicalEye: [[spoiler: Revealed as a reason Lucy wears an EyepatchOfPower]].
* MixedAncestry: Implied. Due to ninja clans originating in Japan before immigrating during the Meiji Restoration, all the characters have Japanese ancestry somewhere on their family tree. Also enforced as the children must have some ninja ancestry in order to compete in Ninjala.
* OhCrap: Burton panics when he notices he accidentally threw the cat into the gum making machine.
* PrecisionFStrike: After avoiding Ron's attack, Burton asks, "Who the hell are you?!"
* RedEyesTakeWarning: Combined slightly with SupernaturalGoldEyes when Lucy's powers awaken. The color itself comes from her mother's ninja ancestry.
* ThenLetMeBeEvil: While she doesn't exactly become a villain, Lucy's short explains why she is depicted as CuteAndPsycho:
** [[spoiler: In the past, she unleashed an untapped power to save her friends on two separate occasions: two from bullies and a newer one from an out-of-control car. The friends she saved from the bullies ran from her and called her a monster after seeing her in action. While her other friend later didn't see the connection (Lucy tried to hide it in order to avoid this), other bystanders asked "what kind of monster is responsible" due to the collateral damage made while saving her, though she ran off before anyone noticed. Upon attending WNA academy, encouraged by her parents, she embraces her power and "monster" motif as her own way of being herself]].
-->'''Lucy:''' I'm exactly... who I'm ''supposed'' to be!
* TheReveal: The kids (Van, Lucy, and Kappei) learn that their families are descendants of ninja, and are given an opportunity to hone in on their skills by attending the World Ninja Association and taking part in the Ninjala tournament. Emma, an orphan, learns about this from a talent agent who reveals herself to be a WNA recruiter. The adults (Burton, Berecca, Ron, and Jane) learn that there may be something shady going on in the WNA and, after becoming children thanks to the Ninja Gum, compete in Ninjala to find out the truth and return to normal.
* TheScream: Both Burton and Berecca pull one after seeing that the Ninja-Gum turned them into children.
* ThisIsGonnaSuck: Burton casually lets Berecca know that the machine is going to explode because of the bell. As they have failed numerous times before, this doesn't seem new to him.
* WhatTheHellHero: Berecca is less than pleased to find out that the gum she had been helping Burton to make could be used to make weapons and calls him out on keeping such a fact a secret from her.
--> '''Berecca:''' But...how could keep that a secret from me?!\\
'''Burton:''' Because I knew you'd object to working on weapons technology.\\
'''Berecca:''' Of course I object! This isn't what we set out to achieve! Are you trying to start a war, man?!
* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: In Van's short we learn the purple in his hair is apparently a hereditary trait from both his parents. Unnatural hair colors seems to be a common trait in the Ninjala universe as Berecca has pink while Kappei and Lucy have light blue. (But similar to Van the latter is a two-tone and shares hers with a light red shade).
* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: The lore reveals the ninjas were hunted down once their services were no longer necessary in Japan. The remaining ninja scattered across the world to escape before fading away from history.
* YouMonster [=/=] IAmAMonster: [[spoiler: Because of her hidden powers, which involves summoning tentacle-like objects, Lucy suffers the former by the first friends she saved from a duo of delinquents. She attempts to avoid this until she was forced to save a newer friend from an incoming car. She doesn't say it, as she didn't see Lucy do it, but other bystanders do, though they never see her either. Lucy soon believes the latter and says it word for word, but later makes it her new persona when attending WNA Academy]].
[[/folder]]

** When an opponent gets enough enemy Ninja Gum stuck on them, they become Gum-Bound, which makes them temporarily immobile and makes them susceptible to an instant IPPON if KO'd in this state.

* AndYourRewardIsClothes: Completing the Story Mode chapters unlocks various cosmetics, including outfits for the player to wear in battle. Completing ever mission in a chapter with a high rank unlocks more.

* BackgroundMusicOverride: Music can be set so that the player in first place has their selected song played throughout the match. The song for your character is always heard at the start, then continues until a new player takes the lead, changing to their song mid-game. If more than one player has the same song, it simply restarts for the leading player. This keeps going until the final 30 seconds.

* BalefulPolymorph: The Beyond the Gum Special turns whoever's caught in it into a Gumchi-shaped statue, only allowing them to run and jump, leaving them helpless.

* BlandNameProduct: One of the products advertised on the in-game billboard is a clothing store called "Hacy's."

* CardsOfPower: Shinobi Cards can help players or hinder their opponents when equipped. These include stealing gaining heath when defeating opponents, gaining power for S-Energy or Ninjutsu or moving faster when satisfying certain conditions, turning decoys into gum bombs that can bind opponents, or speeding up enemy damage or slow down your own damage during parries. When all four card slots are unlocked, players can use up to 50 points. They can use these cards and their "assist codes", which add additional effects for each cards, as long as they do not go over the points limit. Players can also increase the assist codes power by using medals (bronze, silver, and gold) earned from games.

* CriticalHit: Of a sort. When an opponent is trapped in a ninja gum shot and then [=KOd=], the player who dealt the killing blow scores an IPPON, which is worth more points than a standard KO; in addition, a gum-bound opponent receives a lot more damage than normal, opening them up for a potential IPPON. IPPON also appear to have a random chance of occurring when an opponent would normally be KO'd. A defeat by Gum Ninjutsu or gum-shots will also always result in an IPPON.

* EyepatchOfPower: An accessory specifically worn by Lucy but can also easily be a choice for the player's customized avatar. The details make clear it's not the kind made to cover a damaged eye and is worn more for fashion-based intentions.
* FantasticNuke: The Fujiyama Rocket Gum Ninjutsu is, well, [[ShapedLikeItself a gum rocket,]] which travels in a straight line from where you aim and explodes upon contact with terrain. It's relatively slow, but it's usually an instant IPPON on anyone trapped in the blast radius. You get stunned when it hits ''[[HoistByHisOwnPetard you,]]'' but not harmed, meaning that you can jump into the fray with a full gauge and [[ActionBomb explode yourself,]] since there's almost no delay when you shoot at the ground.
** Black X-marked gumballs in Fort Riverdale are significantly weaker than Fujiyama Rockets, but have the same blast radius and does not damage the player that summons it.

* FlavorText: Taken almost literally. Most weapon descriptions tell what flavor their gum form has.

* GayParee: Croissant Arena takes place in Liberty Republic, the "France" of the Ninjala world. The stage itself is located between the Eiffel Tower and Arc De Triomphe.
* GlassCannon: The Punishing Blade turns the wielder into one of these; two shots from its SwordBeam can inflict Gum-Bind, and up to two direct hits can Ippon, but the user can't use an S-Burst and any damage they take is doubled.

** Information about major mechanics such as the [[RockPaperScissors parrying system]] (Up > Down, Down > Side, Side > Up, and L button to escape the encounter), the fact that [[RegeneratingHealth your health regenerates faster]] when transformed (did you even ''notice'' your health regenerates in general?), and even the ability to [[CameraLockOn lock-on to specific opponents]] (R3/right stick to start targeting, L3/left stick to switch targets) are only found within the [[https://ninjalathegame.com/en/manual/ online manual]] accessed via the "Help" menu, as opposed to being taught via a tutorial or the Story Mode DLC.

* ImmuneToFlinching: Shinobi Beast has temporary Super Armor to made the user virtually unstoppable, but it is still susceptible to gum damage.
* ImpossiblyCoolClothes: You can purchase or earn your avatar some really impressive clothes, like classic ninja threads, spy suits, [[Franchise/SuperSentai Super Sentai-style spandex]], and even wedding dresses (Some are more expensive than others, and all cycle throughout a given season and only available for a limited time [[note]]As of Season 3, everything except for Gumball Machine-Exclusive and collaberation Outfits are availiable in a backlog menu called "Special Collections".[[/note]]). InUniverse, each clothing brand carries a specific theme.

* ImprobableWeaponUser: Since kids are the main players of Ninjala, the melee weapons available in-game are unconventional at best, resembling everyday foods and objects. Lucy is depicted carrying a ''stop sign'' as a melee weapon in promotional material.

** CoolBoard: Skateboards, Camu-Camu Gum boards, surfboards, and giant swords all share this trope, and function the same way. The first two, in particular, increase your attacks temporarily after performing tricks.

** KillerYoyo: Yo-yos, fidget spinners, basketballs, and even doughnuts fall under this as they're attached to string and attack from a distance.

*** TeleportSpam: Fidget Spinners can warp the user to the weapon left at a given spot.

** TelephonePolearm: Similar to Lucy's "stop sign" weapon in the promotional art and short, the Scrap Saber resembles a Stop Sign glued to a pole by gum.

* RockPaperScissors: If two players use the same attack against each other, a prompt with red, green, and blue markers appears (chosen using the left analog stick), activating a rock-paper-scissors-like attack sequence for a chance to parry.
* RevenueEnhancingDevices: The game has a currency called Jala, which can be used to purchase clothing and emotes for your character or spin a [[LootBoxes Gumball Machine]] to gain cosmetic weapons skins or clothing exclusive to that section. While you can get small amounts of the currency by playing normally and advancing through tier levels, Jala can also be bought directly using real-world money. The game even keeps tabs on how much paid and free Jala you have, for whatever reason.

* SummonToHand: Some yo-yo class weapon attacks have the yo-yo disconnect from its string and stay in place mid-air, and can then be summoned back to the user from anywhere on the map. If the weapon has the Yo-Yo Leap special, the player can also [[TeleportSpam teleport to the yo-yo's location to attack]].

* VocalDissonance: The FountainOfYouth effect of Ninja Gum doesn't effect a person's voice, so a kiddified adult will still sound like an adult. Best seen with Ron, whose voice is really deep, and the announcer, who was shown in the Season 3 trailer to also have been de-aged yet still has an adult voice.
* WeaponOfXSlaying: The Trick Ball and Mellow A La Mode weapons deal more damage to gum-morphed opponents.

** The Biting Shark Gum Ninjutsu is also this, Ippon'ing anyone who steps on the scroll that summons a ThreateningShark.

** The Biting Shark Gum Ninjutsu takes this literally by planting a scroll which summons a giant shark.

* ThreateningShark: The Biting Shark Gum Ninjutsu allows players to place a ninja scroll on a surface, similar to a land mine. Anyone who steps on it will summon a giant shark that chomps at the victim, instantly Ippon'ing them. Others who are too close are swatted away.

* KillSat: A player who grabs an active Judgement gumball in Fort Riverdale can launch a group of massive "gum lasers" from above that deal considerable damage to their targets. Those caught while low on health are K.O. or IPPON'd instantly, depending on gum damage.