All that remains of a once dreaded and powerful demon hunting bloodline are three beautiful sisters. Refusing to accept ultimate defeat, the siblings shroud themselves in the very shadows their enemies used to hunt them from, striking with deadly precision and purpose. Thus the leader of the demon clan has delegated his most favored son with the important and highly coveted task of neutralizing these threats. Yet before the sisters can be executed, they must be coerced into revealing the secrets of their extinct family’s unique sorcery and ninjitsu techniques. If the demons could combine these deadly arts with their own, they would become invincible, uniting Japan under a hellish rule for eternity.

 
Nukenin (抜け忍) is a ninja enslavement eroge published by Waffle in 2006. It has no sequel, side story, or noteworthy doujinshi. The product is available for legal download and discounted pricing at a wide variety of specialty sites such as DLSite.

 

 
I recognize they can be badass and define awesome in every sense of the word, but I’ve never been much of a ninja enthusiast. Naturally there are individual ninjitsu employing characters I can make exceptions for, but the idea of watching a series entirely devoted to shinobi or a fantasy approximation of them, tends to make me apprehensive (I’m looking right at you Naruto). In my viewpoint, ninja are the ultimate personification of deus ex machina, as their mysterious techniques grant quasi-invincibility. Most anime and manga settings have them flawlessly hiding in the shadows, able to substitute their bodies for wooden dummies when struck, call upon numerous powerful magic, assassinate targets with perfect precision, and outfight distinguished samurai without cheating. Of course this is mostly because said characters are main protagonists and protected beneath layers of almighty plot armor, but there are too many occurrences of ninja godhood for me to simply pass it off and quietly accept. Therefore the prospect of Nukenin created a mixed surge of wariness and fascination: on the one hand it was about ninja; yet on the other was about abusing them. Quite literally a ying and yang moment.

 

 
In this eroge you take the role of Takame, a half-demon ninja first in line to inherit leadership of a powerful clan. Supremely talented and never failing to complete the most difficult of assignments, he is unfailingly lavished with attention from his father, an elder hellborn greatly feared and renowned throughout the lands. Although ranks of power can be dangerously treacherous, Takame is loyally attended by Karura, a beautiful kunoichi whom he shares years of genuine friendship and respect, subsequently earning her loyalty as an unbreakable confidant and trustworthy lieutenant. Yet for all the authority and ensured stability at his command, Takame is unhappy with the life he was born with, quietly questioning the world’s drowning in chaos and decay. This melancholy outlook is further depressed by the jealousies of Kirito, Takame’s younger sibling, whose unending quarreling seeks to discredit him in the eyes of their father. While possessing the ability to permanently remove such an annoying threat, Takame is not oblivious that this hatred is deserved; for the Lord of the House only shows affection for those who please him most, snubbing all lesser attentions as insignificant, and in Takame being the proverbial golden child, Kirito is cast aside and unwanted by the only figure he seeks approval from. This emo life is suddenly turned upside-down when Takame is informed his father has important business to attend to, and unable to dedicate himself to the task, entrusts his favored child with the capture and interrogation of three bothersome ninja who could further secure their family’s position of supreme domination.

 

 
The story is predominantly divided into three categorizes that I personally refer to as combat, enslavement, and humanization. The combat segments comprise the majority of each plot arc beginning and ending; resulting in the capture, utilization, or escape of the three sisters who Takame seeks. These moments are highly energetic, utilizing a refreshingly large number of character models, awesome cinematic illustrations, stirring Japanesque background music, and high quality sound effects. The enslavement sequence, which is the meat and potatoes of Nukenin, is a menu driven mode where Takame uses various approaches and magic to sexually break the sisters into obeying him and betraying each other. Each of the girls has a set of attributes which indicates how far along the path of submission they are traveling: her remaining willpower, changing personality, and which procedures will be available (if someone is too strong or too weak, it’s pointless to try certain methods). As you make progress, more techniques are unlocked. Last but certainly not least are the humanizing segments interwoven with the enslavement: the actual story. Takame is not the heartless beast many believe him to be, and occasionally his mask of evil breaks, revealing a troubled individual who is sympathetic with those he harms. It’s during these instances when he truly wins the sisters over, offering them small moments of mercy and answering questions when he does not have too. The conversations also have a powerful impact on Takame, as the siblings impart the true meaning of family love and freewill onto him, feeding the uncertainty and dissatisfaction that broods in his heart.

 

 
Impressive as the reverse psychology methodology might be, Nukenin is first and foremost a sexfest of the violent inclination, with over seventy unique scenes of gratuitous erotic entertainment. Rape, bondage, gangbangs, drugging, tentacles, and bukkake are the most obvious offerings, along with twosomes and threesomes as your ninja collection grows. Yet as the story progresses, the sisters slowly offer themselves willing, leaving one to wonder if their submission is a result of Stockholm Syndrome or genuine pity for the protagonist. As a direct result of this, too much of the domination can have dire results, as unlocking the positive endings require restraint of the most extreme techniques. This essentially forces the repeated application of tame mundane methods (relatively speaking) over and over again, obviously creating a tiresome experience as repetitive boredom sits in. The fact that Nukenin offers so many forms of creative activities, makes the requirement of leniency disappointing to those wanting full hardcore. However getting a good ending is not necessarily required for enjoyment, thus this factor can be somewhat mitigated during a second or third playthrough. Dark as things may become, there is a strong application of moderation to everything, as guro and vore are completely absent… it’s not that evil.

 

 
To tantalize your eyes and ears, Nukenin has a number of memorable qualities. First and foremost are the graphics. Using muted colors and close attention to detailing, the artist made extensive use of various options found in high end graphical programs: lens flare, motion blur, and shadowing being most common. The master aptitude of his trade is made apparent as these features do not reach excessive levels to diminish the end result. While there’s certainly an obsession for massive boobs, the character designs are pleasing and attractive, keeping your attention for the entire duration. Paper dolls are also lavished with a large library of facial and body expressions that only further enhance the experience. Not to be outdone in the sound department is voice acting. While not quite as unfeigned as actresses who lend their talents to the really violent ero, the ensemble performs screaming and begging without being annoying or unrealistic, lending an enjoyable performance. Given how this is a significant part of Nukenin, it’s very important to maintain. Unfortunately there are some negatives. The traditional Japanese music is appropriate, but suffers from using a cheap sound suite, as the instruments are terrible digitalized versions of what they should be. There are also times when the colors are too dark and things can only be seen when the brighten settings are turned up a notch.

 

 
I’m not much of a ninja enthusiast, and actually detest several anime and cinema that obsess with them, but Nukenin certainly offered me the opportunity to reassess that outlook. Graced with a highly entertaining cast and equally impressive character designs, the title serves the Japanese assassin mystique with a refreshing change of setting; combining the “traditional” anime adaptation of ninja combat with the dark fetish of sexual domination and submission. Interwoven with this artful presentation is a story of an individual who questions the morality of his cause and rational behind committing acts of evil. Unlike most titles within this niche, the protagonist does not appreciate his role as a torturer, and would truly enjoy leading a life devoid of inflicting misery and violence. This seemingly minor adjustment offers a subtlety compelling alternate view for dark ero, in which being evil does not result in an enjoyable outcome.

 

 
— Central Characters —

 

	Takame   Takame is the eldest son of Tenjyorou, second only to his father in the arts of ninjitsu and authority. Despite the attention and praised lavished upon him, Takame does not truly desire the life he has been fated with, and despises committing the terrible atrocities he is expect to. Nonetheless he has always carried out the wishes of his father without question and to the utmost of his abilities, as that is the expected duty of a loved son.
	Suiren   Eldest of the three sisters, Suiren is a highly maternal individual, watching over her siblings with fondness and devotion in the absence of their parents. Of the sisters she is the best skilled in ninjitsu, and especially devious in formulating tactics. Suiren takes great care to repress her sexual urges, as she is mindfully aware of suffering from nymphomania disorder.
	Kaede   Middle child of the three sisters, Kaede is the most feminine of the siblings, though this is often overshadowed by a tremendous stubborn streak. Her highly aggressive fighting styles and willingness to take deadly chances makes Kaede the most dangerous of her sisters to challenge in direct combat, yet is something of a two edge sword. Sheltered in a life devoted to training, Kaede has never entered long lasting relationships with men.
	Hinagiku   Youngest of the three sisters, Hinagiku has the physical appearance of an angel, but the mental personality of a demon. She uses her innocent looks to lull others into false security, and will play off the strengths and weakness of her opponents as a masterful swindler. Hinagiku has the rare ability of seeing fleeting moments of the future, and able to act according to change or help its outcome, making her a deadly defensive fighter.
	Karura   Karura is a close childhood friend of Takame, and has been his battlefield companion since they first learned the arts of ninjitsu. She tends to convey an emotionless personality that’s detached and cold, but will instantly become expressive whenever Takame tries to execute a plan or mission without her. Karura is an expert at creating medicinal potions, magic sedatives, and explosive compounds, making her an invaluable partner for numerous situations.
	Aoi   Aoi is a past consort of Takame’s father. She is highly mysterious, seemingly without a past or purpose in the clan; a fact which everyone seems to conveniently avoid speaking about. Unwilling to leave the family residence, Aoi is often seen drinking herself into a drunken stupor or repeatedly satisfying her insatiable sexual desires… with or without a partner.
	Kirito   Kirito is Takame’s younger brother, considered a failure amongst his kin for being weak and easily manipulated. Despite his dedicated efforts and grueling training, Kirito is cursed to never match the level of skill and power that comes naturally to his sibling, and is often regulated to menial duties as of consequence. For this reason he resents Takame, and longs to win his father’s approval and love.

 

 
— Scored Summary —

 
Scenario: 20 out of 30. While the introduction and arc endings are superbly presented, it’s everything in-between that keeps your attention, showcasing the transformations of Takame and sisters as they influence each others’ points of view. Sadly there are a number of moments when things can get too repetitious depending on your intents. While a noticeably small cast, everyone has unique traits that make them wholly memorable, boosting interesting personalities that prevent anyone from occupying too clichéd a role. There are multiple endings to achieve: one for each sister alone, a unique conclusion for Karura, the prerequisite harem, and several bad results to keep you on your toes – some featuring a victorious Kirito.

 
Visual: 18 out of 20. The most obvious strength of this title is the highly flaunted graphics. A huge selection of paper dolls, the smooth interface menus, great character designs, eye popping event illustrations, and masterful backgrounds only begin to scratch the surface. There’s also an array of “little touches” that offer a rarely matched presentation: for example the constantly switching inked sketches that appear on various menu selections. The only real weakness is that colors tend to be overtly gloomy, as if someone sucked out all the backlighting, making it hard to see details.

 
Audio: 15 out of 20. While the male roles are unvoiced, the acting is simply marvelous, as are the various library sounds used for portraying battles: the ringing of steel on steel and fluttering robes as ninja jump from tree branch to tree branch. Despite the soundtrack suffering from poor instrument quality, as whatever software was employed is tremendously lacking, the melody themselves have that unique Japanese flavor. It’s almost like something out of a classic samurai film.

 
Erotica: 30 out of 30. You’re definitely getting a freight train of sex with this title. Seventy scenes are spread across the cast, which are determined by the choices Takame decides to follow. It covers all the basics you’d expect, and a few you might not, without recycling the same positions and situations which each woman: the doggie style with Suiren isn’t the same doggie style with Kaede and Hinagiku. This makes replaying the scenarios more attractive. Each event is quite long in duration, as much to the various women’s horror and delight, Takame has an inborn Viagra gland. Throw in great artwork with fantastic voice acting, and got a winner.

 
Mechanics: 0 point neutrality. In addition to the typical “choose your response” menu system that most eroge share, there’s the ever important interrogation feature. Twice per day – sunrise and sunset – Takame must decide what tasks his lovely prisoners must suffer. Each session takes that entire segment of the day: thus you could interrogate one sister twice or two sisters once. The prisoners have their own set of individual statistics, which partly define what ordeal she is eligible to undergo, as well as setting the course of the particular story arc. Over a dozen different interrogation techniques are possible, but not all methods are initially available: many are unlocked through past performance or story events. As one can imagine, there tends to be repetition in this kind of format, especially when attempting to achieve a specific ending. Overall an amusing and interesting feature, but shoots itself in the foot for being too restrictive.

 
Final Score: 83 out of 100. While ninja centric titles aren’t uncommon in the genre and suffer from too much saturation on store shelves, Nukenin provides a healthy serving of sexfest with tasty side orders of actual plot to make sense of it. The cast is easy to sympathize for, and the player is given the option of determining how brutal events play out. It’s as gorgeous as it is entertaining, never letting up on presentation quality (outside of the music). If you want dark eroge with a little violence and a lot of redemption, then look no further. Recommended for purchase.

1. Hemisphere Says:
   December 16th, 2008 at 6:45 am

   Yet as the story progresses, the sisters slowly offer themselves willing, leaving one to wonder if their submission is a result of Stockholm Syndrome or genuine pity for the protagonist. As a direct result of this, too much of the domination can have dire results, as unlocking the positive endings require restraint of the most extreme techniques. This essentially forces the repeated application of tame mundane methods (relatively speaking) over and over again, obviously creating a tiresome experience as repetitive boredom sits in. The fact that Nukenin offers so many forms of creative activities, makes the requirement of leniency disappointing to those wanting full hardcore. However getting a good ending is not necessarily required for enjoyment, thus this factor can be somewhat mitigated during a second or third playthrough.

   Reminds me of Chouko Sennin Haruka by AliceSoft.Though you get a wide variety of options for sexual events with the Sennins, you’re pretty much limited to repeating the same “goody goody” options unless you want the bad endings…which is something worth looking into once you’re on your second or third playthrough.



2. wat Says:
   November 22nd, 2009 at 8:31 pm

   I remember a lesbian card battle game for the PC98 based on the same premise.