Mark of the Ninja's visuals are absolutely perfect. They literally could not be better. The cartoony artistic design manages to dazzle despite the fact that most of the game takes place in darkness. What I really love about Mark of the Ninja's style is how the visuals affect the gameplay. Sound is visualized by circles of light that rapidly expand when a noise is made. Soft sounds result in small circles, while loud noises can result in circles that nearly fill the screen. If a circle reaches an enemy, the sound will get his attention. Sound can be used in your favor, as well. You can use theatricality and deception to draw attention away from you, but you can also track enemy footsteps when you can't see them. This is incredibly useful, because though this is a 2D game, you can only see what the main character can see. The ink from the main character's tattoo gives him a special kind of preternatural foresight; by leaning against doors, he can see into the rooms beyond.
Sound design is also right on the money, which is good, considering its importance is stealth games. The ambiance works with the soundtrack and the visuals to create a sensory experience that is as powerful as it is cohesive. As expected, the voice work is campy. That's fine, because the story is not even close to being the star attraction in Mark of the Ninja.
