It’s a shame that words and phrases like “gnarly,” “radical” and “totally tubular, dude” aren’t considered common these days. If they were, I’d know exactly how to describe Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z. I’d know just how to highlight the game’s ludicrous, over-the-top tone and obscene jokes. I’d have a word to describe its damn-the-odds combat. I’d be able to precisely encapsulate how it feels to be a cyborg ninja that wields the limbs of undead clowns like they were nunchuks.

Ah, what the heck: Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z is one of the most gnarly, radical, <insert ’90s slang here> game I’ve ever played. I just wish it was a little less focused on being Xtreme to the MAX and more focused on remaining consistently fun.