Released: 1990
System: NES
Developer: Natsume
Publisher: Natsume, Taito
Shadow of the Ninja is a really fun action platformer which stars two ninjas, a blue one and a red one. Honestly, it feels a lot like Ninja Gaiden, except it's two player! It's obvious that NG was the inspiration for this game; the protagonists move and attack just like Ryu. Hey, that's not a bad thing though! The story takes place in the future; some terrorist guy has taken over the USA, so two ninjas, Lord Hayate (blue) and Lady Kaede (red), must defeat him using their awesome ninjitsu powers. This one is certainly fun with a friend, but as usual, it's tough (ninja tough!). The two will run, jump, crouch, climb, hang, and fight through five big levels broken up into sections. The game has been praised for its solid gameplay, stellar graphics, and fantastic music. It's also notable for having perhaps the first male-and-female team in video game history. That's right, ninjas did it first.
This game is awesome! We never did beat it though. That last boss was super tough and just getting to him was pretty hard. I'd love to play its pseudo sequel on the Game Boy, Ninja Gaiden Shadow.
Yeah, it's super tough, even with two players! We'll have to try it again sometime.
ninjas versus robots. A classic formula!
I remember the box of this one, but not the game. I'm pretty sure i never had it or played it.
Hm, ninjas vs. robots. Stealth vs. steel, technique vs. technology. . . ninjas win every time.
This game looks cool. The person playing in the video makes it seem so effortless, but I just know I woudn't make it as far in the same amount of time.
Yeah, it's way harder than it looks. Being a ninja is not easy, y'know.
I only played this a little bit through emulation, but I liked it, and definitely want to try it out sometime. I wish modern games had cover art like that.
The cover art is awesome! The two ninjas look completely ready to take down the bad guys!
This looks and sounds awesome, I wonder in http://nintendo8.com has it.
I didn't see it, but it definitely should be on there, right behind Ninja Gaiden.
I gotta play this someday!
There's no better time than the present. Better do it before the ninjas get you!
Other that Ryu Hayabusa, there is also a Hayate in the Dead or Alive games. I wonder if that is a reference to this.
Hm, well it must be! Could it be a coincidence? It's possible, but not likely. Very cool!
And to think that Natsume only makes farming games now (well, not really).
Just imagine if they made a ninja farming simulator game. The ninja would farm his crops, and at the same time defend them from birds, moles, and other creatures trying to get at them. What a hybrid that would be!
Well there are the Rune Factory spinoff games. In those you farm like in Harvest Moon, but when you're done for the day, you can go fight monsters in dungeons, and convince them to work on your farm! I actually like the Rune Factory games better than Harvest Moon (XSEED sometimes publishes them in the US instead of Natsume for some reason).
I remember when this came out, I rented it. I saw it in magazines first. It was the some of the best graphics on the NES at it release.
Very awesome graphics. The music is also awesome!
I remember playing this game. It's a good game.