Shinobi series

[NeoZeedeater]

I just feel like paying tribute to one of my favorite series.

In 1987, Sega took ninja games to a higher level with their System 16 arcade game Shinobi.



Shinobi was ported to several formats: Master System, NES, PC Engine, PC, Commodore 64, Spectrum, Amstrad, Amiga and Atari ST. The SMS version is my favorite one and is the only console version that is as much fun to play as the arcade game, IMO. I would say it's the only 8-bit ninja game that can hang with the Ninja Gaiden series.



Tengen's NES version isn't bad. The gameplay isn't too butchered but it's not pretty to look at.



Asmik's PC Engine version is definitely closest to the arcade in graphics and is a decent port but it's missing the bonus rounds and the second level. It has the look of the arcade but something is a little off in the gameplay.



Virgin's 8-bit computer versions are far too downgraded to really compare. I haven't played them in ages though so I hardly remember them. As for the 16-bit versions, I only played the Amiga one very briefly and I haven't even seen the ST one.

Commodore 64 screen


Spectrum screen


Amiga screen


The true sequel to the Shinobi arcade game is Shadow Dancer. This game plays similarly to Shinobi but adds to the gameplay by having a dog that can attack enemies. Shadow Dancer was a good game but I don't think it's as well-made as Shinobi.



Shadow Dancer was ported to the European Master System but it was missing the dog(blasphemy!). There was also a bootleg Game Gear version of this port. I saw it on a double cartridge with Altered Beast and I highly doubt it was legit.

[thumbnail]http://www.shinforce.com/mastersystem/reviews/ShadowDancer-01.gif[/thumbnail]

U.S. Gold ported it to computers like the Amiga, Amstrad, Spectrum, C64 and Atari ST.

Amiga screen
[thumbnail]http://perso.wanadoo.fr/dazeland/SDancer.gif[/thumbnail]

The Genesis version has similar gameplay to the arcade game but it's not a port at all. This is my favorite version of Shadow Dancer and was one of my first import games back in 1990. The domestic version came out in early 1991.

http://www.vgmuseum.com/pics5/shadowdancer.html

Revenge of Shinobi(Super Shinobi) on Genesis took the series in a new direction. Revenge was a console-style game and had a bit more exploration than its arcade predecessors. It was later released on Sega CD(complete with butchered sound effects and added load times!). ROS was a great game to start off a new era.



Alex Kidd's last appearance was in Alex Kidd in Shinobi World for the Master System in 1990. While technically an Alex Kidd game, many of its levels and music are variations of the first Shinobi. This game doesn't have many fans but I like it.



The Cyber Shinobi was released for the European Master System in 1990. This game is piece of shit and not worth playing. It sort of resembles the original Shinobi but without the fun-factor.



Sega's Game Gear portable came to North America in 1991. Shortly after the system launched, GG Shinobi came out. It wasn't a port of the SMS Shinobi as rumoured but a completely new game. The look of GGS was similar to Revenge but the game was designed quite differently. Instead of controlling one character, you used several ninjas with different abilities. A sequel came out the following year. The Game Gear wasn't Sega's finest moment but these Shinobi games were some of the best portable games at the time.



The second Super Shinobi game was released for the Genesis in 1993, Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master. This game basically took everything about Revenge and improved it by adding new moves: air kicking, blocking, wall-bouncing, etc. It also had none of those damn movie rip-offs that Revenge had(Spiderman, Terminator, Rambo, etc.).



Shinobi Legions for the Saturn took a lot of shit from people because of its digitized graphics and cheesy FMV scenes. Despite the look of the game Shinobi Legions is a solid platformer. The gameplay is similar to Shinobi 3 although the control isn't as refined and the action is more melee-based. I also found myself using block much more in Legions than Shinobi 3.



After a seven year hiatus, Shinobi returned in 2002 with a couple new games. Revenge of Shinobi for the Game Boy Advance looks awful. It wasn't developed by Sega and is Shinobi in name only.

Shinobi for the Playstation 2 brought the series to 3d. Aside from the music, it hardly resembles the old games and is more of a beat 'em up. It's an old-school action game at heart and I really like the cool moves you can do(wall-running, tate).

Shinobi may not be the most consistent series but it sure has been interesting. I look forward to future games.

So what are your thoughts on the series?

[Shinobi128]

III is the best.

[Jeremy]

RoS rules, but not nearly as much as Neo does for making this topic.

[sggg]

My favourite Shinobi game is the PS2 one... which is just unbelievably wonderful. I didn't expect much from that game at first, but it blew me away with it's amazing gameplay. One of my favourite games ever.

Of the older games my favourite is Shinobi III. I also like Revenge of Shinobi a lot... and I'll always have fond memories of the Master System original.

Shinobi is truly one of gaming's great series. I have not played a lot of the older games in a while, just some Revenge a few months ago. I should go back to them soon.

[NeoZeedeater]

Thanks Jeremy.

But Overworks president Noriyoshi Ohba and his band of ninjas deserve all credit.

[Jeremy]

Ah, that they do... but you deserve the credit for turning their creations into a great topic.

[soundwave]

I played RoS, Shadowdancer and Shinobi III on the Genesis 'til my fingers bled. Neo, did you notice on the SMS version of Shinobi it seemed the powerups were a bit different like I don't remember the long chain in the arcade version--bullets did more damage/much faster etc. Also Shadowdancer on Gen was the only one that had a one hit death (i think). I loved 3 very much but I have a soft spot for RoS--I loved the Yuzo Koshiro music!

[NeoZeedeater]

I only beat the arcade version a few times since I usually ran out of quarters but now that you mention it, I don't remember the chain being in it.

Even in the SMS version, I never liked getting the gun because Mandara was always way easier to beat with the throwing stars.

[gameoverDude]

My favorites would be both arcade titles and the Super Shinobi series.

The original arcade version I was able to 1-credit consistently. Having played the C64 version, I'll say it's a decent port- the game play's there. The graphics look bearable for an 8-bit system, just naturally not as sharp as the SMS one.

The one on PC Engine is rather off in game play- you can't get the weapon (gun & sword) powerup, and you can't use melee attacks. Bonus Stages? Gone. The BGM is pretty accurate. The Mandara things are too hard to take in this version... I can take them down with no trouble on the arcade.

Shadow Dancer plays as good as Shinobi (and the dog is a nice addition). The arcade version is just a bit too tough though- however, its BGM is awesome.

The PS2 Shinobi is good, but it seems to take after Legions a bit in its emphasis on melee attacks.

[Lordmrw]

III is the best.

The Stealth Dash has to be one of the coolest moves invented.