The Revenge of Shinobi

"A Ninja game with some comic book heroes!"

Revenge of Shinobi was released by Sega in 1989, when the Genesis launched (Much like Super Hang-On). You played as the ninja Shinobi, who is trying to rescue Princess Naoko from the evil Neo Zeed. Um...

Graphics: 9/10- Whoa! Look! The main character has more than two frames of animation! Okay, so I've been playing a bit too much Deadly Towers recently. In all seriousness, when this game came out, four frames of animation on your character was simply unheard of. Your character and the enemies he faces are also rather large, and quite well detailed. The backgrounds in this game, though they're first generation 16-Bit, are simply amazing--check out the bamboo stalks of level 1, or the water cascading down in level 2. Really a showcase of what the Genesis could do. There were some cool bosses as a result, such as the second boss, who makes copies of himself that trail behind him.

Sound: 9/10- The sound, likewise, is also very good. The music ranges from traditional oriental sounding, to rock, to a bit of hip-hop--yet through it all, manages to maintain that whole ninja mystique. The sound effects are likewise realistic, such as the shurikens hitting the ground when you jump and throw them downward. However, I'm not quite sure they go ''Poonk!'' when they hit boxes, but oh well. You also get ''Swish!''es of swords going through the air, etc.

Control: 7/10- In general, Shinobi controls rather well, though I wish he were a bit faster sometimes. He hangs in the air for quite a long time, which can be bad in some cases. The main problem I have is performing the somersault. You jump, and at the peak of your jump, jump again, thus somersaulting. It is here that you can throw 8 shurikens at varying angles downward. Sometimes when you need this somersault--early in level 2 for instance--it simply doesn't happen, and you fall down and lose a life. Very annoying. When you run out of Shurikens, you revert to using a dagger, which can be powered up into a sword (Though only until you take damage). Sometimes it's more fun to go through the game using the dagger (Hehe). :)

Story: 2/10- Save the Damsel in Distress from the Evil Meanie(tm). Darnit, darnit, darnit! I've saved enough freakin' girls over the years! At least you do it as a ninja, which is cool. And as you'll find out, you have a chance at beating the game, but not saving Naoko at the end. You'll see what I mean if you ever get to the final battle.

Challenge: 10/10- The challenge was another big selling point of this game. It's all the way in one play, though you get three continues. There are three difficulty levels, which alter the number of enemies and the number of lives you start with, but it's a tough playthrough no matter what. There's no stage select, contrary to what it said in early manuals for this game, but there is a way to get infinite shurikens.

Replay Value: 8/10- Quite a bit of fun to be had here, although sometimes you wonder how. The action never really changes--beat up Ninjas, beat up other enemies, beat up boss, repeat--yet it remains fun in this game. It's also difficult, as mentioned earlier, and so that also helps. The last level being a maze of doors doesn't hurt either. :P Besides, you can fight Spider Man (Or Batman, depending on your version of the game)!

Overall: 8/10- In general, this is a pretty fun action title, with great graphics and sound, and okay control. In would recommend it for some classic 2-D side scrolling action, or for fans of action games in general. Even comic book fans may like it, as you fight either Spider Man or Batman late in the game. :)

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 04/28/00, Updated 04/28/00