NES – Shadow of the Ninja
November 17, 2008 - 11:46 am - Posted by Sean
Shadow of the Ninja for the Nintendo Entertainment System looks like your standard platform game, but it’s extremely well executed and offers some very exciting two-player co-op action.
The game looks great, beginning with its slick intro that shows a very cool view of the Statue of Liberty at night with the twin towers in the background. The cargo ship stage looks amazing as you battle ninjas in the pouring rain, and the rooftop stage features gorgeous views of the skyline. Even less inspired locations like the sewers are colorful, detailed, and designed for maximum playability.
The controls are crisp and forgiving, so you can attack, climb, and leap with precision. When playing alongside a friend we were able to keep up with each other just fine – even while bounding full-speed through each level. Your default weapon is the Katana, but white crates reveal ranged weapons like throwing stars and sickle-chains.
Enemies include boomerang-tossing brutes and humanoid robots that break in two, forcing you to deal with their running legs and flying torsos. Then there are those hyperactive ninjas who attempt to push you around the screen. You’ll be wise to avoid these guys whenever possible.
Additional hazards include steam vents and mechanical mice. The stages are challenging but mercifully short.
If there’s one problem with Shadow, it’s the lack of a score. Forging through the game is fun, but it would be nice to have a way to gauge your performance when you fall short.
Still, for non-stop action you can enjoy with a friend, Shadow of the Ninja for the NES is a blast.
This game was a sleeper, good one too. It had that whole Tenchu hook.
I still have this game in my NES collection. I still enjoy playing this game a lot.
@BitMaster: Indeed, a sleeper game for sure!
@Billy: I like playing it too. It’s crazy seeing the Twin Towers in a video game now.