By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.
As a child, I had a fascination with ninjas. They always seemed cool to me. While I wasn’t a huge fan of the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” they were okay. For a brief period, they seemed to be everywhere. However, the game that truly captured my interest featuring ninjas was “Ninja Gaiden Shadow” for the Nintendo Game Boy in 1991.
I’ve often wondered why ninjas are not more prevalent in video games. While there is “Ghost of Tsushima,” which is a beautifully designed game, there are not as many ninja-focused games as one might expect.
Playing a ninja game on the Game Boy requires intense concentration, especially since the screen is small. It was a challenge to navigate through the different levels with Ryu Hayabusa, the main character of “Ninja Garden Shadow,” as you strive to save New York City from Emperor Garuda’s forces.
“Ninja Gaiden Shadow” had simpler gameplay mechanics compared to the NES trilogy, yet I still found it exhilarating. I particularly enjoyed using the grappling hook that allowed Ryu to reach inaccessible railings. Despite its initial difficulty, I eventually mastered the grappling hook, making it easier to use, even on the Game Boy. The Fire Wheel attack, usable only five times, felt somewhat ineffective to me. Although it caused damage, it seemed somewhat absurd in appearance.
Many of my friends likened “Ninja Gaiden Shadow” to classic NES games like “Double Dragon” and “Kung Fu,” but I strongly disagreed. Each of these games has its own unique qualities. Originally planned as a Game Boy adaptation of the NES game “Shadow of the Ninja,” I never played it, but I heard it was enjoyable.
image source: retrovania-vgjunk.blogspot.com
“Kill Bill” is one of my favorite movies. I’ve watched the Crazy 88 scene countless times. Although the Crazy 88 are not technically ninjas, their fighting style resembles that of ninjas, and Uma Thurman’s The Bride takes them on as though they were. This extended fight scene brought back memories of my childhood fascination with ninjas. “Kill Bill” could have been a fantastic property for a video game adaptation. I’ve heard rumors of a prototype for an Xbox game, but nothing materialized from it.
Original article by ausretrogamer.com
