Revenge of Shinobi (MD, 1989)
Graphics-7.5 Sound-8 Control-7 Challenge-8
Level Design-7 Frustration-8 Fun-7.5 Originality-6.5
Overall Score-7.5
+
Pretty varied action (double plane gameplay in some levels - Shinobi 1, pre-SMW, some alternate paths through levels and some shortcuts if using the Fushin/high jump spell, the train level and waterfall level)
Great "american ninja" atmosphere (cheesy '80s style)
Good power up system (four different special abilities/spells that are fun to use (shield, smart bomb, high jump, kamikaze smart bomb attack), upgraded shuriken lets you block projectiles+upgrades your melee attacks to a sword with a bit more reach - context sensitive like before and here you also swing above your head if enemies are above you, the weapon upgrade also works like a 1 HP shield)
Secret items (hit walls and sometimes random positions in mid-air - some are tricky to get without dying meaning there's a risk/reward element, hidden path in the final level)
Upgradeable life bar - upgrades at point intervals (if you finish levels with enough shuriken/kunai left you get more points)
Pop culture influenced bosses (Godzilla, Terminator/Hulk, Batman, Spiderman) and one enemy (Rambo)
Becomes a very different game with limited/no shuriken (more tactical/methodical and slower paced, resource management and finding more shuriken now matters)
You can make dogs fetch your shuriken by throwing above them
Some good bosses (level 2, level 4, level 6 (two phases), godzilla, the puzzle element to the final boss) - Each boss also offers a different type of challenge
Simply touching enemies generally doesn't hurt (no touch damage/contact damage)
Difficulty and starting ammo options (easy-very hard)
Ninjas disguised as nuns
Two different endings (fail to save your girl=bad ending)
+/-
Limited continues (only 3 even on Easy) - pretty easy to rack up extra lives though and in the factory you can farm lives via the 2-up at the beginning
Pretty easy to fool some enemies into jumping down pits
Invincibility from enemy shuriken during a sword swing
No save or password save
Can't throw downwards without using the somersault move - can get off some additional downward throws after a somersault throw by mashing the button and pressing down (useful against the level 2 and level 5 bosses)
Can only block while walking
Can't block nor use your melee attack while in mid-air
Can't throw while walking
Can hit enemies that are slightly off screen but enemies can also shoot from off screen
Can destroy grenades by cutting them however the swing won't trigger from being near the grenade itself, only a nearby enemy so it's rarely effective
Bosses generally die quickly with an upgraded weapon and good timing/aim
-
Trial & error (boss patterns, some cheap enemy placements, leaps of faith (can’t look down or up), can't look down/up)
Uneven difficulty curve (Godzilla is quite tough while the train and airplane bosses are easy)
Tricky to pull off somersaults
Frustrating final level (a maze)
Player character (Joe) moves kinda slow for being a ninja - can't run
Joe automatically uses his melee attack when standing above item crates or next to the metal lifts in the factory level or next to the doors in level 1 (also uses it somewhat too soon against some enemies)
Inconsistent knockback (a few projectiles make you fall towards them instead of away from them when hit)+it's pretty big and you lose control of your avatar until you land like in CV - can get pretty frustrating around pits or in some vertical segments
Somewhat limited jump height control (fairly high default jump height and it gets higher if using the Fushin spell, also can't shoot immediately after hitting jump - need to wait a split second which takes some getting used to)
Can't get to the 2-up in level 1-2 without taking damage
Spongy level 3 boss (the brain) and it doesn't escalate making the fight a bit dull unless you have a weapon upgrade+use a shield spell
A bit repetitive at times in that some sub levels are basically just a left to right gauntlet of enemies and a few hazards
The skyscraper sub level is a bit too easy and short if you just use the jump spell and stick to the right side
Bugs:
-You can throw shuriken through small parts of some walls (hit detection bug)
Level Design-7 Frustration-8 Fun-7.5 Originality-6.5
Overall Score-7.5
+
Pretty varied action (double plane gameplay in some levels - Shinobi 1, pre-SMW, some alternate paths through levels and some shortcuts if using the Fushin/high jump spell, the train level and waterfall level)
Great "american ninja" atmosphere (cheesy '80s style)
Good power up system (four different special abilities/spells that are fun to use (shield, smart bomb, high jump, kamikaze smart bomb attack), upgraded shuriken lets you block projectiles+upgrades your melee attacks to a sword with a bit more reach - context sensitive like before and here you also swing above your head if enemies are above you, the weapon upgrade also works like a 1 HP shield)
Secret items (hit walls and sometimes random positions in mid-air - some are tricky to get without dying meaning there's a risk/reward element, hidden path in the final level)
Upgradeable life bar - upgrades at point intervals (if you finish levels with enough shuriken/kunai left you get more points)
Pop culture influenced bosses (Godzilla, Terminator/Hulk, Batman, Spiderman) and one enemy (Rambo)
Becomes a very different game with limited/no shuriken (more tactical/methodical and slower paced, resource management and finding more shuriken now matters)
You can make dogs fetch your shuriken by throwing above them
Some good bosses (level 2, level 4, level 6 (two phases), godzilla, the puzzle element to the final boss) - Each boss also offers a different type of challenge
Simply touching enemies generally doesn't hurt (no touch damage/contact damage)
Difficulty and starting ammo options (easy-very hard)
Ninjas disguised as nuns
Two different endings (fail to save your girl=bad ending)
+/-
Limited continues (only 3 even on Easy) - pretty easy to rack up extra lives though and in the factory you can farm lives via the 2-up at the beginning
Pretty easy to fool some enemies into jumping down pits
Invincibility from enemy shuriken during a sword swing
No save or password save
Can't throw downwards without using the somersault move - can get off some additional downward throws after a somersault throw by mashing the button and pressing down (useful against the level 2 and level 5 bosses)
Can only block while walking
Can't block nor use your melee attack while in mid-air
Can't throw while walking
Can hit enemies that are slightly off screen but enemies can also shoot from off screen
Can destroy grenades by cutting them however the swing won't trigger from being near the grenade itself, only a nearby enemy so it's rarely effective
Bosses generally die quickly with an upgraded weapon and good timing/aim
-
Trial & error (boss patterns, some cheap enemy placements, leaps of faith (can’t look down or up), can't look down/up)
Uneven difficulty curve (Godzilla is quite tough while the train and airplane bosses are easy)
Tricky to pull off somersaults
Frustrating final level (a maze)
Player character (Joe) moves kinda slow for being a ninja - can't run
Joe automatically uses his melee attack when standing above item crates or next to the metal lifts in the factory level or next to the doors in level 1 (also uses it somewhat too soon against some enemies)
Inconsistent knockback (a few projectiles make you fall towards them instead of away from them when hit)+it's pretty big and you lose control of your avatar until you land like in CV - can get pretty frustrating around pits or in some vertical segments
Somewhat limited jump height control (fairly high default jump height and it gets higher if using the Fushin spell, also can't shoot immediately after hitting jump - need to wait a split second which takes some getting used to)
Can't get to the 2-up in level 1-2 without taking damage
Spongy level 3 boss (the brain) and it doesn't escalate making the fight a bit dull unless you have a weapon upgrade+use a shield spell
A bit repetitive at times in that some sub levels are basically just a left to right gauntlet of enemies and a few hazards
The skyscraper sub level is a bit too easy and short if you just use the jump spell and stick to the right side
Bugs:
-You can throw shuriken through small parts of some walls (hit detection bug)