Ninja Spirit (PCE, 1990)
Graphics-8 Sound-8 Control-7.5 Challenge-7
Level Design-7 Frustration-8 Fun-(7.5) Originality-5
Overall Score-7.5
+
Mixes Shinobi and Legend of Kage style gameplay
Some fun weapons (hook shot, shuriken, grenades)
2-player co-op
Fast paced and frantic
Decent variation
Regain health between levels
Good art direction
Some large and detailed sprites
Some good bosses (most only have one pattern)
Shadow familiars (Ninja Gaiden 2) and upgradeable weapons (1 level)
8-way targeting with most weapons, deflect bullets, walk on the ceiling in some levels (similar to Metal Storm), shields and smart bombs
+/-
Can't move while shooting (can jump though)
No alternate attacks
The game is a lot easier when fully upgraded
-
Somewhat short (7 stages)
Floaty and vertically focused jump (see Contra; very slow falling speed)
Trial & error (pit in final level (finding the safe spot), enemy weaknesses, boss patterns, fast ambush style attacks)
No difficulty options (arcade mode is the same thing but without a HP bar)
Bosses go down way too fast using the grenades or shuriken
Hard to recover later on (lose upgrades and familiars when dying)
Some single coloured backgrounds
Minor slowdown and flicker
So-so ending
Your shadows sometimes blend with the enemy sprites
Pathetic boss in stage 6 (zombies)
Level Design-7 Frustration-8 Fun-(7.5) Originality-5
Overall Score-7.5
+
Mixes Shinobi and Legend of Kage style gameplay
Some fun weapons (hook shot, shuriken, grenades)
2-player co-op
Fast paced and frantic
Decent variation
Regain health between levels
Good art direction
Some large and detailed sprites
Some good bosses (most only have one pattern)
Shadow familiars (Ninja Gaiden 2) and upgradeable weapons (1 level)
8-way targeting with most weapons, deflect bullets, walk on the ceiling in some levels (similar to Metal Storm), shields and smart bombs
+/-
Can't move while shooting (can jump though)
No alternate attacks
The game is a lot easier when fully upgraded
-
Somewhat short (7 stages)
Floaty and vertically focused jump (see Contra; very slow falling speed)
Trial & error (pit in final level (finding the safe spot), enemy weaknesses, boss patterns, fast ambush style attacks)
No difficulty options (arcade mode is the same thing but without a HP bar)
Bosses go down way too fast using the grenades or shuriken
Hard to recover later on (lose upgrades and familiars when dying)
Some single coloured backgrounds
Minor slowdown and flicker
So-so ending
Your shadows sometimes blend with the enemy sprites
Pathetic boss in stage 6 (zombies)
