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 (see Contra) jump (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 (see Contra) jump (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)
