Ninja Gaiden (NES video game)

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This article is about Ninja Gaiden for the Nintendo Entertainment System. For other games of the same name, see Ninja Gaiden.
Ninja Gaiden
File:Ninja Gaiden (NES).PNG
North American boxart, NES version
Developer(s)Tecmo
Publisher(s)Tecmo
Designer(s)Shuichi Sakurazaki
Platform(s)NES, PC-Engine, SNES, Virtual Console, Mobile phones
Release
  • JP: December 9, 1988 (1988-12-09)
[1]
[1]
  • EU: August 15, 1991 (1991-08-15)
[1]
Genre(s)Platformer
Mode(s)Single player

Ninja Gaiden (忍者外伝, lit. "Ninja Story"), known in Japan as Ninja Ryūkenden (忍者龍剣伝, lit. "Legend of the Ninja Dragon Sword") and as Shadow Warriors in Europe, is a platform game developed and published by Tecmo for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released on December 9, 1988 (1988-12-09) in Japan, March Template:Vgy in North America, and on August 15, 1991 (1991-08-15) in Europe.[1] Ninja Gaiden is the first installment in the NES trilogy of Ninja Gaiden games featuring the adventures of Ryu Hayabusa.

The story centers on a ninja named Ryu Hayabusa, whose father was recently killed in a duel. Ryu then sets out for America to investigate his father's death and to seek revenge. However, Ryu eventually finds himself involved in a sinister plot that threatens the entire world.

Ninja Gaiden was developed by Tecmo — known for their later achievements such as the Tecmo Bowl series, Rygar, and the Xbox version of the Ninja Gaiden series.[2] This game is renowned for its innovative use of cinematic cutscenes. It represents one of the first NES games to feature a full, movie-like story. The game's success spawned two sequels and several ports to other video game systems. It also garnered extensive coverage in Nintendo Power magazine, and it was also novelized as part of the Worlds of Power game adaptations written by F.X. Nine.

Gameplay

File:Ninja Gaiden Act 1.png
Gameplay of Ninja Gaiden for the NES

The player controls Ryu Hayabusa through six platforming levels, known as "Acts."[3] In general, the gameplay is similar to that of the Castlevania series, but with the main difference in that the player has the ability to grasp onto walls and ladders and jump off them. The player has a life meter which denotes the player's "physical strength."[4] The player's life meter drops every time the player gets hit by an enemy or a projectile. The player loses a life when the player's life meter runs out, falls off the screen, or when the timer runs out; the game ends when the player has lost all lives.[4] However, the player can continue the game at the beginning of that level in which the player has lost all lives.[5][6]

Weaponry

The player's main attack is thrusting with the Dragon Sword.[7] The player can also use various subweapons which use up the player's "spiritual strength" (indicated on the screen below the timer). Subweapons include shurikens, fire wheels, and "jump and slash" techniques. Every time the player uses a subweapon, the player's spiritual strength decreases; when the spiritual strength meter becomes too low, the player cannot use that particular subweapon. However, the player can replenish spiritual strength by collecting various items.[8]

Bosses

At the end of every act, the player fights a boss. Each boss has an identical life meter as the player's. The boss's life meter decreases when the player hits it with the sword or subweapon. The player defeats the boss when the boss's life meter has been completely depleted.[4]

The bosses of Ninja Gaiden comprise the "Malice Four" — the four evil forces who are servants of the Jaquio. The Malice Four consists of the Barbarian, Bomberhead, Basquer, and the Bloody Malth. In addition, the player must also contend with Kelbeross – an evil soul who assumes the form of Jaquio's servant pet dog.[9]

Plot

Characters

The main protagonist and hero of Ninja Gaiden is Ryu Hayabusa — a young ninja who is part of the Hayabusa clan. His father Ken, the only other member as well as head of the clan, is killed in a duel during the story's prologue. Ryu then sets out to America to avenge his father's death and to find out the truth behind his father's death.[10][11]

Ryu's first encounter in America is in a bar with a CIA operative named Irene Lew,[12] who hands Ryu a strange-looking "Demon Statue" and instructs him to leave.[13] Ryu eventually finds archaeologist Walter Smith, for whom Ryu was instructed to see in his father's letter. Walter lectures Ryu about the Dragon Sword, Ryu's destiny, and the Demon Statues. He instructs Ryu to protect the two Demon Statues that he and Ken had found on an expedition.

Further in the story, Ryu meets with Foster, head of the Special Auxiliary Unit of the CIA. He asks Ryu for help in eliminating Guardia de Mieux — the main antagonist to the story known as the Jaquio.[14] Jaquio plans to use the demon statues to summon the evil demon and to build an evil empire and rule the world.[15]

Throughout the story, Ryu battles with the "Malice Four" — the four evil forces hand-picked by Jaquio to carry out his evil plan. The first member of the Malice Four is the Barbarian — an ax-wielding South American who intercepts Ryu in Galesburg. The second member, as well as vice-leader of the group, is Bomberhead — a New Yorker who attacks his victims with a sickle and chain. The Basaquer is the third member who attempts to steal the demon statue from Ryu. The final member and leader of the Malice Four is the seemingly-invincible Bloody Malth. The Bloody Malth is a European trained in the Japanese martial arts, and has power over lightning. He claims that he had killed Ryu's father Ken in the prologue's duel.[16]

Story

File:Ninja Gaiden NES Duel.png
The opening scene of Ninja Gaiden, featuring the two dueling ninjas, in which Ryu's father Ken (orange ninja) is killed.

The story takes place presumably in modern time.

The crux of the story of Ninja Gaiden revolves around two demon statues that, when brought together, can awaken an evil archdemon (known colloquially in the game as the "demon") bent on the world's destruction.[17] After Ryu's father, Ken, is killed in a duel with another ninja, Ryu finds a letter written by Ken, telling him that if he should fall, then he must go to America and find the archaeologist Walter Smith.[18] Before Ryu can find him, however, he is kidnapped by CIA agent Irene Lew, who hands Ryu one of the demon statues.

Eventually, Ryu finds Walter, who tells Ryu of the demon statues that he and Ryu’s father had found in the Amazon ruins as well as the origins and history of the demon and of "Light" and "Shadow" demon statues.[19][20] Ryu shows Walter the "Shadow" demon statue he received from Irene. However, during their conversation, a masked figure suddenly breaks into the cabin and steals the Shadow statue.[21] Ryu gives chase and retrieves the statue, but when he returns to Walter, he finds that Walter had been killed and that the Light statue has been taken. A moment later, Ryu is captured by three armed men.

Ryu is taken to an interrogation room, where he is addressed by Foster, head of the Special Auxiliary Unit of the Central Intelligence Agency. Foster explains to Ryu that they have been monitoring the activity someone named Guardia de Mieux – also known as "The Jaquio" — who has moved in to an Amazon temple where the body of the demon is located.[22] Jaquio wishes to gain the demon statues so that he can release the Demon from the statues and bring forth the end of the world.[23] He then asks Ryu to travel to South America and to eliminate Jaquio.[24]

Ryu makes his way into the Brazilian temple, where he finds Jaquio. However, Ryu finds that Jaquio is now holding Irene captive. Jaquio instructs Ryu to hand over the Shadow statue, at which point Jaquio releases a trap door beneath Ryu, causing Ryu to fall into a catacomb. Ryu makes his way back to the top of the temple, where he confronts Bloody Malth, whom after his defeat by Ryu, tells Ryu that it was he who had defeated his father and that his father is still alive.[25] Not believing in the Bloody Malth's dying words, Ryu ventures on.

At the inner altar of the temple, Ryu realizes that Malth was telling the truth, and that his father is indeed alive but has been possessed by an evil figure.[26] After Ryu destroys the evil figure — hence reverting his father back to normal — Jaquio awakes. Jaquio is killed during the ensuing fight, but then the demon is suddenly awakened as a lunar eclipse causes the demon statues to transform into the demon.[27] After defeating the demon, Ryu's father tells Ryu to leave him behind in the temple as it collapses and to take Irene with him.[28] Afterwards, Foster, communicating via satellite, then orders Irene to kill Ryu, but Irene refuses to carry out the deed, choosing to be with Ryu instead.

History

Ninja Gaiden was developed by video game company Tecmo and made initially for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was developed and directed by Shuichi Sakurazaki, who would go on to also develop and direct the game's sequel.[29][30] Ninja Gaiden was released in Japan for the on December 9, 1988 (1988-12-09) as Ninja Ryukenden. It was released in North America as Ninja Gaiden in March Template:Vgy. Finally, it was released in Europe on August 15, 1991 (1991-08-15) and was renamed as Shadow Warriors.[29] Ninja Gaiden was the second title to bear its name, the first being the arcade version also released by Tecmo earlier in Template:Vgy.[31] Whereas the arcade version was a two-player cooperative beat 'em up game like Double Dragon, the NES version featured platforming gameplay, different graphics and storylines, and featured cinematic cutscenes.[citation needed]

Ports

File:Ninja Gaiden Trilogy - Basaquer Battle.png
Ryu fighting Basaquer in the SNES compilation of Ninja Gaiden Trilogy.

The NES version of Ninja Gaiden has been ported to several platforms, including the PC Engine, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, the Wii's Virtual Console Service, and mobile phones.

Ninja Gaiden was first ported to the PC Engine in Template:Vgy for Japan only. The PC Engine version featured an alternate English translation and more colorful graphics, as well as various difficulty and gameplay tweaks from the original.[32]

Along with the two other installments of the series for the NES, Ninja Gaiden also appeared as an enhanced remake in the Ninja Gaiden Trilogy compilation for the SNES. Some reviewers appreciated the redrawn graphics and music in this version, but others found it an inadequate effort. Electronic Gaming Monthly reviewers compared it unfavorably to another updated NES remake, Mega Man: The Wily Wars, and called Ninja Gaiden Trilogy "an exact port-over with no noticeable enhancements in graphics, sound and play control".[33]

Ninja Gaiden was released on Wii's Virtual Console on May 14, 2007 (2007-05-14) in North America and on September 21, 2007 (2007-09-21) in Europe. Europeans, Australians, and New Zealanders have been able to purchase Ninja Gaiden as part of 'Hanabi Festival', where people can buy games not released in Europe for a higher price, despite the fact that Ninja Gaiden was released in Europe on the NES as Shadow Warriors. The European version does not have the typical PAL issues and runs at 60 Mhz.

In Template:Vgy, Tecmo also began releasing episodic chapters of Ninja Gaiden for mobile phones in low-priced installments for small groups of levels.[34] It is currently only available for purchase in Japan, although the official English Tecmo Games mobile website advertised it for a future release along with a mobile version of Tecmo Bowl.[35] The complete game was planned for mobile release in four installments.[36]

Reception

File:Ninja Gaiden Nintendo Power.jpg
The front cover of issue #5 of Nintendo Power, featuring Ninja Gaiden, the featured article of the issue, on the front cover.

Upon its release, Ninja Gaiden was met with high sales, directly spawning the 1990 sequel, Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos.[citation needed] However, some critics have bemoaned Ninja Gaiden's gameplay as being too similar to another successful NES platformer, Castlevania, despite the fact that Castlevania and Ninja Gaiden have different dynamics, and that several actions possible in Ninja Gaiden would be impossible in Castlevania.[41] In recent times, the game has been considered "groundbreaking" for its pioneering use of stylized cutscenes, as well as its high quality music and dark atmosphere.[42][43] Other criticism includes a particularly high and unrelenting difficulty level, especially late in the game; one reviewer has referred to the latter levels of Ninja Gaiden as an "unfair display of intentional cheapness."[37]

Ninja Gaiden also received strong publicity in Nintendo Power during 1989. It was featured on the cover of the magazine's fifth issue.[44] and was referenced in the following issue in a Howard and Nester comic strip.[45] Speaking to the game's difficulty, Ninja Gaiden also appeared in several issues that year in the magazine's Counselor's Corner and Classified Information help sections.[46]

The title is still revered today as one of the most popular games for the Nintendo Entertainment System. In a 2006 Joystiq reader poll including over 12,000 votes, Ninja Gaiden ranked #10 in a vote on top games for the system.[47] In a followup feature to an Electronic Gaming Monthly article, "The 200 Greatest Videogames of Their Time", readers wrote in to discuss games they felt were ignored in the list; Ninja Gaiden placed 16th in the top 25 games discussed.[48] During the end of 2005, Nintendo Power ran a serial feature, the Top 200 Nintendo Games Ever, spanning games for all Nintendo systems where Ninja Gaiden was ranked #89.[49]

Other appearances

A novelization of this game under the Worlds of Power line of NES game adaptations was published in July 1990 by Scholastic Press. It was written by Peter Lerangis under the pseudonym "A.L. Singer", though the book is also often credited to "F.X. Nine", a pen name for the main Worlds of Power writer, Seth Godin.[50] As with all of the Worlds of Power books, the amount of violence present in the video game was severely toned down for the novel, due to concerns of appropriateness for the young target audience. Similarly, it did not strictly adhere to the storyline of the game, changing the ending so that Ryu's father survived at the conclusion. The book's cover, which was a replication of the North American box art, was infamous for the kunai held in Ryu's front hand being airbrushed out, leaving him prodding an empty fist.[51]

A soundtrack CD, Ninja Ryukenden: Tecmo GSM-1, was released by Pony Canyon in February 1989.[52] It features an arranged medley of various music from the game, as well as slightly enhanced versions of the original game's tracks. The CD also included music from the original arcade version of Ninja Gaiden.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Ninja Gaiden Info". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  2. ^ "Tecmo". IGN. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
  3. ^ Instruction Manual, "Acts of the Story's Progression."
  4. ^ a b c Instruction Manual, "Indicator Display"
  5. ^ Exception: If the player loses all lives during the final three boss battles in Acts 6-4, 6-5, or 6-6; the player can only continue the game at Act 6-1.
  6. ^ Instruction Manual, "A Supply of Power for the Defeated."
  7. ^ Instruction Manual, "Run, Ryu!"
  8. ^ Instruction Manual, "The Ultimate in the Art of the Ninja."
  9. ^ Instruction Manual, "Introduction of Characters."
  10. ^ Instruction Manual, "Prologue."
  11. ^ Instruction Manual, "Characters — Ryu Hayabusa."
  12. ^ She does not reveal her name until the game's epilogue.
  13. ^ Instruction Manual, "Characters — Irene Lew."
  14. ^ Instruction Manual, "Characters — Foster."
  15. ^ Instruction Manual, "Characters — Guardia de Mieux (Jaquio)."
  16. ^ Instruction Manual, "Characters" (The Malice Four).
  17. ^ Inscription on the demon statues' stone tablet: When a black moon shines, Light and Dark break apart, the King of Darkness howls. Tecmo (March Template:Vgy). Ninja Gaiden (NES) (Nintendo Entertainment System). Tecmo. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ Ken Hayabusa: (In letter to Ryu) Ryu, I am on my way to a life or death duel. If it is my destiny that I not return, you are to take the Dragon sword of the Hayabusa family and go to to America and see the archaeologist, Walter Smith. Tecmo (March Template:Vgy). Ninja Gaiden (NES) (Nintendo Entertainment System). Tecmo. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ Walter Smith: The demon came to this earth and caused many deaths. But then SHINOBI appeared to stop the demon.Tecmo (March Template:Vgy). Ninja Gaiden (NES) (Nintendo Entertainment System). Tecmo. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ Walter Smith: So SHINOBI confined the evil power of the demon in two statues of 'LIGHT' and 'SHADOW.' …and the body of the demon was confined in a temple." Tecmo (March Template:Vgy). Ninja Gaiden (NES) (Nintendo Entertainment System). Tecmo. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ While not made clear in the storyline, this "masked figure" is assumed to be the Malice Four member Basaquer.
  22. ^ Foster: However, a man moved in and took over the ruins. His name is Guardia de mieux. He calls himself the Jaquio. Tecmo (March Template:Vgy). Ninja Gaiden (NES) (Nintendo Entertainment System). Tecmo. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ Foster: If someone brings the demon back to life, he will gain incredible power…enough to control the entire world. Tecmo (March Template:Vgy). Ninja Gaiden (Nintendo Entertainment System). Tecmo. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ Barnholt, Ray (2008-05-28). "Ninja Gaiden vs. Ninja Gaiden". 1up.com. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
  25. ^ Bloody Malth: Killed? It is true that we fought. But your father is alive… if you proceed further, you will see him. Tecmo (March Template:Vgy). Ninja Gaiden (Nintendo Entertainment System). Tecmo. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ Masked Devil: Your father was not killed. He was just turned into the Masked Devil. Tecmo (March Template:Vgy). Ninja Gaiden (Nintendo Entertainment System). Tecmo. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ The reference to a "black moon" on the demon statues' tablet was referring to a lunar eclipse.
  28. ^ Ken: Ryu, you are a man, now. My destiny is tied to the demon statue. Tecmo (March Template:Vgy). Ninja Gaiden (Nintendo Entertainment System). Tecmo. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ a b "Ninja Gaiden Release Date". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
  30. ^ "Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos Release Date". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
  31. ^ "Ninja Gaiden (Arcade) Release Date". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
  32. ^ "Ninja Gaiden". IGN. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
  33. ^ "Ninja Gaiden Trilogy Review", Electronic Gaming Monthly, no. 73, August 1995{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  34. ^ Buchanan, Levy (2004-07-16). "Ninja Gaiden Episode I: Destiny - Tecmo's classic ninja roars into action on handsets". IGN. Retrieved 2006-08-10.
  35. ^ "Tecmo 100% Games - Mobile". Retrieved 2006-08-10.
  36. ^ Score, Avery (2004-09-28). "Ninja Gaiden Preview, Episodes II-IV". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
  37. ^ a b "Ninja Gaiden NES Review Index, Ninja Gaiden Reviews". 1up.com. 2000-01-01. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
  38. ^ "Ninja Gaiden NES Game". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
  39. ^ "Ninja Gaiden Trailers, Reviews, Interviews". Gametrailers. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
  40. ^ "Ninja Gaiden for NES". MobyGames. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
  41. ^ Kohler, Chris (2006-01-30). "Retro Rip-Offs: Some of the Most Egregious Plagiarisms in Classic Gaming". 1UP.com. Retrieved 2006-08-10.
  42. ^ Turner, Benjmain and Christian Nutt (2003-07-15). "Nintendo Famicom: 20 Years of Fun". GameSpy. Retrieved 2006-08-10.
  43. ^ Waugh, Eric-Jon Rossel (2006-06-27). "The Ten Greatest Years in Gaming". Next Generation Magazine. Retrieved 2008-06-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  44. ^ Nintendo Power, no. 5, March/April 1989 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  45. ^ "Howard and Nester – May/June 1989", Nintendo Power, no. 6, May/June 1989, retrieved 2008-06-27 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  46. ^ Nintendo Power, no. 6, 7, 8, 9, May–December 1989 {{citation}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: date format (link)
  47. ^ "Readers vote on top 10 NES games". Joystiq. 2006-06-18. Retrieved 2006-08-10. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Text "lastSnow" ignored (help)
  48. ^ "The Top 25 Games EGM 25 Dissed!". Electronic Gaming Monthly. 2006-02-28. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
  49. ^ Nintendo Power, no. 198, p. 74, December 2005 {{citation}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  50. ^ Nine, F.X. (July 1990). Ninja Gaiden. New York, NY: Scholastic Corporation. ISBN 0590437763. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  51. ^ Struck, Shawn and Scott Sharkey (2006-08-03). "8-Bit Lit: Inside the NES' Worlds of Power Series". 1up.com. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
  52. ^ Nussbaum, Jeff. "Miscellaneous". Gamespy. Retrieved 2006-08-10.

External links

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