Title:

Ninja Gaiden

Release Date:

March 1989

Developer:

Tecmo

Publisher:

Tecmo

Genre:

Side-scrolling Platform/Action

Mode:

Single Player

Under the light of an ominous moon, two men stand poised for a fateful showdown. However, this is no ordinary battle; the fate of the world itself rests upon its outcome. Suddenly, and without warning, they rush towards each other and leap high into the frigid night air. As they pass, each delivers his most powerful blow in the hopes of vanquishing his opponent. Once their deadly flight is over and the unforgiving earth is once again beneath their feet, only one man stands victorious as his foe slumps, mortally wounded, to the ground...

A short time later, in the land of the rising sun, a young ninja warrior receives word that his father was the man that has been killed. His name is Ryu Hayabusa and the circumstances behind his father's death are a mystery even to him. The day after his disappearance, Ryu found a letter explaining that if it were his father's destiny to not return, his son must take up the legendary Dragon Sword of the Hayabusa family and travel to America in search of the archaeologist, Walter Smith.

Eager to discover the truth and thirsty for vengeance, our hero obeys his father's final request and heads for the states. What he doesn't realize is that he's about to uncover one man's nefarious plot to unleash an unspeakable evil in the hopes of attaining control over all of humanity...

Controls

Directional Pad: Controls Ryu's movement.

Select Button: Not used.

Start Button: Start a new game/Pause the current game.

A Button: Jump.

B Button: Attack.

Ninja Arts: Hold Up and press the Attack button*.

*The Jump & Slash Technique is an aerial attack. See below.

Jump & Slash Technique: Jump, then press the Attack button in mid-air.

Advanced Controls

Wall-Spring Jump

Use the A Button to jump towards a wall and Ryu will automatically cling to it briefly. From this position, you can jump away from the wall and slash at your enemies by holding down the d-pad in the direction opposite to which Ryu is facing and pressing the A Button to jump. While in mid-air, press the B Button to attack.

Wall-Spring Climb

Ryu's wall clinging ability can be used to reach high platforms and surfaces by performing a series of Wall-Spring Jumps consecutively. Begin by performing a Wall-Spring Jump. When you jump outwards from the wall you were clinging to and touch the opposite wall, perform another Wall-Spring Jump. Repeat until the desired platform is reached.

Manual Scan

Replacement Docs

Ninja Gaiden (NES)

The Game Screen

1. Score: Your current score.

2. Timer: Time remaining to complete current stage.

3. Lives: Number of lives remaining before game over.

4. Spiritual Strength*: Ryu's remaining spiritual strength.

5. Ninja Arts: Ryu's currently equipped Ninja Art.

6. Enemy Health: Remaining health for level boss.

7. Ryu's Health: Ryu's remaining health.

8. Stage: Displays current level and act.

*Spiritual strength is used to perform Ninja Arts.

A Ninja's Wrath

Revenge: according to the Klingons, it is a dish best served cold. Well, nothing is more chilly than the frigid steel of a pissed off ninja's blade. The next-generation, 3D reboot of the series that has emerged within the last few years is incredible and has brought one of gaming's most consistently outstanding franchises to a whole new generation of fans. For me, the original is all I could ever need. This is by far one of my favorite games of all time for countless reasons. Undoubtedly, one of Ninja Gaiden's most attractive features is its epic and enthralling storyline. The plot remains shrouded and mysterious initially, but with each new cut scene more and more of Ryu's sordid tale is revealed until finally the horrible truth is uncovered. Of course, saving the world from an ancient evil is never easy...

Due to Ninja Gaiden's advanced difficulty level, the key to success quickly becomes avoiding frustration when you die, because it's going to happen a lot. It's this gamer's humble opinion that no franchise in the history of platforming games ever took the genre to new and more mind-numbingly difficult heights like Ninja Gaiden did. Getting through this game plays like a well-executed Hollywood stunt: it requires near perfect timing and many, many takes before you get it right. Luckily, you're offered the chance to continue as many times as you'd like...albeit all the way back at the beginning of the current Act. That means that if you're having a lot of trouble jumping over that bottomless pit while simultaneously trying to dodge the Jet Ninjas' throwing stars in Stage 6-2, you better hope you can get it done with the lives you have left. Otherwise, it's back to Stage 6-1 with your ninja ass. This becomes especially frustrating if you die in the middle of a boss battle. The best advice I can offer is to always look before you leap and don't be afraid to use those Ninja Arts during the especially tricky parts. The Jump and Slash Technique will save your life.

Another nifty feature of the game which will have you pulling hairs out is the hyperactive re-spawn rate of enemies. The appearance of enemies is triggered by Ryu's position on screen. At times, enemies will magically materialize in front of you and you'll be forced to backtrack or take damage. Once you've avoided their initial attack, you just flash them some sword and it's all gravy, right? Wrong. Because you backtracked, you'll have no choice but to face that same enemy again when you get back to their spawning point. A lot of NES games have this issue, but with Ninja Gaiden you almost get the feeling that Tecmo did it on purpose for laughs. The only way to avoid it is to keep making forward progress, but rest assured, you will succumb to the shame of a re-spawning related attack at least a dozen times during the course of the game.

Characters/Enemies

Ryu Hayabusa

A mysterious young man who has become the last surviving member of the legendary Hayabusa ninja lineage following the mysterious death of his father, Ken. After traveling to America, Ryu has learned of a plot to awaken an ancient evil. With the skills granted him by the famed dragon sword, Ryu has vowed to foil Jaquio's plot and avenge the death of his father.

Ken Hayabusa

A renowned ninja warrior and father of Ryu Hayabusa. Following his death at the hands of a shadowy villain, Ryu has vowed to avenge his mysterious slaying. With a letter from Ken as his only clue, Ryu will start his quest in America searching for an old friend of his father's: the archaeologist Walter Smith.

Irene Lew

Ryu will first encounter Irene shortly after his arrival in America. She is extremely elusive and her role in your journey is initially unclear. However, it appears that her intentions are benevolent in nature and she offers Ryu the Shadow Demon Statue for safekeeping following their first meeting.

Walter Smith

Walter is an old friend of Ken Hayabusa's. Together, they first discovered the demon statues and their disastrous prophecy while excavating ruins in the Amazon. He will reveal to Ryu the true purpose of his quest: to stop the union of the Demon Statues at any cost..

Foster

Despite his relative inexperience, Foster holds a powerful position within the CIA's Secret Auxiliary Unit. He will provide Ryu with crucial intelligence concerning Jaquio and his dark intentions, ultimately asking the young ninja for assistance in putting a stop to the threat.

Guardia De Mieux (The Jaquio)

The man who calls himself "The Jaquio" will stop at nothing to achieve his ultimate goal of world domination. After taking up residence in the Demon's Temple in the heart of the Amazonian jungle, he began his search for the infamous Demon Statues in the hopes of awakening the ultimate evil.
BOSS: Act 6, Hall of Judgment

Bloody Malth

Bloody Malth is leader of the Malice Four: a group of fiends chosen by De Mieux to serve as lieutenants in his army of evil. Malth was once considered merely a figment of nightmarish legend. However, his recent reign of terror at the behest of his master has transformed the myth into a terrifying reality.
BOSS: Act 5, Place of Red Execution

Kelbeross

The Kelbeross were once Jaquio's favorite pets. Following their sacrifice to the dark spirits of the Demon's Temple, they returned as twisted abominations that lived only to serve and protect their evil master. Now, they stand guard deep within his lair, awaiting anyone who dares to challenge him.
BOSS: Act 4, The Space of The Kelbeross

Basaquer

While serving as a leader of the deadly "Five Ranges of Doom", Basaquer was banished by his peers for excessive cruelty. With a striking lack of compassion and a mastery of martial arts in every form, The Jaquio was only to happy to save him a place within the Malice Four.
BOSS: Act 3, Yomi's Cave

Bomberhead

Bomberhead serves as Malth's second-in-command. After a rough childhood in the South Bronx which quickly led him towards a life of crime, he would eventually rise up and claim his rightful place as Lord of Evil in New York. He is currently on hiatus from this dubious position while he aides Jaquio in his plot.
BOSS: Act 2, Amura's Altar

Barbarian

The Barbarian is a brutal mass murderer and active participant in Jaquio's quest. In his native Brazil, he is known as the Executioner of South America and his utter lack of remorse for his crimes easily qualifies him as one of the most feared men in the region.
BOSS: Act 1, Jay's Bar

Weapons/Items

Points Bonus

Adds points to your total score.
Blue are worth 500 points; Red are worth 1000 points.

Restore Physical Strength

This healing potion will grant Ryu six additional health points.

Spiritual Strength

Spiritual strength allows Ryu to use his Ninja Arts abilities.
Blue add five points to your spiritual strength; Red add ten points.

1-Up

Grants Ryu one additional life; extremely rare.

Time Freeze

Freezes all enemies on screen for five seconds.

Ninja Arts:

Invincible Fire Wheel

Transforms Ryu's anger into a ring of fire which incinerates enemies on contact.
SPIRITUAL STRENGTH CONSUMPTION: None; activates upon collecting power-up.

Ninja Arts:

Throwing Star

The weakest of the Ninja Arts. When used, Ryu will throw a small shuriken at his enemies.
SPIRITUAL STRENGTH CONSUMPTION: three points.

Ninja Arts:

Windmill Throwing Star

Larger and more powerful than the regular Throwing Star; boomerang action for double the range.
SPIRITUAL STRENGTH CONSUMPTION: five points.

Ninja Arts:

Jump and Slash Technique

Allows Ryu to perform a spinning cut move in mid-air while jumping.
SPIRITUAL STRENGTH CONSUMPTION: five points.

Ninja Arts:

Art of the Fire Wheel

Conjures three flaming projectiles which are released at an upward angle.
SPIRITUAL STRENGTH CONSUMPTION: five points.

Graphics

Rating:

Graphics

Rating:

Graphics

Rating:

Graphics

Rating:

Graphics

Rating:

Graphics

Rating:

Sound Test:

Hold Left + Select + Start + A + B when "Tecmo Presents 1989" appears onscreen. Continue holding all buttons until title screen appears. A sound will confirm code entry. Pressing Start will then display the Sound Test Menu. Use Up and Down to select sounds A to play, and B to stop.

Game Genie Codes:

Invincibility

EEISSS

Slow Run

POTVVV

Unlimited Lives

SZETPGVG

Unlimited Windmill Throwing Stars

AEXVVYIA

Unlimited Art of the Fire Wheel

AAETUYIA

Unlimited Throwing Stars

AAVTNYLA

Ninja Gaiden is known for its innovative use of cinematic cut scenes; a feature which is commonplace in nearly all games released today. It has since become famous as one of the first NES games to present the storyline with movie-like scenes between stages and areas.

Although the game sold extremely well and received positive reviews, some critics argued that the gameplay was too similar to another popular platformer: Castlevania. This was despite the fact that the two games feature remarkably different control dynamics which make several of the actions crucial to Ninja Gaiden impossible to perform in Castlevania.

Despite the fact that Ninja Gaiden was highly praised for its groundbreaking use of stylized cut scenes, a high quality soundtrack, and smooth controls, some critics consider the game's level of difficulty to be extremely excessive, especially in the later levels. Apparently, the fans don't seem to mind. This release continues to be consistently voted as one of the best NES games of all time 20+ years after its initial release.

Due to the game's popularity, it was novelized for the Worlds of Power book series. It was standard practice to tone down the violence present in the games for the novelization and Ninja Gaiden was no exception. Although the North American box art was used for the book's cover, the kunai that Ryu holds in his left hand was airbrushed out, leaving him brandishing an empty fist. The storyline was also changed to accommodate a happier ending in which Ryu's father survives.

In 2004, after a thirteen year hiatus, the franchise was rebooted with the release of Ninja Gaiden for the XBox console. Although inspired by the original NES releases, the new series features a different backstory and supporting characters. The 2004 release continued the franchise tradition of extreme difficulty and, only a few years after its initial release, is already considered by many critics to be one of the best and most challenging video games ever made. A sequel, Ninja Gaiden II , was released for the XBox 360 console in June 2008 and was received with similar success.