Ninja Gaiden
86PurrfectSadkitty Score
86KitSuperintelligent review
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Ninja Ryu Hayabusa avenges his father across six acts of fast, wall-clinging action. It pioneered cinematic cutscenes on console and is still famous for its difficulty.
Kit's verdict · 8.6/10
Slick, stylish and fast, with cutscenes ahead of their time and a final stretch that'll make you scream.Kit · Sadkitty Games
Loved
- Fast, responsive movement and wall jumping
- Cinematic story scenes
- Thrilling soundtrack
Not so much
- Birds that knock you into pits
- Dying on the final boss sends you back three stages
Play it if players who want a tight, tough action game with a story.
Skip it if anyone who doesn't want to replay the same level repeatedly.
Cheats & codes
No cheat codes
Ninja Gaiden doesn't have cheat codes. The tips and secrets below are the next best thing.
Tips
Play it better
- The Windmill Throwing Star and the spinning Jump & Slash are the best items; Jump & Slash melts most bosses.
- Don't grab a new ninja item if you want to keep your current one, since they swap instantly.
- Stand still for a moment before jumping onto ledges with birds; they react to your movement.
- Hug walls to dodge flying hazards and climb faster.
- Carry the Jump & Slash into Act 6 and save ninpo for the three-part final boss.
- Enemies respawn when you scroll back even slightly, so avoid backtracking.
Secrets & unlockables
Hidden in plain sight
Tap a secret to reveal it.
Did you know?
Trivia
- Its cutscenes, which Tecmo called 'Tecmo Theater', were a huge step for NES storytelling.
- Ryu Hayabusa later starred in the modern 3D Ninja Gaiden games on Xbox.
- In Europe it was called Shadow Warriors.
- It inspired the 2018 retro hit The Messenger.
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