Ninja Gaiden Shadow

Ninja Gaiden Shadow, released in Japan as Ninja Ryūkenden GB: Matenrō Kessen (Japanese: 忍者龍剣伝GB 摩天楼決戦, literally "Legend of the Ninja Dragon Sword GB: Skyscraper Showdown"), in China as Ninja's Skyscraper Fight (DMG-126 CHN), and in Europe and Australia as Shadow Warriors, is a side-scrolling action game released for the Game Boy in 1991 by Tecmo. It is a prequel of the NES Ninja Gaiden trilogy.

Ninja Gaiden Shadow
North American cover art
Developer(s)Natsume
Publisher(s)Tecmo
Composer(s)Hiroyuki Iwatsuki
SeriesNinja Gaiden
Platform(s)Game Boy
Release
  • JP: December 13, 1991
  • NA: December 1991
  • EU: 1992
Genre(s)Action
Mode(s)Single-player

Plot

Set three years before the events of the first Ninja Gaiden (NES), the player controls Ryu Hayabusa, who must save New York City from the forces of Emperor Garuda, a servant of Jaquio. Garuda's minions include the cyborg "Spider", kickboxer Gregory and his manager Jack, former military commander Colonel Allen, and the Japanese nobleman Whokisai (風鬼斎, Fūkisai).

Gameplay
Screenshot of the game's First Act.

Ninja Gaiden Shadow features simplified play mechanics compared to those used in the NES trilogy. In contrast to the variety of ninja arts and power-ups available in the NES games, Ryu only has a basic sword attack and a Fire Wheel attack that can be replenished for up to five uses. While Ryu cannot stick to or climb walls like in the NES games, he can hang onto railings and move underneath them like in Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom, and use both his sword attack and the Fire Wheel art while hanging onto railings. Unique to this installment, is Ryu being equipped with a grappling hook that allows him to latch onto hard-to-reach railings. Like in the NES versions, Ryu can find health potions, fire wheel stocks, and extra lives by destroying item containers.

Development

Ninja Gaiden Shadow was originally planned to be a Game Boy adaptation of the NES game Shadow of the Ninja.[1] The Nagoya division of Natsume, which developed Shadow of the Ninja, also developed Ninja Gaiden Shadow.

References
  1. "Game Boy Special Feature: Coming Soon". Nintendo Power. Vol. 28. September 1991. p. 67. Another (Game Boy title) to look for is Shadow of the Ninja, a Game Boy adaptation of the NES ninja thriller.
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