Ninja Gaiden (Game Gear)

From Sega Retro

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  • US/EU
  • JP

NinjaGaiden GG title.png

NinjaGaiden GG JP Title.png

Ninja Gaiden
System(s): Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Licensor: Tecmo
Genre: Action[2][3][4]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Game Gear
JP
¥3,5003,500 G-3215
Sega Game Gear
US
$39.9539.95[5][6] 2312
Sega Game Gear
EU
2312
Sega Game Gear
UK
£24.9924.99[8][7] 2312
Sega Game Gear
BR
013470

Ninja Gaiden (忍者外伝) is a 1991 side-scrolling action game published by Sega for the Game Gear. It is based on the series of the same name originally produced by Tecmo, this is an original creation by a different developer. Despite the "reprogrammed by Sega" line on the title screen, this game is not directly based on any previous Ninja Gaiden title.

While the Ninja Gaiden series was traditionally known as Ninja Ryuukenden (忍者龍剣伝) in Japan and Shadow Warriors in Europe, this game was released under the Ninja Gaiden name in all regions. A completely different game also called Ninja Gaiden was released for the Sega Master System around the same time.

Story

The Dragonsword is an ancient and magical blade that imbues its wielder with special powers. It has been passed down through the generations and is now in the possession of the ninja Ryu Hayabusa. One day, the sword is almost stolen, which sets Ryu on a journey to discover who is behind the attempted theft and what their motivations are.

Gameplay

The game is an side-scrolling action game. Ryu moves with Left and Right and crouches with Down. The screen follows him as he moves right through the level (called "acts"), but the screen does not move left, so the player cannot backtrack. Ryu can swipe his sword with 1 and jump with 2. He can use his sword while running or jumping. He clings to walls when he jumps on them and can scale them with Up or descend them with Down.

Ryu can gain a special ability by picking up a Ninjutsu item. He can only hold one Ninjutsu item at a time; the current Ninjutsu item is shown as an icon in the top-center of the screen. Ryu uses his Ninjutsu ability with Down+1, which also works in midair. Ninjutsu abilities cost a certain amount of Force each time they are used. The amount of Force varies depending on the ability. Ryu gains Force from finding items; his current amount of Force is shown as a number in the top-right of the screen. He can have a maximum of 99 Force units.

Ryu's vitality is shown as a gauge in the top-left of the screen. He has 16 health markers total. He loses health whenever he takes damage from an enemy. When he loses all of his health, he loses a life. Each act is timed, and Ryu also loses a life if time runs out. The game ends if Ryu loses all of his lives. Ryu starts each act with full health and no Ninjutsu item. Ryu has a very short period of invulnerability after taking damage, so it is possible to take multiple successive hits from a single foe if Ryu cannot move out of the damage.

As with the other games in the Ninja Gaiden series, the story unfolds through cutscenes in between each act.

Items

Ninja Gaiden GG, Items.png
Item Container
Destroy to release an item. Collect the item by walking over it before it disappears.
Ninja Gaiden GG, Items.png
Blue Power Ball
Increases Ryu's Force by 5 units.
Ninja Gaiden GG, Items.png
Red Power Ball
Increases Ryu's Force by 10 units.
Ninja Gaiden GG, Items.png
Scroll
Increases Ryu's Force by 30 units.
Ninja Gaiden GG, Items.png
Blue Pot of Herbs
Heals Ryu by 4 health markers.
Ninja Gaiden GG, Items.png
Red Pot of Herbs
Heals Ryu by 8 health markers.
Ninja Gaiden GG, Items.png
Shuriken
Gives Ryu the Shuriken ability.
Ninja Gaiden GG, Items.png
Wave
Gives Ryu the Wave ability.
Ninja Gaiden GG, Items.png
Enemy-Seeking Ring
Gives Ryu the Enemy-Seeking Ring ability.
Ninja Gaiden GG, Items.png
Scatter Bomb
Gives Ryu the Scatter Bomb ability.
Ninja Gaiden GG, Items.png
Circling Flame
Causes flames to encircle Ryu for a duration. Flames defeat enemies that they touch and render Ryu invulnerable.
Ninja Gaiden GG, Items.png
1-Up
Gives the player an extra life, up to a maximum of 9.

Ninjutsu Abilities

Ninja Gaiden GG, Weapons.png
Shuriken
Ryu throws a shuriken horizontally for 2 Force units.
Ninja Gaiden GG, Weapons.png
Waves
Ryu emits a wave that travels directly above him for 3 Force units.
Ninja Gaiden GG, Weapons.png
Enemy-Seeking Ring
Ryu shoots a ring that seeks and destroys the nearest enemy for 5 Force units.
Ninja Gaiden GG, Weapons.png
Scatter Bomb
Ryu fires a scattershot of three fireballs for 7 force units.

Acts

Ninja Gaiden GG, Stage 1.png

Ninja Gaiden GG, Stage 1 Boss.png

Assault
Ryu fights through the hills of Kyoto to find the leader of the attempted thieves, the Monk of the Red Tiger Cult.

Ninja Gaiden GG, Stage 2.png

Ninja Gaiden GG, Stage 2 Boss.png

Smuggling
The Monk tells Ryu that he was hired by a man named Totenkof, who can be found at Kobe Harbor. Ryu infiltrates the boat to battle Captain Totenkof.

Ninja Gaiden GG, Stage 3.png

Ninja Gaiden GG, Stage 3 Boss.png

Skyscraper
Ryu learns that Totenkof is dealing arms to a man named Mr. Tsin, so he travels to Mr. Tsin's office building in Hong Kong.

Ninja Gaiden GG, Stage 4.png

Ninja Gaiden GG, Stage 4 Boss 1.png

Ninja Gaiden GG, Stage 4 Boss 2.png

Counterattack
Ryu is captured and taken to India.

Ninja Gaiden GG, Stage 5.png

Ninja Gaiden GG, Stage 5 Boss 1.png

Ninja Gaiden GG, Stage 5 Boss 2.png

Ninja Gaiden GG, Stage 5 Boss 3.png

Final
The person who wants the Dragonsword reveals himself to be Shiragane, a demon capable of mind control who has been manipulating the nations of the world into a catastrophic final war.

Production credits

  • Executive Producer: Pi
  • Producer: Birdie
  • Director: Monty
  • Editor: Tenchin
  • Chief Programmer: Ed.SRX GBC00462
  • Assistant Programmer: Q.Py, Kumaisan
  • Chief Designer: Wozl
  • Assistant Designer: Auau
  • Writer: P
  • Screenplay: Paison
  • Subtitles: Bobby
  • Music Composition: Yama
  • Sound Effects: At.At
  • Performed by: Game Gear
  • Special Makeup: Ampa
  • Costume Design: Nova
  • Computer Graphics: Croquette
  • Optical Effects: Liar
  • Matte Paintings: Potato
  • Casting: Carrot
  • Test Play: Yuta, Tomocya, Momonga, Megucya
  • Special Thanks: Pentan, Kaba, Revo
  • Presented by: Sega Enterprises
Source:
Sega TV Game Genga Gallery[9]
Source:
Uncredited

Magazine articles

Main article: Ninja Gaiden (Game Gear)/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-10: "October 1991" (1991-09-07)
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Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
ACE (UK)
80
[8]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
55
[10]
Console XS (UK) PAL
74
[11]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
89
[12]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
68
[13]
Game Mania (UK)
84
[14]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
72
[6]
Games-X (UK)
80
[15]
Génération 4 (FR)
91
[16]
Game Zone (UK) NTSC-J
74
[17]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
60
[18]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
82
[19]
Joypad (FR)
89
[20]
Joystick (FR)
84
[21]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
85
[22]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
86
[23]
Player One (FR)
80
[24]
Play Time (DE)
67
[25]
Power Play (DE)
68
[26]
Score (CZ)
40
[27]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
81
[28]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
71
[29]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
70
[30]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
84
[31]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
71
[32]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
45
[33]
Sega Game Gear
74
Based on
26 reviews

Ninja Gaiden (Game Gear)

Game Gear, JP
NinjaGaiden GG JP backcover.jpgNospine-small.pngNinjaGaiden GG JP cover.jpg
Cover
NinjaGaiden GG JP cart.jpg
Cart
Game Gear, US
NinjaGaiden GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngNinjaGaiden GG US cover.jpg
Cover
NinjaGaiden GG EU cart.jpg
Cart
Ninja Gaiden GG US Manual.pdf
Manual
Game Gear, EU
NinjaGaiden GG EU Box Back.jpgNinja Gaiden GG EU BoxSpine.jpgNinjaGaiden GG EU cover.jpg
Cover
NinjaGaiden GG EU cart.jpg
Cart
Ninja Gaiden GG EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Game Gear, FR (Blister pack)
NinjaGaiden GG FR blister front.jpg
Cover
Game Gear, BR
NinjaGaiden GG BR back.jpgNospine.pngNinjaGaiden GG BR Box.jpg
Cover
Ninjagaiden gg br cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 20ef017a
MD5 51458678cbdc2405483b202786512afe
SHA-1 acedddaa928a96085544440c2bec2685a6cdf501
128kB Cartridge (JP)
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 c578756b
MD5 764388b8b5dc2e762fab9badd0eca6ba
SHA-1 1a5c44e76a0e913d76f590affae3b2e24fbd0f59
128kB Cartridge (US/EU)

References

  1. http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Biox
  2. File:NinjaGaiden GG EU Box Back.jpg
  3. File:NinjaGaiden GG JP cover.jpg
  4. 4.0 4.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/gamegear/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-12-07 04:57)
  5. VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "January 1992" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 80
  6. 6.0 6.1 GamePro, "December 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 124
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Sega Power, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-06), page 20
  8. 8.0 8.1 ACE, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-08), page 76
  9. Sega TV Game Genga Gallery, Graphic Sha, page 87
  10. Beep! MegaDrive, "November 1991" (JP; 1991-10-08), page 39
  11. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 148
  12. Computer & Video Games, "February 1992 (Go! Issue 4)" (UK; 1992-01-15), page 6
  13. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "November 1991" (US; 1991-1x-xx), page 28
  14. Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 70
  15. Games-X, "14th-20th November 1991" (UK; 1991-11-14), page 35
  16. Génération 4, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 156
  17. Game Zone, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-18), page 58
  18. Hippon Super, "November 1991" (JP; 1991-10-04), page 91
  19. Hobby Consolas, "Abril 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 96
  20. Joypad, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 1991-12-1x), page 104
  21. Joystick, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 173
  22. Mega Force, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 1992-01-15), page 45
  23. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 143
  24. Player One, "Février 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 81
  25. Play Time, "4/92" (DE; 1992-03-04), page 84
  26. Power Play, "2/92" (DE; 1992-01-xx), page 168
  27. Score, "Květen 1994" (CZ; 1994-05-01), page 57
  28. Sega Power, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-05), page 49
  29. Sega Pro, "Christmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 42
  30. Sega Pro, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-08), page 26
  31. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 74
  32. Sega Force, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 80
  33. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 88


Ninja Gaiden (Game Gear)

NinjaGaiden GG title.png

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Ninja Gaiden games for Sega systems
Sega Game Gear
Ninja Gaiden (1991)
Sega Master System
Ninja Gaiden (1992)
Sega Mega Drive
Ninja Gaiden (unreleased)
Sega Dreamcast
Ninja Gaiden (unreleased)