Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master

From Sega Retro

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ShinobiIII title.png

Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
ShinobiIII iOS icon.png
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console, iOS, Steam
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Sound driver: SMPS 68k
Genre: Action

















Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥6,8006,800 G-4085
Sega Mega Drive
US
$54.9954.99[4] 1136
Sega Mega Drive
EU
1136-50
Sega Mega Drive
EU
(Classic)
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
AU
(Gold)
FSHI05SMC
Sega Mega Drive
BR
044440
Sega Mega Drive
KR
GM8075JG
Sega Mega Drive
AS
G-4085
Wii Virtual Console
JP
600pts600
Wii Virtual Console
US
800pts800
Wii Virtual Console
EU
800pts800
iOS
JP
¥250250
iOS
US
$2.992.99
iOS
EU
CERO
Missing Parameter!

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Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master, called The Super Shinobi II (ザ・スーパー忍II) in Japan, is an entry in the Shinobi Series of video games, and the direct sequel to 1989's The Revenge of Shinobi, called The Super Shinobi in Japan. It was released in 1993 exclusively for the Sega Mega Drive, though has since been included in many compilations and released as part of the Wii's Virtual Console service, as well as Steam and iOS. The iOS version is no longer available on iTunes as of 2015.

Gameplay

Controls are virtually identical to other Shinobi titles: C jumps and pressing C again at he peak of the jump performs a double jump, B shoots a shuriken or attacks with the sword when close to an enemy or object, and A performs a ninjutsu move selected from the pause menu. Support for the Six Button Control Pad is only available by using a Cheat Code. New manouvers are a dive kick, performed by pushing Down+B at the same time during a jump, and a dash attack that grants short invincibility, performed by Right,Right+B

Version differences

  • There are minimal visual differences between the western and Japanese version, like the transition to the cave in stage 1 happening earlier
  • The PAL version was partially optimized to play the background music at the correct speed. However, gameplay is still slower compared to NTSC versions. Forcing the game into NTSC mode makes the music play too fast.
  • The ASIA version is mostly identical to the japanese release, the only difference being the label on the back of the cartridge is in english.

Production credits

  • Directors: Tomoyuki Ito, Takeshi Matsuhashi
  • Programmers: Tsukasa Aoki, Toshiaki Yajima, Akio Ooi
  • Graphic designers: Kazuyuki Iwasawa, Katsuhiko Ogikubo, Hiroyuki Hirama, Hideaki Moriya, Masanori Hara
  • Music and sound: Masayuki Nagao, Hirofumi Murasaki, Morihiko Akiyama
  • Planner: Naohisa Nakazawa
  • Supervisor: Noriyoshi Ooba
  • Producers: Tomio Takami, Tokinori Kaneyasu
  • Special thanks to: Kazuo Fuchigami, Isao Okano, Yasuo Minowa, Kouji Umeda, Kouji Iwashita, Hiroshi Ooba, Toshiyasu Kamiko, Akira Terasawa, Takayuki Yanagihori, Yuusuke Yoshida

Digital manuals

Magazine articles

Main article: Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
89 №23, p138-140
84 №135, p22-24[2]
82 №143, p38/39
96
84
95 №49, p58/59[4]
90 №23, p148-150[6]
93 №6, p46-48
79 №13, p34
85 №5, p32/33
89 №20, p98/99[7]
73 №9/93, p80-82[8]
88 №14, p22-25
93 №21, p46-48
88 №4, p18-21[9]
89 №11, p60-63[10]
90
82 №7/93, p12/13[11]
79 №46, p38/39[12]
89 №17, p38/39
89 №18, p67
80 №24, p74
80 №4, p56/57[13]
85 №7, p10
90
Sega Mega Drive
86
Based on
25 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[14]
Ação Games (BR)
81
[15]
Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)
85
[16]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
68
[17]
Console Mania (IT) NTSC-J
93
[18]
Consoles + (FR)
89
[19]
Cool Gamer (RU)
60
[20]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
84
[2]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
82
[21]
Computer + Video Giochi (IT) NTSC-J
85
[22]
Dengeki Mega Drive (JP) NTSC-J
69
[23]
Digitiser (UK) NTSC
84
[24]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
90
[25]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
60
[26]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 9 (RU)
80
[27]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
89
[28]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
63
[29]
GameFan (US)
96
[30]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
92
[31]
Game Power (IT) NTSC
84
[32]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
95
[4]
Gamers (DE)
60
[33]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
80
[34]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
86
[35]
Joypad (FR) NTSC-J
90
[6]
MAN!AC (DE)
81
[36]
Mega (UK) NTSC-J
79
[37]
Mega Action (UK) PAL
85
[38]
Megablast (DE) PAL
87
[39]
Mega Force (FR)
89
[7]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-J
73
[40]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
88
[41]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
93
[42]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
88
[9]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
89
[43]
Megazone (AU)
85
[44]
Play Time (DE)
85
[45]
Power Up! (UK)
78
[46]
Power Unlimited (NL)
90
[47]
Sega Magazin (DE)
86
[48]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
79
[12]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
89
[49]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
89
[50]
Sega Pro (UK)
80
[51]
Sega Force Mega (UK) PAL
80
[13]
Sega Force (SE)
82
[11]
Sega Mega Drive Review (RU)
82
[52]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
80
[53]
Sonic the Comic (UK) NTSC-J
85
[54]
Supergame (BR) NTSC-J
86
[55]
Supergame (BR)
69
[56]
Super Juegos (ES)
86
[57]
Sonic Videogame & Fumetti (IT)
82
[58]
Todo Sega (ES)
85
[59]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
80
[60]
Video Games (DE) NTSC-J
91
[61]
Sega Mega Drive
82
Based on
56 reviews

Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master

Mega Drive, US
Shinobi3 md us cover.jpg
Cover
Shinobi3 MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Shinobi III MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
Shinobi3 md eu cover.jpg
Cover
ShinobiIII MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
ShinobiIII MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, EU (Classic Mega Drive)
ShinobiIII MD EU Box Classic.jpg
Cover
ShinobiIII MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
SuperShinobiII MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
TheSuperSHINOBIII MD JP CartTop.jpg
SuperShinobiII MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Shinobi3 md jp manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, BR
Shinobiiii md br cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, KR
ShinobiIII MD KR cover.jpg
Cover
ShinobiIII MD KR cartback.jpgShinobiIII MD KR cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, AU

ShinobiIII MD AU Cart.jpg
Cart
ShinobiIII MD AU Cart Silver.jpg
Cart (Silver variant)
Mega Drive, AU (Sega Gold Collection)
ShinobiIII MD AU Box Gold.jpg
Cover
ShinobiIII MD AU Cart.jpg
Cart
ShinobiIII MD AU Cart Silver.jpg
Cart (Silver variant)
Mega Drive, SE (Rental)

Mega Drive, AS
ShinobiIII MD AS cover.jpg
Cover
ShinobiIII MD AS cart back.jpgShinobiIII MD AS cart front.jpg
Cart

References

  1. File:SegaForceMega UK 04.pdf, page 57
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 File:CVG UK 135.pdf, page 22 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 135.pdf_p22" defined multiple times with different content
  3. File:SegaPro DE 06.pdf, page 33
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 File:GamePro US 049.pdf, page 60 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePro US 049.pdf_p60" defined multiple times with different content
  5. http://www.4gamer.net/games/049/G004989/20110128005/
  6. 6.0 6.1 File:Joypad FR 023.pdf, page 148 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joypad FR 023.pdf_p148" defined multiple times with different content
  7. 7.0 7.1 File:MegaForce FR 20.pdf, page 98 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MegaForce FR 20.pdf_p98" defined multiple times with different content
  8. File:MegaFun DE 1993-09.pdf, page 72
  9. 9.0 9.1 File:MeanMachinesSega04UK.pdf, page 18 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega04UK.pdf_p18" defined multiple times with different content
  10. File:MeanMachinesSega11UK.pdf, page 60
  11. 11.0 11.1 File:SegaForce SE 1993 07.pdf, page 12 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForce SE 1993 07.pdf_p12" defined multiple times with different content
  12. 12.0 12.1 File:SegaPower UK 46.pdf, page 38 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPower UK 46.pdf_p38" defined multiple times with different content
  13. 13.0 13.1 File:SegaForceMega UK 04.pdf, page 56 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForceMega UK 04.pdf_p56" defined multiple times with different content
  14. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 207
  15. Ação Games, "Setembro 1993" (BR; 1993-09-01), page 18
  16. Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-08-xx), page 72
  17. Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1993" (JP; 1993-07-08), page 47
  18. Console Mania, "Ottobre 1993" (IT; 1993-xx-xx), page 36
  19. Consoles +, "Septembre 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 138
  20. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 187
  21. Computer & Video Games, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-15), page 38
  22. Computer + Video Giochi, "Novembre 1993" (IT; 1993-xx-xx), page 109
  23. Dengeki Mega Drive, "August 1993" (JP; 1993-07-08), page 35
  24. Digitiser (UK) (1993-09-20)
  25. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "September 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 34
  26. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 357
  27. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 9, "" (RU; 2002-xx-xx), page 206
  28. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 89
  29. Famitsu, "1993-07-30" (JP; 1993-07-16), page 40
  30. GameFan, "Volume 1, Issue 3: January 1993" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 10
  31. GameFan, "Volume 1, Issue 10: September 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 14
  32. Game Power, "Ottobre 1993" (IT; 1993-xx-xx), page 72
  33. Gamers, "Oktober/November 1993" (DE; 1993-09-24), page 64
  34. Hippon Super, "August 1993" (JP; 1993-07-03), page 42
  35. Hobby Consolas, "Agosto 1993" (ES; 1993-xx-xx), page 68
  36. MAN!AC, "11/93" (DE; 1993-xx-xx), page 28
  37. Mega, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-16), page 34
  38. Mega Action, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-09), page 32
  39. Megablast, "1/94" (DE; 1993-12-29), page 32
  40. Mega Fun, "09/93" (DE; 1993-08-18), page 80
  41. MegaTech, "February 1993" (UK; 1993-01-20), page 22
  42. MegaTech, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-20), page 46
  43. Mean Machines Sega, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-07-30), page 34
  44. Megazone, "March 1994" (AU; 1994-02-23), page 38
  45. Play Time, "10/93" (DE; 1993-09-08), page 104
  46. Power Up!, "Saturday, October 02, 1993" (UK; 1993-10-02), page 1
  47. Power Unlimited, "Nummer 4, November 1993" (NL; 1993-10-27), page 55
  48. Sega Magazin, "November/Dezember 1993" (DE; 1993-11-03), page 64
  49. Sega Pro, "March 1993" (UK; 1993-02-11), page 38
  50. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 67
  51. Sega Pro, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-09), page 74
  52. Sega Mega Drive Review, "1" (RU; 1995-04-03), page 134
  53. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
  54. Sonic the Comic, "21st August 1993" (UK; 1993-08-21), page 10
  55. Supergame, "Novembro 1992" (BR; 1992-11-xx), page 18
  56. Supergame, "Setembro 1993" (BR; 1993-09-xx), page 18
  57. Super Juegos, "Septiembre 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 56
  58. Sonic Videogame & Fumetti, "Dicembre 1993" (IT; 1993-11-xx), page 24
  59. Todo Sega, "Septiembre 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 64
  60. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 163
  61. Video Games, "10/93" (DE; 1993-09-29), page 94

External links



Games in the Shinobi series
Arcade
Shinobi (1987) | Shadow Dancer (1989)
Sega Master System
Shinobi (1988) | The Cyber Shinobi (1990) | Shadow Dancer (1991)
Amiga
Atari ST
Amstrad CPC
Commodore 64
ZX Spectrum
IBM PC compatibles
MSX
Shinobi (1989)
Sega Mega Drive
The Revenge of Shinobi (1989) | Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi (1990) | Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master (1993)
Sega Game Gear
The GG Shinobi (1991) | The GG Shinobi II: The Silent Fury (1992)
Sega Saturn
Shinobi Legions (1995)
Game Boy Advance
The Revenge of Shinobi (2002)
Sony PlayStation 2
Shinobi (2002) | Nightshade (2003)
Nintendo 3DS
Shinobi 3D (2011) | 3D Shinobi III (2013)
Nintendo Switch
Sega Ages Shinobi (2019)
Shinobi related media
Music
The Super Shinobi & Works (1989) | Shinobi Original Soundtrack (2002) | Legend of Joe Musashi: Shinobi Music Collection (2009) | Shinobi 3D Original Soundtrack (2012) | Kunoichi Original Soundtrack (2014) | Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master (2015) | The Revenge of Shinobi (2016) | Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi (2022)
Book
Shinobi: The Fear Pavilion (1994) | Shin Shinobi Den Hisshou Kouryaku Hou (1995) | Prima's Official Strategy Guide: Shinobi (2002) | Shinobi: The Rise of Hotsuma (2002) | Shinobi: The Complete Guide (2002) | Shinobi the Wide Ilustration Archive (2003) | Kunoichi Koushiki Guide Book (2003) | Kunoichi Perfect Guide (2004)