Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master

I really think that the original version of a game, that was supposed to come out at around January of 1993 (according to one of the reviews) and even had some reviews out, should be considered as it's own thing, maybe even have it's own page. At least I feel that Computer & Video Games (UK) #135 and Mean Machines Sega (UK) #4 reviews don't really fit here. Foxysen1 (talk) 12:39, 23 May 2017 (CDT)

It's a good point, but I don't know if we should be making exceptions for journalists which fail to review finished products. Shinobi III may have been drastically re-worked, but it is still the same project and was only ever going to be released to the public once at the end of development. If a publication decides to print a review months in advance, we ought to be showing that, even if it adds an unfair bias.

Otherwise you'd have to decide when a game is finished enough for a review to be meaningful. Even today lots of publications review unfinished games - I'm not entirely against the idea of adding publication dates so people know when the review was printed, but I think the bad reviews need to be represented alongside the good ones. -Black Squirrel (talk) 16:08, 23 May 2017 (CDT)

Yea, was thinking of creating section for original version and move those two reviews there, somehow. This one just feels special for me due to how seemingly close it was to being released, due to these two reviews and rumor that Sega pulled game back upon recieving not good enough rating, with majority of levels being remade (judging by material we have) so I think of this one as "the lost episode". But right, game is done only when it's done, this wiki probably isn't focused on non-final stuff yet. Foxysen1 (talk) 19:42, 24 May 2017 (CDT)

I have to agree with Foxysen1. This is a special case where the original and final game are just too much different. It doesn't make much sense to put the reviews in the same category. Magic Island (talk) 13:13, 14 Sep 2018 (CDT)

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General information about the original Super Shinobi II and its prototypes

Super Shinobi II preliminary work started in 91 (possibly only script). In the first half of 92, Sega hired the team that had made JuJu Densetsu, designated it Megasoft, which would be responsable for the game development, under Noriyoshi Ooba supervision. The game had the original release date for Dec 92. During summer 92, a very early state of development prototype (with a build date from or before July 92, around 30% complete) got leaked through bootleg in east asia. The first public exhibition of the game was at the 30th Amusement Machine Show. In Set 92, SoA and SoE have received from Japan copies from the first prototype to review (build date Aug or Set 92, around 60% complete). At last three countries received it: US, UK and France. This build was reviewed by the large majority of magazines. Previews of it were featured in the promotional VHS cassettes La Sega vidéo N°2 and Lo nunca visto de Sega - Presentando Mega-CD. By Nov 92, knowing there would be no way for the game to be finished until Dec 92, Sega had delayed the release date to early 93, Mar 93 being the most likely. Later in Dec 92, SoA received a more finished build (from Nov 92) and this one was featured at events like the Yūsei Sega World and the Winter CES 93. This was supposed to be the original game and was about 75% complete. The only magazine to have made a full-fledged review of this build was Die Hard GameFan, released in the issue of Jan 93, Vol 1-3. In Jan 93, not being satisfied with the results presented by the team and the magazine reviews, Sega decided to delay and remake the game until summer 93 and also hire former Data East developers to assist Megasoft in the development. Prior to early 93, the game would resemble more the final release. A prototype with a build date of Feb or Mar 93 was also leaked.

The prototype displayed the title The Revenge of Shinobi II for western region, which was the original intended name, as a sequel for The Revenge of Shinobi, and the title Shinobi III Return of the Ninja Master only appeared later in development in 93. SoA decided the game would be called Shinobi III yet in 92, but the japanese developers only had made the title screen with this name near the release date in 93. The name change was a SoA demand, by trying to determine Shadow Dancer as its predecessor.

It was being developed like other Sega games, the cartridge rom was unlocked regionally and it was going to be a overworld release, if you put it in a JP console, it would display the The Super Shinobi II title with japanese text in some parts, like the intro, while for US and EU it would display The Revenge of Shinobi II title and partial english text. This decision, once again, was only changed further in development in 93, for separated cartridge rom releases for different regions.

The reason there is Nov 92 in the header of the leaked roms is due this was supposed to be the latest build date before the game was set to be comercialized in Dec 92. This is true to all prototypes from 92 and even early 93 that are multiregional (Super Shinobi II/Revenge of Shinobi II) before the decision to localize the game separetely to US, EU and JP in 93, using the title Shinobi III for the western release. Magic Island (talk) 12:03, 20 Sep 2018 (CDT)