3 Ninjas Kick Back / Hook

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3 Ninjas Kick Back Hook
3 Ninjas Kick Back / Hook
System(s): Sega Mega-CD
Publisher: Sony Imagesoft
Developer: Malibu Interactive (3 Ninjas Kick Back), Core Design (Hook)
Licensor: TriStar Pictures, Sheen Productions (3 Ninjas Kick Back), Amblin Entertainment (Hook)
Genre: Compilation
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code US 1994 T-93175

3 Ninjas Kick Back / Hook, for lack of a better name, is a compilation for the Sega Mega-CD released exclusively in North America. It contains CD versions of the Sega Mega Drive games 3 Ninjas Kick Back and Hook.

3 Ninjas Kick Back was never released as a stand-alone game for the Mega-CD. Hook is presumed to be identical to its regular Mega-CD counterpart.

Story

3 Ninjas Kick Back

Mori

The master samurai Mori competed in a ninja tournament fifty years ago for a magical dagger and an ancient samurai sword thought to be the key to opening a hidden cave full of treasure. After winning the tournament and rightfully gaining the dagger, it was stolen by the master's arch-rival, Koga. Though the master searched far and wide, he never found any trace of Koga or the dagger. Now, too old to continue searching, the master sends his three grandchildren, whom he has trained in the ninja arts, the young brothers Rocky, Colt, and Tum Tum, to assist him in retrieving the prized dagger. Once it has been restored to its rightful owner, the dagger shall once again be passed along to younger generations, through the winners of the ninja tournament.

Hook

Main article: Hook#Story.

Gameplay

3 Ninjas Kick Back

Cutscene

3 Ninjas Kick Back is largely the same as its Mega Drive counterpart but with an enhanced soundtrack and full-motion video cutscenes explaining the objective of the next level (featuring Victor Wong reprising his role as Mori from the film). The password feature for the Easy difficulty level has been removed. Furthermore, this version of the game contains two new 3D-style levels involving roller-blading and hang-gliding, using the same engine as the Mega-CD versions of Batman Returns and Cliffhanger.

Platforming

Main article: 3 Ninjas Kick Back#Gameplay.

First-person

Both of the new levels use a first-person perspective. The ninja moves with and and throws shuriken (which are unlimited) with . The player can pick up items, including bombs, which are thrown with .

Like the platforming segments, the ninjas have five hit points and lose a life if they lose all of their hit points or run out of time.

Levels

	The Streets
	This level appears before the Hospital level. The ninjas are roller-blading and must defeat a boss before time runs out. They speed up with and slow down with .
	The Skies
	This level appears before the Castle Osaka level. The ninjas are hang-gliding and must reach the Castle before time runs out. The hang glider dives with and climbs with . Climbing slows the glider while diving makes it travel faster. Flying through banners with the Rising Sun Flag gives the player more time. Banners with a target on them contain bombs.

Hook

Main article: Hook#Gameplay.

Production credits

3 Ninjas Kick Back

• Special thanks to: Victor Wong and Video Impressions

Sony Imagesoft staff

• Producer: Nathan Rose
• Assistant producer: Mark Smith
• Executive producer: Rich Robinson
• Game testers: Jose Cruz, Tobin Russel, Seth Luisi, Bruce Cochrane, Jody Kelsey, Andre Leighton, C.G. Connoy, Kurt Schwengel

Malibu Interactive staff

• Game design: Terry Lloyd
• Based on an original idea by: Nathan Rose, David Jaffe, Mike Giam
• Programming: Philip Watts, Tim Coupe
• Background art and map design: Terry Lloyd, Tom Higgins
• Sprite art and animation: Dean Betton, Lee Pullen, Terry Lloyd
• Music and sound effects: Jason Page, Richard Joseph
• Manager: Ian McGee
• Story artwork: Dean Betton
• Game testers: Tony McColgan, Mick Thompson, Matthew Lloyd, Paul Colls, Jun Caliva, Kevin Mulhall, Jason Uyeda, Bill McDonald
• Compression software: Rob Northen

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: 3 Ninjas Kick Back / Hook/Magazine articles.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U 59

	59
Based on 1 review

3 Ninjas Kick Back / Hook

Mega-CD, US
Cover
Disc Manual

Technical information

Main article: 3 Ninjas Kick Back / Hook/Technical information.

ROM dump status

System	Hash	Size	Build Date	Source	Comments
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1	352,172,016	1994-12	CD-ROM (US)	T-93175 (3 Ninjas Kick Back)
?	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1	387,096,864	1992-12	CD-ROM (US)	T-93175 (Hook)