Shinobi Legions

From Sega Retro

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  • NTSC-U
  • NTSC-J
  • PAL

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ShinobiLegions Saturn JP SSTitle.png

ShinobiLegions Saturn EU SSTitle.png

Shinobi Legions
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Sega (Japan, Europe), VIC Tokai Inc. (US)
Developer:
Distributor: Sega-Ozisoft (AU), Tec Toy (BR)
Licensor: Sega (US)
Sound driver: SCSP/CD-DA (2 tracks)
Genre: Action[1][2]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Saturn
JP 		¥4,8004,800 GS-9010
Sega Rating: 18 and Up
Sega Saturn
US 		T-2301H
ESRB: Teen
Sega Saturn
EU 		MK81082-50
ELSPA: 11+ OK
Sega Saturn
DE 		MK81082-50
USK: 16
Sega Saturn
PT
Sega Saturn
UK 		£49.9949.99[6] MK81082-50
ELSPA: 11+ OK
Sega Saturn
PL 		199zł199
Sega Saturn
AU 		FSHI06SSC
OFLC: M15
Sega Saturn
BR 		192136
Tectoy: 13+

Shinobi Legions, known as Shinobi X in Europe and Shin Shinobi Den (新・忍伝) in Japan, is a video game in the Shinobi series, originally released for the Sega Saturn in 1995. During development the game was known as Shinobi EX.

The game uses digitized graphics for its character sprites and makes heavy use of live-action cutscenes, which have been criticised for the quality of their costumes and acting.

Programming errors mean that Shinobi Legions cannot be played if two controllers are connected to the console.

Story

Years of civil war have brought the ninjutsu code and its warriors to the brink of extinction. A ninjutsu master selects three children to carry on the ninja traditions for the next generation: two brothers, Kazuma and Sho, and his own daughter Aya. He begins to train them.

Fifteen years pass. The oldest boy, Kazuma, begins to reject all the ninjutsu teachings, save for the technique of strength. Obsessed with power, Kazuma demands that the master teach him the ultimate technique. The master refuses, and Kazuma vows to return one day and take revenge. Sho and Aya continue their studies and master the ninjutsu teachings.

Kazuma returns with an army and the resources to build a fortress. Although the old master has died, his pupils contain the secrets of the ultimate technique. Kazuma sets up a trap to lure Sho into his hideout, and kidnaps Aya to use her as a bait.

Gameplay

Shinobi Legions, Cutscene.png

Sho

Shinobi Legions is a side-scrolling action game that plays similarly to its Mega Drive predecessors, Revenge of Shinobi and Shinobi III. The game is played as the ninja Sho. Sho can be moved with Left or Right and can crouch with Down. He can move while crouching with Down-left and Down-right. He can run with LeftLeft or RightRight. He can jump with C and somersault by pressing C again at the peak of a jump. Somersaulting increases his jump height. Running while somersaulting increases the distance of his jump. Sho can jump off a platform by pressing Down+C. He can hang off tree branches and other lines by pressing Up after jumping and jump off by pressing Up+C or Down+C. He can also jump off walls by holding toward the direction of the wall and pressing C. He can do a roll by pressing UpRightDown in a motion (or UpLeftDown if facing left).

Sho can attack enemies in melee range using his katana by pressing B. His katana can also repel enemy shurikens if timed correctly (which can sometimes kill the enemy that threw it). He can slash upward with Up+B and sweep the sword upward with Up-right+B (or Up-left+B if facing left). He can dash toward an enemy with his sword, granting him a short period of invulnerability, by pressing RightRight+B (or LeftLeft+B if facing left). Sho can use his katana while crouching or jumping. He can drop from the air while stabbing by pressing Down+B while in the air. He can do a spinning slash by pressing B while somersaulting. He can thrust by pressing B when coming out of a roll. He can also execute combo moves while standing by pressing BB (forward slash followed by upward slash) or BBB (forward slash, upward slash, then a sweep attack) or while crouching by pressing BB (forward slash followed by an upward slash).

Sho can also throw shurikens with A. Shurikens are ranged and can hit enemies from across the screen but are finite. There is a greater emphasis on using the katana than the shurikens since the latter is considerably more limited than in preceding games. Sho can throw shurikens while crouching or jumping. He can throw eight shuriken in a semicircle by pressing B while somersaulting (to throw them downward) or rolling (to throw them upward).

Sho can guard while standing or crouching, protecting against enemy attacks from the front, by holding Y or Z (and also by continuing to hold B after he attacks). He can move while guarding. this can be done either stationary or moving, standing or crouching, but not in mid-air. He has a life meter and loses some life whenever he takes damage from an enemy. If Sho loses his entire life meter, he loses a life. If he loses all of his lives, the game ends, but it can be continued as long as the player has continues remaining. The player can choose between three difficulty levels (Easy, Normal, and Hard). The player can also choose the number of starting shuriken from the options menu.

Instead of choosing from different ninjutsu techniques, as in the prior Shinobi games, Sho gains temporary ninjutsu abilities by picking up special items scattered across each level. Items are mostly dropped from defeated enemies rather than found in crates. Also found in each level are blue orbs called Soul Balls. Sho gains an extra life whenever the player collects ten of them.

The game awards the player bonuses for completing a stage without using shuriken or without taking any damage. In between each stage, the story is progressed through live-action cinematic sequences. These sequences are in Japanese, with subtitles for the overseas localizations.

Items

Recovery

Shinobi Legions, Items.png
 Soul Ball
Collect ten to earn an extra life.
Shinobi Legions, Items.png
 Small Life
Partially restores Sho's life meter.
Shinobi Legions, Items.png
 Large Life
Fully restores Sho's life meter.
Shinobi Legions, Items.png
 Small Shuriken
Increases Sho's shuriken count by one.
Shinobi Legions, Items.png
 Large Shuriken
Increases Sho's shuriken count by five.

Ninjutsu

Shinobi Legions, Items.png
 Bishamon (毘沙門)
Doubles Sho's offensive power. Additionally, a large Bishamon apparition appears each time Sho swings his katana, and enemies that touch it are injured. Sho glows with red energy while he possesses this power. Lasts until the end of the stage or until the player loses a life.
Shinobi Legions, Items.png
 Thunder Dragon (雷竜)
Destroys all enemies on the screen by pressing X (except bosses, which are damaged). This item can be used once. It is not carried over to the next stage if it is not used.
Shinobi Legions, Items.png
 Invincibility (分身)
Absorbs six attacks without inflicting damage. Sho is followed by a trail of shadow images while this effect is active.

Trap

Shinobi Legions, Items.png
 Bomb
Explodes and harms Sho if he is too close.

Stages

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  • Shinobi Legions, Stage 1 Boss.png

The Capital

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Mt. Fuji

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Bio-Lab

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Samurai Mansion

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  • Shinobi Legions, Stage 5 Boss.png

Undersea Cave

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Ivy Mountain

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China Town

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  • Shinobi Legions, Stage 8 Boss.png

Rocky Mountain

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Missile Transport Road

Music and sound

Sega of Europe's producer David Nulty was reportedly unimpressed with the quality of Shinobi Legions and decided to delay the game from seeing a European release so that the entire soundtrack could be replaced. The new soundtrack was produced by Richard Jacques, who aimed for a style closer to that of Yuzo Koshiro and his work on The Revenge of Shinobi. For this reason, this version of the game is often seen as superior to its North American and Japanese counterparts. Since the game only credits those who were involved with the live action cutscenes, it is unknown who composed the original soundtrack.

Versions

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
English (US) Shinobi Legions Shinobi Legions
Japanese 新・忍伝 Shin Shinobi Den
English (Europe) Shinobi X Shinobi X

Production credits

Main article: Shinobi Legions/Production credits.

Shin Shinobi Den/Shinobi Legions

Cast
  • Sho: Tetsuya Aoki
  • Kazuma: Hiromitsu Miyamoto
  • Aya: Kumiko Odaka
  • Ukyo: Masayuki Ohta
  • Sakyo: Narito Shigemi
  • Kouryuu: Tatsuo Inada
  • Talace: Shinnosuke Yagami
  • Nicholi: Kouichi Natsuyama
  • Rushudo: Eiichi Takagi
  • Swordman: Taketo Nakamura
  • Stickmaster: Yoshiki Tsujimoto
  • Ninja: Arata Okumiyama
  • Martial Artist: Eiichi Takagi
Staff
  • Camera: Yasuhiro Kinoshita
  • Lighting: Manabu Yasuda
  • Recording: Shuuichi Oki
  • Video: Eiji Hiroishi
  • Artwork: Touei Bijyutu Center
  • Stylist: Masako Yamada
  • Decorations: Keiichi Tamai
  • Propman: Kouzu Shoukai
  • Clothing: Tokyo Ishou
  • Special Effects: Ryuuichi Ito
  • CG: Axe
  • Editing: Yasurou Mizukami
  • MA: Masaya Ishihara
  • Record: Hisayo Shiba
  • Assistant Director: Hiroyuki Shimizu, Kouji Yamamoto, Fumie Saito
  • Action Coordinator: Yuuta Morokaji
  • Business Coordinator: Isao Nagaoka
  • Camera Assistant: Toshihiro Gotsubo
  • Lighting Assistant: Akio Yamanaka, Harumi Sumiyama, Masatsugu Inoue
  • Cooperation: Toei, Japan Action Club, AD Studio
  • Director: Nagi Onomichi
  • Producer: Hirofumi Nakanishi
  • Co-production: Kids Company
  • Presented by: Sega Enterprises
Source:
In-game credits
Shinobi Legions Saturn credits.pdf
[7]
Source:
Uncredited


Shinobi X

Cast
  • Sho: Tetsuya Aoki
  • Kazuma: Hiromitsu Miyamoto
  • Aya: Kumiko Odaka
  • Ukyo: Masayuki Ohta
  • Sakyo: Narito Shigemi
  • Kouryuu: Tatsuo Inada
  • Talace: Shinnosuke Yagami
  • Nicholi: Kouichi Natsuyama
  • Rushudo: Eiichi Takagi
  • Swordman: Taketo Nakamura
  • Stickmaster: Yoshiki Tsujimoto
  • Ninja: Arata Okumiyama
  • Martial Artist: Eiichi Takagi
Staff
  • Camera: Yasuhiro Kinoshita
  • Lighting: Manabu Yasuda
  • Recording: Shuuichi Oki
  • Video: Eiji Hiroishi
  • Artwork: Touei Bijyutu Center
  • Stylist: Masako Yamada
  • Decorations: Keiichi Tamai
  • Propman: Kouzu Shoukai
  • Clothing: Tokyo Ishou
  • Special Effects: Ryuuichi Ito
  • CG: Axe
  • Editing: Yasurou Mizukami
  • MA: Masaya Ishihara
  • Record: Hisayo Shiba
  • Assistant Director: Hiroyuki Shimizu, Kouji Yamamoto, Fumie Saito
  • Action Coordinator: Yuuta Morokaji
  • Business Coordinator: Isao Nagaoka
  • Camera Assistant: Toshihiro Gotsubo
  • Lighting Assistant: Akio Yamanaka, Harumi Sumiyama, Masatsugu Inoue
  • Cooperation: Toei, Japan Action Club, AD Studio
  • Director: Nagi Onomichi
  • Producer: Hirofumi Nakanishi
  • Co-production: Kids Company
Sega of Europe Staff
Source:
In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Shinobi Legions/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #75: "October 1995" (1995-xx-xx)
also published in:
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Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
80 №33, p50/51
Sega Saturn
 80
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
CD Consoles (FR) NTSC
48
[10]
Consoles + (FR) NTSC-J
92
[11]
Consoles + (FR)
92
[12]
Computer & Video Games (UK) NTSC-J
84
[13]
Digitiser (UK)
79
[14]
Edge (UK) NTSC-J
40
[15]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
80
[16]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
65
[17]
Freak (IL)
85
[18]
Fusion (US)
50
[19]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
94
[20]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
80
[21]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
90
[3]
GamePro (UK) NTSC-J
58
[22]
Gamers (DE) PAL
53
[23]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) NTSC-J
81
[24]
Hobby Consolas (ES) NTSC-J
79
[25]
Joypad (FR) NTSC-J
88
[26]
Joypad (FR)
91
[27]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
65
[28]
Maximum (UK)
25
[29]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-J
68
[30]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) NTSC-J
85
[31]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
84
[32]
Next Generation (US)
50
[33]
Player One (FR)
89
[34]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
67
[35]
Saturn+ (UK) PAL
82
[36]
Secret Service (PL)
80
[37]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
82
[38]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-J
76
[39]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-J
81
[40]
Sega Megazone (AU)
85
[41]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
60
[42]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
62
[43]
Super Juegos (ES)
88
[44]
Todo Sega (ES)
79
[45]
Ultimate Future Games (UK) NTSC-J
50
[46]
Última Generación (ES)
66
[47]
Videogame Advisor (US) NTSC-J
91
[48]
Video Games (DE) NTSC-J
82
[49]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
80
[50]
Sega Saturn
 74
Based on
42 reviews

Shinobi Legions

Saturn, JP
Shinshinobiden sat jp backcover.pngShinshinobiden sat jp frontcover.png
Cover
ShinobiLegions Saturn JP Spinecard.jpg
Spinecard
ShinShinobiDen Saturn JP Disc.jpg
Disc
Shinobi Legions Sat JP Manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, US
ShinobiLegions Saturn US Box Back.jpgShinobiLegions Saturn US Box Front.jpg
Cover
ShinobiLegions Saturn US Disc.jpg
Disc
Shinobilegions sat us manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, EU
ShinobiX Saturn EU cover.jpg
Cover
ShinobiX Saturn EU Disc.jpg
Disc
Saturn, DE
ShinobiX Saturn EU Box.jpg
Cover
ShinobiX Saturn EU Disc.jpg
Disc
Saturn, PT

Saturn, AU
ShinobiX Saturn AU cover.jpg
Cover
ShinobiX Saturn EU Disc.jpg
Disc
Saturn, BR
ShinobiLegendsSaturnBRCover.jpg
Cover

Technical information

Main article: Shinobi Legions/Technical information.

External links

  • Sega of Japan catalogue page (Japanese): Saturn

References

  1. ↑ File:Shinshinobiden sat jp backcover.png
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/segasaturn/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-03-30 22:53)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 GamePro, "October 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 50
  4. ↑ https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video.sega/c/rfT1IqWTXMY/m/QhoRO3AkhqAJ
  5. ↑ Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1995-10-09), page 20
  6. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-10-26), page 96
  7. ↑ File:Shinobi Legions Saturn credits.pdf
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 File:ShinobiMusicCollection_CD_JP_Booklet.pdf, page 6
  9. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 11 November 1995" (US; 1995-1x-xx), page 59
  10. ↑ CD Consoles, "Septembre 1995" (FR; 1995-09-08), page 126
  11. ↑ Consoles +, "Septembre 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 126
  12. ↑ Consoles +, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 172
  13. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "September 1995" (UK; 1995-08-11), page 46
  14. ↑ Digitiser (UK) (1995-10-11)
  15. ↑ Edge, "September 1995" (UK; 1995-07-27), page 76
  16. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "September 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 36
  17. ↑ Famitsu, "1995-07-07" (JP; 1995-06-23), page 32
  18. ↑ Freak, "10/95" (IL; 1995-xx-xx), page 1
  19. ↑ Fusion, "Volume 1, Number 3: October 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 80
  20. ↑ GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 9: September 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 15
  21. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 10 October 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 54
  22. ↑ GamePro, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-09-xx), page 34
  23. ↑ Gamers, "Dezember 1995" (DE; 1995-11-08), page 30
  24. ↑ Games World: The Magazine, "September 1995" (UK; 1995-0x-xx), page 58
  25. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 94
  26. ↑ Joypad, "Septembre 1995 (Joypad International supplement)" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 22
  27. ↑ Joypad, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-11-03), page 62
  28. ↑ MAN!AC, "12/95" (DE; 1995-11-08), page 90
  29. ↑ Maximum, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-11-xx), page 145
  30. ↑ Mega Fun, "10/95" (DE; 1995-09-20), page 64
  31. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "September 1995" (UK; 1995-07-27), page 66
  32. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-09-29), page 91
  33. ↑ Next Generation, "October 1995" (US; 1995-09-19), page 113
  34. ↑ Player One, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 106
  35. ↑ Saturn Fan, "1995 September" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 56
  36. ↑ Saturn+, "Christmas 1995" (UK; 1995-12-14), page 60
  37. ↑ Secret Service, "Czerwiec 1996" (PL; 1996-06-01), page 67
  38. ↑ Sega Magazine, "October 1995" (UK; 1995-09-12), page 60
  39. ↑ Sega Power, "October 1995" (UK; 1995-08-17), page 62
  40. ↑ Sega Pro, "September 1995" (UK; 1995-08-10), page 54
  41. ↑ Sega Megazone, "September 1995" (AU; 1995-0x-xx), page 22
  42. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "July 1995" (JP; 1995-06-08), page 128
  43. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "Readers rating final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 16
  44. ↑ Super Juegos, "Octubre 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 88
  45. ↑ Todo Sega, "Noviembre 1995" (ES; 1995-1x-xx), page 52
  46. ↑ Ultimate Future Games, "September 1995" (UK; 1995-08-01), page 84
  47. ↑ Última Generación, "Septiembre 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 80
  48. ↑ Videogame Advisor, "Volume 1, Number 3: July 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 34
  49. ↑ Video Games, "8/95" (DE; 1995-07-26), page 65
  50. ↑ VideoGames, "October 1995" (US; 1995-09-19), page 70


Shinobi Legions

ShinobiLegions title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Maps | Hidden content | Development | Magazine articles | Video coverage | Reception | Technical information


Books: Shin Shinobi Den Hisshou Kouryaku Hou (1995)

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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)
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