Shinobi

For the home computer versions, see Shinobi (home computers). For the PlayStation 2 game, see Shinobi (2002).

n/a

Shinobi
System(s): Sega System 16, Sega Master System, NES, PC Engine, Virtual Console, Xbox 360
Publisher: Sega Tengen Asmik
Developer: Sega R&D 1 Sega R&D 2 Sanritsu Asmik
Licensor: Sega
Peripherals supported: FM Sound Unit
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code JP 1987-11-16 ¥? ? US 1987 $? ? JP 19xx ¥? ? UK 19xx £? ? JP 1988-06-19 ¥5,5005,500 G-1353 US 1988-09 $44.9544.95 7009 EU 1988 MK-7009-50 BR 19xx 026090 KR 19xx GB-2353 US 1989-12 $? ? JP ▼ 2009-06-10 400MSP400 JP ▼ (Otameshiban) 2009-06-10 FREEfree US ▼ 2009-06-10 400MSP400 US ▼ (Trial Game) 2009-06-10 FREEfree EU ▼ 2009-06-10 400MSP400 EU ▼ (Trial Game) 2009-06-10 FREEfree DE ▼ 2009-06-10 400MSP400 DE ▼ (Trial Game) 2009-06-10 FREEfree UK ▼ 2009-06-10 400MSP400 UK ▼ (Trial Game) 2009-06-10 FREEfree AU ▼ 2009-06-10 400MSP400 AU ▼ (Trial Game) 2009-06-10 FREEfree JP ▼ (Arcade) 2009-07-14 800pts800 US ▼ (Arcade) 2009-12-07 800pts800 EU ▼ (Arcade) 2009-10-23 800pts800 AU ▼ (Arcade) 2009-10 800pts800
Tectoy

Shinobi (忍) is a Sega System 16 arcade game developed by Sega. It follows the journey of a ninja called Joe Musashi who must free children from his clan from the evil Zeed organisation.

Story

“	赤忍者、青忍者、黄忍者、そしてアウトローたちが集合した極悪非道のシンジケートに、子供忍者が囚われてしまった。体術、忍術の奥義を極めた“ジョー・ムサシ”は、救出とシンジケート壊滅のため単身敵地へと向かう。ムサシよ、正義の忍術で悪を断て。	„

“	A dangerous group of evil criminals has taken people and are holding them as hostages. Musashi, a master of Ninjutsu and other martial arts, fights single handedly in the opponent's territory on a mission to rescue the hostages and wipe out the band of villains.	„

Gameplay

Shinobi is a side scrolling action and platforming game. Musashi can throw projectiles and engage close combat with button 1. Button 2 allows musashi to jump. Pressing up and then pressing button 1 will unleash the ninja magic that will kill or damage all enemies in the screen. Pressing up/down then pressing button 2 will make Musashi to jump up or down from platforms. Each chapter has 4 levels (first chapter has 3) and bosses can be encountered in the 4th levels.

Similar to the Shadow Dancer, players will take part in rail shooting style bonus rounds between chapters. Completing these levels will award the player with ninja magic. If players can kill the blue ninja during these bonus rounds, player will gain two of the same magic instead of one.

Master System Version

Master System version has some different gameplay elements not seen in other versions. Most important new feature is that Musashi has a life bar. Other differences from the arcade version are the handful of new power-ups.

Projectile weapons

• Shuriken Tempo Up : Musashi can fire more shurikens instead for waiting the first one to disappear.
• Throwing Knives: Move faster than shurikens
• Hand Grenades: Powerful but short ranged. If thrown while crouching it will roll on the ground.
• Handgun: Most powerful weapon. Can kill all regular enemies with a single shot.

Melee Weapons

• Punch / Kick: Default melee attacks
• Sword: Same damage as above but faster attack animation
• Nunchaku: Powerful
• Manriki-Kusari (Mispronounced as Manrikugari Chain in the Master System Manual): Powerful and longer reach.

Magic

Unlike the arcade version, Master System version of the Shinobi has 6 different magic with somewhat different effects. For some reason, developers of the Master System version made magic use more difficult in this version: Players must first eliminate 10 regular enemies to be able to use ninja magic. Pressing and holding button 2 then pressing button 1 will unleash the ninja magic. Since there are no regular enemies in the boss sections (Flying Ninjas in the Black Turtle boss battle don't count either) ninja magic cannot be used in the boss battles.

• Metal Binding (Ropes): Paralyzes all enemies on the screen.
• Flying Squirrel (Cloth): Musashi can fly for a short amount of time. D-Pad is used to move around.
• Eight Hands (Human symbol): Kills all enemies on the screen.
• Lightning: Kills all enemies on the screen.
• Tornado: Kills all enemies on the screen.
• Invincibility (Silhouette): Musashi will be completely immune to enemy attacks until level is over. He can only be killed if he falls to pitfalls.

Other Power-Ups

• Life Recover: Fully recovers Musashi's health
• Life Meter Max: Increases Musashi's health limit
• Bonus Round: You may enter bonus round after defeating the boss
• Bonus Points: Get 10000 points

Missions

	Mission 1: Slums
	Fight through the slums of a major metropolis. Protect yourselves from knife wielding punks and armed thugs. Don't get distracted by Marilyn Monroe's posters and be on the look out for impostors who are posing as a certain wall-crawler(TM). At the end of the chapter, you will be facing Ken-Oh, (no, not THAT Ken-Oh from that cult manga filled with muscular dudes) a three meter behemoth of a man who will attack you with guided fire balls.
	Mission 2: Harbor
	Fight through the shipyards and enter an ominous looking freighter with blood red walls. Take down frogmen who will try to hinder your progress as you pass through the pier. At the end of the level you will be facing the Black Turtle, a heavily armed transport helicopter who will swarm you with its full complement of Flying Ninjas.
	Mission 3: Weapons Factory
	Deep within the mountain range, you will be infiltrating the factory which supplies the armies of the Ring of Five with state of the art weapons. Eliminate rocket launcher armed brutes and vicious Green Ninjas. At the end of the level you will be facing quite possibly one of the most cheapest bosses in the video game history: Mandara. Time your shots carefully so you can hit both statues at the same time with each jump. The electrical discharge in the back will kill you with single touch so be careful. After all statues are taken down, engage the floating head.
	Mission 4: Outpost
	Another mountain range with lots of pitfalls and enemies at the every corner. Flying Squirrel magic will be a big help here. Engage quasimodo look alikes who will skip around and finally face Lobster, a gigantic, heavily armored Samurai warrior who can only be hurt when he lowers his sword from his face.
	Mission 5: Enemy Base
	Victory is at hand. Survive endless waves of enemies as you pass through the entrance. Move slowly during the bamboo forest if you don't want to be swarmed with ninjas who will swoop down on you like meteors. Inside the Masked Ninja's castle, you will be facing aggressive and relentless buddhist monks who will chase you down with their staffs. At the end of the level Masked Ninja will be ready to fight you to death. In the first form, he will jump around while protected by a magic shield. His shield will disappear momentarily when he lands. Hit him hen. In his second from he will turn into a tornado and attack you with wind slashes. Get in close and hit him with your melee weapons. In third form, he will make series of long jumps. Time you attacks when he lands. In the final form, he will runs towards you in full speed and attack. Jump to evade his attack and then hit hit back.

Cheats

Level Select

There are three ways to access the stage select, both on the title screen:

• Hold Down and press 1 or 2.
• Press Down, Down, Left, Right, Up, Up, and then 1 or 2.
• Press and hold 1 when Shinobi appears completely on the screen

After entering either code, select which stage to start at by pressing Up or Down and then 1 or 2 to confirm.

Sound Test

Press Up and 1 on the title screen for the sound test.

Achievements

Main article: Shinobi/Achievements.

History

Legacy

As well as being released in arcades, the game was brought to the Sega Master System in 1988. It was also brought to the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS computers, MSX, NES, TurboGrafx-16, and ZX Spectrum. More recently the arcade version has been released on the Xbox Live Arcade and Virtual Console services for the Xbox 360 and Wii consoles respectively.

A number of sequels followed, the first two being developed together and released in 1989: Shadow Dancer for the arcade, and The Revenge of Shinobi for the Sega Mega Drive (and later the Mega-Tech).

Production credits

Arcade version

• Staff: Sugachan 26, Wagamama Kenchi, Topi, Gyofunori, Hanachan, Super Haggar, Fanta Jijii, Yamiagari, Shinjuku Otoko
• Special Thanks: Pachinker Uke, Ponchan 25

Magazine articles

Main article: Shinobi/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

System 16 JP flyer

System 16 export flyer (Super conversion kit)

System 16 ES flyer

File:Shinobi SMS JP TVAdvert.mp4

Master System JP TV advert

File:Shinobi SMS JP TVAdvert.mp4

NES US print advert

File:MS TV advert NL.mp4

NL TV advert

File:MS TV advert NL.mp4

File:SMS Shinobi QC TVAdvert.mp4

CA

File:SMS Shinobi QC TVAdvert.mp4

Print advert in Pixel (GR) #66: "Máios 1990" (1990-xx-xx)

Physical scans

System 16 version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Commodore User (UK) 80 Sinclair User (UK) 80

	80
Based on 2 reviews

Shinobi

System 16, US
Manual

System 16, JP
Instuction card(s)

Master System version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 67 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 87 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 87 The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) 87 Computer & Video Games (UK) 80 Game Mania (UK) 87 The Games Machine (UK) 82 Génération 4 (FR) 88 №7, p59 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 87 Sega Power (UK) 100 Sega Pro (UK) 89 Sega Pro (UK) 81 №13, p25

	85
Based on 12 reviews

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 70 Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 67 Computer Entertainer (US) 100 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 87 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 87 The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) PAL 87 Console XS (UK) PAL 79 Computer & Video Games (UK) 80 Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J 63 Game Mania (UK) 87 The Games Machine (UK) 82 Génération 4 (FR) 88 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 87 Power Play (DE) PAL 79 Sega Power (UK) PAL 100 Sega Pro (UK) 89 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 81 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 79 Software Gids (NL) 68

	82
Based on 19 reviews

Shinobi

Master System, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart

Master System, EU "No Limits" variant
Cover

Master System, EU ® variant
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, EU 8 Languages variant
Cover
Manual

Master System, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, AU
Cover
Cart Case

Master System, BR (cardboard)
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, BR
Cover

Master System, BR (re-release)
Cover
Cart

Master System, KR
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, KR (Alt)
Cover
Manual

Master System, SE
Manual

Master System, SE (alt)
Manual

Master System, BX†
Cover

NES version

NES, US
Cover
Cart

PC Engine version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 63 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 81 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) NTSC-J 82 Computer & Video Games (UK) NTSC-J 81 The Games Machine (UK) 88 Power Play (DE) 78 Tilt (FR) 85 Zzap! (IT) NTSC-J 90

	81
Based on 8 reviews

Shinobi

PC Engine, JP
Cover
Card File:Shinobi PCE HuCard JP Manual.pdf Manual

Mega-Tech version

Mega-Tech,
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System	Hash	Size	Build Date	Source	Comments
?	CRC32 0c6fac4e MD5 3dd2c025185e19ac9bf1ed16b695c629 SHA-1 7c0778c055dc9c2b0aae1d166dbdb4734e55b9d1	256kB		Cartridge (EU/US)
?	CRC32 e1fff1bb MD5 789b285290688cbd0a786f888f9dada1 SHA-1 26070deaa2d3c170d31ac395a50231204250bdf3	256kB		Cartridge (JP)
✔	CRC32 eb0bda7e MD5 3bc8f6e9e606e28f40655531cb5cc5ee SHA-1 66662f77437a69a9ba0470f877754e7946c157d7	256kB		Cartridge (US)
?	CRC32 bc655cf3 MD5 1659d9fa2ed7628d342fd7c7fbe6d439 SHA-1 c219f8477dc2b34b53c25a419332595835d1f5ec	384kB		Card (JP)

External links

• Sega of Japan Virtual Console pages: Arcade
• Nintendo catalogue pages: US, AU
• Shinobi on Xbox Marketplace: JP, US, UK, AU