Shinobi

From Sega Retro

n/a

Shinobi Title.png

Shinobi
System(s): Sega System 16, Sega Master System, NES, TurboGrafx-16, Virtual Console, Xbox Live Arcade
Publisher: Sega,
Nintendo Entertainment System
Tengen,
TurboGrafx-16
Asmik
Developer:
Genre: Action

















Release Date RRP Code
Nintendo Entertainment System
US
1989 $? ?
Wii Virtual Console
JP
800pts800
Wii Virtual Console
US
800pts800
Wii Virtual Console
EU
800pts800
CERO
Missing Parameter!
For the PlayStation 2 game, see Shinobi (2002).
For the home computer versions, see Shinobi (home computers).

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.

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

Promotional Material

Physical Scans

System 16 version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
80 March 1988, p104
Arcade
80
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Arcade
N/A
Based on
0 reviews

Shinobi

System 16, US
System 16, JP

Master System Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
90 AllGame
87 №1, p70
№4, p106
87 №1, p62[2]
80 №84, p119
82 №14, p58
88 №4, p59
87 №1, p136[3]
100 №23, p59
100 №46, p101
89 №6, p28[4]
81 №13, p25
90 Shin Force
91 Video Game Critic
Sega Master System
89
Based on
13 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
70
[5]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
67
[6]
Computer Entertainer (US)
100
[7]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
87
[8]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
87
[9]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) PAL
87
[2]
Console XS (UK) PAL
79
[10]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
80
[11]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
63
[12]
Game Mania (UK)
87
[13]
The Games Machine (UK)
82
[14]
Génération 4 (FR)
88
[15]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
87
[3]
Power Play (DE) PAL
79
[16]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
100
[17]
Sega Pro (UK)
89
[4]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
81
[18]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
79
[19]
Software Gids (NL)
68
[20]
Sega Master System
82
Based on
19 reviews

Shinobi

Master System, US
Shinobi SMS US cover.jpg
Cover
Shinobi sms us cart.jpg
Cart
Shinobi sms us manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU
Shinobi SMS EU cover.jpg
Cover
Shinobi SMS EU Cart Top.jpg
Shinobi SMS EU Cart Back.jpgShinobi SMS EU Cart Front.jpg
Cart
Master System, EU
"no limits" variant
Shinobi SMS EU nolimits cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, EU
® variant
Shinobi SMS EU R cover.jpg
Cover
Shinobi SMS EU R cart.jpg
Cart
ShinobiSMSEUManual5L.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU
8 language variant
Shinobi SMS EU 8lang cover.jpg
Cover
ShinobiSMSEUManual8L.pdf
Manual
Master System, JP
Shinobi SMS JP cover.jpg
Cover
Shinobi sms jp cart.jpg
Cart
ShinobiSMSJPManual.pdf
Manual
Master System, AU
Shinobi SMS AU Cover.jpg
Cover
Shinobi SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Vacuum-Formed Clamshell Case SMS AU Inside.jpg
Case
Master System, BR (cardboard)
Shinobi SMS BR cover.jpg
Cover
Shinobi SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Shinobi SMS BR Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, BR
Shinobi SMS BR Box(Plastic White).jpg
Cover
Master System, BR (Re-release)
Shinobi SMS BR Box Alt Back.jpgNospine.pngShinobi SMS BR Box Alt.jpg
Cover
Shinobi SMS BR Box Alt Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, KR
Shinobi SMS KR backcover.jpgNospine.pngShinobi SMS KR cover.jpg
Cover
Shinobi SMS KR Cart Top.jpg
Shinobi SMS KR Cart Back.jpgShinobi SMS KR Cart.jpg
Cart
ShinobiSMSKrManual.pdf
Manual
Master System, KR (Alt)
Shinobi SMS KR Alt cover.jpg
Cover
ShinobiSMSKrManual.pdf
Manual
Master System, SE

NES Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
64 SegaFan
Nintendo Entertainment System
64
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Nintendo Entertainment System
N/A
Based on
0 reviews

Shinobi

NES, US
Shinobi NES US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngShinobi NES US cover.jpg
Cover
Shinobi NES US Cart.jpg
Cart

PC Engine Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
81 №100
88 №28, p52
78
85 №76, p8
PC Engine
83
Based on
4 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
63
[21]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
81
[22]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) NTSC-J
82
[23]
Computer & Video Games (UK) NTSC-J
81
[24]
The Games Machine (UK)
88
[25]
Power Play (DE)
78
[26]
Tilt (FR)
85
[27]
Zzap! (IT) NTSC-J
90
[28]
PC Engine
81
Based on
8 reviews

Shinobi

PC Engine, JP
Shinobi PCE HuCard JP Back.jpgShinobi PCE HuCard JP Spine.jpgShinobi PCE JP Box Front.jpg
Cover

Mega-Tech version

Mega-Tech,

Shinobi MT Cart.jpg
Cart

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)
  1. http://mamedb.com/game/shinobi
  2. 2.0 2.1 File:TheCompleteGuideToSega UK.pdf, page 62 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TheCompleteGuideToSega UK.pdf_p62" defined multiple times with different content
  3. 3.0 3.1 File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf, page 136 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p136" defined multiple times with different content
  4. 4.0 4.1 File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf, page 28 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf_p28" defined multiple times with different content
  5. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 270
  6. Aktueller Software Markt, "November 1988" (DE; 1988-10-21), page 85
  7. Computer Entertainer, "January 1989" (US; 1989-01-21), page 12
  8. Complete Guide to Consoles, "" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 70
  9. Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 106
  10. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 144
  11. Computer & Video Games, "October 1988" (UK; 1988-09-16), page 119
  12. Famitsu, "" (JP; 1988-xx-xx), page 1
  13. Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 81
  14. The Games Machine, "January 1989" (UK; 1988-12-15), page 58
  15. Génération 4, "Décembre 1988" (FR; 1988-1x-xx), page 59
  16. Power Play, "10/88" (DE; 1988-09-12), page 52
  17. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 59
  18. Sega Pro, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-08), page 25
  19. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
  20. Software Gids, "Mei/Juni 1990" (NL; 1990-05-xx), page 32
  21. Aktueller Software Markt, "März 1990" (DE; 1990-0x-xx), page 58
  22. Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume Two" (UK; 1990-04-xx), page 31
  23. Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 52
  24. Computer & Video Games, "March 1990" (UK; 1990-02-16), page 96
  25. The Games Machine, "March 1990" (UK; 1990-02-08), page 52
  26. Power Play, "5/90" (DE; 1990-04-12), page 120
  27. Tilt, "Mars 1990" (FR; 1990-0x-xx), page 82
  28. Zzap!, "Maggio 1990" (IT; 1990-xx-xx), page 28