Alex Kidd in Shinobi World

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Alex Kidd in Shinobi World
System(s): Sega Master System, Virtual Console
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega R&D 2
Distributor: Tec Toy (BR)
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code US 1990 $29.9529.95 7044 EU 1990 7044 DE 1990 DM 100100 7044 PT 199x UK 1990-10 £29.9929.99 7044 GR 199x AU 199x FALE05SEC CA 199x BR 199x US ▼ 2010-02-01 500pts500 EU ▼ 2009-12-11 500pts500 AU ▼ 2009-12-11 500pts500

Alex Kidd in Shinobi World is a game released in 1990 for the Sega Master System console. It is the sixth and final game in the Alex Kidd series. The game is a parody of the game Shinobi, with Alex Kidd replacing the ninja Joe Musashi.

Alex Kidd in Shinobi World received favourable responses from both gamers and reviewer alike, and many consider it one of the finest Master System games ever made. It also notably introduced a wall-to-wall jumping mechanic that would later appear in Ninja Gaiden for the Master System and Shinobi III for the Mega Drive.

Story

A malevolent being called the Dark Ninja has escaped from 10,000 years of banishment. As part of his plan to take over Miracle Girl, he kidnaps Alex Kidd's girlfriend while the pair are vacationing on the planet Shinobi. A mysterious entity, the White Ninja, appears and grants his ninja power to Alex so he can rescue her.

Gameplay

The game is an action platformer that plays more similarly to the original Shinobi game than to the previous Alex Kidd games, with some unique mechanics. The player controls Alex Kidd, who must make it to the exit of each stage and fight a boss at the end of each round. Environments and enemy designs are also inspired by Shinobi but in a more cartoonish style.

Alex walks with or . He squats with or walks while crouched with or . He can jump with . Alex attacks with , using a sword instead of his trademark fist. He can attack while jumping or squatting (and he can destroy flashing blocks or treasure chests below him by attacking while squatting). Ninja knives can be found, which can be used to attack enemies at a distance, replacing his sword attack. Ninja magic can be found that allows Alex to temporarily turn into an invincible whirlwind.

Alex can climb up ladders, ropes, or poles with or . He can grab a horizontal bar with + when standing under it or + when standing on top of it. While hanging from a pole or bar, Alex can start spinning on it by holding , which causes him to turn into a fireball, then launch away when the player releases (optionally while holding a direction on the D-Pad to direct Alex). He is invulnerable in this state, so he can eliminate enemies or plow through destructible blocks while in his flying fireball form. It also allows him to reach areas that are otherwise inaccessible to him. Alex can bounce between two close walls by pressing while holding or toward the wall. He can repel up narrow passageways this way.

This is the only game in the series that has a life meter. Alex starts each round with three health points, but he can restore a lost health point by finding a heart. Alex can obtain up to six health points, after which any further hearts become extra lives. He loses a life if he loses all of his health points, and the game ends if the player runs out of lives but can be continued from the beginning of the round. The player gets a 2,000-point bonus for every health point left when a round is completed and a 10,000-point "Perfect Bonus" for completing a round with six health points. There is also a 10,000-point "Secret Bonus" given for completing the entire round without getting hit or losing life at any point.

Items

	Treasure Chest
	Destroy to unveil an item. Chests can only be broken in close range (even when using throwing knives).
	Heart
	Gives Alex another health point, up to a maximum of 6. Any extra hearts found when at the maximum number of health points are turned into extra lives.
	Darts
	Replaces Alex's sword with "darts" (kunai), which are thrown as projectiles and can deflect enemy projectiles that they hit. This item lasts until Alex loses a life or moves on to the next stage.
	Power
	Increases the power of Alex's sword, which increases its damage and range and gives it the ability to deflect enemy projectiles. This item lasts until Alex loses a life or moves on to the next stage.
	Ninja's Crystal Ball
	Temporarily turns Alex into a tornado, which flies through the air and can be moved in any direction using the D-Pad. He is invulnerable in this state (aside from bottomless pits) and can damage enemies by touching them. The tornado also generates smaller twisters that bounce around the screen attacking damage enemies.
	Alex Doll
	Gives the player an extra life.

Rounds

The game consists of four rounds, roughly based on the missions from the original Shinobi. Each round is divided into three stages, with the last stage consisting of a boss battle.

	Kabuto
	Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣  Boss: Kabuto
	Set in a city. It is a parody of the first round of Shinobi. The end boss, Kabuto, is a parody of Ken Oh from Shinobi, a samurai who throws fireballs. He shrinks to a smaller size after sustaining enough damage (after which he can only be hit by squatting attacks), similar to Nintendo's mascot Mario, whom he originally parodied when the game was in development.
	Raid of the Helicopters
	Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣ | 3️⃣ | 4️⃣  Boss: Heli
	Set in a harbor. It is a parody of the second round of Shinobi. The end boss is Heli, a robotic face who spits a fleet miniature helicopters (resembling Opa-Opa). It is a parody of the Black Turtle, who attacks with a cadre of ninjas rather than helicopters, and Mandara, a robotic face, from Shinobi.
	The Jungle
	Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣  Boss: Robster
	Set in a jungle. The end boss is Robster, a parody of Lobster from Shinobi, as an actual lobster instead of a samurai clad in red armor.
	The Battle with the Dark Ninja
	Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣  Boss: The Dark Ninja
	Set in an ancient Japanese castle. It is a parody of the final round of Shinobi. Kabuto and Robster are fought again in the second stage, then the Dark Ninja is fought in the final stage, with very similar phases as the Masked Ninja of Shinobi.

History

Development

It was known as Shinobi Kid during development (according to GamePro's March 1990 "Short ProShots" section). The first boss Kabuto was originally supposed to be a parody of Super Mario, Nintendo's most well-known character. He was supposed to be named "Mari-Oh" and have a moustache, but this was later dropped due to possible copyright problems. The reference still remains however as Kabuto shrinks (similar to Mario who also shrinks when damaged, before the dies) when players inflict enough damage to him.

Production credits

• Game Design: Yoshio.Y, Cap.Elf
• Programming: Takubo, Kuma
• Graphic Design: Youko, Gen, Stresteles
• Music Compose: XOR
• Special Thanks: Pata, Teriyaki.Fanks, Okaru

Source:

In-game credits

File:Alex Kidd in Shinobi World SMS credits.pdf

Magazine articles

Main article: Alex Kidd in Shinobi World/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

NO advert (1991)

Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #2: "October/November 1990" (1990-xx-xx)
also published in:

• GamePro (US) #18: "January 1991" (199x-xx-xx)
• GamePro (US) #20: "March 1991" (1991-xx-xx)

Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #107: "October 1990" (1990-09-16)
also published in:

• Computer & Video Games (UK) #108: "November 1990" (1990-10-16)
• ACE (UK) #38: "November 1990" (1990-10-xx)

Print advert in Sega Power (UK) #13: "December 1990" (1990-11-01)
also published in:

• Computer & Video Games (UK) #109: "December 1990" (1990-11-16)
• ACE (UK) #39: "December 1990" (1990-11-xx)
• Sega Power (UK) #14: "January 1991" (1990-12-06)
• Computer & Video Games (UK) #110: "January 1991" (1990-12-15)

Photo gallery

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  AU Set

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  AU Side

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  AU Back

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  AU Inside

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  AU Cart

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  AU Booklet Manual

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  AU Fold-Out Manual

Artwork

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  Cover

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 92 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 90 The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) PAL 90 Console XS (UK) PAL 85 Computer & Video Games (UK) 92 Excalibur (CZ) 50 Game Mania (UK) 90 Joystick (FR) 91 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 90 Player One (FR) 74 Power Play (DE) 77 S: The Sega Magazine (UK) PAL 88 Sega Power (UK) PAL 75 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 88 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 85 VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) 60 Zero (UK) PAL 78

	82
Based on 17 reviews

Alex Kidd in Shinobi World

Master System, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, EU 6 Languages variant
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, EU 8 Languages variant
Cover

Master System, FR (Blister pack)
Cover

Master System, BX†
Cover

Master System, PT
Cover

Master System, GR (Zegetron)

Master System, BR (cardboard)
Cover
Manual

Master System, BR (clamshell)
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, CA
Cover

Master System, AU (Booklet Manual)
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, AU (Fold-Out Manual)
Cover
Cart Manual

Technical information

ROM dump status

System	Hash	Size	Build Date	Source	Comments
?	CRC32 d2417ed7 MD5 d62b631506913712a2103f54912458a5 SHA-1 e7c7c24e208afb986ab389883f98a1b5a8249fea	256kB		Cartridge (EU/US)

External links

• Nintendo catalogue pages: US, UK, AU