Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master/Development

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Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master development
Missed release date(s): 1992-12

Original version

An early title screen and name shown in a 1992 episode of Power Play.

During development, the game was codenamed HANZO, referencing Hattori Hanzou.

Having been announced in the first half of 1992, Shinobi III was originally set for release later in the year, but, unusually for games of this era, was delayed more than half a year into July 1993. At the time, video game production was usually measured by months rather than years, and the changes to Shinobi III during this period were quite drastic - the game was effectively redesigned from scratch, with its set of levels and most of the assets being scrapped in favour of improved versions.

The "old" Shinobi III is thought to have been close to completion, being previewed (and even reviewed) by gaming publications. Many of the original version's ideas were brought forward into what became the final game, but judging from a leaked (early) prototype, it would have offered a very different experience to the end user.

Timeline

Timeline (Mega Drive)
02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 1993 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 1994 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 1992-01-09: Winter CES 1992 1992-12-06: Yuusei Sega World 1993-01-07: Winter CES 1993 1993-06-29: Prototype; 1993-06-29 1993-07-23: JP release 1994-08-19: EU_Classic release