Wow, this one is getting a remake, too! All of these Natsume games are proving to be like fine wine. Because I'm a big nerd about it, I've always preferred to treat Japanese loan words as already being in both singular and plural form (like "ninja", "samurai", and "youkai", though I guess "ninjas" has a weird "'murican" charm to it). In Japanese most nouns are like this, and it's kind of like how we pluralize words like "deer" and "fish". Come to think of it this might also explain why we often get weird translations such as "All your base are...." and "All player get..." As you have already mentioned: "Ninja Gaiden Shadow" was originally supposed to be a Game Boy port of "Shadow of the Ninja". It was made by the same Nagoya based Natsume dev team as "Shadow of the Ninja" and serves as a prequel to the NES "Ninja Gaiden" games. There are even some very strong connections in terms of story: "Set in a retro-futuristic version of 1985, three years before the events of the first Ninja Gaiden (NES), the player controls Ryu Hayabusa, who must save New York City from the forces of Emperor Garuda, a servant of Jaquio." -Wikipedia page for "Ninja Gaiden Shadow" So Ryu Hayabusa, Hayate, Kaede, and Garuda were all in New York at some point in my head canon universe, and old man Garuda somehow survived.
Lately I`ve been playing this game a lot. I didn´t like it at first and yeah it`s the abscence of weapon swap. If it had that feature I would probably love it as much as I do other Nes platformers. My favorite being Shatterhand, which for some reason i had as "Solbrain" and the player character was a sentai looking guy from a japanese series. still whistling that game`s tunes 30 years later.
That item thing looks like a ninja scroll on a pedestal to me. Maybe it could be a ninja scroll on a ladder to highlight this game letting you attack from ladders.
Great video as always Trav. I just finished Ninja Gaiden Shadow, which I really liked and had no idea its basically a reskin of this game. I will for sure check out this game next.
I played this one co-op in the late 90's. It was a fun experience but I never dedicated enough time to it since the 5th generation was where my focus was, loved the potential it had
Whenever I'm trying to sell people on this game (figuratively speaking), I tell them "It's basically Ninja Gaiden with co-op!" I'm very much looking forward to the upcoming remake as well. 😁
This is one that somehow escaped me in its day. Probably over'shadow'ed by the Ninja Gaiden trilogy. I probably saw it in video stores but the cover art screams low-tier, to me at least.
Always happy to see a new video, especially when it's a game I didn't know about. I had already moved on to my Genesis by the time the later games came out for the NES. Konami's Laserscope (the thing you yell at) was a dumb idea: you have headphones so you don't bother anyone while playing, but you need to yell "fire" to get it to work. Anyway, good job. Keep firing from ladders.
Definitely seems like there are some awesome mechanics in this game, but yeah, I'd probably like it more if you could hold onto weapons and cycle through them. Maybe in that remake? Which also looks pretty sweet!
You know that in 2029, you're going to start getting comments on this video talking about the size of Topeka, Kansas relative to other cities in the United States, right? And I'll be right there, replying to every last one, saying "I told you so." See you in 2029!
If I was a betting man I’d wager that the upcoming “remake” will be pointlessly difficult because for whatever reason modern developers think “retro” means “unfair and not fun.”
So all those stupid Nintendo accessories weren't thinking outside the box. There was a severe chip shortage for cartridges and companies made a ton of stupid accessories just so they could have something Nintendo related on the shelves to sell for Christmas that year
Wait the European version runs faster? That's quite the oddity. I've been sleeping on this one for too long anyway so gonna have to grab a copy and see from my own ladder.
You might be tempted to play Ninja Crusaders, as it's also a ninja-based action platformer. DO NOT PLAY NINJA CRUSADERS--at least not with the sound on. It has the worst soundtrack on the entire NES. A toddler slamming their mitts on a broken keyboard would make better music. Consider yourself warned!!
You can clearly see the Twin Towers, which means it IS Topeka, Kansas!
Obviously!
Home of the famous Topeka Yankees
I still need to play this one but when I do, the immortal words of NES Friend will always ring true in my head - shoot from the ladder
Get ya some ladder action
Wow, this one is getting a remake, too!
All of these Natsume games are proving to be like fine wine.
Because I'm a big nerd about it, I've always preferred to treat Japanese loan words as already being in both singular and plural form (like "ninja", "samurai", and "youkai", though I guess "ninjas" has a weird "'murican" charm to it).
In Japanese most nouns are like this, and it's kind of like how we pluralize words like "deer" and "fish".
Come to think of it this might also explain why we often get weird translations such as "All your base are...." and "All player get..."
As you have already mentioned: "Ninja Gaiden Shadow" was originally supposed to be a Game Boy port of "Shadow of the Ninja".
It was made by the same Nagoya based Natsume dev team as "Shadow of the Ninja" and serves as a prequel to the NES "Ninja Gaiden" games.
There are even some very strong connections in terms of story:
"Set in a retro-futuristic version of 1985, three years before the events of the first Ninja Gaiden (NES), the player controls Ryu Hayabusa, who must save New York City from the forces of Emperor Garuda, a servant of Jaquio."
-Wikipedia page for "Ninja Gaiden Shadow"
So Ryu Hayabusa, Hayate, Kaede, and Garuda were all in New York at some point in my head canon universe, and old man Garuda somehow survived.
Lately I`ve been playing this game a lot. I didn´t like it at first and yeah it`s the abscence of weapon swap. If it had that feature I would probably love it as much as I do other Nes platformers. My favorite being Shatterhand, which for some reason i had as "Solbrain" and the player character was a sentai looking guy from a japanese series. still whistling that game`s tunes 30 years later.
As kids we judged games by - Can you attack from a ladder? How good was the jump? Did 'zero' lives count as a life? Unlimited continues?
That item thing looks like a ninja scroll on a pedestal to me. Maybe it could be a ninja scroll on a ladder to highlight this game letting you attack from ladders.
Great video as always Trav. I just finished Ninja Gaiden Shadow, which I really liked and had no idea its basically a reskin of this game. I will for sure check out this game next.
I played this one co-op in the late 90's. It was a fun experience but I never dedicated enough time to it since the 5th generation was where my focus was, loved the potential it had
Time to revisit it!
I guess a top list of NES games where you can attack from ladders would be mostly Mega Man games.
What a great rental this was during a sleep over.
Going to have to check this out, looks quality.
This game was the perfect post-cartoon Saturday morning filler with a friend. Now it's noon - lunch time!
Whenever I'm trying to sell people on this game (figuratively speaking), I tell them "It's basically Ninja Gaiden with co-op!"
I'm very much looking forward to the upcoming remake as well. 😁
Happy Wednesday Everyone.
Wow, an absolute favorite of mine on the NES! Thanks for the video, and I can't wait to play the modern remake!
This is one that somehow escaped me in its day. Probably over'shadow'ed by the Ninja Gaiden trilogy. I probably saw it in video stores but the cover art screams low-tier, to me at least.
The actual art is aces, I think, but I somehow still agree. Perhaps it’s that border.
Absolutely one of the very best games on the platform.
There actually was a semi sequel on the Game Boy Color called Return of the Ninja. It's not nearly as good as the NES game though.
Always happy to see a new video, especially when it's a game I didn't know about. I had already moved on to my Genesis by the time the later games came out for the NES. Konami's Laserscope (the thing you yell at) was a dumb idea: you have headphones so you don't bother anyone while playing, but you need to yell "fire" to get it to work. Anyway, good job. Keep firing from ladders.
Nice review! Looks like a fun game!
I love this game.
Definitely seems like there are some awesome mechanics in this game, but yeah, I'd probably like it more if you could hold onto weapons and cycle through them. Maybe in that remake? Which also looks pretty sweet!
Remake looks cool. Think I'll get that one.
Great video as always Trav, hope lifes good! I laughed at the euro version runs faster
Looking at you Rob! Glove! Thing you yell into! 😂
Deus Ex is a 3D game where attacking from ladders is viable and tactical!
On the NES? 😮
This one is so overlooked! Nice review!
It takes place in New York according to the screen shot in the opening.
That's just what they want you to think! (Topeka 2029, all aboard!)
Ninja Gaiden Contra. I dig it!
You know that in 2029, you're going to start getting comments on this video talking about the size of Topeka, Kansas relative to other cities in the United States, right? And I'll be right there, replying to every last one, saying "I told you so."
See you in 2029!
Yep! And now... we wait.
I've technically played this game. I had Ninja Gaiden: Shadow for the GameBoy.
If I was a betting man I’d wager that the upcoming “remake” will be pointlessly difficult because for whatever reason modern developers think “retro” means “unfair and not fun.”
So all those stupid Nintendo accessories weren't thinking outside the box. There was a severe chip shortage for cartridges and companies made a ton of stupid accessories just so they could have something Nintendo related on the shelves to sell for Christmas that year
To me, needing to invent accessories to keep Nintendos on shelves is the definition of thinking outside the box.
Wait the European version runs faster? That's quite the oddity.
I've been sleeping on this one for too long anyway so gonna have to grab a copy and see from my own ladder.
This game looks like a mod where you play Ninja Gaiden on Megaman stages.
If the difficulty is that both combined then good luck!
Naw, I don't think it's quite as difficult as either tbh. Very approachable!
Framingham ma is the largest city in the USA
Ninja Gay-den? It's Gai-Den. Hai! There is a Limited Run re-release of this game but that doesn't really count.
You might be tempted to play Ninja Crusaders, as it's also a ninja-based action platformer. DO NOT PLAY NINJA CRUSADERS--at least not with the sound on. It has the worst soundtrack on the entire NES. A toddler slamming their mitts on a broken keyboard would make better music. Consider yourself warned!!
C'mon. You know I'm going to play it some day but I do heed your warning ;)
@@NESFriend Edit: my emulator was responsible for that. The soundtrack is actually okay. I think I may have bugged it with Game Genie codes.