Summary

• Shinobi is a timeless classic series about ninjas that has excited gamers for generations from arcade to home consoles.
• The series has had its ups and downs, with highlights like The Revenge of Shinobi standing out as iconic action-platformers.
• Sega has plans for the future of Shinobi, making now the perfect time to reflect on its past and the diverse range of games in the series.

In the pantheon of iconic video game series about ninjas, Shinobi enjoys a place wജell and truly near the top. The adventures of Joe Musashi and his various relatives have excited numerous generations of gamers from the arcade to home consoles.

While the series has been dormant for some time, Sega certainly has plans for the future of Shinobi which is why now is the perfect time to reflect on its past. While not every game in the ওseries is worthy of the way of the ninja, the highlights are among the greatest action-platformers of all time.

14 ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ The Revenge Of Shinobi (2002)

No, Not That “The Revenge Of Shinobi”

The worst game in the Shinobi series just so happens to share its name with one of the best. There is some debate as to whether the Gameboy Advance's The Revenge of Shinobi even belongs in the core Shinobi series as Sega only published this game in Europe, it was never released in Japan, and it shares practically zero connections with the other games in the franchise.

What is clear, is that this game doesn’t live up to its namesake in any measure. The controls are jittery,൩ the combat is wonky, and the graphics were clearly designed by someone who has no understanding of colour theory. Simply a mess from start to finish.

13 The Cyber Shinob🎀i

Should Have Stayed In Cyber Space

Ironically, a game called The C🐲yber Shinobi would be perhaps the most technologically frustrating game in the entire series. If you’ve played The Cyber Shinobi, then you understand the harsh sensory overload that this misguided Master System spinoff has in store.

The game’s glitchy framerate and ear-splitting music don&rsquo👍;t make for a rather unpleasant experience, and the actual design doesn’t fare much better. The Cyber Shinobi edges out GBA’s The Revenge of Shinobi by pure virtue of actually being a continuation of the main series. But that’s just about all it has going for it.

12 👍 Shinobi Legions

An Underrated Shinobi Game For The Saturn

Thankfully, the quality of the rest of the games on this list gets a big boost from here on, starting with the underrated and experimental Shinobi Legions for the Sega Saturn. Using digitized sprites and live-action cinematics, Shinobi Legions leans heavily into its cheesy martial arts B-film aesthetic – a choice you&rsq🍌uo;ll either gleefully embrace or reject from second-hand embarrassment.

The game is certainly a product of its time, but behind the goofy story and dated visuals is still a solid action-platformer that builds off the mechanics of Shinobi 3. With a heavier focus on close combat and a revamped ninjutsu system, Shinobi Legions iꦆs still a blast to play if you can track down a copy.

11 ♛ Nightshade ജ

The Antithesis Of Daylight

Nightshade broke new ground for the ෴Shinobi series by featuring a female ninja protagonist, Hibana. A direct sequel to the PS2 Shinobi, Nightshade brings back the hack-and-slash combat and slick platforming that made that gꦑame so entertaining – only, with a slightly more accessible difficulty level.

While the game’s story isn’t as interesting as its direct predecessor, Hibana&rsquo𝓰;s journey is still engaging enough, even if the English dub is very early-2000s in all the worst ways. Come for theꦡ banger soundtrack, and stay for the hyper-stylised action-platforming.

10 🌠 ♑Shadow Dancer

A Bombastic Good Time

More than any other game on this list, Shadow Dancer feels like the truest sequel to the original arcade Shinobi. Instead of playing as Joe, you pꦆlay as his son൲ Hayate Musashi, and instead of rescuing civilians, you are diffusing bombs.

Did we mention you also have a sidekick dog called Yamato? That’s reason enough to play Shadow Dancer, but the game’s detailed visuals and inventive level locations also elevate the game as a 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:classic of its arcade era.

9 Alex ⛦Ki𒆙dd In Shinobi World

A Crossover Event For The Generation

Before Sonic spin-dashed his way into becoming Sega’s de facto mascot, you could make a strong case that tꦐhe publisher’s two most recognisable series were Shinobi and Alex Kidd. Master System owners we🌺re treated to a really solid crossover game featuring these two series with 1990’s Alex Kidd in Shinobi World.

In this adventure, Alex Kidd eschews his usual “rock, pap🤡er, scissors” combat for a katana sword which he uses to slice and dice his way through enemies – Shinobi style! The game is notably much shorter and easier than your typical Shinobi game, but that doesn’t take away any of the charm of this oft-forgotten retro gaming mashup.

8 🅰 𒐪 The G.G. Shinobi 2: The Silent Fury

A Worthy Sequel To A Game Gear Great

Sega went way harder with the pair of G.G. Shinobi titles than anybody would have expected, with The Silent Fury standing tall as one of the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:best games on the system. Just like with the first G.G. game, you get to select which order you want to play the main levels, with each one holding a different playable ninja who makes completing one o🎃f the o🐟ther levels easier.

A contentious design choice that holds The G.G. Shinobi 2 back slightly is that you may have to revisit previously completed levels with your different ninjas to find h♒idden crystals. There is a password system – which is very welcome – but there was something mor🦂e elegant about the one-and-done level structure of the first Game Gear Shinobi title.

7 ✱ Shinobi (2002)

A Shinobi Game For The New Century

Shinobi finally leaped at the third dimension with this 2002 soft reboot for the PlayStation 2. Simply titled Shinobi💎, the game doesn’t center around Joe Musashi, but instead Hotsuma, another member of the Oboro Clan who battles against an evil sorcerer and a resurrected version of his brother whom he once thought dead.

The story takes more of centre stage in this game than in other Shinobi titles, but that doesn’t mean the gameplay is being slept on. Mastering this game’s lightning-quick platforming and combat requires a lot ℱof time and patience, but once you get in the flow, there are few more satisfying experiences in the entire series.

6 Shaꦏdow Dancer: The Secret Of Shinobi

Is Being A Shadow Dancer The Secret?

While the Shinobi series is no stranger to confusing naming cᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚonventions, Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi may just take the cake. This Genesis game is technically different from the arcade Shadow Dancer, despite sharing many of the same mechanics and design ideas.

Set in the gritty streets of New York, you once again control Joe Musashi as he and his trusty dog Yamato tak♉e down the malevolent and hilariously named Union Lizard. Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi was the last game in the series to structure its levels like the original arcade game – a formula that the developers were close to perfecting with this title.

5 🃏 Shinobi 3D

A Return To Form

As of writing this article, S𒆙hino✤bi 3D is the most recent title in the series and also, perhaps, the most underrated. Developer Griptonite Games crafted a love letter to the series’ past with a game that celebrates what came before while still making room for innovation.

Moulded primarily after the excellent Genesis duo of The Revenge of ൩Shinobi and Shinobi 3, this 3DS game add♈s new dimensions to the already slick combat with a grappling hook, stealth takedowns, and a parry system. The stylised visuals are also a nice touch while the narrative makes absolutely no sense but in the best of ways.