TurboGrafx-16

Ninja Spirit

You want a good reason to own a TurboGrafx-16? There is no better reason than Irem's Ninja Spirit, a 2D side scroller that is still considered one of the greatest action games of all time. Forget Ninja Gaiden or Ninja Commando, Ninja Spirit is the single best 2D ninja-based action game every released. The game is just as playable now as it was back then.

This is one of those truly addictive action titles, the type you'll spend an entire afternoon with just trying to beat that one section that is giving you trouble. This is easily one of the best of the hu-cards and a must play if you own the system. Just stick with it in level seven. You're almost there.

Ninja Spirit ist ein sehr nettes kleines Actionspiel, welches das Rad sicher nicht neu erfindet aber trotz allem unterhält und das besser, als manch anderes Ninja Spiel wie etwa Ninja Commando. So ist es in jedem Fall empfehlenswert.

Power-ups also make you a more lethal assassin. The bosses are impressive and the action intense. If you missed Ninja Spirit, you missed sword-slashing arcade gameplay at its finest. hang your head in shame, young grasshopper.

Ninja Spirit seems to be doomed to comparison, still not escaping the shadow of Tecmo's famous Gaiden franchise over a decade and a half after its original release. And, head-to-head, Ninja Gaiden would get the nod -- but Spirit is a solid second ninja adventure that's worth consideration for another empty spot in your library. Play both, in fact, and you can avenge your father's death twice in the same day.

I really liked the carnage I could unleash in Ninja Spirit. There's not much technique required, but it's definitely a good twitch game.

An den Automaten habe ich mich nie herangetraut, und so war ich froh, dieses hektische Kampfspiel in seiner ganzen grafischen Pracht auf der PC-Engine zu sehen. Mit drei Spielfiguren gleichzeitig schwächliche Feinde aufzumischen, bedeutet tatsächlich fast dreifachen Spielspaß. Präzise Steuerung und gnädige Kollisionsabfrage (die Gegner verpuffen beinahe noch, bevor die Feuertaste gedrückt wurde) schaffen schnell eine angenehme "Ich bin unbesiegbar"-Atmosphäre. Zum Glück gibt es den "Arcade"-Modus, sonst würde der Spielspaß an dieser feinen Umsetzung wahrscheinlich nicht lang anhalten.

Ninja Spirit is a great game and an excellent ninja game. It's certainly better than Shinobi, but falls short of Revenge of Shinobi's greatness, and pales beside Ninja Gaiden 2, which, do be fair, most games do. Still, you won't be too disappointed, and you'll be glad for the sounds you get to play by.