Shinobi

aka: SEGA AGES: Shinobi
Moby ID: 1884
Arcade Specs
Note: We may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made via eBay or Amazon links (prices updated 3/28 5:35 AM )
See Also

Description official descriptions

You control a shinobi, Joe Musashi, who must battle his way through each level in search of hostages which must be rescued. You have shurikens, kicks and punches to defend yourself with, as well as powerful ninja magic which can clear the screen of enemies in one go.

Each level is broken down into smaller scenes, and hostages are guarded by big blokes who throw swords. Watch out for gun-toting enemy henchmen and ninjas.

Reaching the end of each level will find you battling it out with a boss. These range from 8ft tall giants to helicopter gunships.

Spellings

  • 忍 - Japanese spelling

Groups +

Screenshots

Promos

Credits (Arcade version)

12 People (10 developers, 2 thanks)

Staff
  • Sugachan 26
  • Wagamama Kenchi
  • Topi
  • Gyofunori
  • Hanachan
  • Super Haggar
  • Fanta JiJii
  • Yamiagari
  • Shinjuku Otoko
Special Thanks
  • Pachinker Uke
  • Ponchan 25
Music Composer

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 74% (based on 55 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.6 out of 5 (based on 133 ratings with 7 reviews)

A colorful and challenging title featuring abundant ninjas

The Good
Shinobi is old-school. No one in their right mind would play it today for more than five minutes, but back in the late-80s this was solid gold. I remember spending damn-near $100 on the cartridge when I was around ten, which was about all the money I would get for an entire year!

It's got evocative music (though constrained by the Master System's primitive audio system), well-designed levels, very interesting bosses, a variety of different challenges, as well as some very cool weapons.

The Bad
It's a rather difficult game and I'm quite sure than I never beat it without using the level select cheat.

Apart from that its only real flaw is that it was made in the 80s, so it's quite primitive by today's standards.

The Bottom Line
A fun little game, quite addictive (at least it was), intriguing ambiance, and quite challenging.

SEGA Master System · by Chris Wright (85) · 2013

Always in a special place in our hearts!

The Good
I was too young and innocent to go the Arcades back in the day, at least I had this!

The Bad
Yes, you guessed it. It's a poor port to the PC, like so many others back in those days...

The Bottom Line
This platform game is the conversion of Sega’s legendary coin-op. We are the lone ninja with the task of uprooting a terrorist network and rescuing its hostages. In order to achieve these, we have to succeed in five demanding missions.

The graphics are simple and basic, obviously nowhere near today’s standards. However, they give a positive impression and look inviting. The only sound available is a tune heard in the beginning and a few sound effects during playing.

The game is generally faithful to its ancestor’s structure and content. We will explore similar, but smaller, levels and face the same ‘Bosses’ in the end of every mission. The minor enemies are also close to the originals. We will encounter unarmed thugs, pistol carrying guards, ninjas and boomerang throwing hostage keepers. We attack with our throwing stars, punches and kicks. When enough hostages are rescued, we are rewarded with a bazooka and a sword. Once in every level we can use our ‘Ninja Magic’, this powerful aura kills every lesser foe in the screen, and inflicts serious damage to the ‘Bosses’. After the completion of each mission, we enter the ‘Bonus Stage’. There, with our shurikens, we have to put down all the enemy ninjas that are rushing to reach us. If we succeed, we earn an extra life.

There are still some important gameplay differences with the arcade game. Three pushes from an enemy are lethal. We can not throw more than two shurikens at a time. When we are kneeled down and shoot, we rise up enough to get hit by hostile shots. Finally, “Ninja Magic” does not destroy enemy fire.

The game manages to capture the essence and feeling of the original. It is simply addictive. Eagerly, we struggle to overcome difficulties, liberate new hostages and strike the weak points of the ‘Bosses’. The eight available lives may initially look too many, but soon this observation is withdrawn. Although the game does not have the machine’s coin devouring difficulty, it is undoubtedly very challenging. The player has to be vigilant and concentrated all the time. Fast reflexes and accuracy in the controlling of our ninja are enormously important. Without them, great loss of lives will be sustained even in the easiest levels.

After all these years, “Shinobi” still stands out with its playing quality and environment. A highly recommended selection for every friend of this genre, indeed.

DOS · by Iron Lord (40) · 2016

P-E-R-F-E-C-T-I-O-N-!

The Good
Better than the original arcade version because of the PC Engine's controller. Graphically equal, more so than any other home version of this game. Very smooth, like the arcade, sounds great, music's great, and is on a HuCard, so can be played on the go in the TurboExpress.

The Bad
A tad harder than it should be, and some cheap hits happen. Kind of clunky, though that could be the voltage difference between Japan and the US for AC adapters.

The Bottom Line
Take this HuCard, build some adapters to use the NES Advantage joysticks, go get some arcade cabinet instructions and build an arcade machine around this game. It's that perfect.

TurboGrafx-16 · by Fake Spam (85) · 2008

[ View all 7 player reviews ]

Discussion

Subject By Date
Arcade to SMS port has a couple of 'RPG' or let's say home gaming, long-term play touches that make it a bit more than a weaker port of the original. Andrew Fisher (697) Jan 31, 2024

Trivia

1001 Video Games

The Arcade version of Shinobi appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.

Arcade Version

In comparison to the original arcade version, there are a few missing features in the TurboGrafx-16 version (the status of the other home conversions is unknown): the machine gun, the bonus round and a few enemies (including the boss of the second mission).

Hidden messages

The Amiga version contains this message to crackers, hidden within the game code:

Fuck me! I never thought you would do it!! Bet it took a long time though!

By the way, the only way to crack this game is if you have at least 4mb of fast ram... theres a hint! Are you enjoying this, by the way? Me (Richard Aplin) and Tim (the programmer) thought we might give you a little challange... I reckon I'll hold you off for about a week. Oh, by the way Quartex, you told me at the SAE party this would be EASY.. Well is it? I'm sure POPULOUS was easy too! (hehe)

Well, obviously you weren't fooled earlier!! I'm impressed! Not a bad bit of hacking.. but the best is yet to come!! Hehehehehe.. Just wait, cos now it gets REALLY good..

If you are reading this message on a pirated version of Shinobi, may all your days in prison be computerless!

Title

Shinobi in Japanese means: stealing (into); spy; sneak thief; surreptitious visit to house of ill repute. The Chinese character displayed on the title screen and throughout the game is the character for Shinobi in Japanese.

Analytics

MobyPro Early Access

Upgrade to MobyPro to view research rankings!

Related Games

Shinobi Legions
Released 1995 on SEGA Saturn
The Revenge of Shinobi
Released 1989 on Genesis, Windows, 2012 on PlayStation 3...
The Cyber Shinobi
Released 1990 on SEGA Master System
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
Released 1993 on Genesis, 2010 on Windows, 2018 on Linux...
Alex Kidd in Shinobi World
Released 1990 on SEGA Master System, 2009 on Wii
Herzog Zwei
Released 1989 on Genesis, 2020 on Nintendo Switch
Puzzle & Action: Ichidant-R
Released 1994 on Arcade, 1994 on Game Gear, 1995 on Genesis
Gain Ground
Released 1990 on SEGA Master System, 1991 on Genesis, 2010 on Windows...
OutRun
Released 1988 on Amiga, DOS, Genesis...

Related Sites +

Identifiers +

  • MobyGames ID: 1884
  • [ Please login / register to view all identifiers ]

Contribute

Are you familiar with this game? Help document and preserve this entry in video game history! If your contribution is approved, you will earn points and be credited as a contributor.

Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Macintrash.

Wii added by sgtcook. NES, SEGA Master System added by PCGamer77. Nintendo Switch added by Kam1Kaz3NL77. ZX Spectrum, Atari ST added by Martin Smith. Arcade added by Pseudo_Intellectual. MSX added by Игги Друге. Xbox 360 added by Ben K. Commodore 64, TurboGrafx-16, Amstrad CPC, Amiga added by Katakis | カタキス.

Additional contributors: Katakis | カタキス, chirinea, Игги Друге, Cantillon, Patrick Bregger, Thomas Thompson, Jo ST, FatherJack.

Game added July 4, 2000. Last modified March 28, 2024.