Shadow of the Ninja (NES) Playthrough - NintendoComplete

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  • čas přidán 21. 02. 2018
  • A playthrough of Natsume's 1990 action platforming game for the NES, Shadow of the Ninja.
    Shadow of the Ninja is among the many fantastic games that Natsume developed for the NES, and like most of their NES games, despite its positive critical reception, it really never saw much popularity.
    It starts out with a cinematic inteo that vaguely details how in 2029 America has come under the control of some evil emperor that floats in the skies over New York. Apparently dropping a nuke over New York City isn't considered an acceptable option, so what's plan B? Ninjas.
    Yup. Ninjas. Saving America from a dictator.... What?
    But no matter how patently absurd the set up is (because, really, how many NES game plots actually made sense?), Shadow of the Ninja nails the game play, and does it with a whole lot of style.
    It looks and feels a bit like Ninja Gaiden (and its Game Boy sequel was actually licensed by Tecmo and summarily turned into Ninja Gaiden Shadow), but there are some important differences. First of all, it features a simultaneous two-player mode! This type of play is a fair rarity on the NES, but given that Shadow of the Ninja doesn't generally throw many enemies on the screen at once, instances of slowdown and flicker are surprisingly rare. If you play it alone, you get your choice of Hayate (the purple ninja) or Kaede (Hayate's orangey-pink doppelganger) - they play exactly the same as each other.
    You don't get the full bevy of powers like you would in Ninja Gaiden, but you get your choice of two standard weapons - a sword or a sickle (well, technically it's actually called a kusarigama) that can be upgraded to extend the reach. You also get a couple of throwing weapons (ninja stars and grenades) at a number of points. The setups lends itself nicely to the fast paced game play, and it comes with a few cool moves. Hayate and Kaede have the ability to hang from ledges and to flip between floors as they dodge and attack, which lends the game a better sense of fluidity than most NES platformers.
    The graphics and sounds are really well done. The first level starts out with a dramatic storm going on, stage four features a burning cityscape in the background, and even the more mundane industrial-looking areas have a lot of detail to flesh them out. The soundtrack is classic Natsume all the way - even without Hiroyuki Iwatsuki on composing duty, Shadow of the Ninja's soundtrack is top-shelf all the way through.
    It does go for fairly steep prices, but I'd say that if you can get the cart for $50, snap it up. I enjoy this one far more than many of the $60 games out there for the current generation of systems. and it's easy to play this one again and again without ever getting bored. In terms of quality, it's on even footing with Shatterhand, SCAT, and Dragon Fighter. And if you've ever played any of those, you'll know exactly how strong of a recommendation that is.
    This is a brand new playthrough to replace the original 240p video in my NES playlist.
    _
    No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
    NintendoComplete (www.nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!
    Visit for the latest updates!
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Komentáře • 149

  • @bulthaosen1169
    @bulthaosen1169 Před rokem +26

    Criminally underrated game. One the absolute best nes platform had to offer.

  • @clevergamer6704
    @clevergamer6704 Před 4 lety +78

    omg, I finally found it! it's been 20 years and me and my best buddy loved it so much. we never completed it but it was one of the best games on nes and underrated. The music is one of the best in this genre

    • @mrchambers06
      @mrchambers06 Před 3 lety

      this game and the mega man games by far have the best music

    • @skysoft501
      @skysoft501 Před rokem

      I completed this

    • @BahriAlaydin
      @BahriAlaydin Před rokem

      Yeah same goes for me too

    • @DemiGodX
      @DemiGodX Před rokem +2

      Same here. I knew it had shadow in the name but whenever I search for it it keep bringing up shadowgate

    • @BARONXAVIER
      @BARONXAVIER Před 9 měsíci +1

      A remake coming for 2023

  • @NintendoComplete
    @NintendoComplete  Před 6 lety +33

    Shadow of the Ninja is a classic Natsume action title in the vein of Shatterhand and Dragon Fighter. If you're looking for an unsung hero of the NES library, this one is hard to top.

    • @firesharkable
      @firesharkable Před 3 lety +2

      currently being sold by limitedrun, (came here to watch this video after seeing it for sale)

    • @NintendoComplete
      @NintendoComplete  Před 3 lety +2

      @@firesharkable Oh really? That's cool, it totally deserves a rerelease.

    • @firesharkable
      @firesharkable Před 3 lety

      Yeah go have a look. I never played the game but seriously considering! Collectors edition brings the soundtrack cd as well

    • @johnaustin209
      @johnaustin209 Před rokem +1

      Known as Blue Shadow in Europe.

  • @ze_chooch
    @ze_chooch Před 3 lety +20

    One of the few NES games that feels fair without memorizing rooms and attack patterns.

    • @SonySupporter
      @SonySupporter Před 6 měsíci

      Yep. The only real hard part is maybe when last boss health goes under half as he becomes faster.

  • @theichytype
    @theichytype Před 4 lety +49

    The soundtrack was so ahead of its time.

    • @MoltoRubato88
      @MoltoRubato88 Před 2 lety +3

      It also sounds a lot like Castlevania.

    • @nostartia
      @nostartia Před měsícem

      @@MoltoRubato88 composer was an ex Konami so it makes all sense.

    • @danielmilyutin9914
      @danielmilyutin9914 Před měsícem

      ​@@MoltoRubato88Shatterhand aka "robokop 4" (As I knew it) . And sound effects seem same.

  • @Shadowlord1980
    @Shadowlord1980 Před 6 lety +25

    One of my favorite nes games. I played this game with my friend too! I liked Kaede more than Hayate.

  • @josevaladez9973
    @josevaladez9973 Před 4 lety +13

    I loved this game and it's music. I look it up every now and then to feel that childhoodNes. I miss being a kid.

  • @mariusamber3237
    @mariusamber3237 Před 6 lety +14

    I loved this one back in the day, played through it multiple times. Easily recognizable sound effects, too - they appeared pretty much in all Natsume's games on the NES. ;) The story reminds me vaguely of Ninja Crusaders - no need for the professional army, instead you just send in ninjas to do the job, no matter the threat... aliens, demons, dictators - they can take care of everything alone!

    • @gt-cx1ce
      @gt-cx1ce Před 5 lety +1

      cyber shadow trailer go watch it

  • @Prokudak
    @Prokudak Před 4 lety +5

    Homing shurikens and weapon upgrades - I didn't know about that. Natsume games on NES are awesome.

  • @ujjaldey0405
    @ujjaldey0405 Před 3 lety +6

    One of the badass ninja games ever! 🔥

  • @johndripper
    @johndripper Před 3 lety +5

    I used to play it's Famicom version known as KAGE available in 4 in 1 pirate multicarts lol back in the day when I didn't even know that they were not genuine copies 😝😫😓

  • @Krasma16
    @Krasma16 Před 3 lety +7

    Such a good game. The 13 Y.old me would love to finally beat the final boss, which I never succeeded to to

  • @jerithedwards9967
    @jerithedwards9967 Před rokem +1

    One of my Top 5 NES games. Brings so many memories. Love the music in this game. 🔥🔥🔥

  • @kratosk5402
    @kratosk5402 Před rokem +4

    Best games for 90’s kid ever

    • @johnaustin209
      @johnaustin209 Před rokem +1

      I agree. I was 10 when I first played this. Know I'm 41 and still enjoy it. :D

    • @MewAesthetic
      @MewAesthetic Před 2 měsíci +1

      ​@@johnaustin20930+ 😅

  • @FunkyBandana
    @FunkyBandana Před 2 lety +2

    Ninjas, Samurais, Boomerangs, Shurikens... this game has it all

  • @TheKumphagun
    @TheKumphagun Před 5 lety +8

    Hold the attack button to use special move (Thunder strike)

  • @devonjames7999
    @devonjames7999 Před 2 měsíci +1

    This game is finally making a comeback! Wishlist on steam now

  • @romuloribeirorosa9934
    @romuloribeirorosa9934 Před 4 lety +6

    Que saudades!Jogava com meu pai! Nós dois zeramos várias vezes!

  • @afmikasenpai
    @afmikasenpai Před rokem +2

    The music is perfect

  • @arestyo
    @arestyo Před 2 měsíci +1

    One of my favorit game from nes, damn it's like 25years ago

  • @babak.defender
    @babak.defender Před 3 lety +1

    I have been playing this game for over twenty years, the best Nintendo console game

  • @vchill79
    @vchill79 Před 6 lety +6

    This game looks very awesome! I never played any of the games that were released after the Super Nintendo, I had gotten a SNES an never bought another NES game, Until way later when I started my little collection

  • @Takato2527
    @Takato2527 Před rokem +1

    as a kid, I played this ninja game more than Ninja Gaiden, and I love every second of it, especially playing with my homie on the couch. Ninja Gaiden 3 is way better than the first one (fite me!), but god Shadow of the Ninja has one thing that Ninja Gaiden didn't have.
    3 words
    2 PLAYERS CO-OP.

  • @guitarzan5328
    @guitarzan5328 Před 11 měsíci +1

    I bought this game a couple of weeks ago, and beat it just the other day... what an awesome piece of work! Except here in Australia, it's called _Blue Shadow._ Glad to have it in my NES collection.

  • @MichaelJason-ns3pr
    @MichaelJason-ns3pr Před 4 měsíci

    This game is my favorite childhood memories game love it so much, miss the good day game console

  • @pubgmobileOase
    @pubgmobileOase Před 5 měsíci

    Shadow of the Ninja and Ninja Gaiden ll was my fav nes games😢

  • @azanhk1
    @azanhk1 Před 3 lety +2

    finally found it! 25 years ago...

  • @evilspin
    @evilspin Před 4 lety +2

    Geez everything from Natsume was awesome and was a sleeper in here in the US! Too bad it wasn’t as big as Konami and Capcom here

  • @wayneskworld784
    @wayneskworld784 Před 3 lety +2

    Yeah man, we always played just to beat it to hear this killer ass track at the end.. beast

  • @StudioLNL
    @StudioLNL Před 2 měsíci +1

    "2029 A.D."
    That's gonna be 5 years from now isn't it.

  • @JoshAmes1980
    @JoshAmes1980 Před 3 lety

    I never heard of this game until this year for some reason and it’s amazing. So weird.

  • @knigth-j407
    @knigth-j407 Před 3 lety

    Nunca habia visto este juego. Para la epoca veo que exprimia la nes 👍🏻 buen video

  • @spartan7911
    @spartan7911 Před 2 lety

    The ending theme song is so epic!

  • @arghyadas6331
    @arghyadas6331 Před 5 měsíci

    This shit slaps so hard even after all these years

  • @videogamephenom1991
    @videogamephenom1991 Před 3 lety +2

    This looks like more of an alternative to Ninja Gaiden.

  • @aangshumanboro3115
    @aangshumanboro3115 Před 3 lety

    Yes finally i remember, one of my fav games, 😍

  • @okyatsama1959
    @okyatsama1959 Před 3 lety +2

    i played it all my childhood for 7 years and i was never able to kill last dragon
    and it took me years to be able to reach there this game is extremely HARD

  • @Ninjaswithipods
    @Ninjaswithipods Před 4 měsíci +1

    Aaand we are reborn

  • @justbecuz5723
    @justbecuz5723 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Let’s go, Kage SotN remake 2024!!!

  • @DBoy2029
    @DBoy2029 Před 2 lety

    Sweet playthrough of this.
    And, to others viewing, again, it must be remembered this game was made in 1990, so something like 9/11 was almost unthinkable back then. (Almost.)

  • @JodyFoo
    @JodyFoo Před 3 měsíci

    Love the soundtrack!

  • @gameplaypamore2417
    @gameplaypamore2417 Před 3 dny

    This and Ninja Gaiden games are awesome!

  •  Před 2 lety

    7 more years to meet the “Ninjia”

  • @Bloodreign1
    @Bloodreign1 Před 5 lety +3

    One of the most kickass NES games ever made, it can easily hang with Ninja Gaiden 1-3. I'm lucky to have this, and the Ninja Gaiden NES trilogy in my collection, but prices may keep one away from this, and Ninja Gaiden 3 these days. My copy was $10 cart only, crappy condition label, but meh, it's all about having another kickass game to play. Not going to pay out the ass to get another copy, just to have a nice label.
    The Japanese version, Kage, fares no better with prices, it seems to sell for a little more than the NES version, save for occasionally it might sell for less from Japanese sellers, but not always. Couple in EMS shipping charges, and you still pay out the back side for the game, unless you go SAL, and wait 1-2 months for your game to arrive, no thanks.

  • @overdriver99
    @overdriver99 Před 27 dny +1

    I never played this game LOL!!! this is fantastic game

  • @raidenkaskus
    @raidenkaskus Před 7 měsíci

    I'm not lucky, I didn't know there were games this good in the NES era 😭 . This is similar to "Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master Mega Drive" 👍

  • @pmackchokz
    @pmackchokz Před 5 lety +2

    The OST in 2-1 sound like Flash Man's theme in Megaman 2.

  • @hawaiian-cerveza
    @hawaiian-cerveza Před 10 měsíci

    Love this game.

  • @Virsidus
    @Virsidus Před 23 hodinami

    I remember I first picked the harpoon because of the range, but then after getting my ass whooped at the metal samurai boss fight, I gave the sword a try and behold, it had similar range and it was even faster, and that's how I was able to beat the game.

  • @Computer468
    @Computer468 Před 11 měsíci

    My old game 7 years past I am playing this game

  • @Jeneric81
    @Jeneric81 Před 8 měsíci

    Ninjas + NES is the best combo

  • @scuppo
    @scuppo Před 3 lety +1

    Shuriken was OP

  • @penttijokimaki4858
    @penttijokimaki4858 Před 3 lety

    As kids, we used to call that second boss "the robot with two dicks". To this day, I still can't unsee it haha! Awesome game, one of the best on the NES.

  • @ihavenoenemies666
    @ihavenoenemies666 Před rokem

    So nostalgia

  • @hellfish1413
    @hellfish1413 Před 10 měsíci

    Great game . I beat it when I was 13. Jem of a game

  • @tommyrr9106
    @tommyrr9106 Před 2 lety +1

    Epic still After 30 years

  • @oxygeninterface
    @oxygeninterface Před 6 lety +4

    umm... how come i've never heard of this awesome looking game until now? why have i never heard anyone ever talk about it? it looks like so much fun.

    • @NintendoComplete
      @NintendoComplete  Před 6 lety +4

      It's awesome.

    • @DJeimaXe
      @DJeimaXe Před 6 lety +1

      I've rented it back in the 90's. Tecmo had bought this game out because they wanted to be the only Ninja gaming developers.

    • @beeps7
      @beeps7 Před 6 lety

      Didn't know Natsume had games before harvest moon.

    • @ninjamaster3453
      @ninjamaster3453 Před 6 lety

      It's expensive. Like $45 for the cartridge. About $200 complete. It's awesome and know ninja stuff.

    • @NintendoComplete
      @NintendoComplete  Před 6 lety +3

      Ninja Master Wow, I didn't realize complete copies were up that high now. Makes me glad I kept minty complete copy on the shelf instead of hawking it on eBay.

  • @herrcobblermachen
    @herrcobblermachen Před 2 lety

    "Wtf is that?" dunno! keep goin! bad guys were totally unexplained, and the whole thing just shrouded in mystery, and thats what I love about the old games. These complex machines and sets have to mean something, but you're so busy staying alive, and the music is driving you on to the most epic quest of your life.
    Love the boss music, and the samurai of antiquity and the hawk-man fights were always my fav. Every time the boss came on scene i used to yell "Fry him!!" with the lightening from the sky. Those super whirlwind ninjas come on scene and you just throw a frag on his lap- lol. Just like negates all the badass'edness of his clearly superior skills.
    Was there ever any perks to busting the samurai boss' hip? Always wondered, but it made me feel empowered (and frantic)

    • @johnaustin209
      @johnaustin209 Před rokem

      The bad guys were explained, in the manual. Those things don't quite exist anymore.

  • @felipeherrera6507
    @felipeherrera6507 Před 3 lety +1

    Relly liked this game , sad it was short and so easy

  • @GardevoirBoy1991
    @GardevoirBoy1991 Před 6 lety +1

    The hitpoints for some bosses was too much for the game to handle. It definitely wasn't infinite despite what was seen at glance.

  • @stephennovotny6157
    @stephennovotny6157 Před 6 lety +1

    Very awesomeness

  • @childofthesun32
    @childofthesun32 Před 7 měsíci

    Back in the day, I'd take games down to the market and swap them for £5. I'd have games that were my all time favourites and I never got rid of. Strangely though, there's games I DID get rid of and I don't know why.
    This for example. No idea why I swapped this. Or the Castlevania games, no idea why I swapped them either.
    Maybe it was just a harder choice than I remember though and these weren't games I went off, they were just my 'least all time favourites'.

  • @julinho218
    @julinho218 Před 4 lety

    3:17 Castlevania flea monster survived to see the future

  • @fjvmvm1532
    @fjvmvm1532 Před 3 lety

    الله ايام زمان ولا غدرت اختمهه .واخيرن شفت النهايه

  • @iniana-1988
    @iniana-1988 Před 4 lety

    Oh poor me , i never heard this game before..

  • @nitrocircuit3589
    @nitrocircuit3589 Před 4 lety

    How to do the lighting attack. I hold down attack button and release after the life line flashes. But nothing happens. Do I need to keep the button pressed and not release it and it will do it automatically. Or do I have to press any other button while pressing the button

    • @NintendoComplete
      @NintendoComplete  Před 4 lety

      Just hold it down. If you have enough life it'll do it automatically.

  • @MultiVince95
    @MultiVince95 Před 6 lety

    Brilliant

  • @stephen-ng
    @stephen-ng Před rokem +1

    Holding the attack button or something for 10 seconds unleashes an Ultimate Lightning attack that drains ½ your health but strikes everything on the screen. Not worth it when I had a Game Genie active, LOL

  • @ArenderBros
    @ArenderBros Před 10 měsíci

    Finally found it

  • @sonnyhuynh007
    @sonnyhuynh007 Před 6 lety

    Which one do you like better this or ninja gaiden 1?

    • @NintendoComplete
      @NintendoComplete  Před 5 lety +2

      Ninja Gaiden for me, personally. This isn't far behind it though.

  • @phoneix24886
    @phoneix24886 Před 3 lety +1

    omg i am crying

  • @xchuckd
    @xchuckd Před 2 lety

    Picked this up today..$60 game..curious about it

  • @Jose-vc5ss
    @Jose-vc5ss Před 4 lety +2

    Looks like Strider H.

  • @BigEOT3
    @BigEOT3 Před 10 měsíci +2

    They’re remaking it for current systems and it’s coming out in 2024

    • @jeffcotten1081
      @jeffcotten1081 Před 10 měsíci +1

      And remaking it in the same style as the Wild Guns, Pocky & Rocky, and Ninja Warriors remakes. :)

  • @kevin12567
    @kevin12567 Před 3 dny

    Who came here after seeing the remake "Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn"?

  • @artinhjollder4779
    @artinhjollder4779 Před 5 lety +1

    I played a ninja game back then in which there was a helping sentinel robot behind the ninja character. The in-game language was not English so I've not recognized its true identity yet. The setting and plot was similar to the Ninja Gaiden series; maybe it's one of these NG titles. Can anyone help me with this?

    • @NintendoComplete
      @NintendoComplete  Před 5 lety +1

      A sentinel robot? The only ninja game I can think of with robots that help you is Ninja Crusaders, but you can transform into them. Shatterhand and SCAT both give you sentinel robots, but neither if them are ninja games. Ninja Gaiden 2, 3, and Wrath of the Black Manta all had ninjas with clone power ups that could attack the enemies. That's all I can think of for now. Is it any of those?

    • @NintendoComplete
      @NintendoComplete  Před 5 lety +1

      @@artinhjollder4779 Ooh, that sounds like the cover the European version of Ninja Gaiden. It was called Shadow Warriors - is that it?

    • @artinhjollder4779
      @artinhjollder4779 Před 5 lety

      @@NintendoComplete Yes, exactly. The cover art I described is Ninja Ryukenden III but it seems that I'm confusing two games . In fact, getting a beloved cartridge mixed up with a blurred memory of a NG-like game. So with respect to your reply, I'm going to delete my previous comment as it would probably make a fool of me .... Then, maybe I should give up.

    • @NintendoComplete
      @NintendoComplete  Před 5 lety +1

      @@artinhjollder4779 Yeah, sorry. If it isn't one of those ones that I listed, I really have no idea.

    • @vicareede
      @vicareede Před 3 lety

      may i help you :
      the game is Shatterhand ... or Tokyuu Shirei Solbrain.

  • @basi-vega35
    @basi-vega35 Před 5 lety

    What is the power up he is evading?

    • @richardwieder885
      @richardwieder885 Před 4 lety +1

      It was a sickle and chain. I would typically take the weapon. It allows you to strike overhead and up at an angle. This was a phenomenal game that came toward the twilight era of Nintendo.

  • @kadiryucel8484
    @kadiryucel8484 Před 3 měsíci

    Çok oynadık zamanında

  • @duytu2712
    @duytu2712 Před 10 měsíci

    Chơi hay thế, 1 mình phá đảo, ngày xưa chơi 2 player ko phá đảo được 😊

  • @MewAesthetic
    @MewAesthetic Před 2 měsíci

    3:55 🗡⚡️

  • @Oxygohome
    @Oxygohome Před měsícem

    Shattered Ninja.

  • @user-nx5oy2kw3t
    @user-nx5oy2kw3t Před 3 lety +1

    Мастер меча

  • @user-qy5en1sd1s
    @user-qy5en1sd1s Před 3 lety +1

    Ох, как мне нравилась эта игра, но пройти ее так и не получилось. У меня даже отец в нее играл. Саундтрек божественен!!!!!

  • @nedeljkopetrovic6595
    @nedeljkopetrovic6595 Před 3 lety

    Its like mega man or mega man its like it.

  • @maylaymaylay8970
    @maylaymaylay8970 Před 3 lety

    at first i never past stage 2 first boss later i pass i just pass through.the best i overcome was stage 4 i think i never complete this game.

  • @Reesespuffsreesepuffs
    @Reesespuffsreesepuffs Před 10 měsíci

    1 more year

  • @eugeniodominguezarellano7916

    I'm getting this for 20 usd :D

  • @mohitjoy23
    @mohitjoy23 Před 3 lety

    Need link to download this game on android

  • @vincentbarraza1115
    @vincentbarraza1115 Před 3 lety

    I know this as kage.

  • @ahmedgames7187
    @ahmedgames7187 Před rokem

    Can i have the download link bro?

  • @yukbernyanyi1120
    @yukbernyanyi1120 Před 4 lety +1

    I played this when im about 9 Years old and now im 27 and still had no girl friend 😂😂

  • @arielgonzalez1851
    @arielgonzalez1851 Před rokem

    Sad to see that the World Trade Center didn’t make it to 2029…

  • @Joshuamntkaus177
    @Joshuamntkaus177 Před 3 lety +1

    🙀🙀🙀

  • @user-tj5vz5uv7p
    @user-tj5vz5uv7p Před 6 měsíci

    なんか少し曲がボンバーキングに似てる感じがするね。

  • @herrcobblermachen
    @herrcobblermachen Před rokem

    Been living my whole life with this hawk only as a pet- knowing that one day i would need to fuse with it to defeat an enemy that ive trained to defeat all my life- that day game when I lunged at my opponent with a 15ft drop kick which was met by a midair hand grenade lobbed at me- THREE TIMES. Thats when I knew, it was time to merge and keel this foo'

  • @KevinHernandez-py1pt
    @KevinHernandez-py1pt Před 3 lety

    2029
    Usan mascarilla 🤐

  • @paulinacastaneda3528
    @paulinacastaneda3528 Před 3 lety

    Jajaajjajaaj

  • @user-tj5vz5uv7p
    @user-tj5vz5uv7p Před 6 měsíci

    これ確か宮本さん