Ninja (1986 video game)

Ninja is a beat 'em up game developed by Sculptured Software and released by Mastertronic in 1986 for the Atari 8-bit family, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum, then in 1987 for the Amstrad CPC, Amiga, Atari ST, and MS-DOS.[2] An arcade version of the game was released in 1987 for Mastertronic's Arcadia Systems which is based on Amiga hardware.[3] The Amiga, Atari ST, and Arcade versions were released as Ninja Mission. As a Ninja, the player attacks a fortress made of individual fixed screens which can be explored non-linearly.

Ninja
Developer(s)Sculptured Software
Publisher(s)Mastertronic
Designer(s)Steve Coleman[1]
Platform(s)Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Arcade, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, C64, MS-DOS, ZX Spectrum
Release
  • NA: 1986 (1986)
Genre(s)Beat 'em up
Mode(s)Single-player

Ninja was written by Steve Coleman, who previously created the Atari 8-bit games Rainbow Walker and The Pharaoh's Curse.[1]

Gameplay
Atari 8-bit screenshot

The player controls a ninja who has to penetrate a Japanese fortress by fighting enemy ninjas with karate moves and by throwing shurikens and daggers. On his way, he has to collect all of the idols. The fortress is a series of horizontal, flip-screen segments that are stacked vertically. The player is not forced along a specific route, but can explore both sides of a branching path and also backtrack to earlier screens.

Reception

Ninja received mixed reviews. Bob Chappell writing for Atari User found the game very good with "first rate animation and sound. [...] For the low price, an unmissable bargain".[4] Computer Gamer reviewer praised graphics, animation and sound of the game.[5] On the other hand Zzap!64 reviewers found the Commodore 64 version awful and boring and gave it an overall rating of 25% concluding "One of Mastertronic's weakest releases."[6]

Commodore User gave the game a rating of 4/10.[7]

References
  1. Hague, James. "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers".
  2. Ninja at mobygames.com
  3. Ninja Mission (Arcade) at gamesdbase.com
  4. "Eastern bash away". Atari User: 17. October 1986.
  5. "Sport Reviews". Computer Gamer: 64. October 1986.
  6. "Zzap! test". Zzap!64: 118. November 1986.
  7. Ninja Mission review at amr.abime.net


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