Shinobi

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.

The Good
So Namco's Rolling Thunder was released in late '86 and introduced the "leap up/drop down" platforming idea, used in Shinobi a year later. You played a spy in Rolling Thunder and play an unmasked ninja in Shinobi and can slip behind enemies and their defenses and beat them. I think Shinobi is an improvement, better background graphics, enemies and bosses and you have short range attacks as well as long, but like Rolling Thunder, the game plays quite fairly, your ninja is quite fast and maneuverable. The game has good, Japanese-rock, background music.

The Bad
I can't think of anything specific, but the game certainly isn't perfect. I can't complain too much about how hard the game becomes later, when so many other games are tough right from the start.

The Bottom Line
A classic arcade platformer, with interesting gameplay, introducing or at least building on some ideas.

The Good
The play control is excellent, and the levels are laid out same as the arcade version. The bonus rounds are same as the arcade version. And the music is the same, too.

The Bad
Okay, why does Shinobi look like Prince Charles of England? Did I miss something? I also know this is based on the Master System version (and not the excellent PC Engine version, or even the various home computer versions?) What also blows, though it is a feature of the original game, is the lost-it-all after I died. And some of those cheap-ass enemies. Why? Shame, shame, shame. I mean, this is the same Tengen that did After Burner on the NES? (The same After Burner so powerful only original NES hardware can run it.) What the hell?! Then there's the problem with the magic. Why not use the Select button to use it? Nay, it's this complex whatever button mash and they it activates, with Atari 2600...no, make that RCA Studio II graphical results, and a fart sound.

The Bottom Line
I always wanted to see RCA Studio II games on the NES. Was Tengen going for Studio II emulation or what? Boo on Tengen! And Boo on Sega for signing off on this poor translation!