Ninja Crusaders
| Ninja Crusaders | |
|---|---|
 Japanese cover art | |
| Developer(s) | NMK[1] |
| Publisher(s) | Sammy Studios[1] |
| Composer(s) | Kazunori Hideya |
| Platform(s) | NES[1] |
| Release date(s) | |
| Genre(s) | 2D action platformer[1] |
| Mode(s) | Single-player or multiplayer (up to 2 players) |
Ninja Crusaders (忍者クルセイダーズ 龍牙, lit. "Dragon Fang Ninja Crusaders")[2] is a Nintendo Entertainment System game that is in the style of the original Ninja Gaiden trilogy of games for the same system[3] where ninjas have to fight against aliens.
Gameplay
The game is a classic platforming ninja action video game that is similar to Ninja Gaiden. However, the game has its own unique feature. There are four weapons that player can pick up and use during the game: shuriken, kusarigama, bō and sword. Each weapon has its unique style and transformation ability: shuriken provides the ability of transforming into tiger, which is the fastest and can jump the highest but has the shortest range;[4] kusarigama provides the ability of transforming into sea scorpion, which can swim better than all the rest but moves very slowly on land;[4] bō provides the ability of transforming into falcon, which has the ability to fly above everything but cannot attack at all;[4] and finally sword provides the ability of transforming into dragon, which can fly, is invincible, and kills everything in one hit, but the player can only use this ability only once and only for a limited amount of time, also sword itself rarely appears in the game.[4]
The enemy's speed and unpredictability is what leads to the game's biggest downfall, level memorization.[4] This can be good in some games, but Ninja Crusaders basically forces it on the player.[4] The game is relatively easy to play until the player reaches Stage 3-2; after that, the game starts to get "ridiculously" difficult.[4]
Plot
One day, a force of alien invaders wreaked havoc on our planet Earth from the furthest reaches of outer space, wreaking havoc on its inhabitants and killing most of them.[5] This new menace was stronger than out most powerful defenses and proved to be unstoppable. In Japan, brave ninja warriors rose from the shadows to battle the alien invaders, but were eventually driven out as the menace took control of their homeland. Some of the ninjas escaped Japan and scattered to remote lands around the world.[5] But their passion to reclaim their land and crush the enemy's rage. It was decided that two ninjas, Talon and Blade, would be sent to destroy the evil.[5]
Reception
The music by Kazunori Hideya is often praised and highly regarded as the most quality part of the game.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Game information". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
- ↑ "Japanese-English title translation". JPNES. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
- ↑ "Similarities to Ninja Gaiden". NES Guide. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Basic game overview". NES Player. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
- 1 2 3 "Story information". MobyGames. Retrieved 2010-07-17.