Tag Archives: pioneering

Soul Edge, Arcade

Developed by “Project Soul” and released into arcades by Namco in April 1996, Soul Edge is a weapons-based, one-on-one fighting game that serves as the predecessor to the Soulcalibur series.

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Shinobi, PC Engine

The PC Engine version of Sega‘s Shinobi was developed and published by Asmik Corporation in 1989, and it features some interesting changes to the arcade version.

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Shadow Dancer, Arcade

Sega‘s arcade game, Shadow Dancer, is the sequel to 1987’s arcade hit, Shinobi. It is the second (and final) arcade game in the Shinobi series, and was first distributed into arcades in 1989.

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Salamander, PC Engine

The PC Engine version of Salamander was first released by Konami in 1991, and it demonstrates why NEC‘s small-form console was so ahead of everything else at the time. It has great graphics and sound, smooth scrolling, large objects moving around the screen, very little sprite tearing, responsive controls, and a simultaneous two-player gameplay mode.

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Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master, Megadrive/Genesis

Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master is the second sequel in the Shinobi series, released by Sega – exclusively for the Megadrive/Genesis – in 1993. Shinobi III sees Sega slightly changing the focus of this famous platform/action game, with less emphasis on difficulty and more on the speed at which you play the game and the timings of your attacks. Which will be welcomed by some players.

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The Revenge of Shinobi, Megadrive/Genesis

The Revenge of Shinobi (known in Japan as “The Super Shinobi“) is the 1989 Megadrive/Genesis sequel to the classic Sega arcade game. It once again features Joe Musashi, and takes place three years after the events of the first game. The criminal organization “Zeed” have reformed and have renamed themselves “Neo Zeed“, and they have decided to exact their revenge on the Oboro Ninja Clan by killing Joe’s master and kidnapping his bride, Naoko. So you must rescue your fiancée, and get revenge for the death of your master.

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Shinobi, Sega Master System

The Master System conversion of Sega‘s 1987 arcade game, Shinobi, is arguably the best of its type on the console. The developers have obviously taken care to make the game play well and look as good as possible on Sega‘s 8-bit system.

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Express Raider, Arcade

In Data East‘s 1986 Wild West-themed scrolling action game – Express Raider (aka “Western Express” in Japan) – you’re not trying to be the good guy; you’re actually the bad guy, trying to hold up a series of trains and steal as much gold and money as possible.

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Super Bomberman 5, Super Nintendo

The final entry in the Super Bomberman series, Super Bomberman 5 was released in Japan only in 1997, and was developed and published by Hudson Soft. A partial fan translation into English is available, but for some reason it has not been fully completed (at the time of writing, at least).

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