Ninja Gaiden
An acrobatic ninja, lampposts to swing from and the most nerve-racking continue screen in arcade history.
Coming soon to UsuArcade
Votes to bring it to the arcade: 0
In the meantime, head into the arcade and play the cabinets that are already there
- Year
- 1988
- Manufacturer
- Tecmo
- Players
- 2 players at once
- Genres
- Beat 'em ups
- Decade
- '80s arcade games
Plenty of people know Ninja Gaiden from consoles, but arcades had a whole different version: a two-player beat 'em up where a pair of ninjas brawled through American streets, swinging off lampposts and throwing thugs around. And when you ran out of lives, you got a continue screen nobody forgets: the ninja strapped down while a buzz saw slowly lowers toward him. Plenty of kids dropped in another quarter just to avoid seeing how that ended.
Ninja Gaiden isn't on UsuArcade yet, but it's on our wishlist. If you want it in the lobby, vote with “I want to play it.”
History
Tecmo released the Ninja Gaiden arcade game in 1988. In Europe it was called Shadow Warriors, and in Japan Ninja Ryūkenden. It shares a name and a hero, Ryu Hayabusa, with the famous console game, but the arcade version is a different beast: a side-scrolling beat 'em up instead of a platformer.
It landed right in the middle of the two-player street brawler boom and stood out thanks to its acrobatic ninja, who could grab poles and bars in the scenery to attack from above.
How to play
You fight your way down the street, punching and kicking gang members, wrestlers and other goons. You can jump, grab lampposts, bars and other parts of the scenery to swing and drop onto enemies, and toss anyone who gets too close.
Bosses soak up a lot more punishment than regular enemies, so use your acrobatics to avoid getting boxed in and attack from above whenever you can. With two players, team up and hit each enemy from opposite sides and don't leave your partner alone against a crowd.
Fun facts
- In Europe, the arcade game was called Shadow Warriors.
- The arcade version is a beat 'em up, totally different from the console Ninja Gaiden.
- Its buzz saw continue screen is one of the most memorable in arcade history.
In the arcade
Coming soon to UsuArcade. Once it's here, you'll be able to play two-player co-op with a friend from your browser, just like at the arcade, while the lobby watches. Until then, for ninjas and street fights there's Shinobi, Double Dragon and Bad Dudes vs. DragonNinja, all in the lobby and free to play.
FAQ
Can I play Ninja Gaiden on UsuArcade?
Not yet. It's on the wishlist, so vote with “I want to play it” to help bring it in sooner.
What year did the Ninja Gaiden arcade game come out?
The arcade game came out in 1988, made by Tecmo.
Is it the same as the console Ninja Gaiden?
No. They share a name and hero, but the arcade game is a side-scrolling beat 'em up for two players.
How many players does it have?
Two players at once, in co-op.
What similar games can I play in the lobby?
Shinobi, Double Dragon and Bad Dudes vs. DragonNinja are all free to play on UsuArcade right now.
