Shadow of the Ninja

Developed by Natsume and released in 1990, Shadow of the Ninja is a side-scrolling action game set in a dystopian future America ruled by the tyrant Emperor Garuda. Players choose between ninjas Hayate or Kaede, infiltrating the regime alone or in two-player co-op. The primary weapon is a katana, supplemented by shurikens and a kusarigama chain-sickle as sub-weapons. The control set covers jumping, wall-hanging, and climbing, resulting in fluid and weighty movement. A grim cyberpunk visual aesthetic and tightly crafted stage design make Shadow of the Ninja one of the standout action games of the NES's later years.