The Legend of Kage

A port of Taito's arcade original, released on the NES in 1986. Players control Kage, a young ninja, as he fights through forests, castle walls, and bamboo groves — armed with a short blade and shurikens — to rescue the kidnapped princess Kiri from a shadowy villain. The game is defined by its acrobatic mobility: Kage can leap to treetops and scale high walls in a single bound while hurling shurikens at relentless waves of enemy ninja. Stages cycle through seasonal backdrops as the action loops, keeping the pace frenetic and cementing The Legend of Kage as an early NES ninja action standout.