The Ninja Warriors arrived in 1987 from studio Taito and ranks among the most distinctive beat-'em-ups of its era, quite literally in widescreen form – the original arcade cabinet joined three monitors side by side into one exceptionally wide image, letting players see much more of the battlefield than on ordinary machines. The story places the game in a near future ruled by a dictator, against whom a pair of cyborg ninjas set out, determined to overthrow his regime.
The gameplay rests on the classic scheme of advancing left to right and eliminating waves of enemies with fists, kicks, and melee weapons, but it stands out for its emphasis on smooth animation and cyberpunk-future atmosphere, further enhanced by the use of shadow and lighting in the background. The bosses at the end of levels are among the most visually striking elements of the game, and together with the music they round out the dark tone of the whole game, setting it apart from cheerier contemporaries in the genre. The characters can also temporarily transform into much larger and stronger versions of themselves, adding another visual and tactical dimension to the battles.
Due to its demanding technology, The Ninja Warriors reached home platforms only in adapted versions that couldn't fully replicate the impression of the original widescreen cabinet, and the game thus earned a reputation as a title that needs to be experienced right in the arcade hall. It later influenced a series of remakes and spiritual successors that paid tribute to its visual style.
Why play it: The Ninja Warriors offers an atmospheric cyberpunk beat-'em-up whose original three-monitor cabinet still commands respect as one of the most technically ambitious arcade installations of the eighties.
Game 115 of 258 for Arcade
