Ninja Spirit

Moonlight, falling cherry blossoms, and a lone ninja with a katana — Ninja Spirit from studio Irem is an atmospheric action platformer that takes Japanese samurai romanticism and turns it into ruthless, stylish action. On the PC Engine, this arcade classic became one of the titles fans remember with reverence.

The hero Tsukikage fights through the levels armed with a whole arsenal of ninja tools — a katana, shuriken, kusarigama, and bombs, which you freely switch between depending on the situation. The action is fast and both vertical and horizontal, full of jumps, dodges, and slashing enemies from every direction. The controls are responsive and satisfying, which is absolutely essential for this type of game.

The most famous gimmick is the shadow doubles mechanic: at full equipment, two ghostly copies accompany you, mirroring your movements and attacks and tripling your firepower. It's not only flashy but strategically important — keeping the doubles alive means surviving tougher passages where enemies swarm in droves.

Irem was a master of uncompromising arcade design (recall R-Type), and Ninja Spirit bears the same signature — a beautiful but merciless challenge where every level must be conquered through diligence and knowledge. The atmosphere of feudal Japan, radiating from the backgrounds and music, gives the whole a distinction that elevates the game above ordinary hack-and-slash.

For lovers of demanding action platformers and ninja themes, Ninja Spirit is a small treasure. It combines stylish presentation with polished gameplay and belongs among the titles that prove why the PC Engine built such a strong reputation among connoisseurs.

Why play: Stylish, demanding ninja action from Irem with a shadow-doubles gimmick and a feudal Japan atmosphere that every fan of arcade platformers will love.