Ninja Princess is one of the later, technically more mature titles on the SG-1000 and represents a typical vertically scrolling action game set in a Japanese feudal world. The player controls a princess trained in ninjutsu who fights her way through a landscape full of forests, waterways, and fortified compounds to reach an evil warlord. Her basic equipment consists of throwing stars, which can be thrown in several directions, plus a sword for close combat. Progress is linear, but the scene is open enough that the player can choose which way to push through and when it's better to go around a group of enemies.
An interesting mechanic is the ability to briefly disguise herself and become invisible to enemies, which gives the game a rhythm alternating between open combat and cautious infiltration. Enemy samurai and ninja attack in clusters, appearing from behind and from the sides, and the game quickly teaches that standing still is the fastest way to lose a life. The SG-1000 version is based on Sega's arcade original and had to cope with a limited palette and fewer simultaneously displayed sprites, yet it still feels fresh for its time thanks to decently drawn backdrops and recognizable characters. The sound side works with simple melodic motifs that lend the whole thing an adventurous, historical-fresco feel.
At the time, this was one of the titles that showed the SG-1000 could still boast ambitious games even near the end of its lifespan, even though by then Japanese market attention had already shifted elsewhere. In a broader context, Ninja Princess is interesting as an example of an early action game with a female protagonist, and as a forerunner of Sega's later ninja-themed action titles. Today it's a demanding but readable arcade ride for one or two sessions. Anyone who gets used to the stars only flying in a limited number of directions will find brisk action with a pleasant sense of progress through a landscape that changes with every new section, offering fresh layouts of obstacles and enemies.
Game 8 of 13 for SEGA SG-1000
