Ninja Sidescroller Showdown

[fragmare]

Which of these 16-bit era ninja sidescrollers takes the cake?

[Otaking]

wow this is a hard choice, I'll have to think about my answer.
I have massive nostalgia for Revenge of Shinobi even if it is a genesissy game.
Ninja Spirit is an absolute classic.
Hagane is pure Hudson Soft awesomeness but is crazy hard.
Kaze Kiri has nice graphics but is overrated IMO.
I've never really got into the Ninja Gaiden games.

[Nando]

Wow, this is a pretty tough one. I grew up with Shinobi and always wanted to play Ninja Spirit. Which I have since, obviously. But man...hmmmm

Going to have to revisit them games first...mmmhmm

[Black Tiger]

I like Ninja Spirit, Shinobi III and Hagane, but am not crazy about the others. I haven't played through them recently enough to rank them, but it would likely go something like this:

Shinobi III
Ninja Spirit
Hagane

[fragmare]

I like Ninja Spirit, Shinobi III and Hagane, but am not crazy about the others. I haven't played through them recently enough to rank them, but it would likely go something like this:

Shinobi III
Ninja Spirit
Hagane

so vote for shinobi3, then... not ninja spirit lol

[lukester]

Ninja Spirit is too different for me to call it a Ninja game. Much more like a shmup platformer, like Tonma.

I do not own any of the Shinobis, but from what I have played, I really enjoy Shadow Dancer. Heard it is the least favorite though.

[fragmare]

Ninja Spirit is too different for me to call it a Ninja game. Much more like a shmup platformer, like Tonma.

It's a game.  It sidescrolls.  The main character is a ninja.  What else is there?

[Black Tiger]

I like Ninja Spirit, Shinobi III and Hagane, but am not crazy about the others. I haven't played through them recently enough to rank them, but it would likely go something like this:

Shinobi III
Ninja Spirit
Hagane

so vote for shinobi3, then... not ninja spirit lol

I don't vote in polls in which I can't make an informed decision. Like people who vote in polls in which they haven't even played all the games.

[GohanX]

I gotta go with Shinobi III here. One if the finest action games ever.

[fragmare]

Black Tiger: ahh, gotcha.  i've played and beaten all these games at some point, except for Ninja Gaiden III of the trilogy... that's some intense shit.

I had to go with Ninja Spirit.  It's just a damn fine port of a damn fine arcade game.  Yea, it has some run-n-gun elements, like Contra, when you use the stars or bombs, but imo that's an awesome thing. 

Shinobi III is awesome too, and it's close between Ninja Spirit and Shinobi III, but I have to go with Ninja Spirit.  It's just all-around badass... especially for an early title.

[Tatsujin]

saigo no nindou all the way

but teh super shinobli is damn good as well.

[vestcoat]

Didn't see Wrath of the Black Manta NES, Kung Fu NES, Black Belt SMS, Ninja Crusaders NES, or The Ninja Warriors PCE, so I was forced to vote Ninja Spirit.

[SuperDeadite]

I'd vote for Ken-go....but it's not an option, so I go for Kaze Kiri, I just adore the controls in that game.

[imparanoic]

hagane was disappointing esp considering it's high price
shadow dancer is a gem of megadrive, a low price one as well
ninja spirit is a gem of pc engine
kaze kiri is simply expensive and rare, not sure if it's worth it
the ninja gaiden for snes/pc engine are ok ports of nes, not exactly 16bit gameplay nor many improvements

[Flare65]

Wouldn't Strider be kind of a ninja game? Or am I reaching too far?