Ninjas. Where would late ’80s entertainment have been without them? In the wake of a string of hit movies showcasing the infamous assassins (usually portrayed by famous Japanese actors such as Franco Nero and Michael Dudikoff), the ninja craze exploded. Not only on the big screen, but in cartoons, comic books and, most notably, in the arcades.
With its mysterious eastern heritage, unique weaponry, and badass martial arts skills, becoming a ninja became the dream vocation of the schoolyard practically overnight, not dissimilar to how everyone wanted to be a fighter pilot after Tom Cruise put shades on and flashed a grin in Top Gun.
Video game developers were quick to cash in on this new fascination, producing great coin-ops such as Shinobi, Shadow Dancer, DragonNinja, Mystic Warriors and Ninja Gaiden, all starring the rooftop-running fellas. 1987 release The Ninja Warriors, by arcade veterans Taito, was one of the most popular titles of this genre. So popular, in fact, that it was remade in 1994 for the Super Nintendo as The Ninja Warriors Again, back when video game remakes weren’t ten a penny.
But today, we’re looking at The Ninja Warriors second remaster. Developed by Natsume – who recently polished up another 1994 release, Wild Guns – The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors gives a new generation of wannabes the opportunity to dish out shuriken-assisted life-ectomies to seemingly insurmountable odds.
Source: Destructoid Review: The Ninja Saviors – Return of the Warriors