Play Shadow of the Ninja - Blue Shadow Online

Shadow of the Ninja, known as Blue Shadow in Europe, came out on the NES in 1990 from Natsume. It was part of that wave of late-era action platformers that really pushed the hardware, with detailed backgrounds and a solid soundtrack. You play as one of two ninjas, Iga or Kureha, on a mission to take down a tyrant in a futuristic city.

You move screen by screen through enemy strongholds, using a sword for close attacks and a limited supply of shurikens for ranged combat. A key mechanic is the ability to hang from certain ceilings and pipes to avoid hazards or get a better attack angle. The objective is straightforward: fight through each stage, defeat the boss, and move on. The pacing is fast, and the difficulty is significant, especially during some of the multi-phase boss fights that demand pattern recognition and quick reflexes. It feels tense and deliberate, where every jump and attack has to be measured.