Play Wrath of the Black Manta Online

Wrath of the Black Manta came out on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990, developed by Natsume. It was part of that wave of late 80s and early 90s action games that tried to mix different genres, often with a ninja theme. It didn't have the polish of some bigger titles, but it had its own distinct, almost grimy feel that set it apart from the brighter, more colorful platformers of the time.

You control a modern ninja seeking revenge, moving through the game screen by screen in a side-scrolling format. Your main goal is to rescue kidnapped children from a criminal syndicate. Your primary actions involve using a short-range slash attack against the many thugs and mutants you encounter, but the more interesting mechanics are your limited-use ninja magic, which includes a screen-clearing attack and a short-range teleport, and the interrogation system. After defeating certain enemies, you can press down to make them talk, revealing clues about where to find the hidden children in the stage. The pacing is methodical, as you need to search each area thoroughly, and the difficulty comes from cheap enemy placements and your character's somewhat stiff movement. It feels like a rough, ambitious game that doesn't always control smoothly but has a compellingly dark mood.