Released in 1991 for the NES, Blue Shadow is the European version of Natsume’s outstanding action-platformer Shadow of the Ninja. As either Lord Hayate or Lady Kaede, you infiltrate Emperor Garuda’s cyberpunk fortress to assassinate him. With exceptionally tight controls, fantastic music, and a rare simultaneous two-player co-op mode, it stands as one of the best ninja action games on the console.
How to Play
Your goal is to slice your way through Garuda’s heavily guarded futuristic city across five challenging stages.
- D-Pad (Arrow Keys): Move or crouch.
- A Button (Z): Jump.
- B Button (X): Attack with your current weapon.
- Up + Attack: Throw shurikens or bombs (if you have collected them).
- Start (Enter): Pause the game.
Tips
- Weapon choice: You can swap your starting katana for a kusarigama (chain sickle). The kusarigama has a longer reach and can strike diagonally upward, but it swings slower. Collecting the same weapon type multiple times upgrades its power.
- Hanging: You can hang from the underside of most platforms by jumping towards them and holding Up. From there you can shimmy along or flip up, which is essential for navigating hazards.
- Desperation attack: If you are swarmed, hold the attack button down until your character flashes. Releasing it unleashes a screen-clearing lightning blast, but it costs a significant portion of your health.
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