The Legend of Kage is a frantic 1986 action-platformer for the NES, originally an arcade hit by Taito. You play as the ninja Kage on a mission to rescue Princess Kiri from the warlord Yoshi. The game is defined by its incredibly high, gravity-defying jumps and fast-paced combat, requiring you to leap through the forest canopy, run along moats, and scale a towering castle while fending off relentless waves of enemy ninjas and fire-breathing monks.
How to play
Your objective is to survive four distinct stagesโthe forest, the moat, the secret wall, and the castleโto rescue the princess. Once she is saved, the game loops back to the start with a higher difficulty and a change of season. Kage attacks by throwing shurikens and swinging his short sword (kodachi), which can instantly dispatch enemies in close quarters.
| Gamepad control: | ||
ย | Player 1: | Player 2: |
| โ | โ | – |
| โ | โ | – |
| โ | โ | – |
| โ | โ | – |
| A | X | – |
| B | Z | – |
| SELECT | Shift | – |
| START | Enter | – |
Tips
- Deflect projectiles: Your sword isn’t just for close combat; it can parry enemy throwing stars and the fire-breathing monks’ flames. Swing continuously when moving defensively.
- Stay in the canopy: In the first forest stage, you can avoid a lot of ground-level chaos by continuously jumping from tree branch to tree branch.
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