Ninja Combat is a classic side-scrolling beat ’em up released in 1990 for the Arcade (Neo Geo). Developed by Alpha Denshi, the game follows twin ninja brothers Joe and Hayabusa as they battle their way through the demonic Kageki clan’s fortress. Unlike traditional brawlers, combat relies heavily on throwing shurikens and using ranged magic, giving it the fast-paced feel of a run-and-gun action game.
How to Play
Your objective is to fight through each stage, defeating hordes of enemies and a powerful boss to progress. Use the directional controls (mapped to Arrow Keys) to move. Press the attack button (Z) to throw shurikens, and the jump button (X) to leap. Pressing both buttons together, or the magic button (C), unleashes a devastating screen-clearing ninpo attack at the cost of some of your health. Press Shift to insert coins and Enter to start the game. A unique feature of Ninja Combat is the ability to recruit defeated mid-bosses, allowing you to swap between characters with different weapons and stats.
Tips
- Keep your distance from enemies when possible; your default shurikens excel at long range, keeping you safe from close-quarters attacks.
- Save your powerful magic attacks for when you are overwhelmed or facing bosses, as they drain your own life bar when used.
- Experiment with the recruited characters! Allies like Musashi move slower but deal massive damage with their melee weapons.
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