Sasuke vs. Commander is a vertically-oriented fixed shooter released in arcades by SNK in 1980. Standing out from the era’s standard space shooters, it trades aliens for a magical Japanese aesthetic where you control a ninja defending against waves of diving enemies. It is historically notable as one of the very first video games to feature recurring boss fights, alternating between standard enemy waves and challenging showdowns.
How to Play
Move your ninja left and right across the bottom of the screen to dodge magical attacks and throw kunai upward at the descending enemies. The browser default controls use the arrow keys for movement, Z or X to attack, and Shift or Enter to insert coins and start.
Tips
- Watch the diving patterns of enemy ninjas; they often swoop down aggressively rather than just dropping straight down.
- During the boss encounters, prioritize dodging the Commander’s magic over constant attacking to avoid getting cornered.
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