Legend of Kage, The (USA)

In The Legend of Kage, players embody the ninja Kage, tasked with rescuing Princess Kirihime from a horde of evil demons. This is a fast-paced, side-scrolling action game that focuses on the ninja's movement and combat abilities. Kage is equipped with a katana sword and shurikens as his primary weapons.

The game's combat mechanics are straightforward but effective. Players can slash with their sword at close range or throw shurikens from a distance. A distinctive feature of Kage is his incredibly high jump ability, allowing him to scale trees or overcome obstacles with ease. This jump is also crucial for dodging enemy attacks and engaging them from above.

The game features five main stages, each divided into several smaller areas: the Forest, Fortress, Cave, and finally the boss's lair. Enemies in the game are diverse, including rival ninjas of various colors (representing different weapons and behaviors), fire-throwing monks, and other mythical creatures. Each enemy type has its own attack patterns and movements, requiring players to adopt suitable strategies.

The objective in each stage is to advance forward, defeat all impeding enemies, and eventually confront a boss. Upon defeating the boss, players proceed to the next stage. Occasionally, Princess Kirihime will appear only to be re-kidnapped, prompting Kage to continue his rescue journey. The game features a looping progression after completion, with increasing difficulty. The graphics and sound of The Legend of Kage, though simple, create a classic ninja atmosphere characteristic of the NES era.