Ninja-kun - Ashura no Shou (Japan)

In Ninja-kun - Ashura no Shou, players take on the role of Ninja-kun, a brave ninja tasked with rescuing the princess who has been kidnapped by the demon king Ashura. The game is a side-scrolling action title with linearly designed levels, where players must overcome countless enemies and obstacles.

Gameplay focuses on Ninja-kun's movement and combat abilities. Players can move left/right, jump, and climb walls or ropes. Ninja-kun's primary weapon is the shuriken, which can be thrown to attack enemies from a distance. Throughout the game, players can collect power-up items, such as fire shurikens or boomerang shurikens, which increase damage or provide area-of-effect attacks. Additionally, there are other support items like health recovery, speed boosts, or temporary invisibility to evade enemies.

Enemies in the game are diverse, ranging from rival ninjas, mythological monsters, to other strange creatures. Each stage culminates in a powerful boss battle that requires players to master their skills and discover the boss's weaknesses to defeat them. Boss fights are often intense and a highlight of the game.

Ninja-kun's health system is represented by an energy bar. When attacked, the health bar gradually decreases, and when it runs out, the player loses a life. The game provides a certain number of lives, and once all lives are exhausted, the game ends. Players need to be cautious, evade enemy attacks, and utilize recovery items to survive the challenging levels.

The game's graphics feature the characteristic pixel art style of the NES system, with clearly designed environmental details and characters. The music and sound effects also contribute to creating an adventurous and intense action atmosphere for Ninja-kun - Ashura no Shou.