Exceptional ninja platformer, known in Europe under this name. Precise mechanics, beautiful nocturnal atmosphere, memorable bosses. Fully on par with Ninja Gaiden. Unjustly overlooked.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player12+
Co-op
Description
Action platformer featuring two ninjas Kaede and Hayate battling a demon army in a nocturnal city. Published by Taito, released in the USA in 1990. Two ninjas in side-scrolling view with katana and sub-weapons, two-player co-op, imposing bosses and dark visuals. An original Taito ninja platformer on NES.
This entry pairs the 1990 NES Shadow of the Ninja with its Limited Run Games reissue, two objects with opposite logics. The Natsume original remains an action platformer valued for its difficulty and two-ninja co-op. The LRG reissue, a modern run on a fresh cartridge with contemporary packaging, targets completists and players wanting a current sealed copy, separate from the vintage-original market.
An underrated gem
Often compared to Ninja Gaiden, this Natsume run-and-gun drops two ninjas into urban and futuristic settings, with two-player co-op that changes everything. Released to indifference under several regional names, it never broke through. Its demanding action and razor-sharp controls will thrill fans of old-school ninja challenges.
Is Shadow of the Ninja still worth playing in 2026?
A horizontal run and gun from Natsume, Blue Shadow, known in Japan as Shadow of the Ninja, sends a ninja to face enemies across Japanese and futuristic levels, wielding sword and grappling hook with great fluidity. The snappy pace, the wall climbing, the co-op mode and a careful production evoke the machine's best action games, in the spirit of Ninja Gaiden and Shinobi. The difficulty stays high. For a retro ninja action fan, someone curious about Natsume gems or a collector, the title keeps a remarkable bite and quality.
