The NES version of Taito's acrobatic ninja. Fast and snappy, sometimes frustrating. Short but intense. An arcade classic that ages a bit but remains evocative for ninja-action fans.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player7+
Description
Platformer featuring Kage, a shadow ninja leaping through trees to save Princess Kiri. Published by Taito, released in the USA in 1987. Kage in side-scrolling view leaping through branches with shuriken and sword. American version of Taito's Legend of Kage NES port.
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
Compare prices
Loading eBay listings…
Alert active — budget
$
Collector interest
The Legend of Kage brings Taito's arcade title to the NES, with a ninja leaping through treetops, published by Taito in 1987. A fairly common cart in North America, its collecting interest rests on its standing as a Taito arcade classic and instant recognizability rather than any real scarcity. The price stays moderate, in line with a wide print run. An easy-access piece for anyone representing the Taito arcade lineage on NES.
Is Legend of Kage, The still worth playing in 2026?
An action platformer from Taito, The Legend of Kage has you play a ninja who leaps from treetop to treetop through forests and castles to save Princess Kiri, with vertiginous jumps and shuriken throws. The verticality of the gameplay, the fluidity of the leaps and the Japanese mood give a singular identity to this arcade classic. Repetition and difficulty penalise the long haul. For a fan of retro ninja action or someone curious about Taito classics, the title keeps an airy character and a strongly flavoured charm.
