Ninja Five-O on GBA, American version of Ninja Cop. Same absolute excellence with the brilliant grappling hook, same inventiveness. One of the most sought-after hidden gems on GBA, its resale price confirms it.
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Category
Action1 player12+
Description
Action game developed by Konami and published in the USA in April 2003. Joe Osugi, a ninja police officer, battles criminals in urban levels using a grappling hook to propel himself along walls and ceilings while shooting enemies. Hybrid gameplay blending platforming and shooting with acrobatic freedom of movement, memorable bosses, several weapons to master and hostage rescue missions. Known in Europe as Ninja Cop.
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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Collector interest
North American edition of Hudson's ninja shoot distributed by Konami USA, released in April 2003 with the original title kept, unlike the PAL Sega Ninja Cop version. Konami USA run was very short, considered one of the noteworthy short runs in the American GBA catalogue, which placed a clean cardboard box copy among the most visibly valued pieces on the North American collector market for cult ninja shoot fans and late Hudson production enthusiasts.
An underrated gem
An explosive marriage of Shinobi and Bionic Commando, this action game lets a ninja-cop swing on a grappling hook between hostage rescues and sword duels. Printed in tiny numbers, it became a pricey rarity prized only by the initiated who hail its brilliance. Snappy and exhilarating, it stands as a high point of action on the machine.
Is Ninja Five-O still worth playing in 2026?
Released as Ninja Five-O in the US and Ninja Cop in Europe, this Hudson run and gun remains a cult cartridge unfairly flown under the radar. The grappling hook mechanic turns every level into vertical acrobatics ground, the pacing stays crisp and brisk and the difficulty climbs with surgical care. The pixel art clearly draws on Shinobi and Strider while asserting its own touch. For fans of forgotten Japanese 2D action and increasingly rare cartridges, this is one of the most rewarding finds on the GBA.
