Tecmo's Ninja Gaiden on Game Boy. Ryu Hayabusa on a pre-NES mission, sword and kunai, wall climbing. More accessible than the notoriously brutal NES entries, short levels. The engine is limited but the action lands. A good portable Ninja Gaiden, without the legendary NES harshness. Solid for franchise fans.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player12+
Description
Japanese version of Ninja Gaiden Shadow, an action-platformer with Ryu Hayabusa on a secret nocturnal mission. Published by Tecmo, released in Japan in 1991. Same sword and kunai combat, wall climbing, nocturnal urban levels, and Shadow organization bosses from the original.
Ninja Ryuuken Den - Matenrou Kessen review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Short"
Technical info
💾0,08 MB📅19/04/1991
Published by Tecmo
Ninja Ryuuken Den - Matenrou Kessen (Game Boy) price, value & rarity
The Japanese counterpart to Ninja Gaiden Shadow, this Matenrou Kessen keeps the Ninja Ryuuken Den name, openly tying the handheld to Tecmo's NES saga that the Western release severed. Its strong value reflects a thin Japanese print run and demand for the original Japanese branding. Collectors tracking the Ninja Gaiden lineage want the Japanese sleeve specifically, beyond mere content parity with Shadow.
Is Ninja Ryuuken Den - Matenrou Kessen still worth playing in 2026?
Ninja Gaiden Shadow is a Tecmo action-platformer on Game Boy, in which Ryu Hayabusa runs a nighttime mission with sword and kunai through a threatened city. The title shines through its precise handling, its wall-climbing and an intense pace that flatters the handheld. Originally built on the foundations of another game, it proves surprisingly accomplished and still enjoyable today. For fans of retro 2D action and the Ninja Gaiden series, it is a well-crafted portable entry.
