Shadow Dancer - The Secret of Shinobi (Europe / Brazil)
Sega Master System
🇬🇧
Reviewed in 1991
79
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✪ Reviewed on July 12, 2024
75
A Shinobi follow-up with a companion dog - a great idea well executed. Precise and well-paced ninja action. Slightly below the original Shinobi but still an excellent action game on the system.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player12+
Description
Action platformer featuring Joe Musashi as Shadow Dancer battling terrorists in streets with his dog. Published by Sega, released in Europe and Brazil in 1991. Shinobi in side-scrolling view with shurikens and dog attacks and terrorist bosses. Master System port of Sega's Shadow Dancer.
Shadow Dancer - The Secret of Shinobi review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
Spun off from Shinobi, the music unfurls nervy, martial themes that galvanise Joe Musashi's missions. The melodies, cut for the console's chip, support the action with a constant tension. This sonic punch, faithful to the series' ninja spirit, accompanies every level with intact bite.
Gameplay
"Solid"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Engaging"
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Short"
Technical info
💾0,21 MB📅01/01/1991
Published by Sega
Shadow Dancer - The Secret of Shinobi (Master System) price, value & rarity
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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Collector interest
The official European and Brazilian edition of Shadow Dancer, under the subtitle The Secret of Shinobi, where Joe Musashi fights terrorists backed by his dog. Its desirability rests on the prestige of Sega's Shinobi saga and on this subtitle specific to the 8-bit version, distinct from the arcades. Collectors seek this edition to complete the Shinobi branch on Master System and for the dual Europe-Brazil marking.
Is Shadow Dancer - The Secret of Shinobi still worth playing in 2026?
A variant of the Shinobi series from Sega, Shadow Dancer stars the ninja Joe Musashi accompanied by a faithful dog that bites enemies during jumps, in a snappy platform action through terrorist infested streets. The shuriken handling, the sword attacks and the tactical use of the canine companion give a real identity to a careful action. The pace and the difficulty hold up well. For a retro ninja action fan, a Shinobi fan or someone curious about the console's good action games, the title keeps a stylish character and a substantial pleasure.
