Ninja Gaiden (NES)

Ninja Gaiden
Also known as: Ninja Ryukenden (JP), Shadow Warriors (EU/AU) Developer: Tecmo Publisher: Tecmo Platforms: NES, FamicomBox, Arcade (PlayChoice-10) Released in JP: December 9, 1988 Released in US: March 10, 1989 Released in EU: August 15, 1991 This game has unused text. This game has a hidden sound test. This game has a hidden level select. This game has regional differences. This game has a prototype article This game has a Data Crystal page

To do: Various prerelease screenshots from the January 1988 issue of Famimaga.

Ninja Gaiden is an action game by Tecmo that has awesome cutscenes. And ninjas. And more ninjas.

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Prototype Info

Sound Test

There is a regular Sound Test mode inside this game. To access it, at the title screen, or any time during the Intro, hold Down + Left + A + B + Select, then press Start.

Hidden Level Select and Debug Sound Test

It is not normally accessible, but is functional. Game Genie codes AZUTYSXT+OTUVASXV+EGUVPSXT (for the US version), AZXTGSXT+EGXTTSXT+OTXTISXV (for the Japanese version) or AXKTYKGZ+OVKVAKNN+EKKVPKNY (for the European version) will call the level select after the Act number screen. Only the word SCENE and a number is displayed on-screen. You must hold the A button and press Left or Right to choose the room. Room #15 is the last valid room.

To enable the different Debug Sound Test, in addition to the Game Genie codes, at the Act number screen hold Up + A + B and press Start. Use the same controls to play music and sounds as for the Stage Select. To exit the Sound test, play music index 00. In the European version due to general code changes, you couldn't see an actual text, but the code is still working.

(Source: MottZilla,CaH4e3)

Unused Sound Effect

There is completely unused music data at $03:$BDFD. Use the Game Genie codes SYEAUALN+SLEAKENE and you can hear it in Sound Test mode as sound with index 44.

Unfinished Script

A portion of an earlier version of the script is located at 0x1A7E9 in the ROM. The text contains two "forbidden" words and a couple of spelling errors, meaning Nintendo's censors hadn't touched it yet. A couple of credits are different as well.

Interestingly, a variation on this script was used, uncensored, in the Ninja Gaiden Trilogy re-release on the SNES. It also forms the basis for the PC Engine port's English script, although with the "damn" removed.

r is alive."

"Liar!"

"No,  it is not a lie.  If you proceed further, you will see him.

"But it will be the last thing you see."

"Ryu, you deserve praise  for making it this far..

"Where are you, show yourself!"

"...but even you cannot defeat "the masked devil"

"No one can beat me."

"Even... your father?"

"What?!"

"Your father was not killed. he has been turned into "the masked devil."

"No!"

"It will be entertaining to watch father and son fight to the death."

"Wake up, Father!"

"No use.  He thinks only of killing you.

"So this is the hell that Malth was talking about.  What shall I do?

"I've got to think clearly.

"Father's eyes... they show he is controlled like a puppet. If I break the control...

"But What is controlling him?     That's it!"

"Father!"

"...  Where am I...?   Ryu... Are you Ryu?"  

"Yes, Father."

"Damn, He's awake."

"The Jaquio!"  

"You both will die!"

"Watch out!"

"Ugh...!!!!"

"Father..."

"Ryu... you've got to  ...get them for me."

"Father!" 

"Your day has come, Jaquio!" 

"Wake up father, wake up." 

"Ryu...  I haven't got much longer... This temple is about to breake apart. 

"Take that woman and escape." 

"What are you saying, father. I can't just leave you!" 

"Ryu,  you are a man now.  My destiny is tied to the demon statue. 

"Ryu,  good luck..." 

"Father,  father...!!!" 

"Father!!!"   

"Ryu..." 

"This is Sea Swallow..." 

"This is Foster. We detected the explosion from the satellite. 

"Job well done. You are to kill Ryu Hayabusa." 

"What?  Kill Ryu?  

"That's right. Then you are to steal the demon statues."   

"So this was your plan all along ... I'll get you for this,Foster!"   

"Ryu, you..."   

"I get two kinds of payment.      The first I have already received.   

"The second...  is you, Foster!" 

"Ryu... wait..."  

"Ryu, what is the payment you have already recieved?   

"She's right in front of me." 

"I don't even know your name."

"Irene, Irene Lew."     

"Well, Irene. Look, the sun is rising. Everything is so bright now.   

"the darkness is finally over." 

"Ryu!"  

"Thank God your safe!" 

"Let's go, father.  Let's get out of this temple." 

"Ryu, wait.  Before we do, the demon statues...  we've got to throw them from the temple 

"while we've still got time. Before the "black moon" shines." 

"Ryu, what's that?" 

"Is it a lunar eclipse?!  That must be it. That's what the "black moon" meant.... 

"Oh, no! The demon statue!"   

S T A F F 

STORY   

SAKURAZAKI 

SCREENPLAY   

SAKURAZAKI  

FAW 

IMAGE ILLUST  

RUNMARU 

ART WORKS   

RUNMARU  

PARCO 

UMA    

NAGA   

WILD TAGOU  

NIWAKAMARU 

PROGRAM WORKS   

MADOKA 

SOUTHERNAMI  

FAW 

ASSISTANT    

NOSUKE 

NES TRANSLATOR   

DAREKASAN 

SOUND DESIGN   

MORE YAMASAN  

B.B HAKASE  

DIRECTOR   

SAKURAZAKI   

AUDIO VISUAL   

COPYRIGHT MCMLXXXIX   

TECMO LTD. 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.   

THANK YOU FOR PLAYING.    

AND SEE YOU NEXT.

(Source: Rusty)

Regional Differences

Title Screen

Japan	US	Europe

Chapter Names

In the Japanese version, the eye catch when starting an act gives each one a unique title. These were removed in all other versions.

	Japanese Text	Translation
Act 1	宿命 (Shukumei)	Destiny
Act 2	脱出 (Dasshutsu)	Escape
Act 3	追跡 (Tsuiseki)	Pursuit
Act 4	罠 (Wana)	Trap
Act 5	死闘 (Shitou)	Life-or-death Struggle
Act 6	降魔 (Gouma)	Conquering the Devil

Powerups

In the Japanese version, some of the powerups are placed higher.

Japan	US/Eurpoe

Miscellaneous

• Joe Hayabusa's first name was changed to Ken in the international versions.