Proto:Ninja Gaiden (Sega Master System)

This page details one or more prototype versions of Ninja Gaiden (Sega Master System).

A prototype of the Master System Ninja Gaiden was dumped by the Image/Helsinki/Finland Group on July 9, 1999.

The entire storyline was rewritten between the prototype and final, with the prototype going more in-depth rather than the final that was done in Ryu's perspective.

Intro

Proto	Final
RYU HAYABUSA IS A DESCENDENT OF CLAN OF DRAGON NINJAS WHO HAVE KEPT THE PEACE IN JAPAN FOR GENERATIONS.	I AM NINJA MASTER RYU OF THE HOUSE OF DRAGON.
ONE DAY HE RECEIVED THE NEWS THAT HIS HOME VILLAGE, THE DRAGON VILLAGE, WAS ATTACKED BY SOMEONE.	NOW THAT BUSINESS HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF IT WILL BE MOST RELAXING TO SPEND SOME TIME AT...
HE HURRIED HOME TO TAKE CARE OF THINGS.

Proto	Final
BUT HE RETURNED HOME ONLY TO FIND THAT HE WAS TOO LATE.	...HOME?
HE COULD DO NOTHING BUT STARE AT THE RUBBLE THAT WAS ONCE HIS VILLAGE.

Proto	Final
RYU FOUND THE SOLE SURVIVOR IN THE VILLAGE.	...EVERYONE DEAD...
WITH HIS LAST FEW WORDS, THE SURVIVOR TOLD RYU THAT THE BUSHIDO HAD BEEN STOLEN.	...RYU... YOU MUST... ...RYU...THE BUSHIDO... ...GONE...GONE...

Proto	Final
THE BUSHIDO IS AN ANCIENT SCROLL THAT HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN THROUGH GENERATIONS OF DRAGON NINJAS.	THE BUSHIDO - A SCROLL OF GREAT NINJA POWER. IN THE WRONG HANDS ITS POTENTIAL FOR DESTRUCTION COULD BE LIMITLESS.
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS SECRETS ABOUT WAYS TO SUMMON THE POWERS OF THIS WORLD.
ACCORDING TO RYU'S, ANCESTORS WHOEVER SUMMONED THESE POWERS COULD EVEN CONQUER THE WORLD.

Proto	Final
RYU WHIPPED OUT HIS DRAGONSWORD WHICH IS ALSO ENDOWED WITH SUCH POWERS.	LET THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS BEWARE. I WILL AVENGE MY HOUSE AND I WILL TAKE BACK THE BUSHIDO.
HE SWORE TO HIMSELF THAT HE WOULD REGAIN THE BUSHIDO AND TAKE REVENGE FOR HIS VILLAGE.	SO I DO SWEAR!

Chapter 1

Chapter Intro

Proto	Final
AS RYU STARTED WALKING AWAY FROM THE VILLAGE, A HOARD OF MEN STOOD IN HIS WAY.	YOUR FRIENDS THOUGHT THEY WERE PRETTY TOUGH TOO, LITTLE NINJA. HA! HA!
>THE SUMO WRESTLER "I'M SURPRISED THAT ANYONE IS LEFT ALIVE AFTER WHAT WE DID."
>RYU HAYABUSA "WHAT? WHERE DID YOU TAKE THE BUSHIDO?"
>THE SUMO WRESTLER "I'LL TELL YOU IF YOU CAN DEFEAT ME IN BATTLE. BUT I DON'T THINK YOU'RE STRONG ENOUGH TO DO THAT."
>RYU HAYABUSA "YOU'LL REGRET THOSE WORDS!"

Chapter Ending

Proto	Final
>THE SUMO WRESTLER "I NEVER EXPECTED THAT YOU WERE THIS STRONG... THE BUSHIDO ISN'T HERE.. IT'S IN THE.."	GO TO TOKYO AND SEEK... AGH!
SUDDENLY, SOMEONE STABBED THE SUMO WRESTLER IN THE BACK.	A KNIFE THROWN FROM THE FOREST SUDDENLY CUTS OFF THE SUMO WRESTLERS LAST WORDS.
>RYU HAYABUSA "WHO IS THAT?"
RYU TRIED TO CHASE THE MAN WHO HAD STABBED THE SUMO WRESTLER, BUT THE MAN QUICKLY DISAPPEARED INTO THE FOREST.
>RYU HAYABUSA "COME ON, DON'T DIE NOW!"
>THE SUMO WRESTLER "TO... TOKYO..."

Chapter 2

Chapter Intro

Proto	Final

Ninja is spelled "Ninjya" in the prototype, which applies to all chapter intros. The final also fixed a typo on "pursuit".

Proto	Final
IN TOKYO, WHILE RYU WAS LOOKING FOR CLUES AS TO WHERE HE COULD FIND THE BUSHIDO, A NUMBER OF YAKUZA GANG MEMBERS APPEARED.	HEY! SAW HOW YA TOOK CARE OF THE SUMO. TOO BAD HE DIED BEFORE YOU COULD FIND OUT ANYTHING USEFUL. RIGHT BOYS!
>YAKUZA OYABUN "ARE YOU THE ONE WHO KILLED THE SUMO WRESTLER?"
>RYU HAYABUSA "WHO ARE YOU? HEY! THAT'S HIM!"
RYU IDENTIFIED ONE MAN AMONG THE CROWD.
>RYU HAYABUSA "YOU'RE THE ONES WHO KILLED THE SUMO WRESTLER!"
>YAKUZA OYABUN "THAT'S BECAUSE HE WAS TALKING TOO MUCH. HOW ABOUT IT RYU, WHY DON'T YOU JOIN OUR GANG. I'LL PAY YOU WELL FOR YOUR EFFORTS."
>RYU HAYABUSA "ARE YOU CRAZY? I'LL NEVER JOIN YOU SCOUNDRELS!"
>YAKUZA OYABUN "THAT'S TOO BAD. I GUESS WE'LL HAVE TO KILL YOU THEN. KILL HIM!"

Chapter Ending

Proto	Final
>RYU HAYABUSA "WHERE DID YOU HIDE THE BUSHIDO?"	WHAT DO MEAN "THE BUSHIDO IS IN THE HANDS OF THE KENDO SAMURAI".
>YAKUZA OYABUN "I DON'T KNOW... IT'S PROBABLY AT THE TSUTENKAKU SAMURAI'S PLACE IN OSAKA."	HONORABLE SWORDSMEN DO NOT SIDE WITH FILTH LIKE YOU!
>RYU HAYABUSA "WHAT? TSUTENKAKU?"
RYU KNEW THIS NAME. TSUTENKAKU WAS THE NAME OF A FAMOUS SWORDSMAN.
>RYU HAYABUSA "I DIDN'T THINK THAT TSUTENKAKU WAS THE KIND OF MAN WHO WOULD TAKE SIDES WITH THE LIKES OF THESE MAN. BUT WHY?"

Chapter 3

Chapter Intro

Proto	Final

Changed the location between the prototype and final. Tsutenkaku means Tower Reaching Heaven and is located in Osaka while the final is not a location but rather a martial art.

Proto	Final
RYU HEADED FOR OSAKA TO FIND THE TSUTENKAKU SAMURAI. BUT THE MAN HE FOUND THERE WAS NOT THE SAMEMAN HE HAD KNOWN BEFORE. TSUTENKAKU HAD THE LOOK OF A KILLER NOW.	SOMEHOW I KNEW YOU WOULD MAKE IT AT LEAST THIS FAR, RYU. NOW, NOTHING PERSONAL, BUT YOU MUST BE KILLED!
>THE TSUTENKAKU SAMURAI "I HAVE NOTHING PERSONAL AGAINST YOU BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DIE!"
>RYU HAYABUSA "WHY IS A MAN LIKE YOU TAKING SIDES WITH THOSE SCOUNDRELS?"
>THE TSUTENKAKU SAMURAI "I DON'T NEED TO ANSWER THAT. HERE I COME,DRAGON NINJA!"

Chapter Ending

Proto	Final
>THE TSUTENKAKU SAMURAI "YOU... ARE... VERY POWERFUL. YOU LIVE UP TO THE REPUTATION OF DRAGON NINJAS."	HURRY TO MOUNT FUJI! THEY HAVE MY DAUGHTER. SHE IS A GEISHA AND CANNOT FEND FOR HERSELF. PLEASE...SAVE HER ...SAVE...HER...
>RYU HAYABUSA "..."
>THE TSUTENKAKU SAMURAI "I HAVE A REQUEST FOR YOU. PLEASE SAVE MY GEISHA DAUGHTER."
>RYU HAYABUSA "DAUGHTER?"
>THE TSUTENKAKU SAMURAI "SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, A MAN WHO CALLS HIMSELF THE SHOGUN OF DARKNESS KIDNAPPED MY DAUGHTER AND BLACKMAILED ME INTO TAKING SIDES WITH HIM. MY DAUGHTER IS CAPTIVE ON MOUNT FUJI. THE BUSHIDO SHOULD BE WITH HER CAPTORS RIGHT NOW... PLEASE, SAVE MY DAUGHTER!"
THE SAMURAI GRIPPED RYU'S HAND ONE LAST TIME AND DIED.
>RYU HAYABUSA "I'VE HEARD YOUR LAST REQUEST LOUD AND CLEAR!"

Chapter 4

Chapter Intro

Proto	Final
RYU HURRIED TO MOUNT FUJI. IF THE ENEMY FINDS OUT THAT THE TSUTENKAKU SAMURAI WAS DEFEATED, THEY MIGHT MOVE THE BUSHIDO TO A NEW HIDING PLACE AND KILL THE SAMURAI'S DAUGHTER. MOUNT FUJI STOOD OUT RED FROM THE MORNING SUNLIGHT AGAINST THE SKY.	I MUST MOVE QUICKLY. IF THEY FIND OUT ABOUT THE SAMURAI THEY MAY HARM THE GEISHA!
>RYU HAYABUSA "IS THAT IT?"	THAT MUST BE THEM!
SOMETHING FLASHED HALF WAY UP THE MOUNTAIN. IT LOOKED LIKE A MAN-MADE STRUCTURE.
>RYU HAYABUSA "THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. IF ONLY I'M NOT TOO LATE..."

Chapter Ending

Proto	Final
>THE GEISHA "WHO IS IT?"	NINJA MASTER RYU?...THEN MY FATHER...WHERE IS... OH RYU...
>RYU HAYABUSA "I'VE COME TO RESCUE YOU ON THE REQUEST OF YOUR FATHER."
>THE GEISHA "THEN YOU MUST BE THE DRAGON NINJA."
>RYU HAYABUSA "HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?"
>THE GEISHA "MY FATHER TOLD ME THAT YOU WOULD COME TO RESCUE ME. RYU, THE BUSHIDO HAS ALREADY BEEN MOVED TO THE CASTLE OF DARKNESS. YOU MUST RETRIEVE THAT SCROLL!"
>RYU HAYABUSA "WHERE IS THE CASTLE OF DARKNESS?"
>THE GEISHA "THEY SAID THAT IT WAS OFF TO THE NORTH, ACROSS A FROZEN SEA AND THROUGH A CAVE."
>RYU HAYABUSA "I SEE, THANK YOU. NOW LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!"

Chapter 5

Chapter Intro

Proto	Final

Rewritten the chapter name to flow better in English.

Proto	Final
RYU HAYABUSA "THE CASTLE OF DARKNESS MUST BE CLOSE NOW."	I OVERHEARD THEM SAY THAT THE CASTLE OF DARKNESS WAS BEYOND THIS LAND OF ICE. I'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU HERE SO HURRY BACK SAFELY.
>THE GEISHA "YES IT IS. BUT THE PATH AHEAD IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE SHOGUN. IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO GET TO THE CASTLE ALONE." I'LL GO WITH YOU."
>RYU HAYABUSA "NO. PLEASE WAIT FOR ME HERE. I'LL BE OK. I'LL COME BACK FOR YOU."
>THE GEISHA "RYU..."

Chapter Ending

Proto	Final
>THE ICE MONSTER "EVEN AFTER YOU'VE DESTROYED ME, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH TO THE CASTLE OF DARKNESS."	YOU MAY HAVE DEFEATED ME, BUT NOW YOU MUST DEAL WITH THE WRATH OF THE DARK SHOGUN AND HIS EVIL MINIONS. BY ENTERING THAT CAVE YOU WILL SEAL YOUR DOOM.
>RYU HAYABUSA "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"
>THE ICE MONSTER "THE PATH AHEAD IS PROTECTED BY CREATURES FROM THE WORLD OF DARKNESS. NO HUMAN CAN GET THROUGH WITHOUT THE PROTECTION OF THE SHOGUN OF DARKNESS. AND YOU'RE NO EXCEPTION!"
AS SOON AS THE ICE MONSTER DIED, THE WALL BEHIND HIM CRUMBLED.
>RYU HAYABUSA "SO THAT'S THE ENTRANCE TO THE CAVE."
AN EERIE AURA CAME SPILLING OUT OF THE ENTRANCE.

Chapter 6

Chapter Intro

Proto	Final
ABOUT THAT TIME, SOMETHING WAS HAPPENING TO THE GEISHA WHO WAS WAITING FOR RYU.	WELL...WELL...WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE? DON'T YOU KNOW THAT IT'S NOT SAFE TO GO OUTSIDE ALONE? SOMETHING BAD COULD HAPPEN!
>THE SHOGUN OF DARKNESS "YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE LIFE DIFFICULT FOR ME AREN'T YOU? YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED RIGHT WHERE I PUT YOU."
>THE GEISHA "OH NO, YOU MUST BE THE... SHOGUN."
>THE SHOGUN OF DARKNESS "DON'T WORRY, I WON'T KILL YOU RIGHT AWAY. YOU'RE STILL GOING TO BE USEFUL TO ME."
THE SHOGUN STARED AT THE GEISHA WITH EYES FULL OF MADNESS AND EVIL. THE GEISHA FELT HER POWER BEING SUCKED AWAY THROUGH HIS STARE AND FINALLY FELL UNCONSCIOUS.

Chapter Ending

Proto	Final
>RYU HAYABUSA "THIS IS NOTHING BUT A STONE STATUE. WHY IS IT HERE? AND THOSE MONSTERS... HE EVEN USES OTHERWORLDLY CREATURES. JUST WHO IS THIS SHOGUN?"	ROCK! JUST COLD. LIFELESS STONE. ONE WHO CAN CONTROL EVEN THE EARTH SPIRIT IS A DEADLY FOE INDEED. JUST WHO IS THIS DARK SHOGUN?

Chapter 7

Chapter Intro

Proto	Final
RYU FINALLY REACHED THE ENEMY'S HOME TERRITORY.	THE CASTLE OF DARKNESS... NOT THE KIND OF PLACE I'D CALL HOME, THAT'S FOR SURE.
>RYU HAYABUSA "SO THIS IS THE CASTLE OF DARKNESS!"
THE CASTLE OF DARKNESS WAS SHROUDED IN A BLACK, MYSTERIOUS AURA. AND THE MYSTERIOUS AURA SEEMED TO DRAG EVERYTHING TOWARD THE HIGHEST SECTION OF THE CENTRAL CASTLE TOWER.
>RYU HAYABUSA "THE SHOGUN MUST BE IN THERE. MAYBE THE BUSHIDO IS ALSO THERE..."

Chapter Ending

Proto	Final
>RYU RAN UP TO THE CENTRAL TOWER.	THE BUSHIDO! AT LAST I HAVE RECOVERED THE ONLY TRUE ARTIFACT OF THE HOUSE OF DRAGON. NOW TO FIND THE GEISHA AND TAKE CARE OF THE DARK...
>RYU HAYABUSA "THERE IT IS, THE BUSHIDO!"
JUST WHEN RYU REACHED OUT TO GRAB IT,...
>THE GEISHA "RYU, LOOK OUT!"
>RYU HAYABUSA "WHAT?"
BY THE TIME RYU TURNED AROUND, THE SWORD WAS ABOUT TO DESCEND ON HIS HEAD. HE TRIED TO DODGE THE BLOW BUT HE WAS NOT FAST ENOUGH. THE SWORD CUT DEEPLY INTO HIS LEFT SHOULDER.
>THE SHOGUN OF DARKNESS "I'LL GIVE YOU CREDIT FOR COMING THIS FAR. BUT YOU AND THIS GIRL ARE GOING TO DIE RIGHT HERE."
>RYU HAYABUSA "YOU... YOU ARE THE SHOGUN!"

Chapter 8

Chapter Intro

Proto	Final
>THE SHOGUN OF DARKNESS "WITH THAT WOUND, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO FIGHT. I'LL USE THIS GIRL AS A LIVING SACRIFICE TO BRING OUT THE FULL POWERS OF THE BUSHIDO. THE TIME WHEN I CAN RULE THE WORLD IS HERE AT LAST!"	...I THINK, IF YOU EXAMINE THE SITUATION CAREFULLY, YOU WILL FIND THAT YOU ARE IN NO POSITION TO BE MAKING THREATS. THOUGH YOU HAVE COME MUCH FARTHER THAN I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED YOU STILL FAIL TO REALIZE THE POWER YOU ARE UP AGAINST! IT IS BECAUSE OF YOUR LACK OF PERCEPTION THAT IN THE END I, THE DARK SHOGUN, WILL BE THE MASTER OF THE EARTH. HA! HA! HA!
>RYU HAYABUSA "DARN! IF ONLY I HAD MORE STRENGTH. DRAGONSWORD... DRAGONSWORD..."
SUDDENLY THE DRAGONSWORD AND BUSHIDO STARTED HUMMING IN UNISON.
>RYU HAYABUSA "WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THIS?"
>THE SHOGUN OF DARKNESS "OH NO, THAT SWORD YOU'RE HOLDING, IS IT THE DRAGONSWORD?"
RIGHT THEN, THE BUSHIDO EMITTED A STRONG LIGHT THAT SENT THE SHOGUN FLYING BACK. THE BUSHIDO TRANSFORMED INTO A BALL OF LIGHT AND ENTERED INTO RYU'S BODY.
>THE BUSHIDO TRANSFORMED "MY STRENGTH IS BACK!"
>THE GEISHA "RYU!"
THE GEISHA RAN TO RYU.
>THE SHOGUN OF DARKNESS "YOU FOOL. YOU'VE TAKEN THE BUSHIDO. I'LL TEAR YOUR BODY TO SHREDS TO GET IT BACK IF I HAVE TO."
>RYU HAYABUSA "COME AND GET IT. SHOGUN!"

Ending

Proto	Final
>THE SHOGUN OF DARKNESS "AAAGH... I WON'T BE DESTROYED... I'LL BE BACK SOME DAY..."	AAAGH...NO...I REFUSE TO DIE...I'LL BE BACK...I'LL BE BAAAAAAACK...
THE EVIL SPIRIT UTTERED THESE WORDS AS IT DISINTEGRATED QUICKLY AND DISAPPEARED FROM THE GROUND. AT THE SAME TIME, THE CASTLE OF DARKNESS BEGAN TO CRUMBLE.
>RYU HAYABUSA "THIS WHOLE PLACE IS GOING TO CRUMBLE. LET'S GET OUT OF HERE. FAST!"
>THE GEISHA "YES RYU."

Proto	Final
>THE GEISHA "DID THE SHOGUN DIE?"	YOU NEVER KNOW. HE MAY APPEAR AGAIN LIKE HE SAID ...BUT I'LL GET HIM NEXT TIME TOO! NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES HE COMES BACK!
>RYU HAYABUSA "I DON'T KNOW. HE MAY APPEAR AGAIN LIKE HE SAID... BUT I'LL GET HIM NEXT TIME TOO! NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES HE COMES BACK!"

Level Differences

In Chapter 5 (The Land of Enemy/Enemy Turf), after the second screen transition (which indicates a checkpoint), you have to make your way down into an ice cave with spikes on the ceilings and the same slippery surfaces as before. There are two sections of ceiling-spikes you need to crouch-walk through (or just slide through letting ice physics take care of traversal), but the prototype also has a red slime enemy in the first corridor and two in the second.

Proto	Final

Proto	Final

Given that these enemies cannot be defeated easily from a grounded state even when crouching, combined with the ice physics, the knockback on hit, the low spiked ceiling, the fact that enemies can respawn off-screen, and that the player may not necessarily have powerups like the Dragonfire or Fireball, the developers probably realized having enemies here was needlessly difficult if not unfair.