20 Awesome Ninja Games #6: Ninja Taro

On 02/10/2014 at 09:27 AM by The Last Ninja

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Linked to Article Series: Blog a Day (BaD) 2014

Released: 1991-1992

System: Game Boy

Developer: NMK

Publisher: UPL, American Sammy

It may look like an action RPG, but Ninja Taro is considered an action adventure game, similar to The Legend of Zelda, but even more straight-forward. The story is simple: After a Japanese feudal lord dies, a wicked man decides to put his plans into action. Ninja Taro must stop this fiend. With his samurai swords and shuriken, Ninja Taro begins his adventure, scouring the countryside, searching for weapons or items in caves, and helping villagers. The areas NT explores are very maze-like, with trees, rocks, etc. blocking his path. Perhaps the most interesting part of the game is the bosses, which are "visually grotesque" (you can see such a boss in the video below starting at the 7:30 mark). The entire game has a kiddy look except for these bosses (gross!). Oh, and the music is pretty awesome. Gotta love that rad Ninja music. Overall, NT is just as awesome as he appears on the Japanese box art (above).

jgusw

02/10/2014 at 10:36 AM

Wow. I never heard of this one.

The Last Ninja

02/10/2014 at 06:39 PM

Poor guy gets buried under all the Ryu's and Shinobi's.

Super Step Contributing Writer

02/10/2014 at 01:11 PM

That boos looks like the Octopus from Watchmen.

Funny how the ninja's stabs make a beat. lol Never heard of this, either.

02/10/2014 at 06:41 PM

Hm, perhaps it is the octopus from Watchmen. I imagine Ninja Taro could be the crap out of the best of them.

Jamie Alston Staff Writer

02/10/2014 at 01:42 PM

I learned about this game last year. It's the sequel to this other GB game called Maru's Mission. I've never played either of these games, but they look fun enough.

02/10/2014 at 06:42 PM

Yes, that's right. I actually haven't played this game either (along with most of the ninja games I'm covering this month), but I would like to some time.

C.S.3590SquadLeader

02/10/2014 at 03:18 PM

This game looks good, and you're right about that boss. Really wasn't expecting that.

02/10/2014 at 06:43 PM

Doesn't seem to fit into such a "cute" game, right?

BrokenH

02/10/2014 at 03:37 PM

Shame this one never had an nes version. I would have liked it a lot! You're right about the bosses too. Pretty disturbing stuff,man! Then again, many ninja games feature some rather wicked and grotesque looking bosses. Seems to be kind of a tradition!

02/10/2014 at 06:44 PM

You're right about that. I mean, seriously, look at this dude:

ugly boss

Cary Woodham

02/10/2014 at 08:27 PM

There's actually a lot of different Ninja Taro games in Japan. It's kind of interesting to research and read about some of them.

02/10/2014 at 09:24 PM

Most of them didn't make it over here, right? Sad sad sad. . .

daftman

02/10/2014 at 08:36 PM

Well that's new to me! I'd say the only thing more grotesque than that boss is the color that was played in lol

02/10/2014 at 09:25 PM

Hey, what you got against pink? Pink ninjas rule! Of course, black ones are better, and stealthier, but pink ones have some charm too.

02/11/2014 at 08:52 PM

No, it's just that combination of pink and teal...ugh

KnightDriver

02/11/2014 at 02:36 AM

That's some scary monster. I hope it doesn't get into my dreams.

PixlBit