00:02These are TurboGrafx-16 games.
00:05These are PC Engine games, what the TurboGrafx was known as in Japan.
00:11Unfortunately, a ton of these never made it overseas to become these.
00:16So we're going to spend a few of these to take a closer look at one of these.
00:48Ninja Gaiden
00:48Almost everyone has heard of Ninja Gaiden.
00:50It is a series that exploded in popularity on the 8-bit Nintendo system when Tecmo created
00:55a platforming version of their arcade game in the late 80s.
01:00It was so popular that a couple sequels were spawned, as well as a recent successful resurrection
01:05on the next generation consoles.
01:07What most people don't know is that a few years later, a version of the very first Nintendo
01:12game was translated for the PC Engine.
01:15The port is essentially the same, but with upgraded graphics and a few tweaks here and
01:20there.
01:20Let's plug the PC Engine converter into our American Turbo Duo system and check it out.
01:30The story follows a ninja named Ryu Hayabusa, who seeks revenge in America for the death
01:36of his father.
01:37As the story unfolds, he finds himself involved in a strange plot threatening the entire world.
01:43Man, he is one unlucky guy.
01:46The player controls Ryu through six stages known as Acts.
01:50Each act has numerous obstacles, precise jumping, and tons of enemies to defeat.
01:57The game requires some memorization and extremely fast reflexes to improve your skills enough
02:02in order to progress.
02:04As with all platforming games, an energy bar dictates how long you have before losing a
02:09life.
02:09Although truthfully, in this game, you'll probably die from getting knocked backwards or mistiming
02:15a jump more often than simple energy bar reduction.
02:18Your character uses his dragon sword to attack, but can also use other secondary weapons that
02:24rely on spiritual strength, including various shurikens, firewheels, and more.
02:32You can collect ammunition for these attacks throughout the game, hidden in candles and other miscellaneous
02:37breakable items.
02:39Of course, other things can be found as well, such as time freezing abilities, or energy replenishment
02:45bottles, which are always welcome.
02:48One of the things that made Ninja Gaiden unique was the usage of cutscenes before and after
02:53you play each act.
02:55The original Nintendo game sort of started this whole trend, and this version has pretty
02:59much carbon copies of the original sequences, with slightly upgraded graphics.
03:05Even the short intermissions between acts are still intact.
03:08Obviously, they're all in Japanese, but with the help of a little hidden code, an English
03:13translation is also included.
03:16Funny enough, the text is not the same as the original American Nintendo version.
03:21Anyway, when the game is over, you have the chance to continue.
03:24If you're not fighting an end boss, you essentially start a little ways back.
03:28But it's not too terrible.
03:30The upgraded graphics are very, very colorful, and is a definite improvement over its original
03:35Nintendo counterpart.
03:38Some stages are really impressive.
03:41They added some multi-scrolling backgrounds as well, and although it adds a little dimension,
03:46it's more of a shutter than a scroll.
03:49So, it's a bit distracting in some stages where it's extremely prominent, but kind of cool
03:54in others where it is not.
03:56Eh, it's kind of hard to explain, but the game overall does look really great.
04:01The controls are almost spot on, which is a good thing, because the appeal of Ninja Gaiden
04:06has always been its tight controls and addictive feel.
04:10One thing I noticed in this version, however, is that doing a quick crouching attack from the
04:14opposite direction, seems to be slightly delayed compared to the Nintendo version.
04:20This takes some time to get used to, but you'll get the hang of it soon enough.
04:24Sticking to walls, bouncing off of walls, ah, the game even today is still addictively fun.
04:32Interestingly enough, they did change some of the sound.
04:35Some of the music is pretty good, but in some respects, the Nintendo version actually had a
04:40better soundtrack.
04:41Even when the end bosses explode, it's a bit disappointing compared to the original game.
04:46The audio just could have been a tad better.
04:50The game does have the same quirks as the original Nintendo version.
04:53A funky jump can lead to death with no way of controlling it.
04:57Enemies respawn over and over and over and over, depending on where you stand on the screen.
05:03And yes, the birds and bats are still a pain in the ass.
05:08Ugh.
05:08Man, sometimes Ryu just gets knocked around a lot.
05:13Ninja Gaiden is still a challenging game, especially tackling the final three bosses that toss you
05:18all the way back to the beginning of the act if you die.
05:21They might take a few tries.
05:24But as you play through, your cockiness level will increase, and you'll find yourself flying
05:29through the levels like some kind of master ninja.
05:32It's a really great game, and definitely awesome for anyone who's a fan of the series, or platforming
05:37games in general.
05:43Why Ninja Gaiden and some of the great PC Engine games never made it to the United States is
05:47just another glaring reason why the TurboGrafx didn't cut it in America like it did in Japan.
05:53I mean, the game even has an English translation built into it, for God's sakes.
05:58There is just no excuse.
05:59Some of the changes made to this upgrade are excellent, some are a little disappointing,
06:03but in the end, everything balances itself out really well.
06:07If you have a chance to check out this updated version of a classic game, I'd say go for it.
06:11And I give Ryu 4 PC Engines out of 5.
06:14And I give Ryu 4 PC Engines out of 5.
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