Last Ninja 3 (C64) Speedrun in

I was never able to complete this when Last Ninja 3 came out, I got to stage 4 (fire) but gave up because the game is insistently and outrageously buggy. It looks pretty and the music is great but, alas, it is by far the weakest in the trilogy.
Played on VICE 3.5 (easyflash version)

[@PipiRoe]

Seeing the armada of bugs, I have doubts that this game was ever finished.

[@oscarjimenezgarrido7591]

It's a pity, as they upgraded the controls and the character's speed, but there's a reason why TLN2 achieved legendary status whilst the third one has fallen into obscurity, so much so that most people who know about 1 and 2 isn't even aware of the existence of 3.

[@hogne]

@@oscarjimenezgarrido7591 Another reason is that it came out way too late in the lifespan of the C64. Commodore User had even stopped reviewing C64 games at the time, and was by now CU Amiga.

[@Simon0]

I never much liked the combat in the last ninja games. But I like the exploration and adventure aspects

[@zbyniu-gh8sg]

From all 3 parts this one is the most silly

[@hogne]

How the hell are you able to kill the end of level guards so fast??!? Even the Shogun towards the end. Except for when he's on his throne. The more bushido (green dragon) you have, the less hits you have to take to defeat him in the first round, before fighting him. The level design made no sense in this game, while in the previous two, it was mostly logical (with the exception of the Dungeons, but that was simply to add to the ghost maze feeling of the level). And the second level and third levels are just soooo stupid. It wasn't until long after I had finished the game that I understood what the rope was for... I thought you HAD to use the vines and lose energy. And the plugging of the river and the vortex... geez. Also: If the scrolls are so important: Why are they just laying around like that? At least the scroll in the first level is the goal! The puzzle in the fourth leve, probably the best level, is actually quite clever. But it took me months to figure out that I had to use the bellows in that fireplace.

[@impossamole537]

You need to be equipped with shuriken to beat the guards quick. One of the many bugs in the game. Ah, plugging the vortex, I remember the trial and error it took to find that one out. Makes sense, kind of, but the plug is the size of a bathtub plug and the vortex could suck a man in! That nonsensical puzzle is one of the reasons I gave up on the game back in the day. I mean, bellows and fireplace makes sense also, IF you notice the pixel high flames and assume it possible to ram the key mold through the fireplace screen. And wouldn't you need fireproof gloves as well?! A game of frustration truly.