I think Shinobi III has the best graphics and controls, but Revenge of Shinobi has the best music and level design. The whole series is incredible. The original arcade game is like my favorite-sounding game ever, the sound effects are so satisfying, playing it practically gives me ASMR haha
Shinobi III is easily one of the best referents of the Genesis MegaDrive (easy in a Top 5). No matter how much I love Yuzo Koshiro, SIII has tracks that even to this day I still have in my mind always.
The 3D port for the 3DS is really nice. Too bad they didn't give more Shinobi games the 3D treatment. The 3D ports of arcade Galaxy Force II & Afterburner (on 3DS) are seriously impressive.
Revenge of Shinobi is one the best games ever created. The music is legendary!! I'm sure I spent more time on this one as a kid than any other Genesis game, or maybe tied with Phantasy star II.
Shinobi 3 has so many offensive, defensive and moving techniques, they could have made a Metroidvania out if it. My favourite game of the whole series, by far.
I still prefer The GG Shinobi II: The Silent Fury on Game Gear, and it's kind of a shame that Sega didn't adopt that format for any of the Genesis Shinobi games, as I totally agree that the console installments could've and should've had Metroidvania elements.
I played all three Shinobi games on the Sega Genesis. They all have good music and gorgeous graphics. The early game cartridges on of "The Revenge of Shinobi" has many pop culture references. You can find enemies that look like Rambo,Terminator,Hulk,Batman,Spider-Man,etc.
I love Shadow Dancer. I never got into Revenge and never knew about III until recently. But SLX videos always make me want to play through the series. Shinobi arcade is an unlockable game in the PS3 Sega collection, and the others are available in the PS4 Sega collection.
Owned all 3, played all 3, loved all 3. Help me Obi Wan Shinobi, you're my only hope. All things stated, Shadow Dancer had a very different feel from the other 2 games. The one hit deaths made the game by far the most challenging of the 3, and the final few levels can be frustrating as hell. Loved the soundtrack on the 2 shinobi games though, really memorable entries, however the themes that stand out for me on each game are Chinatown on the first game and Whirlwind on the second. Chinatown wad excellent and really performed to its name. It was also the only track that never reused barring the final level, final boss and ending tracks (oh and Dark City as well). Whirlwind is a gorgeous beauty of a track and gives every bit of the atmosphere of jetting across the waves. It's a really short track, but one I really love.
I agree, I believe in Shinobi level design is better and more inspired, plus each conversion on different platforms it is a small masterpiece, I loved GG Shinobi or Shinobi X on Saturn!
@@eskanda3434 Also I'd say all three original Ninja Gaiden games are almost the same game. At least they are compared to the Genesis Shinobi titles which changed up the gameplay far more. Ninja Gaiden's gameplay was very much the same from the beginning to the end of the series. The first two games even more so. The third did change the jumping/falling physics a bit and added some vertical areas but it's all fairly minor differences between the three games. Nothing stops you from appreciating both series.
I think you're quite right, actually. The only Ninja Gaiden game I really enjoy is the SMS one, because it is more balanced overall than the NES titles, though it suffers still from the cheaptness in difficulty that tends to permeate that franchise.
The statue of liberty song in Shadow Dancer is one of the best 16 bit era tracks. All 3 games have amazing soundtracks. The intro song from The Revenge of Shinobi gives me a nostalgic feeling stronger than any song in the world. My brothers had it when it was released and I was 3 years old. I think it was the first time I've ever felt deep emotions towards music, or the first time my brain registered those emotions as a memory. I'm a musician nowadays and I can't help but think that these games played a big part in the formation of the musical part of my brain. I have to mention Chinatown, Make Me Dance, Over The Bay and both ending songs on The Revenge of Shinobi and Izayoi, Solitary, Japonesque and My Dear D on Shinobi 3 as all time favorites too.
Shinobi 3 is and will be always my favorite. It is a way ahead of it's time. I beat it back in my childhood like 100 times. I played it a lot. I beat it on different difficulty levels and i even challenged myself to the point where i tried to beat it without using any shurikens, just using melee close combat. I remember my friends reaction when i beat it in over a 30 minutes, while they tried to beat it and ended up stuck for hours or even days. Yeah, those were very incredible times for me. Sure, i'm not as skilled as i was back in my childhood now, but still, i remember how to play those games, despite playing them on emulator these days. These days, it took me longer to beat those games, and i don't do those challenges as i did back then, but i still love to play these old 16 bit games.
Man, honestly, your channel is one of the best in its category. Every video entertaining and informative. And this coming from a Nintendo kid. But to be honest if i could afford it back in the day i would have bought a Mega Drive along with my SNES just for Shinobi, Thunder Force and Sonic 2.
I can't believe I'm watching this. I'm actually nervous to see which one you choose. I do have a favorite. ok time to finish the video. I'll check-in afterwards
Shinobi 3, easily one of the best Mega Drive games. Partly to my nostalgia, partly to how awesome the gameplay is, partly to the music. I could listend to the music whole day, some masterpiece tracks. You could easily test quality of your mega drive/genesis sound chip with soundtracks from this game. :)
I have a passion for Revenge Of Shinobi... But, yes! I do love them all... I Remember hearing just 5he music to the original, and Revenge! Well, yes all of them are phenomenal... Just being able to run on 3 is a major improvement! Must plays all day!!!😎
What is never mentioned in any comment section I have seen here: I love the way you play - you definitely have a skillset that makes it exciting to watch your videos! keep it up!
Wow this brings me back! I remember playing the revenge of shinobi and fighting Spiderman and was absolutely thrilled! 😃 excellent video thanks man! Hope you keeping well! 👍
When this came out and I played it. I couldn't believe the bosses. Besides the atmosphere, graphics, music, and gameplay perfection, the boss surprises were unheard of. Thank god there was no internet for me to spoil it.
I think Shinobi III is not just the best 16-bit Shinobi but the best 16-bit character action game period. Being able to run rather than just stroll made you feel far more like a ninja than the other two. It's a shame we never got a proper conversion of the original though, playing the current Sega AGES version I think in a lot of ways it has the tightest controls, especially when it comes to jumping.
While I can agree that all 3 games are great, my personal favorite will always be Shadow Dancer. The music, sound effects, bosses, it’s just fantastic. Played that one far more than the others. Plus my little brother pretended to play the dog as 2nd player so there’s that.
I got Revenge of Shinobi with my Megadrive when I bought it many moons ago but I have never completed it. Even with the infinite Shurikens cheat, I couldn't beat the game because of the fiendish difficulty! That game is more than a little bit challenging! Good choice for best Shinobi Megadrive game. I think I agree too, but I need to revisit Shadow Dancer before commiting myself. 😹 They're all fairly brilliant, so a blast on all of 'em wouldn't hurt at all. Good video, as usual. Thanks. 👍🙂
Revenge of Shinobi was one of my first Mega Drive cartridges, at a time when everyone were into ninja stuff. It's absolutely astonishing even nowadays, especially the dope soundtrack. It would be pick for the nostalgia factor, but it's a badass trilogy of games. Great video!
For me, as a SNES kid in 90's that has never played nothing from Mega Drive until 30yo, Shinobi is, by far, my favourite franchise on SEGA 16bit era. By far. Great video! Cheers from Brazil!
Revenge of Shinobi with Yuzo Koshiro music was the bomb! That China Town soundtrack was awesome. I used to rent the console (a few times) from a small local videostore just to play that game and Ghouls N Ghosts! I was not an early Genesis owner since I already owned a SNES.
Shinobi III is the pinnacle of the formula. It's so amazing in all categories. Graphics, gameplay, sound (omg so good), challenge and fun factor. But the others are great games too. We, SEGA fans, have a lot to experience playing this 3 outstanding ninja games. Thanks SLX, your channel/videos are so much fun to watch. S III is the winner for me too.
Gosh, Revenge of Shinobi was my first 16-bit wow moment. That waterfall stage blew 8-year old me's mind. Shinobi III was my favorite back in the day, but Shadow Dancer is my favorite now. Much more replayable than I expected.
I was sad that you didn't choose "The Revenge of Shinobi" but like you said it's your opinion. I really wish you would have mentioned that "The Revenge of Shinobi" has Batman and Spiderman and Godzilla and Rambo. Anyway great video!
I played the hell out of Shinobi III as a kid. Since then, I scored a loose copy at a flea market. The music is amazing. I probably spent more time with it than any Genesis game other than the Sonic games, Zombies Ate My Neighbors, Vectorman, and Jurassic Park.
Nice and well thought video here SLX. I always found the Shinobi series difficult but maybe one day I should try again. You know how to give tribute to timeless games. On another note, here's a small piece of trivia for the Revenge of Shinobi. Joe Musashi's image on the title screen is actually based off of Japanese action star Sonny Chiba's role in the hit 1980 TV show Kage no Gundam (Shadow Warriors) and if you look real close, it looks just like Sonny and his portrayal of Hattori Hanzo.
That stage in Shinobi 3 with the falling rocks that you have to double jump on. Died countless times there! Gotta time those jumps! Awsome game series.
I love them all and you can't go wrong with either. Revenge - The music from Yuzo Koshiro. Shadow Dancer - Fast-paced gameplay and challenge. The music is indeed the best part of the game. The short duration is where I can overlook. Shinobi 3 - Basically took elements of Revenge and amped it up well. The music and fast-paced gameplay also won me over.
Shinobi 3 was an audio/visual marvel, but Shadow Dancer is my all time favorite Shinobi game. The music from that game has been stuck in my head since I first got it in 1991. It was infectious, and I love it still.
They're all so good it's tough to pick one also it probably helps if you've beat them which I haven't yet. I do enjoy them all so much though. Great video brother once again brother.
“The Revenge of Shinobi” was a bold move by Sega as it was a true sequel to an arcade game. It was well justified with the stellar sound and soundtrack in addition to the graphics that are still amazing in the modern era. I miss this “bolder” Sega and hope there still one of that Sega left in the coming years. They need to utilize their back catalog yesterday 😂👏🏾🎮!
Great video, I love the three Shinobi entries in the Megadrive, as you say, each one has its own merits and flavour, and while Shinobi III is objectively the best one, my personal favourite will always be Shadow Dancer, probably because of its fast paced action and the one hit dying, wich always keeps you in tension during all the game. Also, while technically inferior to Shinobi III, to me its way more appealing visually, its graphics and music perfectly matches the intensity of the game and the constant danger you are exposed to.
Revenge of Shinobi has been my all time favourite game that I played on the Megadrive, Shinobi 3 was also another 2nd favourite game that I enjoyed too😊😊👍👍
This is one of the first games I had for the genesis, I was already big on the arcade game and didn't think the revenge would be better than the arcade game, boy I was wrong the music, the levels, the game play made it one of my favorites of all time.
Awesome as s always Sega Lord X Really enjoy this trip back then memory Lane shinobi 3 is such a masterpiece that being said all of these games are masterpieces Great work!
I totally agree! All 3 are fantastic, but I feel part 3 has the most polish and combined with the smooth gameplay and kick ass music makes it a cut above the rest!!
Hi Sega Lord X! There were actually two Shinobi games for the PS2: Shinobi and Nightshade. The both of them are worth a look but they might disappoint some fans of the older games due to their difficulty and different art style. Have a good one!
I wasn't expecting your conclusion since you have more nostalgia for Revenge. All great games, though. Shinobi has always been a favorite series of mine since the Master System was current. But I didn't know Shinobi 3 came out, as it might have been buried under the hype for Street Fighter 2 and Mortal Kombat, but I bought it immediately once I saw it, and it remains one of my favorite games on the system. I still play it pretty often. I think it has a tremendous soundtrack, with, if I recall correctly, Solitary being my favorite track. You know, for as often as I play it, I never knew you could destroy those thrusters in the first part of the final stage. I just always timed my jumps to get past them. I knew you could take out the gas vents, though. I have vivid memories of watching the attract mode of Revenge of Shinobi in 1989. That's the game that made me want the Genesis more than anything else. I didn't get the system for a couple of more years, and I never got to play the game until many years later. At first, I found it hard to get into since it's the stiffest of the three. But, due to its reputation, I returned to it a few times and finally understood the game and came to love it as well. As for Shadow Dancer, I've always enjoyed the arcade one-hit gameplay of the original and other arcade games, so I appreciate that one was well. Shadow Dancer is so easy for me to jump into that it's a go-to game when I'm in the mood to play something, but I don't have something specific in mind. Great to see more Shinobi stuff from you. Thanks for the enjoyment.
If there is one franchise Sega should bring back, its Shinobi (and phantasy star classic). You could easily do a brutal, intense Shinobi game these days and feel like a master. Loved Shinobi 3 and Revenge of Shinobi back in my youth, still love both games to this day.
I played Shinobi III for the first time the other night, I'm just wondering where this game has been my entire life. I have to play more to form an overall opinion but man I can't put it down. It's also one of the few 16 bit games where my skill is actually impacted because I keep focusing on the amazing backgrounds. This video convinced me to try it, and I much appriciate that!
Great vid man, I really thought you were going to choose Revenge but I'm glad to Shinobi III get the nod. Return of the Ninja Master is the best one imo, between the gameplay and visuals it's a win. I think that Revenge of Shinobi has an overall better soundtrack but Whirlwind is one of the greatest tracks I've heard come out of my Genesis.
Ha, funny you made a video on shinobi games today x. As I was playing the revenge of shinobi today on my Sega Genesis collection. Great minds think alike, and i think to this day revenge still looks and sounds fantastic. Can't beat yuzo's music, I still play shadow dancer and shinobi 3 after all this time. Shinobi 3 is a technical masterpiece, love the multiple paralax backgrounds
While I didn't expect it to win, I'm glad you included Shadow Dancer. Even with the most ardent of Sega fans, I see it getting left out of discussions when it comes to the best genesis Shinobi game. For me, all three games are equally great but I lean slightly more towards The Revenge of Shinobi and Shadow Dancer for one particular preference: I like the multiple endings of the former which, before save states ruined it, gave more replay value; the latter has the canine companion, whom in my opinion, should've been a staple like Yoshi is to Mario and Rush is to Mega Man. On a side note, I also love the game gear Shinobi games. They're, IMO, on the same level of quality as the Genesis games (presentation due to the system aside).
Each of the three games in this video is amazing and I would have a hard time saying one is better over the other. Shinobi III can be played with a 6 button gamepad, it needs a cheat involving the second controller, or you can use a patch from romhacking. With this, you can use a dedicated button to each action, like blocking (without throwing darts), switch magic, sword/knife, shuriken, etc, this is the absolutely best way to play this masterpiece. Each of the Shinobi games on the Mega Drive are really so good they should be included in every "best games of all time" list.
The third game does look very slick. I remember thinking Revenge of Shinobi looked brill back when it came out. I never got Shinoobi back in the day, not sure why.
Oh yes! I myself grew up on a steady diet of ninjas and video games. If you asked my 5 year old self what I was going to be when I grow up...it was always a ninja master. Unfortunately, ninja master doesn't quite pay the bills like working in academia does...so I went with my fallback plan. ;) I don't think I have ever played a bad Shinobi game in my life. The only one I didn't really care for (it was still good) was the arcade version of Shadow Dancer. Thankfully, the Genesis version was a far better game and I was proud to add it too my collection. My favorite Shinobi title has to be The Revenge of Shinobi. The reason for this is, it was one of the Genesis's earliest titles. When you first slapped the cart in you're greeted with graphical fidelity on a level well beyond where we came from and that music was absolutely devine. The game stood as a message that Sega was here and they're not taking sh*t from anyone. For reference, I love each and everyone of them! ;)
I think it was Gamespot that said Shadow Dancer's enemies lacked the "Wicked Moves" of Revenge, but I thought Shadow Dancer had way more complex enemy patters. I still prefer Revenge for it's soundtrack and sprite work but Shadow Dancer really made you feel like a bad ass ninja with the stuff you had to do to win.
Shadow Dancer in the arcade was a quarter-muncher that frustrated people with ultra-cheap deaths. I'm glad Sega re-imagined it for the Mega Drive. The three Shinobi games on the Mega Drives are all masterpieces.
Loved revenge of shinobi as a kid apart from the maze at the end . If it wasn’t for a map i found in one of the old sega magazines I’d probably still be stuck on there till this day
For me, the two best ninja games from Sega for home consoles are Alex Kid in Shinobi World (sms) and this port of Shadow Dancer, and autentic new arcade proporsal only for home, just awesome
Revenge of Shinobi was my first Genesis game and still one of my top ten Genesis games. But something about Shinobi 3 man. Everything just feels right. Hopefully Sega does something with the franchise. Sucks that we didn't get one on the Dreamcast.
I lost track of the number of 20p pieces I put into the arcade game. :) Your conclusions here are spot on- for me the games got better over time (although I bought the first two on the same day, in 1992), but all three remain games worth playing today. This doesn't always happen with games series- either the sequels just dominate the earlier titles (SOR2 vs SOR for me), or lost the plot entirely (Golden Axe 3!). 16-Bit Shinobi is still an amazing trio of games. I couldn't get in to Shinobi X at all, though.
I have all three but have only really played Revenge. Gotta love some of the character sprites in there that represent Rambo, Spider Man, The Terminator, and Batman. Did I miss any others?
Maybe some love for GG Shinobi next? For my money it's right up there with any of the three 16 bit titles, and even surpasses them in some respects. GG's gameplay and stage designs in particular are so lean and hyper focused on rewarding skilled play, and I especially love that each level has power-ups tucked away for players who take the time to learn and pick the optimum ninja buddy to save in order to reach them. I'd also argue that Yuzo Koshiro's awesome soundtrack shines more brightly in GG than in Revenge, if only because he had to really optimize his tunes to get the best out of the Game Gear's lesser sound chip. While the Mega Drive / Genesis's larger soundstage perhaps allowed him more room to express himself, some of the tracks in Revenge just didn't really hit home for me - like the mechanical sounding factory and automobile graveyard levels, which felt plodding and hollow. On the other hand each and every one of GG's tracks were delivered with aplomb, and never failed to get the heart pumping. GG2 tried to expand on the formula by basically expanding on everything that had come before, including increasing the size of levels and requiring players to backtrack for collectibles to unlock progression. But in doing so the sequel just muddied the tight and focused gameplay that was so finely balanced in the original. I still revisit GG from time to time or put on a playlist of its soundtrack on RUclips for a nostalgia trip every now and then. Highly recommended.
Hey, Lord. Im really looking forward to a special Dragon Force saga episode. I know you talked about the first in several epidoes, but how about a full review of both releases? Bests games on the saturn.
If you haven't played it yet, I highly recommend trying out Shinobi 3D for the 3DS. Personally, I think it's worthy of being referred to as a proper Shinobi 4. The graphics are kinda shoddy, but the gameplay, animation and level design are all top-notch. The developers were huge fans of the original Shinobi games and it really shows, in my opinion. They usually made licensed IP's that weren't that great, but this was pretty much a passion project for them. They weren't afraid to implement their own take on the formula either, so in terms of gameplay it's actually very unique. You can parry, combo and juggle, but it remains the feel of the Shinobi franchise. It's also very hard, I'd say even harder than Shadow Dancer. But with the benefits of modern game design and infinite continues, you don't need to start over from the beginning when you're game over (except when you play on hard). There's quite a few nods to the classic Shinobi games as well. I think the mini-games are the game's weakest parts, but they're still not all that bad. And there's quite a few extras to unlock (that encourage replay value even more). Anyhow, I recommend everyone who likes Shinobi games to check it out. If you're lucky, the developers might still visit the message board for the game on Gamefaqs every now and then.
Revenge of Shinobi and Shinobi III (specially 3!) Are my favorite of the series. Shadow Dancer is not bad either, but it's a lot more arcade-ish. The series deserves more love. Really hoping for Sega to give Lizardcube either Shinobi IV or at the very least a DLC for SoR IV to play as Musashi there x)
Great Video...Can’t disagree with anything you stated. I hold a soft spot for RoS because it was one the 1st titles that I bought for the Genesis that just blew everyone’s mind: Graphics, Sounds and Gameplay-near perfect game especially considering when it was released!
Revenge of Shinobi has one of my favorite soundtracks ever, Yuzo Koshiro was a genius with the Genesis soundboard
FACTS
All except that labyrinth stage. That was pretty ear grating.
Shinobi 3 is superior in every regard. Mechanics, design and everything else.
The "Whirlwind" track alone beats the entire Koshiro's soundtrack.
Revenge of Shinobi. My nostalgia is real with this one! Got it with my Megadrive on release
me too i got it with mega games 2 a 3 in 1 game with this ,streets of rage and golden axe
I think Shinobi III has the best graphics and controls, but Revenge of Shinobi has the best music and level design. The whole series is incredible. The original arcade game is like my favorite-sounding game ever, the sound effects are so satisfying, playing it practically gives me ASMR haha
if anything I'll give the nod to Revenge of Shinobi because I think Shinobi III is a little too easy, Revenge took me longer to master.
Shinobi III is easily one of the best referents of the Genesis MegaDrive (easy in a Top 5).
No matter how much I love Yuzo Koshiro, SIII has tracks that even to this day I still have in my mind always.
Whirlwind and Idaten FTW
revenge of shinobi still look mighty impressive visually even to this day
The title screen will always be epic!
yes
Shinobi 3!!! Oh God! The memories. Best Sega Shinobi of all time. 💜
Shinobi 3 is the best in the series.
@@christophersavart5589 No doubt! Lol. 💜
Absolutely!!
Pinnacle of the series!
The 3D port for the 3DS is really nice. Too bad they didn't give more Shinobi games the 3D treatment. The 3D ports of arcade Galaxy Force II & Afterburner (on 3DS) are seriously impressive.
Revenge of Shinobi is one the best games ever created. The music is legendary!! I'm sure I spent more time on this one as a kid than any other Genesis game, or maybe tied with Phantasy star II.
Shinobi 3 & Shadow Dancer for life, those games still hold up AWESOMELY today! :)
Shinobi 3 is one of my fav platformers on Genesis, and the music is so so good
Shinobi 3 has so many offensive, defensive and moving techniques, they could have made a Metroidvania out if it.
My favourite game of the whole series, by far.
I still prefer The GG Shinobi II: The Silent Fury on Game Gear, and it's kind of a shame that Sega didn't adopt that format for any of the Genesis Shinobi games, as I totally agree that the console installments could've and should've had Metroidvania elements.
Easily the best!
Joe Musashi should be a fighting game character
@@crazyking1896 For what game ? Smash bros ? pft.
@@Fredo63200 Probably, but like a 2d tournament fighter type. You know like Street Fighter and Fatel Fury.
I loved playing The Revenge of Shinobi with headphones plugged into the Genesis as a kid
Yea with the rocket board stage music cranking
I played all three Shinobi games on the Sega Genesis. They all have good music and gorgeous graphics. The early game cartridges on of "The Revenge of Shinobi" has many pop culture references. You can find enemies that look like Rambo,Terminator,Hulk,Batman,Spider-Man,etc.
I love Shadow Dancer. I never got into Revenge and never knew about III until recently. But SLX videos always make me want to play through the series. Shinobi arcade is an unlockable game in the PS3 Sega collection, and the others are available in the PS4 Sega collection.
Owned all 3, played all 3, loved all 3.
Help me Obi Wan Shinobi, you're my only hope.
All things stated, Shadow Dancer had a very different feel from the other 2 games. The one hit deaths made the game by far the most challenging of the 3, and the final few levels can be frustrating as hell.
Loved the soundtrack on the 2 shinobi games though, really memorable entries, however the themes that stand out for me on each game are Chinatown on the first game and Whirlwind on the second.
Chinatown wad excellent and really performed to its name. It was also the only track that never reused barring the final level, final boss and ending tracks (oh and Dark City as well).
Whirlwind is a gorgeous beauty of a track and gives every bit of the atmosphere of jetting across the waves. It's a really short track, but one I really love.
Unpopular opinion: I prefer the Shinobi games over the Ninja Gaiden series. I just think they are much more well designes and much more fun.
Same!
I agree, I believe in Shinobi level design is better and more inspired, plus each conversion on different platforms it is a small masterpiece, I loved GG Shinobi or Shinobi X on Saturn!
@@eskanda3434 Well, unless you include the Ninja Gaiden on XBOX. I loved that one.
@@eskanda3434 Also I'd say all three original Ninja Gaiden games are almost the same game. At least they are compared to the Genesis Shinobi titles which changed up the gameplay far more. Ninja Gaiden's gameplay was very much the same from the beginning to the end of the series. The first two games even more so. The third did change the jumping/falling physics a bit and added some vertical areas but it's all fairly minor differences between the three games.
Nothing stops you from appreciating both series.
I think you're quite right, actually. The only Ninja Gaiden game I really enjoy is the SMS one, because it is more balanced overall than the NES titles, though it suffers still from the cheaptness in difficulty that tends to permeate that franchise.
thanks for the video, it brings back fond memories.
The statue of liberty song in Shadow Dancer is one of the best 16 bit era tracks. All 3 games have amazing soundtracks. The intro song from The Revenge of Shinobi gives me a nostalgic feeling stronger than any song in the world. My brothers had it when it was released and I was 3 years old. I think it was the first time I've ever felt deep emotions towards music, or the first time my brain registered those emotions as a memory. I'm a musician nowadays and I can't help but think that these games played a big part in the formation of the musical part of my brain.
I have to mention Chinatown, Make Me Dance, Over The Bay and both ending songs on The Revenge of Shinobi and Izayoi, Solitary, Japonesque and My Dear D on Shinobi 3 as all time favorites too.
Shinobi 3 is and will be always my favorite. It is a way ahead of it's time. I beat it back in my childhood like 100 times. I played it a lot. I beat it on different difficulty levels and i even challenged myself to the point where i tried to beat it without using any shurikens, just using melee close combat. I remember my friends reaction when i beat it in over a 30 minutes, while they tried to beat it and ended up stuck for hours or even days. Yeah, those were very incredible times for me. Sure, i'm not as skilled as i was back in my childhood now, but still, i remember how to play those games, despite playing them on emulator these days. These days, it took me longer to beat those games, and i don't do those challenges as i did back then, but i still love to play these old 16 bit games.
Man, honestly, your channel is one of the best in its category. Every video entertaining and informative.
And this coming from a Nintendo kid. But to be honest if i could afford it back in the day i would have bought a Mega Drive along with my SNES just for Shinobi, Thunder Force and Sonic 2.
I can't believe I'm watching this. I'm actually nervous to see which one you choose. I do have a favorite. ok time to finish the video. I'll check-in afterwards
Shinobi 3, easily one of the best Mega Drive games. Partly to my nostalgia, partly to how awesome the gameplay is, partly to the music. I could listend to the music whole day, some masterpiece tracks. You could easily test quality of your mega drive/genesis sound chip with soundtracks from this game. :)
I have a passion for Revenge Of Shinobi... But, yes! I do love them all... I Remember hearing just 5he music to the original, and Revenge! Well, yes all of them are phenomenal... Just being able to run on 3 is a major improvement! Must plays all day!!!😎
What is never mentioned in any comment section I have seen here: I love the way you play - you definitely have a skillset that makes it exciting to watch your videos! keep it up!
Wow this brings me back! I remember playing the revenge of shinobi and fighting Spiderman and was absolutely thrilled! 😃 excellent video thanks man! Hope you keeping well! 👍
The game had Spider Man, Rambo, I think even Batman, Godzilla. Game was crazy and loved it.
@@ragingraven7915 Yeah it was so cool! 😀 they don't make classics like this anymore unfortunately😟
When this came out and I played it. I couldn't believe the bosses. Besides the atmosphere, graphics, music, and gameplay perfection, the boss surprises were unheard of. Thank god there was no internet for me to spoil it.
@@neozeed1984 Yeah same here! I use to rent it every Christmas eve for 5 years! Until my dad bought me a copy of it for my birthday happy days!😁👍
I think Shinobi III is not just the best 16-bit Shinobi but the best 16-bit character action game period. Being able to run rather than just stroll made you feel far more like a ninja than the other two. It's a shame we never got a proper conversion of the original though, playing the current Sega AGES version I think in a lot of ways it has the tightest controls, especially when it comes to jumping.
Love the Shinobi games. ♥️
Edit, that thumbnail with Mt. Fuji and the temple, LOL.... Nice one SLX.
While I can agree that all 3 games are great, my personal favorite will always be Shadow Dancer. The music, sound effects, bosses, it’s just fantastic. Played that one far more than the others.
Plus my little brother pretended to play the dog as 2nd player so there’s that.
Revenge of Shinobi
For
The
WIN.
I have to agree. SIII might be the "best, technically" on balance, but I prefer the OST and tactical gameplay of Revenge.
I love watching these because even though I've played these games millions of times I've turned new moves just watching
Great video. Great to see games you've never used in other videos before. Ever.
Your reviews and breakdowns are always fantastic.
I got Revenge of Shinobi with my Megadrive when I bought it many moons ago but I have never completed it. Even with the infinite Shurikens cheat, I couldn't beat the game because of the fiendish difficulty! That game is more than a little bit challenging!
Good choice for best Shinobi Megadrive game. I think I agree too, but I need to revisit Shadow Dancer before commiting myself. 😹 They're all fairly brilliant, so a blast on all of 'em wouldn't hurt at all.
Good video, as usual. Thanks. 👍🙂
Revenge of Shinobi was one of my first Mega Drive cartridges, at a time when everyone were into ninja stuff. It's absolutely astonishing even nowadays, especially the dope soundtrack. It would be pick for the nostalgia factor, but it's a badass trilogy of games. Great video!
For me, as a SNES kid in 90's that has never played nothing from Mega Drive until 30yo, Shinobi is, by far, my favourite franchise on SEGA 16bit era. By far.
Great video!
Cheers from Brazil!
Totally agree. I love Revenge of Shinobi, but I give the nod to Shinobi 3. Man I miss this series 😪
greeat game
Why don't mention this fantastic hear worm ... The shadow dancer bonus stage bgm ... Damn, this music still lives in my head since the beguinning ...
Excellent review as per usual. All three games are excellent Genesis titles. Very happy and proud to own all three.
Sega lord x u always hit it right on the nose with your reviews you definitely live up to your name 💯💪🏾
Revenge of Shinobi with Yuzo Koshiro music was the bomb! That China Town soundtrack was awesome. I used to rent the console (a few times) from a small local videostore just to play that game and Ghouls N Ghosts! I was not an early Genesis owner since I already owned a SNES.
Shinobi III is the pinnacle of the formula. It's so amazing in all categories. Graphics, gameplay, sound (omg so good), challenge and fun factor. But the others are great games too. We, SEGA fans, have a lot to experience playing this 3 outstanding ninja games. Thanks SLX, your channel/videos are so much fun to watch. S III is the winner for me too.
Gosh, Revenge of Shinobi was my first 16-bit wow moment. That waterfall stage blew 8-year old me's mind.
Shinobi III was my favorite back in the day, but Shadow Dancer is my favorite now. Much more replayable than I expected.
I was sad that you didn't choose "The Revenge of Shinobi" but like you said it's your opinion. I really wish you would have mentioned that "The Revenge of Shinobi" has Batman and Spiderman and Godzilla and Rambo. Anyway great video!
in the earlier releases but in the later versions, that was taken out
Depending on which version you had.
@@rtoffelix yeah. The early versions had it
You know one great Sega soundtrack I would love to hear again is the Sega CD game "Dark wizard". That game had an Incredibles soundtrack!🎹🎧💫😵👌😎👍
Yes
I played the hell out of Shinobi III as a kid. Since then, I scored a loose copy at a flea market. The music is amazing. I probably spent more time with it than any Genesis game other than the Sonic games, Zombies Ate My Neighbors, Vectorman, and Jurassic Park.
Nice and well thought video here SLX. I always found the Shinobi series difficult but maybe one day I should try again. You know how to give tribute to timeless games.
On another note, here's a small piece of trivia for the Revenge of Shinobi. Joe Musashi's image on the title screen is actually based off of Japanese action star Sonny Chiba's role in the hit 1980 TV show Kage no Gundam (Shadow Warriors) and if you look real close, it looks just like Sonny and his portrayal of Hattori Hanzo.
I remember eing impressed with how good Shinobi 3 was years ago when I played it. Great video!
That stage in Shinobi 3 with the falling rocks that you have to double jump on. Died countless times there! Gotta time those jumps! Awsome game series.
I love them all and you can't go wrong with either.
Revenge - The music from Yuzo Koshiro.
Shadow Dancer - Fast-paced gameplay and challenge. The music is indeed the best part of the game. The short duration is where I can overlook.
Shinobi 3 - Basically took elements of Revenge and amped it up well. The music and fast-paced gameplay also won me over.
Shinobi 3 was an audio/visual marvel, but Shadow Dancer is my all time favorite Shinobi game. The music from that game has been stuck in my head since I first got it in 1991. It was infectious, and I love it still.
They're all so good it's tough to pick one also it probably helps if you've beat them which I haven't yet. I do enjoy them all so much though. Great video brother once again brother.
Just finished Revenge of Shinobi 4 hours ago! Great channel, great games
First game to annoy, second - to master and the third - to enjoy.
Shinobi 3 - unquestionably and absolutely. Hats off to you.
“The Revenge of Shinobi” was a bold move by Sega as it was a true sequel to an arcade game. It was well justified with the stellar sound and soundtrack in addition to the graphics that are still amazing in the modern era. I miss this “bolder” Sega and hope there still one of that Sega left in the coming years. They need to utilize their back catalog yesterday 😂👏🏾🎮!
Great video, I love the three Shinobi entries in the Megadrive, as you say, each one has its own merits and flavour, and while Shinobi III is objectively the best one, my personal favourite will always be Shadow Dancer, probably because of its fast paced action and the one hit dying, wich always keeps you in tension during all the game. Also, while technically inferior to Shinobi III, to me its way more appealing visually, its graphics and music perfectly matches the intensity of the game and the constant danger you are exposed to.
Revenge of Shinobi has been my all time favourite game that I played on the Megadrive, Shinobi 3 was also another 2nd favourite game that I enjoyed too😊😊👍👍
This is one of the first games I had for the genesis, I was already big on the arcade game and didn't think the revenge would be better than the arcade game, boy I was wrong the music, the levels, the game play made it one of my favorites of all time.
Awesome as s always Sega Lord X
Really enjoy this trip back then memory Lane shinobi 3 is such a masterpiece that being said all of these games are masterpieces
Great work!
I totally agree! All 3 are fantastic, but I feel part 3 has the most polish and combined with the smooth gameplay and kick ass music makes it a cut above the rest!!
Hi Sega Lord X! There were actually two Shinobi games for the PS2: Shinobi and Nightshade. The both of them are worth a look but they might disappoint some fans of the older games due to their difficulty and different art style. Have a good one!
Just recently learned about the 6 button “cheat code” for Shinobi 3. Wow it’s like a new game using it.
Yes! I was hoping you'd make this video, can't wait to see your take.
I wasn't expecting your conclusion since you have more nostalgia for Revenge. All great games, though. Shinobi has always been a favorite series of mine since the Master System was current. But I didn't know Shinobi 3 came out, as it might have been buried under the hype for Street Fighter 2 and Mortal Kombat, but I bought it immediately once I saw it, and it remains one of my favorite games on the system. I still play it pretty often. I think it has a tremendous soundtrack, with, if I recall correctly, Solitary being my favorite track. You know, for as often as I play it, I never knew you could destroy those thrusters in the first part of the final stage. I just always timed my jumps to get past them. I knew you could take out the gas vents, though.
I have vivid memories of watching the attract mode of Revenge of Shinobi in 1989. That's the game that made me want the Genesis more than anything else. I didn't get the system for a couple of more years, and I never got to play the game until many years later. At first, I found it hard to get into since it's the stiffest of the three. But, due to its reputation, I returned to it a few times and finally understood the game and came to love it as well. As for Shadow Dancer, I've always enjoyed the arcade one-hit gameplay of the original and other arcade games, so I appreciate that one was well. Shadow Dancer is so easy for me to jump into that it's a go-to game when I'm in the mood to play something, but I don't have something specific in mind. Great to see more Shinobi stuff from you. Thanks for the enjoyment.
Great analysys! I wanna replay all these games right away.
Alternative title: Shinophie's Choice.
(I agree with your pick, but Revenge of Shinobi had the bigger impact on me by far.)
If there is one franchise Sega should bring back, its Shinobi (and phantasy star classic). You could easily do a brutal, intense Shinobi game these days and feel like a master. Loved Shinobi 3 and Revenge of Shinobi back in my youth, still love both games to this day.
I played Shinobi III for the first time the other night, I'm just wondering where this game has been my entire life. I have to play more to form an overall opinion but man I can't put it down. It's also one of the few 16 bit games where my skill is actually impacted because I keep focusing on the amazing backgrounds. This video convinced me to try it, and I much appriciate that!
I agree with 3 because if the different stages and always mid bosses and big bosses. The parallax scrolling and gameplay were stats above. Awesome.
All three games are SEGA MASTERPIECES!!! As much as I love each one, Revenge of Shinobi is my pick.
Great vid man, I really thought you were going to choose Revenge but I'm glad to Shinobi III get the nod. Return of the Ninja Master is the best one imo, between the gameplay and visuals it's a win. I think that Revenge of Shinobi has an overall better soundtrack but Whirlwind is one of the greatest tracks I've heard come out of my Genesis.
I love the intro Theme of Shinobi 3
Ha, funny you made a video on shinobi games today x. As I was playing the revenge of shinobi today on my Sega Genesis collection. Great minds think alike, and i think to this day revenge still looks and sounds fantastic. Can't beat yuzo's music, I still play shadow dancer and shinobi 3 after all this time. Shinobi 3 is a technical masterpiece, love the multiple paralax backgrounds
While I didn't expect it to win, I'm glad you included Shadow Dancer. Even with the most ardent of Sega fans, I see it getting left out of discussions when it comes to the best genesis Shinobi game.
For me, all three games are equally great but I lean slightly more towards The Revenge of Shinobi and Shadow Dancer for one particular preference: I like the multiple endings of the former which, before save states ruined it, gave more replay value; the latter has the canine companion, whom in my opinion, should've been a staple like Yoshi is to Mario and Rush is to Mega Man.
On a side note, I also love the game gear Shinobi games. They're, IMO, on the same level of quality as the Genesis games (presentation due to the system aside).
Each of the three games in this video is amazing and I would have a hard time saying one is better over the other. Shinobi III can be played with a 6 button gamepad, it needs a cheat involving the second controller, or you can use a patch from romhacking. With this, you can use a dedicated button to each action, like blocking (without throwing darts), switch magic, sword/knife, shuriken, etc, this is the absolutely best way to play this masterpiece. Each of the Shinobi games on the Mega Drive are really so good they should be included in every "best games of all time" list.
The third game does look very slick. I remember thinking Revenge of Shinobi looked brill back when it came out. I never got Shinoobi back in the day, not sure why.
Oh yes! I myself grew up on a steady diet of ninjas and video games. If you asked my 5 year old self what I was going to be when I grow up...it was always a ninja master. Unfortunately, ninja master doesn't quite pay the bills like working in academia does...so I went with my fallback plan. ;)
I don't think I have ever played a bad Shinobi game in my life. The only one I didn't really care for (it was still good) was the arcade version of Shadow Dancer. Thankfully, the Genesis version was a far better game and I was proud to add it too my collection. My favorite Shinobi title has to be The Revenge of Shinobi. The reason for this is, it was one of the Genesis's earliest titles. When you first slapped the cart in you're greeted with graphical fidelity on a level well beyond where we came from and that music was absolutely devine. The game stood as a message that Sega was here and they're not taking sh*t from anyone. For reference, I love each and everyone of them! ;)
Shadow Dancer is my personal favourite. It just has so much style and a killer soundtrack.
thanks for the video.
I think it was Gamespot that said Shadow Dancer's enemies lacked the "Wicked Moves" of Revenge, but I thought Shadow Dancer had way more complex enemy patters. I still prefer Revenge for it's soundtrack and sprite work but Shadow Dancer really made you feel like a bad ass ninja with the stuff you had to do to win.
Shadow Dancer in the arcade was a quarter-muncher that frustrated people with ultra-cheap deaths. I'm glad Sega re-imagined it for the Mega Drive. The three Shinobi games on the Mega Drives are all masterpieces.
"What is thy bidding my master?"....
Shinobi showdown!
Shinobi 3 in my opinion is the best looking game on Genesis. Colorful yet mature design with great animation and paralax scrolling.
Loved revenge of shinobi as a kid apart from the maze at the end . If it wasn’t for a map i found in one of the old sega magazines I’d probably still be stuck on there till this day
For me, the two best ninja games from Sega for home consoles are Alex Kid in Shinobi World (sms) and this port of Shadow Dancer, and autentic new arcade proporsal only for home, just awesome
I enjoy them all, too. Thanks for the show.
Revenge of Shinobi was my first Genesis game and still one of my top ten Genesis games. But something about Shinobi 3 man. Everything just feels right. Hopefully Sega does something with the franchise. Sucks that we didn't get one on the Dreamcast.
16bit sega shinobi trilogy series rules them all and shadow dancer is the closes to my heart
I lost track of the number of 20p pieces I put into the arcade game. :) Your conclusions here are spot on- for me the games got better over time (although I bought the first two on the same day, in 1992), but all three remain games worth playing today. This doesn't always happen with games series- either the sequels just dominate the earlier titles (SOR2 vs SOR for me), or lost the plot entirely (Golden Axe 3!). 16-Bit Shinobi is still an amazing trio of games. I couldn't get in to Shinobi X at all, though.
I’ve always loved Revenge of Shinobi. It’s easily my fave of the series. I did enjoy the other two as well.
I have all three but have only really played Revenge. Gotta love some of the character sprites in there that represent Rambo, Spider Man, The Terminator, and Batman. Did I miss any others?
Can't argue with Shinobi 3, man 🖒
It's in my top 5 SMD games list 😁
I enjoy Shadow Dancer too!
Great video, SLX 🖒🖒
Great video and much better placement of adverts.
Maybe some love for GG Shinobi next? For my money it's right up there with any of the three 16 bit titles, and even surpasses them in some respects.
GG's gameplay and stage designs in particular are so lean and hyper focused on rewarding skilled play, and I especially love that each level has power-ups tucked away for players who take the time to learn and pick the optimum ninja buddy to save in order to reach them.
I'd also argue that Yuzo Koshiro's awesome soundtrack shines more brightly in GG than in Revenge, if only because he had to really optimize his tunes to get the best out of the Game Gear's lesser sound chip. While the Mega Drive / Genesis's larger soundstage perhaps allowed him more room to express himself, some of the tracks in Revenge just didn't really hit home for me - like the mechanical sounding factory and automobile graveyard levels, which felt plodding and hollow. On the other hand each and every one of GG's tracks were delivered with aplomb, and never failed to get the heart pumping.
GG2 tried to expand on the formula by basically expanding on everything that had come before, including increasing the size of levels and requiring players to backtrack for collectibles to unlock progression. But in doing so the sequel just muddied the tight and focused gameplay that was so finely balanced in the original.
I still revisit GG from time to time or put on a playlist of its soundtrack on RUclips for a nostalgia trip every now and then. Highly recommended.
Hey, Lord. Im really looking forward to a special Dragon Force saga episode. I know you talked about the first in several epidoes, but how about a full review of both releases?
Bests games on the saturn.
My all time favourite games. I can imagine this on PS5
If you haven't played it yet, I highly recommend trying out Shinobi 3D for the 3DS. Personally, I think it's worthy of being referred to as a proper Shinobi 4. The graphics are kinda shoddy, but the gameplay, animation and level design are all top-notch. The developers were huge fans of the original Shinobi games and it really shows, in my opinion. They usually made licensed IP's that weren't that great, but this was pretty much a passion project for them.
They weren't afraid to implement their own take on the formula either, so in terms of gameplay it's actually very unique. You can parry, combo and juggle, but it remains the feel of the Shinobi franchise. It's also very hard, I'd say even harder than Shadow Dancer. But with the benefits of modern game design and infinite continues, you don't need to start over from the beginning when you're game over (except when you play on hard). There's quite a few nods to the classic Shinobi games as well. I think the mini-games are the game's weakest parts, but they're still not all that bad. And there's quite a few extras to unlock (that encourage replay value even more).
Anyhow, I recommend everyone who likes Shinobi games to check it out. If you're lucky, the developers might still visit the message board for the game on Gamefaqs every now and then.
Revenge of Shinobi and Shinobi III (specially 3!) Are my favorite of the series. Shadow Dancer is not bad either, but it's a lot more arcade-ish. The series deserves more love. Really hoping for Sega to give Lizardcube either Shinobi IV or at the very least a DLC for SoR IV to play as Musashi there x)
Great Video...Can’t disagree with anything you stated. I hold a soft spot for RoS because it was one the 1st titles that I bought for the Genesis that just blew everyone’s mind: Graphics, Sounds and Gameplay-near perfect game especially considering when it was released!
I LOVE Shinobi III. To me, it stands in a class all it's own.
Revenge of the Shinobi soundtrack rips! Yuzo Koshiro!
revenge will always be my favorite but like you said you cant go wrong with any
Love this channel 😊
Thank you Sega Lord X
Thank you too!