Ninja Princess or The Ninja? What's your favorite?

[louisg]

I thought this was shmup-ish enough to post in the main forum (it's got that fire button that fires straight up at all times, shooter style!)... OK, so what's your favorite? Ninja Princess or The Ninja, and why? I ask because I can't make up my own damn mind.

BTW, here's a neat rundown of the games: http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/ninjap ... incess.htm

[Despatche]

it is definitely a shmup

i can't even get past the terrible opening paragraph of this article

i'm just gonna vote for whatever the original version was, because it's probably the best version anyway

[Herr Schatten]

While I do prefer the Ninja Princess character and the colourful visuals of the original, I think The Ninja really nails the stage progression, avoiding the slight repetitiveness of the original.

[Turrican]

Haven't played the arcade original, however, for these kind of games, I think forced scrolling is a requirement in order to qualify as "shmup".

SMS The Ninja rocks!

[Shatterhand]

MSX FOREVER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfWlzoVTyZs


I remember when a friend of mine bought his Master System, he also bought this game,"The Ninja". He knew nothing about the game, but , fuck it, ITS ABOUT A NINJA. I mean, its called THE NINJA, it's gotta be the best game ever!

When I saw it, I was like "Shit, it's like that Princess Ninja game on MSX, but FUCKING EONS BETTER!!!".
Of course, I only knew the MSX game, I didn't even know that was an arcade game back at that time. Nor that the MSX game is actually a SG-1000 port.

I love all those games.

[Turrican]

Man, seeing that video just reminds me what a powerful beast the SMS is in terms of graphics

[Shatterhand]

Well, that's actually a SG-1000 game ported to the MSX 1.
If it was an MSX2 game, it woud look a bit better

[BrianC]

I still need to pick this up. I heard the JP Mark III version actually has a couple extra levels (possibly has all arcade levels intact?), though the US one has an added intro. I also plan to get the SEGA Ages collection with Ninja Princess for the Saturn. I'm on the fence for the SG-1000 port, but since better versions are elsewhere, I think I'll probably skip it.

MSX FOREVER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfWlzoVTyZs

It's funny how there were these systems around with extremely similar hardware. If I didn't know better, I would almost think this was a Colecovision game (though there was actually an unofficial CV port).

[louisg]

Whoa, the jp SMS version *does* have more levels! I wonder if the SMS one is only less repetitive on the US/Euro releases.

Yeah, AFAIK, the SG-1000 and Coleco were really similar hw. Same CPU, VDP and sound chip I think..? That's why that one guy's been making all those ports.

[TransatlanticFoe]

What's the Saturn port like? That article suggests it has squished graphics.

The Ninja is awesome, shame about the obscure scroll collecting though.

[Koa Zo]

Whoa, the jp SMS version *does* have more levels!

Just to be clear, which game are you guys talking about?
(Ah, had to look at the linked article to confirm The Ninja is the Mark III game)

[BIL]

What's the Saturn port like? That article suggests it has squished graphics.

The resolution's a little off making everything a bit narrower, yeah - similar to Gradius and Salamander Deluxe Packs on SS (versus PS1). It seems to play fine though.

[Shatterhand]

Whoa, the jp SMS version *does* have more levels! I wonder if the SMS one is only less repetitive on the US/Euro releases.

Yeah, AFAIK, the SG-1000 and Coleco were really similar hw. Same CPU, VDP and sound chip I think..? That's why that one guy's been making all those ports.

SG-1000, Coleco and MSX-1 all have extremely similar hardware. It's very easy to port games around those machines. Nearly all Sega games on MSX are actually SG-1000 ports, and the MSX has the particular matter of having TWO Zaxxon ports on it... one that was originally made for Coleco, other made for the SG-1000... both were ported to MSX back at time.

Sega also bought the license to some MSX games back at the time so they could port it to the SG-1000. I remember at least Konami's Hyper Sports on SG-1000 is basically the MSX game.

[BrianC]

Sega also bought the license to some MSX games back at the time so they could port it to the SG-1000. I remember at least Konami's Hyper Sports on SG-1000 is basically the MSX game.

Exerion is the same, as well (ported by Dempa). Galaga is different, though.

I think MSX also has the same FM as SMS. I heard the FM music from Golvellius MSX2 and Aleste and it seems to be exactly the same.

[TransatlanticFoe]

What's the Saturn port like? That article suggests it has squished graphics.

The resolution's a little off making everything a bit narrower, yeah - similar to Gradius and Salamander Deluxe Packs on SS (versus PS1). It seems to play fine though.

Bugger.

Well, is the collision detection better? I've had a few goes on The Ninja this morning and the stage with the horses is ridiculous.

[soupbones]

The SMS version of The Ninja was one of the first games I took a break from, then came back to complete it. Normally I wouldn't buy a new game back then until I beat the last one I bought - this was the first game (and only game for a while) to make me break that rule.

Finding and collecting all 5 scrolls before you got to the end was a HUGE pain in the ass - especially the first time you make it to the end, only to be sent back to find the other scrolls.

Still, in retrospect it was a great game - the disappearing/tornado tech that allowed you to go through bullets and enemies was pretty awesome for it's time and stood out to me as really unique -

Never played the arcade original - would love to get my hands on the PCB