Ninja Commando, 1992 Alpha Denshi (20 From '92 Part 17)
8Enjoyable "run and gun" vertically scrolling ninja mayhem game. Choose 1 or 2-player simultaneous play from a total of 3 selectable ninja: Joe Tiger (American ninja), Ryu Eagle (Japanese ninja descended from Fuuma ninja), and Rayar Dragon (British female master of Iga ninjitsu). Each character can greatly increase their firepower simply by wailing on the fire button! The second button (B) will make you backflip to dodge enemy firepower, and you can also fire large shurikens with the fire button during the backflip. And the C button expends a small part of your life bar in order to execute a magic attack-- Joe Tiger uses a fire attack, Ryu Eagle uses a Black Hole attack, and Rayar fires a mizingakure attack (explosions). Don't move headlong up the screen-- inch forward once the coast is clear, and take your time; there is a timer that, when elapsed, will result in your death, but you really have plenty of time. Various destructable objects will grant you extra magics, better firepower, special short-term attacks (like possibly temporary invincibility!), or food items to replenish your life bar. Later boss characters you must face will have a life meter, and when you use your magic it will cut it down 50 points! One of my favorite aspects of the game is the running dialogue from your character (shown at the bottom)-- even when you die it says something like "I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!!".. hilarious! Enjoyable early entry in the NEO GEO history and definitely one of its better Ikari Warriors-type games. Enjoy Ninja... COMMANDO!!!