Overview and Gameplay
A final stand against an alien force pushes two surviving ninjas into a ruined Earth overrun by the Inimicus. Each stage sends them through devastated cities, forests, and fortified enemy zones while fighting robotic and alien enemies. Defeated foes and item pickups define progression, with weapon changes altering both attack style and movement options through animal transformations like tiger, scorpion, bird, and dragon.
The structure follows short scrolling stages culminating in boss encounters, with increasing enemy pressure as the journey continues. The action emphasizes positioning, timing, and adapting to rapidly changing abilities tied to collected weapons.
Controls And Mechanics
- Movement across horizontal stages with jumping and crouching actions
- Standard attacks using equipped ninja weapons
- Weapon pickups change both combat range and character transformation
- Different forms provide abilities such as flight or extended reach
- Two players can play simultaneously through all stages as a shared team
Version Notes
The North American release uses the title Ninja Crusaders and was published by American Sammy. The Japanese release appears under Ninja Crusaders Ryuga with Sammy as publisher, reflecting regional naming and credit differences.
Release And Credits
- 1990
- Developer: NMK
- Publisher: American Sammy Corporation
- Original Platform: NES
- Alternate Title: Ninja Crusaders Ryuga
