Kung-Fu Fridays: Shinobi Legions (Saturn)

Whats up pals. Dan Ryan right here, you… there. Thanks a lot for checking in and when you like what you see please remark and share. A very long time in the past on a web site far, far-off, Geekade when you’re curious, I wrote a column through the summer time months known as Kung-Fu Fridays. The aim with these posts was to focus on a martial arts, learn Kung-Fu/Ninja/Karate/and so on., film, online game, or typically each on the identical time. My love for martial arts media is countless. It has been a serious a part of my pop-culture id since I used to be a bit of child and now, as an grownup, it has solely grown. So it’s in that spirit that I carry this new model to you, the reader. Submitted on your approval that is Kung-Fu Fridays: Shinobi Legions. As with all evaluations right here on the weblog I can be utilizing the wholly authentic, not copied in any respect from any defunct gaming journal, patent pending SAG Pod Rating System, which is defined under…

Developed by SEGA and revealed, for some motive, by Vic Tokai in NA in September of 1995, Shinobi Legions may simply be the sport that the majority captures the spirit, tongue in cheek although it could be, of this collection. For a sport launched in 1995, it’s so very a lot a sport launched in 1995. All the opening cinematic is FMV, full movement video to the youths amongst us. The cutscenes in between ranges are FMV. The character sprites are digitized actors. The sound results are digital. The particular results are blended into the digitized actors and backgrounds in a method that, even when you didn’t know this was a 90’s sport, you’ll know this was a 90’s sport. And in some way all of it works, principally.

Graphics: 4

So yeah, the graphics. Look, I really like the best way this sport seems and strikes and feels; it’s all like an enormous bowl of consolation meals to me. That stated, I don’t suppose I ever need something to seem like this once more. It’s all a bit too clear and too separated. It’s fairly apparent to see the character sprites “on prime of” versus “part of” the backgrounds. It labored again then, form of, and works now due to how a lot a product of its time Shinobi Legions is. Some issues, like the large dildo snake, are simply terrible. However generally, there’s a sure appeal to the type of this sport.

Sound: 2 (with a caveat)

The sound results in Shinobi Legions are tremendous. There may be nothing actually spectacular however nothing that stands out as egregious both. It’s fairly customary hack n’ slash ninja sport stuff. The place this sport takes an enormous hit is the soundtrack. Each NA and JP acquired Shinobi Legions whereas the EU acquired Shinobi X. Legions’ soundtrack is boring and generic a lot in order that the explanation for the title change, and slight delay in launch in Europe, was apparently because of SEGA of Europe hiring Richard Jaques to redo the rating. Nevertheless, that’s not the sport I performed so can’t consider right here. (it is best to def play that one although)

Management: 3

Shinobi Legions took a little bit of liberty with the usual Shinobi formulation. Gone have been the shurikens as your major assault. In was a katana, one that would block as effectively! The concentrate on swordplay moderately than ranged fight shifted the main target to a extra intimate battle and gave the sport a brand new depth that works effectively. The controls themselves are fairly good with the whole lot responding the best way you need and anticipate, apart from that rattling double leap. Double leaping doesn’t really feel good in Shinobi video games with the exactness of the timing being very, very irritating. It’ll trigger you to die various occasions which is unlucky in a sport that in any other case performs effectively.

Enjoyable Issue: 3.5 Shinobi Legions is an efficient time IF you realize what you’re signing up for. It caught quite a lot of gamers off guard again within the 90’s as a observe as much as the a lot liked Shinobi III. It’s wholly totally different in the best way that the 2002 Shinobi is from different entries. (love that scarf) However, in case you are on the lookout for an arcade-like motion sport starring a ninja, Shinobi Legions has acquired you lined. It’s not overly lengthy and, whereas falling sufferer to some dangerous memorization traps widespread in retro video games, is fairly tough. And when you discover that your Saturn does not fairly work in addition to it used to, give the Fenrir Duo a strive. It is tremendous easy and can help you take pleasure in your library for a heck of rather a lot longer than a CD.

However I wish to know what you suppose. Be a part of the Stone Age Gamer discord, or you could find me on Bluesky to let me know your ideas. Within the immortal phrases of Billy Joel, “Life is a collection of hellos and goodbyes: I am afraid it is time for goodbye once more.” See you quickly.