The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors

"The Ninja Warriors Again" (especially in its uncut Super Famicom version) was easily one of the greatest Beat 'Em Ups ever made. What's fascinating is that unlike basically all the other top-tier titles, it was a pure sidescroller with no Z-axis. You'd think this would make the game feel limited, and yet it felt every bit as natural and fully realized as Capcom's best games from the era. The lack of a Z-axis freed the Up and Down buttons to be used for a wider range of crouching and special attacks. Over the past decade, several of Natsume's key developers from the 90's have been putting out fantastic remakes of their old games. This one is no exception, preserving everything that was great about the original game while tweaking things slightly to take advantage of modern technology. Most obviously, the field of view has been zoomed out and expanded to a 16:9 aspect ratio. This kind of change could ruin a game in the wrong hands, but Tengo Project knew what they were doing. They've made subtle adjustments to the player's moves, enemy behavior, layouts, etc, resulting in a game that feels like it was always meant to be widescreen, but 90's TV's just didn't allow it. Little surprise since Taito's original "Ninja Warriors" arcade game had an ultrawide multi-monitor setup similar to "Darius". They've also added 2 new player characters, a new flying enemy, and a redesigned first boss. Due to the greater screen real estate, as well as other tweaks, on balance Normal mode is a bit easier than the SNES/SFC version. However, Hard mode is typically the definitive way to play Natsume's games, and it's a big improvement over the original version. Modern processing power has finally allowed them to design a proper Hard mode with tons of enemies onscreen - something the original hardware just wasn't powerful enough to achieve. I'd strongly recommend this to anyone who likes the original game, Beat 'Em Ups in general, or Natsume/Tengo Project's other releases. These games are really the gold standard for how remakes should be done.

Recomendo e muito! Já conhecia a versão do SNES e essa versão eu ainda não tinha jogado. Co-op está excepcional. O novo arranjo das músicas está maravilhoso.

Phenomenal game. The definitive edition of Ninja Warriors. The enemies previously exclusive to the JP/international version are now mashed together into one game. Great gameplay additions. The new enemies, new attacks, and new playable characters betray a profound understanding of what makes the gameplay work. Expect the usual Tengo love and care put into the visuals. It even comes with the original SNES and Arcade soundtracks. It's not just a great remaster, it's an incredible game on its own. The Tengo paradox strikes again! They make amazing remasters, but damn I wish they'd make new games. Ninja Warriors 2 (3?) When? The only real problem is the lack of online play. Also not a fan of needing to wait to skip the final cutscene. That's about it.

ゲームをクリアしていくと解禁される、色んな意味でとてつもなくデカい追加キャラが２体いるのですが重量感がとても良く、使っていて楽しいです ドットが細かく丁寧で、色んな部分が派手に動くので見ているだけでも飽きないし嬉しい

A solidly decent 1990s side-scrolling beat 'em up that is better than average; featuring robot ninjas. Play as one of five robotic ninjas (three starter, two unlockable), each with their own combat moves, reach, and special attacks. Gameplay isn't terribly complicated, feeling quite simple compared to other side-scrolling beat 'em ups of the time. Much the time you can simply just walk to the right and use your standard attack over and over again without much thought, as enemies are not terribly aggressive or do much to change up their attack patterns to generate any kind of threat. Your special attack meter is constantly charging up at the bottom of the screen, being depleted upon use or receiving certain enemy attacks. There are some differences in sprite size between characters, the range of their attacks, attack patterns, specials, aerial attacks, and throws. These are really minor differences, but do change how each character plays just enough to be somewhat different in feel. I think the only real difference I found that mattered came down to throws, as the end boss can only be defeated via throws and one of the robot enemies is easier to defeat via throws. I dig the pixel work, enjoying the different designs when it comes to the ninja robot warriors; enemies are kinda so-so, not being all that interesting at the end of the day. There are eight stages with two difficulties to play on, plus a time attack mode if that is your jam. I actually have fun with this one as a game to play on the side when rewatching a show or something on YouTube. It isn't the best side scrolling beat 'em up I have played, being somewhat on the easy side, but it is still pretty decent, especially if you are able to grab it on sale like I did. [quote]Follow [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/45701624-CthulhusMonocle-That-Next-Fest-Guy/]CthulhusMonocle - That Next Fest Guy[/url] for more game and Steam Next Fest demo reviews.[/quote]

The game is fine, I rather play the original instead. The new characters are kinda cool. That aside, the game feels short and lack of content (you can finish it in 1 less than an hour with all characters). Time attack and 2 new characters doesn't justify finishing the game more times.

Jogo fenomenal do Super Nintendo que refizeram do zero em questão de gráfico mais trabalhado, trilha sonora mais refinada, jogabilidade mais suavizada com novos movimentos e colocaram 2 personagens extras junto do modo multiplayer para 2 jogadores. Esse é aquele jogo que já era foda no Super Nintendo e no remake elevaram em outro nível. Recomendo pegar em uma promoção pois o jogo é curtinho tendo 8 fases mas vale a pena caso seja um entusiasta do estilo retrô 16-bits.

The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors is a modern reimagining of a classic arcade beat ’em up that proves old-school action design can still feel exciting when handled with care and precision. Developed by Natsume Atari, the game rebuilds the foundation of the 1994 Super Famicom title The Ninja Warriors Again while preserving the intense arcade atmosphere that made the original memorable. Instead of trying to reinvent the genre with complicated mechanics or cinematic storytelling, the game focuses on delivering pure side-scrolling combat built around timing, positioning, and relentless enemy pressure. The result is a stylish and highly polished action experience that feels both nostalgic and surprisingly fresh. Set in a dystopian future controlled by a ruthless dictator, the story follows a group of cybernetic ninja warriors created to overthrow an oppressive regime through direct combat. The narrative is intentionally minimal and mostly functions as a framework for nonstop action, but the futuristic setting and mechanical ninja aesthetic give the game a strong personality. The atmosphere feels heavily inspired by classic arcade science fiction, combining industrial cityscapes, underground facilities, and militarized environments with dramatic explosions and overwhelming enemy assaults. Combat is the clear centerpiece of the experience, and it remains consistently satisfying from beginning to end. Unlike many traditional beat ’em ups that allow free movement across large arenas, The Ninja Saviors restricts most movement to a narrow horizontal plane. This design choice creates a far more focused and strategic style of combat where crowd control becomes extremely important. Enemies constantly approach from both directions, forcing players to carefully manage spacing while balancing attacks, grabs, throws, defensive maneuvers, and mobility. The pacing of battles is intense because enemies rarely give the player room to relax. Standard soldiers may initially seem manageable, but later stages introduce heavily armored units, ranged attackers, explosive enemies, and aggressive bosses that demand quick reactions and proper positioning. Reckless button mashing quickly becomes ineffective on higher difficulties, encouraging players to learn enemy patterns and understand the strengths of their chosen character. The game constantly rewards skillful play and careful timing rather than relying purely on chaotic action. One of the strongest aspects of the game is the diversity between playable characters. Each ninja warrior feels completely distinct in terms of speed, attack range, mobility, and combat style. Some characters are slow but devastatingly powerful, while others rely on agility and combo-heavy attacks to overwhelm enemies. This variety adds significant replay value because switching characters dramatically changes how stages and encounters are approached. Learning the strengths and weaknesses of each fighter becomes one of the most enjoyable parts of mastering the game. The controls are exceptionally responsive, which is essential for an arcade-style action game built around precision. Attacks feel immediate and impactful, movement remains fluid, and special abilities are easy to execute during intense combat situations. Grapples and throws are particularly satisfying because they allow players to control crowds effectively while dealing massive damage. The combat system may appear simple initially, but repeated playthroughs reveal a surprising amount of mechanical depth hidden beneath the straightforward controls. The visual presentation is one of the game’s greatest accomplishments. The pixel art is absolutely stunning, filled with beautifully animated sprites, detailed backgrounds, and smooth combat animations that constantly keep the screen alive with motion. Explosions, enemy attacks, and environmental effects all contribute to the chaotic arcade atmosphere while remaining visually readable during crowded encounters. The developers successfully modernized the 16-bit aesthetic without losing the charm of classic arcade action games. Stage design also deserves praise because every level feels visually distinct and carefully crafted. Industrial facilities, ruined highways, military compounds, and futuristic city environments all contribute to the game’s cyberpunk-inspired atmosphere. While the gameplay structure remains relatively straightforward, the visual variety helps maintain momentum throughout the campaign. The soundtrack is another major highlight. The music blends electronic rhythms, industrial tones, and energetic battle themes that perfectly match the futuristic setting and nonstop combat. Every stage is accompanied by memorable tracks that maintain tension and excitement throughout battles. The inclusion of rearranged versions of classic soundtrack pieces is especially rewarding for longtime fans while still sounding excellent for newcomers unfamiliar with the original game. Cooperative play adds even more entertainment to the experience. Playing alongside another person turns the game into a chaotic test of teamwork and crowd management where coordinating attacks and protecting each other becomes critical for survival. The game smartly increases enemy aggression during multiplayer sessions, ensuring co-op remains challenging instead of becoming too easy. Local multiplayer feels perfectly suited to the arcade spirit the game is trying to recreate. The difficulty curve strongly embraces old-school arcade philosophy. Enemies attack aggressively, bosses require patience and memorization, and later stages become genuinely punishing without proper mastery of mechanics. Unlimited continues make the game accessible enough for casual players, but completing higher difficulties still requires real skill and persistence. This balance allows the game to remain welcoming without sacrificing challenge. Despite its many strengths, the game does have a few limitations. The campaign is relatively short compared to larger modern action games, and experienced players may complete a run fairly quickly. Replayability through character variety and harder difficulties helps extend longevity, but some players may still wish for additional stages or modes. The restricted movement plane may also feel limiting to players more familiar with modern open-arena brawlers. The absence of online multiplayer is another disappointing omission, especially considering how enjoyable cooperative gameplay can be locally. While local co-op works extremely well, online functionality could have expanded the game’s accessibility significantly for players without nearby partners. Even with these shortcomings, The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors succeeds because it understands exactly what made classic arcade beat ’em ups exciting. It does not rely on complicated progression systems or cinematic storytelling to stay engaging. Instead, it focuses entirely on responsive combat, memorable character design, gorgeous pixel art, and relentless action. The game stands as one of the finest modern revivals of a retro action title. By refining the mechanics of the original while preserving its fast-paced arcade spirit, it delivers a combat-focused experience that feels timeless rather than outdated. For fans of classic side-scrolling beat ’em ups, challenging action games, and beautifully animated pixel art, The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors offers an intense and highly satisfying return to arcade-style action. Rating: 8/10