Shinobi is a side-scrolling ninja action-platformer, ported to the NES by Tengen from Sega’s 1987 arcade hit as an unlicensed release. Players control ninja Joe Musashi across five missions to rescue his clan’s kidnapped students from the Zeed organization — throwing shuriken, wielding a sword up close, and unleashing screen-clearing ninja magic, with a health gauge and optional hostage rescues.
How To Play Shinobi
Control
Action
D-Pad
Move, crouch, climb; press Up/Down to jump between planes
A Button
Jump
B Button
Attack (shuriken/sword; melee at close range)
Select
Use ninja magic (ninjutsu)
Start
Pause
About Shinobi
Release date
Arcade (JP): November 16, 1987 · NES (NA, Tengen): December 1989 (unlicensed; North America exclusive)
Developer
Sega (arcade original); Tengen (NES port)
Publisher
Tengen (NES, unlicensed)
Platform
NES; originally Arcade, plus Master System, PC Engine, home computers
Sheldon has spent over a decade immersed in retro gaming, from NES classics to arcade gems. He's deeply passionate about preserving gaming history and helping others rediscover these timeless titles. When he's not gaming, Shaun writes about the evolution of video games and their cultural impact.
