Joe Musashi
The game's protagonist, a ninja who fights Neo Zeed to rescue his kidnapped fiancée and avenge his master.
Documented for this version
D-pad | Move Joe Musashi; press Down to crouch. |
|---|---|
A | Use ninjutsu when the required magic is available. |
B | Attack with the sword or throw shuriken depending on the current attack state. |
C | Jump. |
The Genesis controller's Start button is used for title-screen and pause functions.
How it plays
Joe Musashi moves through side-scrolling stages viewed from the side. The objective is to reach each stage's boss while defeating enemies, avoiding hazards, collecting power-ups, and preserving limited life and shuriken resources.
The player can walk, crouch, jump, attack with a sword, throw shuriken, and use ninjutsu. Stages contain checkpoints and varied hazards, while successful progression depends on learning enemy patterns, positioning, and boss weaknesses. The game offers selectable difficulty levels, with higher settings making enemies and resources more demanding.
Plan your run
Learn enemy placement before committing to jumps or attacks. Crouching attacks are useful against low targets, while shuriken should be conserved for dangerous enemies and crowded areas.
Save ninjutsu for bosses, ambushes, or situations where escape is difficult. Approach bosses cautiously, identify their attack cycles, and prioritize survival over dealing maximum damage quickly.
Meet the cast
The game's protagonist, a ninja who fights Neo Zeed to rescue his kidnapped fiancée and avenge his master.
Joe Musashi's fiancée, whose kidnapping drives the game's central mission.
The criminal organization responsible for the kidnapping and attacks against Joe's ninja clan.
Before you begin
Use wall jumps and crouching attacks deliberately; many hazards are easier to handle by controlling position rather than rushing.
Higher difficulty settings reduce the margin for error, so memorizing enemy patterns is more valuable than relying on rapid attacks.
The Revenge of Shinobi is a side-scrolling action platformer developed and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis in 1989. It follows Joe Musashi as he fights the criminal Neo Zeed organization after its leader kidnaps his fiancée and murders his master. The game combines precise platforming with close-range ninja attacks, throwing stars, defensive magic, and demanding boss encounters. Its striking presentation, varied stages, memorable music, and fluid combat made it an early showcase for the Genesis. Difficulty, enemy placement, and changes to some character designs across versions attracted considerable attention, but the game was broadly well received and became one of the system's best-known action titles.
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