Introduction
For the easily disappointed; no, this isn't Shinobi, the one that everyone forgot about that's sorta like Operation Wolf with ninjas. Neither is this Revenge of Shinobi, the one everyone tends to call Shinobi that had Godzilla, a Terminator, Spider-Man and Batman as stage bosses. No, this is the batshit lunatic 2002 PS2 version, largely known for a series of virtually impossible platforming sections. So, why am I LPing a game known for its ability to turn men to crime by halfway through stage 3? Because it's great fun, and because DMC2 ripped it off so badly I can claim to have LP'ed that train wreck without actually playing it.
This game has it all. Demon swords, possessed tanks, a sorcerer who's every action is more ridiculous than the last, and armoured ninja dogs with swords in their mouths.
No, seriously.
Before we start, remember this.
'Also, ensure you are not seated near any active volcanoes or sulphuric acid throwing machines.'The main gimmick of this game is a system called 'Tate' based on the sword getting stronger the more enemies you kill, which, if you use it right, allows one-hit kills on any enemy, bosses included. I'll be going into a little more detail on how it works during the videos, but it's a nice gimmick.
Stage 1-A:  | Dailymotion | |
Stage 1-B: Good job, Moritsune!  | Dailymotion | |
Stage 2-A: Let's find out Ageha is a dumbass!  | Dailymotion | |
Stage 2-B: Let's fight that goddamn helicopter again!  | Dailymotion | |
Stage 3-A: Let's have a mission with no storyline cutscenes!  | Dailymotion | |
Stage 3-B: Let's kill lots of spiders!  | Dailymotion | |
Stage 4-A: Let's fall into molten lava!  | Dailymotion | |
Stage 4-B: Let's...OH GOD MY MIND  | Dailymotion | |
Stage 5-A: Let's barely avoid drowning!  | Dailymotion | |
Stage 5-B: Let's have a ridiculously short stage that's mostly cutscenes!  | Dailymotion | |
Stage 6-A: Let's watch the game get absurdly difficult!  | Dailymotion | |
Stage 6-B: Let's watch Hiruko POWER UP!  | Dailymotion | |
Stage 7-A:  Part 1 | Dailymotion | |
| Stage 7-B: Part 2 | Dailymotion | |
Stage 8-A: Let's celebrate getting the hardest Oboro coin in normal mode!  | Dailymotion | |
Stage 8-B: Let's defeat the hell out of Hiruko!  | Dailymotion |
Bonuses!
| Clean version of Hiruko boss fight | Dailymotion | |
| Stage 1-A with Moritsune | Dailymotion | |
| Stage 2-A with Joe Mushashi | Dailymotion |
The US and UK box art are identical save a couple of logos. Nightshade [or Kunoichi in Japan] is the pseudo-sequel to Shinobi, starring the ass of a female ninja called Hibana as she seeks to recover the fragments of the Akujiki before some evil dude uses them for some evil. I'm not fond of it. Here is why.
| Stage 1: | Dailymotion | |
Stage 2: Let's COMPLAIN.  | Dailymotion | |
| Missing cutscenes and stage 2 summary | Dailymotion | |
Stage 3: Let's crack open the book of videogame cliches!  | Dailymotion | |
Stage 4: Let's have more fun!  | Dailymotion | |
Stage 5: Let's realise this is all the result of a conspiracy!  | Dailymotion | |
| Stage 6: Guest commentary from Hack and Katsuma! | Dailymotion | |
| Stage 7: Hack and Katsuma assist me in dealing with the first version of stage 7! | Dailymotion | |
| Stage 8: Hack, Katsuma and Shadowmegaman fail the stage 8 cutscene laugh test! | Dailymotion | |
Stage 9: Let's see how Kurohagane gets the Akujiki!  | Dailymotion | |
| Stage 10: Weaponboy, Hack and Dinictus join me in crossing a bridge! | Dailymotion | |
Stage 11: Is this supposed to be the Golden Palace?  | Dailymotion | |
| Stage 12: Hack joins me in dealing with the OH GOD | Dailymotion | |
Stage 13: Time to kick Kurohagane's ass!  | Dailymotion | |
| Bonus! Hotsuma versus Kurohagane! | Dailymotion |