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Sasuke vs. Commander

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Arcade

Sasuke vs. Commander (サスケＶＳコマンダー) is a shooting gallery arcade game where the player takes the role of Sasuke, a ninja in service of his Shōgun, who must defend the realm from hordes of enemy ninjas and spell-wielding commanders. The action alternates between waves of standard ninja attacks and b...

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Developer
TOSE

Released on
1980

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Shooter

Publisher
SNK

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Sasuke vs. Commander (サスケＶＳコマンダー) is a shooting gallery arcade game where the player takes the role of Sasuke, a ninja in service of his Shōgun, who must defend the realm from hordes of enemy ninjas and spell-wielding commanders. The action alternates between waves of standard ninja attacks and boss encounters featuring powerful commanders employing special techniques.

Players control Sasuke, who moves left and right along the bottom of a vertically oriented screen and throws kunai upward to defeat attacking ninjas and avoid their projectiles. After clearing waves of regular enemies, a boss appears (the “Commander”) and the player must defeat this foe within a time limit for bonus points. After the full set of levels, the game loops with increased difficulty.

Sasuke vs. Commander

Overview & History

Released by SNK in 1980, Sasuke vs. Commander is a historically significant fixed shooter that predates the company's later arcade dominance. Set during Japan's feudal era, the game places players in the sandals of Sasuke, a valiant ninja tasked with infiltrating an alien or supernatural samurai stronghold led by a tyrannical commander. Unlike typical space-themed shooters of the era, this title blends Edo-period folklore with sci-fi elements, featuring adversaries that range from masked foot soldiers and giant mechanical birds to descending alien pods. It stands out as an early example of SNK experimenting with character-driven narratives and distinct thematic settings before establishing their signature arcade genres.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Mechanically, Sasuke vs. Commander combines traditional fixed-screen shooting with vertical scrolling stages reminiscent of early platformers. Players control Sasuke from a bottom-screen perspective, utilizing a multi-directional throwing attack to neutralize waves of descending enemies. A standout mechanic is the inclusion of distinct power-ups and hidden bonus items triggered by shooting specific targets in sequence. Sasuke is armed primarily with projectile shuriken, but can also execute a temporary speed dash to evade incoming projectiles and kamikaze enemy dives. The difficulty ramps up through multi-tiered stages where players must dodge enemy fire while managing cramped positioning, culminating in intense boss showdowns against the titular commanders.