Ninja Princess

Ninja Princess

Overview & History

Released initially in arcades by Sega in 1985 before being ported to the ColecoVision, Ninja Princess is a pioneering top-down, fixed-scroll action game that pre-dates Sega's more famous Shinobi franchise. The storyline follows Princess Kurumi, a skilled kunoichi who must fight her way through hordes of evil samurai, ninjas, and supernatural beasts to overthrow the tyrannical usurper Gyokuryu and reclaim her rightful kingdom. While the ColecoVision port had to scale down the vibrant arcade palettes and smooth multi-directional scrolling of the original hardware, it successfully captured the frantic, fast-paced nature of Kurumi's quest across six distinct, danger-filled stages.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike standard side-scrolling platformers of its era, Ninja Princess utilizes an angled, top-down perspective where the screen automatically scrolls upward through dense forests, bamboo groves, and heavily fortified castles. Players control Princess Kurumi as she navigates obstacle-laden terrain while constantly under siege. Kurumi’s primary offensive arsenal consists of a seemingly endless supply of throwing stars (shuriken) to snipe approaching enemies from a distance, paired with a devastating close-quarters ninjato sword slash for foes that manage to close the gap. Furthermore, Kurumi possesses a vital ninjutsu cloak-and-dagger ability: a temporary invisibility power-up that allows her to slip past impenetrable enemy crossfires, bullet-hell style shuriken barrages, and formidable boss encounters. As levels progress, enemies employ tricky formations, dropping from trees or emerging from hidden traps, requiring sharp reflexes and precise positioning to survive the relentless onslaught.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause