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Neo Geo AES

Ninja Combat

Neo Geo AES

Neo Geo AES

Take control of the ninjas Joe (one player) and Hayabusa (two players), and enter into battle against a group of evil ninjas called the Kage Ichizoku. Make your way into their home fortress, Ninja Tower, which dominates a big city of the near future. Fight using normal attacks, jumps, special mov...

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Developer
Alpha Denshi Kōgyō

Released on
1990

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Neo Geo AES

Requirements
SNK Neo Geo AES

Downloads
Beat 'em Up

Publisher
SNK of America

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

Cooperative
Yes

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Description

Take control of the ninjas Joe (one player) and Hayabusa (two players), and enter into battle against a group of evil ninjas called the Kage Ichizoku. Make your way into their home fortress, Ninja Tower, which dominates a big city of the near future. Fight using normal attacks, jumps, special movements, and ninja materials that deliver damaging blows to all enemies on the screen. In addition, you’ll find weapons and items to aid you along the way. Even better, as you progress in the game, reliable allies such as Musashi, Kagero, and Gembu will emerge to fight alongside you, allowing you to choose a new character in each stage.

Ninja Combat

Overview & History

Released by Alpha Denshi (ADK) in 1990 as a launch title for SNK’s powerful Neo Geo AES hardware, Ninja Combat is a frantic, side-scrolling beat-'em-up infused with supernatural shinobi lore. Set in a futuristic New York City overrun by the evil ninja warlord Komicoh and his shadowy syndicate, players must traverse heavily industrial and urban landscapes to restore peace. Unlike standard brawlers of its era, the game introduces vertical depth and a distinct projectile-heavy combat style, showcasing the raw graphical muscle of the 16-bit arcade system through vibrant, chunky sprites and scalable backgrounds.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Players begin by selecting from two primary protagonists: Joe, a traditional red-clad martial artist, and Hayabusa, a blue-garbed warrior. As you progress, you can rescue and recruit hidden characters like Tubby, Morisa, and Ryujin, expanding your active roster and granting access to unique elemental ninjutsu. The control scheme utilizes a standard 3-button layout on the Neo Geo pad: Attack, Jump, and a dedicated Special/Magic button that unleashes screen-clearing ninja spells. A standout mechanic is the inclusion of mid-level power-ups, shuriken upgrades, and interactive backgrounds where players can shatter crates or leap onto elevated platforms to ambush enemies. Cooperative two-player simultaneous action elevates the chaos, allowing for devastating combo attacks against bizarre boss encounters ranging from cybernetic ronin to grotesque demon mutations.