Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master

Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master, known in Japan as The Super Shinobi II (ザ・スーパー忍II, Za Sūpā Shinobu II^?), is a video game from the Sega's Shinobi series, for the Mega Drive console, which was released in 1993. It is the sequel to the 1989 game The Revenge of Shinobi. The game was originally designed to be released in 1992, and would be very different from the final version of the game in terms of levels and plot. Many consider it the best game in the entire series, thanks to its fast, high-quality graphics and great gameplay variety.

History

Neo Zeed threatens the world again. The evil crime syndicate is back, this time led by a man known as Shadow Master, an evil clone of Joe. Joe Musashi feels his presence, and comes down from the lonely mountains of Japan to fight his archenemy again. He is the Shinobi, stronger than steel and faster than the whirlpool, the last guardian of the Ninjitsu techniques of the Oboro clan. Only he can stop Neo Zeed.

Development

Shinobi III was originally released in 1992. Various gaming magazines (such as GamePro, Mean Machines and Computer &; Video Games) showed previews and even reviews of the game, showing images of levels, enemies, artwork, and special moves that were not seen in the final version. Because it was dissatisfied with the outcome, Sega put the game back into development to greatly improve it and delayed its release until 1993. When Shinobi III was finally released, many of the game's features seen before were missing. A beta version of the original version of the game has been leaked and is now widely available as a ROM image.

Gameplay

Compared to its predecessor The Revenge of Shinobi, the action in Shinobi 3 is considerably faster, with less emphasis on difficulty. In addition to the ability to run from side to side (instead of walking), Joe comes equipped with a new set of moves and techniques, including a flying kick, the ability to climb walls by jumping, and is also accompanied by Ninjitsu techniques, skills that can be considered Joe's strong point and that serve to defeat bosses faster or enemies en masse. There are 4 skills in total:

- Ikazuchi: When using this ability, Joe will be protected by an electric shield that will make him temporarily invincible.

- Karyu: by using this ability, Joe will be able to manipulate the magma that is underground and thus kill or do a lot of damage to any enemy or boss.

- Fushin: when used, it makes Joe jump higher and summon clones of Joe that kill any enemy that is on the ground.

- Mijin: When used, causes Joe to turn into stone and explode, killing all enemies in the area at the cost of sacrificing a life. It is advisable to use it when you have low life and have extra lives, since otherwise it will cost you the entire game.

Levels

There are a total of 14 levels divided into 7 parts, which in each level you have to face a boss.

Round 1. Zeed's Resurrection: Joe makes his way through a forest with mountains after learning of the return of Neo Zeed and facing a large samurai. Within the mountains, he must fight various enemies until he reaches 'Guard Lobster', a mutated four-armed samurai from the mountains.

Round 2. Secret Entry: Joe races his horse through the meadow while facing off against Neo Zeed assassins, who are descending from kites and confronting an assassin golden man called Kage the Jonin, who attacks with spears. After that, Joe enters a huge high-tech facility where he will face 'Masao', a levitating robot armed with weapons.

Round 3. Body Weapon: after defeating the robot, Joe discovers a biological weapons laboratory where he goes through and faces some mutated brains to go under the laboratory in the sewers and face a Neo Zeed monster, Hydra.

Round 4. Destruction: Joe discovers a large river near his house, where Neo Zeed has destroyed a robotic weapons factory near the river. Joe goes on a surfboard to confront the Neo Zeed assassins, mounted on futuristic machines.

Round 5. Electric Demon: Joe arrives at a heavily guarded weapons facility through the forest as if it were hell and Joe fights against the military and defeats another of the machines seen in level 4. After this, Joe enters the facility and confronts Mechasaurus, a huge robot that refers to the kaiju MechaGodzilla.

Round 6. Traps: Joe descends a gorge to the bottom of a canyon, fighting to stay alive by killing assassins and then facing a mystical humanoid falcon, Karura. After the fight, Joe discovers Neo Zeed's lair inside a fog-covered pagoda, enters, fighting against ninja assassins, to confront Kyakushishi (Ninja Master), the Zeed lieutenant who appeared in the second installment of the game.

Round 7. The Final Confrontation: Joe ascends to the sky to go to Neo Zeed's enormous air fortress, overcome various deadly traps, and finally confront the Shadow Master, Joe's evil clone. Upon defeating him, Joe is eventually shown on a mountain, appreciating the scenery.

Reception

Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master received critical acclaim. MegaTech magazine praised the game's new attacks and moves, but criticized that it was "not as difficult as The Revenge of Shinobi." Mega said that 'beyond the tricky bosses, this is too easy.' An Imagine Games Network review by Levi Buchanan called it 'a legitimate Genesis genius, one of the best action games for the 16-bit console of yesteryear', even if the iPhone version was considered simply "acceptable".

Complex rated it the third best game on the Sega Genesis, stating: "The only drawback? The last level was incredibly impossible!" ScrewAttack ranked it sixth on its top list of Genesis games and Retro Gamer included it among its top ten Mega Drive games.