EPISODE 20: Ninja 外伝 Gaiden

#PA2039, Published by Atari Corp.
In this episode I cover one of the best arcade ports ever released for the Lynx, Ninja 外伝 Gaiden, released for the Lynx in 1991. Included are statistics for the game and a run-down on how to play it, along with reviews and ratings, some fun facts and trivia, and lots of listener feedback about the game. Also in today’s episode: Monty displays his prowess as a Supreme Verbal Ninja…whatever that is.

“I know not one whit of sarcasm.” -Monty

**The original *Ninja 外伝 Gaiden* upright arcade cabinet was released by Tecmo in 1988.**

NINJA GAIDEN VITAL STATISTICS
Release Date: July of 1991.
Initial Retail Price: $38.99-$39.99 in the US, and £29.99 in the UK.
Cartridge Information: 256kB mono curved lip-style cartridge.
Game Genre: Side-view 2-dimensional scrolling action beat-’em-up game for 1 player.
Alternate Title: Shadow Warriors was the title given to the Ninja 外伝 Gaiden arcade cabinet for its release in Europe.
Screen Playfield Orientation: Landscape (horizontal).
Based On: The arcade cabinet Ninja Gaiden released by Tecmo, Ltd. in late 1988 in North America and Europe, and in January 1989 in Japan. The cabinet was named Arcade Game of the Year for 1990.
Sequels: Ninja 外伝 Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom (Atari Lynx; 1993; this was a port of the NES version of Ninja 外伝 Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom).
Ports to Other Systems: Ports of Ninja 外伝 Gaiden were also released in Europe (as Shadow Warriors) on the Amstrad CPC, the Atari ST, the Commodore Amiga, the Commodore 64, and the ZX Spectrum. Elsewhere, the game was also ported as Ninja 外伝 Gaiden to the DOS platform, the Nintendo Switch, the Nintendo Wii, and the PlayStation 4. Many other versions and permutations using the Ninja 外伝 Gaiden name and general concept were ported to home consoles and computers, but they generally bear little resemblance to the original arcade game (the NES version is the most notorious in its apparent lack of similarity to the arcade game).
Game Levels: There are four stages, or neighborhoods, in Ninja 外伝 Gaiden: the City Streets, the Casino Moto, the Train Station, and the Palace.
Number of Players: 1 (no ComLynx support).
Packaging: A full-color standard flap-tab regular-size box (5 3/8″ by 4 3/8″ by 7/8″), with parallel verbiage on the back in both English and French.
Instruction Manual: Ninja 外伝 Gaiden was packaged with a full color poster, 22” high by 17” wide (see photo above After-Market and Home Brew Lynx Titles). The front of the poster includes an exact copy of the box cover art, with a yellow triangular banner added at the upper left with the words See reverse side for instructions in a large black font tilted upwards at a 45 degree angle. The back of the poster includes an illustrated comic book-style list of basic instructions. The posters, released in both English and in French, were folded several times in order to fit in the small Lynx boxes. The instructions for Ninja 外伝 Gaiden were written by Scott Rhoades.

NINJA 外伝 GAIDEN CREDITS
Publisher: Atari Corporation
Licensee: Tecmo, Ltd.
Developer: Blue Sky Software

Be sure to check out our partner AtariGamer.com to stay “Lynxed In” to all of the latest news about our favorite handheld gaming console!

LYNX LYNKS
Kieren Hawken’s 2019 book “The A-Z of Atari Lynx Games Volume 1”.

Page 1 of the release announcement about *Ninja 外伝 Gaiden* for the Lynx in the Atari Adventure insert of Issue #21 (April 1991) of Electronic Gaming Monthly magazine. The game was released in July of 1991.

Information About Ninja 外伝 Gaiden:
Atari Age title info/rarity guide for Ninja 外伝 Gaiden
Atari Gamer title info/rarity guide for Ninja 外伝 Gaiden
Digital Press title info/rarity guide for Ninja 外伝 Gaiden
GameFAQs article about Ninja 外伝 Gaiden
Moby Games article about Ninja 外伝 Gaiden
PriceCharting.com value guide about Ninja 外伝 Gaiden
RarityGuide.com rarity/value guide about Ninja 外伝 Gaiden
Wikipedia article about Ninja 外伝 Gaiden
Twitter Page of Arcus@Arcus87, who does speed-runs of various Ninja 外伝 Gaiden ports

Page 2 of the release announcement about *Ninja 外伝 Gaiden* for the Lynx in the Atari Adventure insert of Issue #21 (April 1991) of Electronic Gaming Monthly magazine. This page has more useful information about how to play the game than did the poster/manual that came with the game.

Reviews and Ratings for Ninja 外伝 Gaiden:
Review by The Review Crew in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US; Issue #24; July 1991; page 26)
Review by David Upchurch in ACE-Advanced Computer Entertainment (UK; Issue #47; August 1991; page 68)
Review by Les Ellis in RAZE (UK; Issue #10; August 1991; page 54)
Review by Maurice Molyneaux in Video Games and Computer Entertainment (US; Issue #31; August 1991; page 71)
Review in ZERO (UK; Issue #23; September 1991; page 64 [click on the graphic in Scans])
Review by JDeLuna at GameFAQs (1999)
Review by Robert A. Jung at IGN (1999; updated 2018)
Review by Matt Paprocki at Digital Press (2004)
Review by Cyril Lachel at Defunct Games (2004)
Review by forcexdistance at GameFAQs (2011)
Review by Leftover Culture Review (2012)
Review by Brian Thomas Barnhart at Atario.io (2017)
Review by The Video Game Critic (2017; scroll down to the 3rd game on the page)
Review by Jon Mc at Atari Gamer (2018)

**My goofy feedback solicitation photo for this episode. Note that I am unwittingly wearing the headband with Japanese characters written on it upside down.**

YouTube Videos About Ninja 外伝 Gaiden:
Playthrough (World-of-Longplays)
Playthrough (AL82 Retrogaming Longplays)
Playthrough and Review (BTB/Lynx Lounge)
Playthrough and Review (Cornshaq)
Playthrough and Review (Leftover Culture Review)
Playthrough of Ninja 外伝 Gaiden (Shadow Warriors) Arcade (Mira El Juego)

Retailers Selling Ninja 外伝 Gaiden:
B & C ComputerVisions: US$9.00 (box only), and for US$29.95 (cart/manual combo); he has no CIB or NIB copies available. You can check his online store on eBay for availability; his user name is MyAtari.
Best Electronics (last updated July 31, 2021; check website for availability): US$36.50 (cart/manual combo); US$24.95 (loose cart).
The Gamesmen (Australia): Has no copies of Ninja 外伝 Gaiden.
The Goat Store: Has no copies of Ninja 外伝 Gaiden.
Telegames (UK): Has no copies of Ninja 外伝 Gaiden.
Video 61 & Atari Sales: Has no copies of Ninja 外伝 Gaiden.

After-Market and Home Brew Lynx Titles Now Available:

As of the recording date, here are the after-market and home brew Atari Lynx titles available from Luchs Soft in Germany (prices include VAT but not shipping costs):
Alpine Games (€55,92)
Ejagfest Slideshow (€49,97)
Quadromania (€55,92)
Retro X-MASsacre (Pre-order; €44,02)
Space Battle (Single: €55,92)
Space Battle (Double: €74,96)
Unseen (€49,97)
Yastuna-The Alchemy of Cubes (€49,97)
Click here if you’re interested in ordering from Luchs Soft.

As of the recording date, here are the after-market and home brew Atari Lynx titles available from Songbird Productions in the US (prices do not include tax or shipping costs):
Alpine Games ($59.95)
Alpine Games (bonus cart only; $49.95)
Biniax 2 ($49.95/$79.95)
Bubble Trouble ($69.95)
A Bug’s Trip Redux ($49.95)
Centipede ($49.95)
CGE 5th Redux ($39.95)
Championship Rally ($59.95/$89.95)
Crystal Mines II: Buried Treasure ($59.95)
Crystal Mines II: Buried Treasure (black PCB; $59.95)
CyberVirus ($59.95)
CyberVirus: Lost Missions ($49.95)
Fat Bobby ($69.95)
Hyperdrome ($69.95)
Krazy Ace Miniature Golf ($69.95)
Lexis ($59.95)
Loopz ($59.95/$89.95)
MegaPak 1 ($59.95)
Othello ($49.95/$79.95)
Ponx ($49.95)
Ponx (black PCB: $59.99) [Out of Stock]
Quadromania Redux ($49.95)
Raiden ($69.95)
Remnant: Planar Wars ($59.95)
SFX ($49.95)
SFX (Black PCB: $59.99) [Out of Stock]
SIMIS ($59.95/$89.95)
Sky Raider (Pre-order; $59.95)
T-Tris ($49.95/$79.95)
unnamed ($59.95)
Wyvern Tales (Pre-order; $69.95)
Xump: The Final Run ($49.95)
Click here if you’re interested in ordering from Songbird Productions.

As of the recording date, here are the after-market and home brew Atari Lynx titles available from Telegames in the UK (all prices include VAT):
Alpine Games (£55.00)
Bubble Trouble (£49.98)
Championship Rally (£49.99)
Crystal Mines II: Buried Treasure (Limited Edition; £49.99)
CyberVirus (Limited Production; £49.99)
Fat Bobby (£49.99)
Hyperdrome (£52.98)
Krazy Ace Miniature Golf (£49.99)
Lexis (Limited Edition; £49.99)
Lynx Reloaded (Pre-order; with Othello and MultoPong; £44.99)
Ponx (£39.98)
Raiden (£52.98)
Remnant: Planar Wars (£49.98)
SFX (Limited Cartridge; £39.86)
SIMIS 5 w/Space Invaders (Limited Production; £49.98)
Sokomania (£52.98)
T-Tris (£49.98)
Click here if you’re interested in ordering from Telegames.

YASTUNA GAMES

As of the recording date, here are the after-market and home brew Atari Lynx titles available from Yastuna Games in France (no VAT is required):
The Alchemy of Cubes (Pre-order; cart only; €15,00)
Asteroids Chasers (Pre-order; €40,00)
Asteroids Chasers Deluxe (Pre-order; €65,00)
A Bug’s Trip Redux (Songbird; €42,00)
Raid On TriCity – Second Wave (Pre-order; €40,00)
The Space Incident (Pre-order; cart only; €15,00)
Grand Opening Special Order #1 (Pre-order; with Asteroids Chasers, Raid on TriCity – Second Wave, The Alchemy of Cubes, and The Space Incident; €100,00)
Grand Opening Special Order #2 (with Asteroids Chasers Deluxe, Raid on TriCity – Second Wave, The Alchemy of Cubes, and The Space Incident; €125,00)
Click here if you’re interested in ordering from Yastuna Games.

Resources for Atari Lynx Console/Game-Related Collecting Materials/Tools:
Resource: Game Boy Color cases for Atari Lynx cartridges from Amazon
Resource: 2 1/2″ coin storage sheets from Amazon.
Resource: Atari Lynx regular-size game box sleeves from BuzzandBingosMoonCircus (eBay).
Resource: Atari Lynx custom game box sleeves from RetroProtection.
Resource: Building a custom Atari Lynx game box shelving unit from AtariGamer.
Resource: Atari Lynx II display stand in a choice of 3 colors from RoseColoredGaming on Etsy.
Resource: Atari Lynx I and II display stands (along with cartridge stands) from TelltaleShop on Etsy.
Resource: BennVenn’s drop-in LCD replacement kit (requires soldering; includes screen plus AtariGamer.com’s 3D-printed screen bracket frame for the Atari Lynx I).
Resource : BennVenn’s drop-in LCD replacement kit (solderless-type; includes screen plus AtariGamer.com’s 3D-printed screen bracket frame for the Atari Lynx II).
Resource: BennVenn’s ElCheapoSD storage cartridge for the Atari Lynx.
Resource: RetroHQ’s GameDrive SD storage cartridge for the Atari Lynx.
Resource: AtariGamer Online Shop (upgrades, mods, and kits for the Atari Lynx) ***NEW***

“Thank You’s” and Other Lynks:
Antic: The Atari 8-Bit Podcast (Thanks to Brad Arnold, Randy Kindig, and Kevin Zavitz for the shoutout about The HandyCast in Episode 50!)
AtariGamer.com (Thanks to Igor for incorporating The HandyCast into his excellent website!)
The Atari 2600 Game By Game Podcast (Thanks to The Podfather himself, Ferg, for encouraging his listeners to check out The HandyCast in both Episode 151 and Episode 154!)
The Atari Jaguar Game By Game Podcast (Thanks to Shinto for encouraging his listeners to check out The HandyCast in Episodes 22 and 26!)
Curtis Herod (Cujo)‘s The Bl^ck Book v2 (Check HERE to see the now-expired Indiegogo campaign, where you can find out more about the book. And please consider purchasing Curtis Herod’s The Black Book v2 by emailing him at cujo86@gmail.com.)
Gaming on Ten (Thanks to Nick and Don for encouraging his listeners to check out The HandyCast in Episode 09!)
Into the Vertical Blank Podcast (Thanks to hosts Jeff and Steve Fulton for “singing” about The HandyCast in Season 1, Episode 10!)
Please Stand By (Thanks to Zerbe and Ferg for helping to promote The HandyCast on several episodes of this fun-to-listen-to show, starting with Episode 60!)
The RCR Podcast (Thanks to the Retro Computing Roundtable: Paul Hagstrom, Quinn Dunki, Jack Nutting, and Carrington Vance, for highlighting The HandyCast in Episode 167!)
The Retro MacCast Podcast (Thanks to Retro MacCast hosts James Savage and John Leake for highlighting The HandyCast in Episode 475!)
Retro Video Gamer Forums (Thanks to Eugenio/TrekMD for helping to promote The HandyCast on his wonderful forums!)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks go to everyone who contributed feedback about Ninja 外伝 Gaiden (and other games) for this episode: Christopher Blackmon, Tim Crist, Eugenio (TrekMD), Curtis Herrod (Cujo86), hlo@scribehlo (Howie), Into the Vertical Blank Podcast, Bill Kendrick, Igor Kromin, Lynx_Cader, Carlos Madruga, Jon McQ, Other Retro Matt, Erick Perez, Shinto, Patrick Silva, Matt Stephens, Other Retro Matt, Bobby Tribble, and tripled79. I really appreciate your feedback!

Also, I would like to thank the Free Music Archive for the following musical artists and songs that were used in this episode under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License: “8-Bit Core” by Tagirijus (opening and closing theme music), along with “Hachimantei Snow,” “Just Wondering,” “Salt Lake Swerve,” “Salt Lake Swerve – Chillout Remix,” “Swirling Snowflakes – Finale,” “Tuesday Night,” and “Tuesday Night – Radio Edit,” all by Maarten Shellekens.

Thanks also to Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (Cassandra Peterson) for the “Oooh, let’s party!” and “Leaving so soon?” digitized speech clips captured from the Atari Lynx game Pinball Jam that are used at the beginning and end of each episode of The HandyCast.

I would especially like to thank Shinto for submitting his memories of various Atari Lynx games he’s owned in the past to The Atari Lynx HandyCast…they are greatly appreciated. And you should all check out Shinto’s wonderful Atari Jaguar Game by Game Podcast; it’s definitely worth listening to, even if you’ve never owned a Jaguar. You can find it here.

Many, many thanks also go to Zerbinator for his continued support. His encouragement and expertise are very much appreciated by me. You can find all of his fun-to-listen-to podcasts here, including my favorite, Please Stand By.

Finally, my thanks to the Podfather himself, Ferg of The Atari 2600 Game by Game Podcast. His inspiration and dedication to covering every game cartridge ever made for the Atari 2600 (I think over 1000 of them!) is what gave me the courage to begin this podcast. Please, check out his don’t-miss podcast, even if you’re not an Atari 2600 collector; you should also visit his website here.

I hope you enjoy this episode of The Atari Lynx HandyCast. And please don’t forget to visit the official Atari Lynx HandyCast website by clicking here!

-Mark

Next Episode: “EPISODE 21: Robotron: 2084”