Shinobi (1987 video game)

This article is about the first Shinobi game. For the PlayStation 2 game, see Shinobi (2002 video game). For the series, see Shinobi (series).

Shinobi
Arcade flyer
Developer(s)Sega AM1
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Yutaka Sugano[7]
Composer(s)Yasuhiro Kawakami
SeriesShinobi
Platform(s)Arcade, Master System, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, IBM PC, MSX, NES, PC Engine, ZX Spectrum, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360
Release
November 16, 1987
  • Arcade
  • Master System
    NES
    • NA: December 8, 1989
    PC Engine
    • JP: December 8, 1989
    IBM PC
    Virtual Console
    • JP: July 14, 2009
    • PAL: October 23, 2009
    • NA: December 7, 2009
    Xbox Live Arcade
    • NA: June 10, 2009
Genre(s)Hack and slash, platform
Mode(s)1-2 players alternating turns
Arcade systemSega System 16

Shinobi (忍) is a side-scrolling hack and slash video game produced by Sega, originally released for arcades on the Sega System 16 board in 1987. The player controls ninja Joe Musashi, to stop the Zeed terrorist organization from kidnapping students of his clan.

Shinobi was a commercial success in arcades; it topped the monthly Japanese table arcade charts in December 1987, and became a blockbuster arcade hit in the United States, where it was the highest-grossing conversion kit of 1988 and one of the top five conversion kits of 1989. It was adapted by Sega to its Master System game console, followed by conversions to the Nintendo Entertainment System, PC Engine, and home computers. It was re-released as downloadable emulated versions of the original arcade game for the Wii and Xbox 360. The arcade game joined the Nintendo Switch in January 2020 through the Sega Ages series. Shinobi's success inspired various sequels and spin-offs of the Shinobi series.

  1. ^ "Video Game Flyers: Shinobi, Sega (USA)". The Arcade Flyer Archive. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  2. ^ "Video Game Flyers: Shinobi, Sega (EU)". The Arcade Flyer Archive. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  3. ^ "Shinobi (Registration Number PA0000347209)". United States Copyright Office. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  4. ^ "Availability Update" (PDF). Computer Entertainer. October 1988. p. 8.
  5. ^ "Software List (Released by Sega)". セガ 製品情報サイト (in Japanese). Sega. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  6. ^ https://retrocdn.net/images/0/0a/BristolEveningPost_UK_1988-10-14_Page_81.jpg
  7. ^ Legend of Joe Musashi: SHINOBI Music Collection (booklet). p. 7.