Ninja Gaiden Shadow - Another Ninja in New York

[@TMan5636]

"How do you hire bad ninjas?" You usually can't find good ninjas.

[@theoaremevano3227]

Well, if the first stage of the Xbox Ninja Gaiden is anything to go by, they tend to kill of 70% of their trainees by sending them against one already good ninja, so not many of them get the chance to improve.

[@DinnerForkTongue]

You can't find them, but you can contact them. Problem is the good ones cost a lot.

[@TheHeroOfTomorrow]

They find YOU.

[@NaiblistheCurious1]

I mean... unless you're talking about ninjas given the arbitrary label of "good," like in Senran Kagura... Or are we not counting them since their game calls them shinobi? :P

[@blazerprototype8930]

... Oh, I get it.

[@ashvinkannan6903]

My lore for the really bad ninja enemies is when they grab onto the ceiling the ninja stars fall out of their pockets so they have to go back down to pick them up again.

[@Kobolds_in_a_trenchcoat]

Jon, that's clearly the world famous New York Dracula's castle at the end.

[@Alysa-Aiday]

Yeah? Well, Riddle me this, Batman: Why's Ryu have the Dragon Sword, *In New York - Which is in America - BEFORE* Ninja Gaiden 1 when he finds the note from his father saying to go there with the Sword??

[@Raddaman8000]

"And of course, who could forget Spanky's Quest?" Nintendo never forgot. They never forgot so much they gave it back to us

[@alex_-yz9to]

Ironically its good to play

[@fuschiawarrior2159]

Who could forget some Spanky's?

[@derekledden1358]

17:40 "How do you hire bad ninjas? ryu is immune to the inverse law of ninja but still contributes to it, other ninja get worse when he is around

[@EternalFireseal]

28:10 that's clearly the private castle of famed businessman David Xanatos, Jon. It's a well-known local landmark. And, yeah, he has a lot of problems with fires and ninjas. I love the detail of Ryu holding onto holding onto the scabbard of his sword when he walks. It's a small thing that really gives the impression of strong discipline in his art.

[@bookfound]

The lack of birds in New York left Ryu unprepared for the future.

[@Alysa-Aiday]

Is... Is that a reference to the birds in Ninja Gaiden 1 for NES that attack him?? And for that matter *_WHAT ARE_* those birds doing *_INSIDE A CAVERNOUS MOUNTAIN, AWAY FROM SUNLIGHT AND FOLIAGE,_* in stages like 5-1 anyway?!?!?!?

[@NoraQRosa]

as someone who lives in NYC I can confirm, we deal with giant men who have the fear of mankind on the daily here. I was actually saved by a ninja on my way to work the other day.

[@MP2066]

You know I just want to stress how great it is to see Jon LPing again. I've been to his streams were he's just as fun so if you haven't a seen a stream I recommend it. But the thing I love about Jon is just his general joy and knowledge about video games its so enjoyable to watch! Honestly I've had my ups and downs in life. I'm working on bettering myself and being a good friend to people I meet. But sometimes I just need a good distraction from something that is completely out of my control as much as I want to help or worried for a friend. I am not prefect human being no one is but that won't stop me from trying to help or at least being there for when people need it. I gotta a lot of things to work on but I'm greatful for what I have in life my friends, my job, and Jon just being one of most entertaining and knowledgeable person I know in video games. Keeping Rocking On Jon!

[@GmodPlusWoW]

Another short but sweet Game Boy LP. Once upon a time, we'd joke about Jon's upload schedule, but the consistency has buried that seven feet under.

[@shadowsa2b]

Yeah, hes been uploading like a real LPer for a while now. Its been nice

[@krullachief669]

Oh man, Jon's going back to his roots with this video. 30:47 Galm? Aw shit are we about to see the Demon Lord of the Round Table joust his buddy?

[@toooydoeur]

Yes

[@I0NE007]

There's another series I can think of that relates to Jon's origins but he's also said repeatedly that the series isn't going to be coming back. Maybe though some act of (lunar) magic, perhaps the modern, casual reincarnation will take it's place. (AKA: Mario World Rom hacks, but that's not happening. Possible Mario Maker, though?)

[@toooydoeur]

@@I0NE007 man it would be great if they came back

[@krullachief669]

@@I0NE007 I mean, Invictus is a really good Mario World Rom Hack that doesn't have invisible coin blocks. But yes, Mario Maker would be the obvious choice. But eh, if Jon doesn't wanna do them he doesn't wanna do them.

[@I0NE007]

@@krullachief669 I know he was burnt out on true romhacks and he has been KILLING it will the effort/quality with the recent releases. I probably would be fine with a "Color a Dinosaur" LP if he wanted with how good he's been. If Jon is enjoying working on it, then it's going worth the wait and definitely worth seeing.

[@Following1000]

Just a quick clear up on Natsume, they did the NA localisation for old Harvest Moon, not developing. I don't know if that's the case for the other games you showed, but Natsume were not the developers in Harvest Moons case. It's for this reason that I refer to modern Harvest Moon as a zombie, since the actual developers (Marvelous!) do Story of Seasons and Rune Factory leaving Harvest Moon an undead corpse of what it once was.

[@joew1237]

31:35 It's actually super neat that they show the sound channels.

[@momamario]

when I was a kid, my mom dumped our old NES at my grandma's house. There was an inexplicably great bunch of games for it like Crystalis and wwf wrestlemania challenge (very fun game, don't overlook because it's wrestling). Among those games was Shadow of the Ninja. It was among the hardest to "get working". Also it's one of the few 2 player co op NES games that I could play with my brothers. All of these factors lent it a certain mystique. As an adult I still think the game is very good. And come on it's got 2 player same-screen co op! That rules

[@MusicoftheDamned]

26:04 Yes, Galuf is one of the main _FFV_ party members. He's the old man character who is actually pretty likeable and is one of the still probably relatively few non-temporary party member in a _Final Fantasy_ game who ends up just permanently dying during the course of the game. His death is also probably still the only one to occur during gameplay, which is rather interesting given I think ever other party member death in at least _Final Fantasy_ is relegated to a cutscene where you have no control.

[@wannabecinnabon]

Galuf still dies in a cutscene. He's alive throughout that entire battle with Exdeath, only finally biting the dust after repelling him. Still awesome how we get to control him during his final stand, however.

[@MusicoftheDamned]

@@wannabecinnabon Yeah, true. I just can't of any other RPG--at least that I know--where even _that_ much control before deadly cutscene is allowed. Everyone else from Aerith to Crono to even Tellah I think--haven't play _FFIV_ still--just kinda get handed a death flag in the appropriate cutscene and are forced to go "well, shi--" before getting murdered. The closest exception I know of is being able to let Frog fight Magus to the death one-on-one (IIRC) in actual battle if you both don't want Magus to join you and don't want Glenn to remain cursed. Funnily enough that's also mostly true even of the characters you *want* to die in RPGs (not named _Fire Emblem_ I guess). Here's looking at you, Kid from _Chrono Cross_ and your tenacity that would make even cockroaches envious.

[@wannabecinnabon]

@@MusicoftheDamned Tellah's death is very similar to Galuf's, just his final battle is fought entirely by the ai instead of being player controlled but scripted. That being said I still think that is by *far* the best of FF4's innumerable cutscene deaths, because it feels like a legitimate, albeit depressing, ending to his character arc, as opposed to just sort of....happening. (also it's not a fakeout like the rest lmao) Plus it lets you actually see what the enormous power of Meteor looks like in-game.

[@MusicoftheDamned]

@@wannabecinnabon Ah. I see. Thanks. Yeah, despite the fact that I haven't played it still, I remember already finding how almost everyone else's death in _FFIV_ is basically a fake one besides Tellah's, which is darkly hilarious when there seem to be like half a dozen of them. At least _Final Fantasy_ games after _FFIV_ generally got *a lot* better about removing party members for a while without needing to fake their deaths, to the point where Shadow would just up and leave whenever he wants randomly before the world gets ruined. That said, at least _FFXV_ hilariously backslid on this front among its many other problems, and there's a huge amount of irony that Shadow ends up being the only "permanent" party member in _FFVI_ to die *regardless* of what you do by time that game ends.

[@wannabecinnabon]

@@MusicoftheDamned damn why you gotta remind me of shadow's ending in FFVI ;~;

[@ZenoDLC]

Japanese tidbit, ふ is usually written "Fu" in romanji, but it's really read "Hu", which is identical to how English says "Who"

[@Rellik165]

The language teacher I had described the pronunciation as "blowing out a candle".

[@Halcryder]

I think Whokisai mistransilation caused because the Japanese Hiragana ふ (Fu) is sometimes localised as Hu. Understandable, since the line of Hiragana that ふ appears in is with others that start with H sound (ie, Ha, Hi, Fu, He, Ho. Yes, Japanese is a really complex language).

[@ZenoDLC]

And then there's は which for some reason usually got translated to sound like わ

[@angel-of-light-kelly1355]

@@ZenoDLC that one messes up so many people. One of the first Japanese words most people learn first, Konnichiha, has that wa pronunciation at the end, so most immediately spell it with wa.

[@harizonflamingice3167]

I was half nervous that every time there was a cutscene of Ryu slashing a boss, the game had crashed. No idea why, but looking at the boss sprite right as its being slashed almost looks like a glitch for a split second. Also was happy to hear the Ninja Gaiden II intro track as this game's intro since it's one of my favorite tracks from the series.

[@GigasGMX]

Just a reminder that Natsume didn’t actually MAKE the classic Harvest Moon games; they just localized them and published them in the west (while stealing most of the credit).

[@JustCrazyDK]

Proton Jon Plays Ninja Gaiden Shadow : Hp Lost : 30 Fire wheel used : 24 Deaths : 1

[@Vintage_Asagi]

One of my fave things, is when you edit something in, you use a game related sound. Or the Katamari Pop! Or the Gameboy Ding. Basically, never stop being amazin I've been a huge fan of yours since waayyy back when, I remember when Wacky world was new. It's been so amazing to see you improve and grow and yet keep the same charm you've always had. Keep doin what ya love boss!

[@ahemtoday]

Gulf's lightning attack looks *really* cool, especially for a system like this. Shame about the seizure-y-ness of it, but I honestly think you could keep how cool it is while making it a little less fit-inducing.

[@DarkLink1996.]

And now I need to rewatch your playthrough of the NES Trilogy

[@88porpoise]

On the Pogs reference, that episode was aired in 1995, right around when Pogs were huge.

[@ApocApocrypha]

To be easier, let's call him Garudulf from now on. I'm way more into short regular videos than streaming so it's nice to have Jon back, he's the one that got me into watching people play game years ago with Ninja Gaiden.

[@umbaupause]

23:48 So Jon. Was that pun actually intended? Cause it was perfection.

[@ProtonJon]

I had to rewatch the scene 3 times to figure out what you were even referring to, so... no.

[@MetagrossOverlordX]

7:05 The Old Natsume is still kinda around: Three of the core members behind their pre-Harvest Moon action games have a small team at Natsume called Project Tengo and they've done remakes for both Wild Guns and SNES Ninja Warriors; they're currently working on a Pocky and Rocky remake. And I know this cause I played through that Ninja Warriors remake two days ago lol, so great timing on this video. Would definitely recommend the remake btw

[@Albumancer]

Dracula DOES live in a New York skyscraper. It's called the Vampire State Building.

[@RainaThrownAway]

Colonel Alan is here to kill Ryu with kindness... and bullets. Mostly the bullets, really.

[@theminiyosshi2901]

5:27 it’s a cool cutscene and a cool CUT-scene!

[@Awoken_Remmuz]

Good this is a rush of nostalgia, this was my step into the ninja garden franchise as a kid. Very fond memories of finding the post boss death cutscenes super cool as a kid.

[@MythicMachina]

With how often Jon gets Jinxed, I'm starting to feel that it's no longer a jjnx, and someone just put a hex on him.

[@psyachu]

First of all, I still have to say I'm definitely enjoying this huge influx of videos you're uploading. I always enjoy your stuff (maybe even more than chuggaa's tbh, just don't tell him that!) Also, I laughed at the end when you put your subscribe notification face over Gulf's/Garuda's/whatever-his-name-is face. It was a nice touch (hopefully intentional).

[@LordOstrik]

Wait... What the fuck... Jon uploaded something? ITS LIKE CHRISTMAS MORNING!!! Edit: Big shoutout to KZbin, for not telling me that Jon has been uploading videos.

[@Professor_Mitchell]

It was clearly a castle built atop a skyscraper. So in other words, Ryu Hayubusa was fighting David Xanatos the whole time.

[@hv433]

I was totally expecting the Medabots series when you were talking about Natsune. Although there wasn't any international release of any Medabots games during the GB era.

[@TeruteruBozusama]

There were surprisingly some Medarot (the original Japanese title) games for 3DS. Dunno how well they did, but the series appear to be still alive..!

[@hv433]

@@TeruteruBozusama Yeah, I believe they're on the 13th game from the last I saw. Too bad the series only got one set of international releases, and that's only on the GBA. The games were fantastic!

[@Ashurman666]

@@hv433 There was also the one on the Gamecube, that one also got an international release but that one has a completely different gameplay style to the GBA ones.

[@ZenoDLC]

@@Ashurman666 Actually, there are four on GBA, one on GC, while I'm not familiar with the GC, the Medabots Metabee/Rokusho ver. ones are based on Medarot 2 Core where it's probably the more famous and standard "Control up to three bots, choose parts to attack, watch them go" gameplay While the other one is Medabots AX Metabee/Rokusho ver., which is an originally western release despite apparently being developed in Japan, featuring Ikki and Metabee/Rokusho at the start, plus one more medabot, you control one of them in a platform fighter ala smash bros, but with parts HP instead of insane knockbacks, while your partner is AI-controlled with selectable tactics. Later the game got reskinned to feature a new character named Koishimaru and his main medabot being either Dichotom or Adolphin, a completely different story, and even several cameo appearances from other games, this got released in Japan as Medarot G. The Medarot Brave/Medabots Infinity on GC is pretty similar to AX/G, but in 3D afaik. Right now, the main series seems to be mostly on hiatus while the mobile gacha game, Medarot S is still ongoing

[@Ashurman666]

@@ZenoDLC I always forget about AX because I hated AX. And yes Infinity is like that, a top down view almost run and gun style. It's not bad really but the top down view camera can be a big hindrance at times.

[@Waywhard]

Nicely timed on the Natsume side of things, after that Wild Guns showcase recently.

[@Globoglobitos]

For one second, I thought it was going to be a bootleg. Great vid as usual John. Btw, have you tried Blaster Master Zero 3 already? What are your thoughts?

[@dyciefisk2535]

100%ed it myself. Definitely feels harder, no overpowered weapons this time, weapons degrade a lot more. Still really fun. Edit: Jason combat became so much easier once I realized that the melee counterattack refunds the health lost in taking the required contact damage. Unfortunately for me, this was discovered in the last Jason boss in the game. :/

[@technothehedgehog203]

Protonjohn is part of the Blaster Master Zero 3 commentary on Brainscratchcomms cause BSC started BMZero 2 as John started playing BMZ 1 on his channel and they agreed to collaborate for BMZ 3

[@MowseChao]

I'm loving these bite-sized Game Boy LPs!

[@niall62]

this was fun, genuinely makes me wanna give it a shot, and the endslate was brilliant lmao

[@predcon1]

That Level 3 music, I first heard it playing a LoZ clone called Zelda Classic. It's just Zelda, with a quest editor and all. But all the music is midi and the default quest has different music for each dungeon and one of them used this track, and for some reason the instrument was bells. Just big ol' clangy bells. Clanging along at rapid pace. It certainly didn't get old fast.

[@ReneS777]

Thank you for the flashing lights warnings!

[@GutsBatman]

I had this game growing up in the early 90s. It was one of about 8 or so game boy games and one I played a lot of. Link's Awakening is is by far the game I played the most. I still know that game like the back my hand 25 years later. I'm missing a level in my head. I must be transposing a memory from other other ones. Might be the TMNT game boy game I had. Only other game boy game I remember I had by name is Zoop.

[@XionSteel]

love how your channel pic matches with the gameover screen at 33:45. very nice touch.

[@supeLP]

Man watching a Proton Jon Ninja Gaiden video is nostalgic, I did notice 2 things, 1: In the sound test there is a end 1 and end 2, I don't have that good of an ear for it, but did both of those songs play in the game? 2: At the end screen on the top part of the mask, does anyone else see a simple face on the white part just looking with a 'Hey, what is going on here' expression?

[@magicalcapi9148]

And then again! Ryu saved humanity from the evil tyranny of GOLF!! Curse you and your evil clubs!!

[@rougenaxela]

10:55 "Be Aggressive" This video brought to you by Gunstar Heroes (which I will always associate that phrase with)

[@Rie-Vinaca]

To think this is the first game with Ryu in it at ALL on this channel, there have never been games staring Ryu here ever, only his stunt double Dave

[@Jay_76]

Fun fact. The platforms that Jon is wondering about around 11:30 are in fact Magnet Beam platforms. It's an epic Ninja Gaiden/Mega Man crossover!

[@MetaJo101]

Move aside Belmont. The Hayabusa clan is taking on castlevania.

[@SuperGoker64]

5:27 A _cut_ scene, if you will

[@Pikminchu]

25 hits, give or take on the 1st and 2nd boss. 3rd and 4th looked like 30, with fire magic included. 28 for phase 1 of final, phase 2 takes 25. Also, maybe "the skyscraper of despair" was the name of the castle. Lol, wouldn't surprise me at this point. I'm just going on the contact animation for hits, may or may not be accurate within 5 hits.

[@imnotcafé]

Remember Ryu? He's back! In pog form.

[@ashleyallison6205]

"This is Magic Pants Genie Man!" Channeling your inner Sokka there, Jon? That said, I was unaware this game existed until this LP (veneered game or not)- so GUESS I LEARNED SOMETHING NEW TODAY! THANKS FOR THAT! As always your playthroughs are just gold to watch.

[@cloisterednomad2210]

9:49 So basically, a watered down version of the Frankenstein and Igor fight from the first Castlevania?

[@RetroDeath]

I grew up with Blue Shadow on the NES, the sound effects from this game here hit me in my very core.

[@SHR7778]

When you recognize spanky’s quest more than wild gun 😏

[@heavybassX]

Long before Ryu took on a South American Jaguar named Jaquito... he faced of another threat that wasn't named Jaquito.

[@NihlusKryik]

“Colonel Alan has been slash from the budget” oh was he made Ryudundant

[@jonhikarizx3631]

I should track down this one sometime. Looks fun! Although i already know, I'd still play 2 on a whim.

[@IcePhysicsGaming]

The grapple hook reminds me of The Messenger except it's vertical instead of horizontal. I wonder if this is where they got it from.

[@Edgemaster72]

Manual: "No one has survived being hit by [fancy pants wind wizard]'s Super Fan Weapon" Ryu: I'm about to end this man's whole career

[@Drayiss]

We not gonna talk about how the death sound is just Mega Man, like practically right out of one of the GB games

[@Trelior]

16:00 Those dots on the map look like New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and San Francisco

[@joew1237]

11:40 The screws from SMB3 Airships

[@relishcakes4525]

"you dont always have to be the best..you just have to be better than everyone else."

[@WillowwoodVA]

Ok but for Gameboy music this kicks ass

[@thanakoto2239]

I like the Edits that warn about flashing lights

[@mcintoshpc]

Something about the melody of that credits theme reminds me of strike the earth from shovel knight

[@uknownada]

I kinda love Game Boy versions of NES games like this. The other day I played through both GB Castlevanias, which were really easy (though the first one's third stage is a bit bullcrap), and it was interesting comparing it with the main NES games. This is the same deal.

[@cynicismIncarnate]

Ryu Hayabusa's American vacation in which he visits the famous New York Skyscraper (The skyscraper looks like Dracula's Castle because it is) , beats up Galuf from Final Fantasy V, and walks home to Japan from New York.

[@MarioLuigi0404]

TiL the Game Boy has 6 sound voices apparently. Iirc the NES only had 4. Neat how they managed the voices the songs and SFX use so as to not have them both vying for the same voice at the same time.

[@raptorlewis273]

Yes, Galuf is FFV's best character 😂. Also "Magic Pants Genie Man!" 😂😂

[@robbiestockman8285]

Whokissi the Magic-Pants Genie Man is going to be my next Halloween costume

[@NaiblistheCurious1]

Since this takes place in New York, did you know there was a Ninja Gaiden OVA? It wasn't the worst thing ever, but it had plenty of dumb decisions (example: Ryu and Irene have a store called "Ryu's Japanese Store"). The kicker is that it sequel baits for more episodes, but it was cancelled/scrapped after just the first episode. Was just curious if Jon had ever heard of it since he loves this ninja who keeps getting himself shot on streams.

[@BlueKnight85]

Every time I heard Garuda, I kept thinking of Persona since that's one of the Wind attack names.

[@joew1237]

15:50 I'm assuming the other East Coast location is DC, at least.

[@BubbaYoshi117]

Spanky's Quest future LP: confirmed

[@eliteninja23]

33:44 OK, there's no way that was intentional.

[@Coolbond2]

just me that hears him saying galf and golf instead of gulf?

[@romajimamulo]

Yeah I can hear it. Galf sounds close to gulf to me

[@tedioustotoro4885]

The four dots on that map are New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

[@LazyVanny]

Ah yes, GalmHd the evil one that Ryu slashed in two while Jon watched.

[@Kaveeteh]

15:50 yo is that the sprite used for the boss from that Star Wars Gameboy bootleg?

[@GunarmDyne]

Natsume also gave us Lufia II, one of the best SNES RPGs of all time.

[@ArcadeIsMyLife1]

Been playing this one on my Gameboy color with my Gameboy Everdrive. I keep telling people that new game Cyber Shadow plays more like Shadow of the Ninja on NES then Ninja Gaiden and people need to stop comparing it to Ninja Gaiden because it's not.

[@ProtonJon]

Yeah, gotta agree with you on that after having played Shadow of the Ninja. Definitely feels more like than than NG.

[@jarg_64]

Good job mr ninja you beat the evil ninjas in New York and meanwhile Simon has defeated Dracula and caused his castle to collapse

[@JB2X-Z]

I can't believe Ryu has a mega man death

[@Peteman]

Maybe he put the castle on top of a skyscraper. Like a precursor to Xanatos.

[@CyberKirby]

I can't tell whether I want to make a Speed Racer reference or a Sly Cooper Reference. Eh, I'll do both. "Terrible what passes for a ninja these days." "Fiery WHEEL! Fiery WHEEL!"

[@karfsma778]

the cities on that map are NY, DC, LA, and San Fran

[@Trojan711]

10:09 Guess you could say he doesn't do Jack?

[@66Xeno]

5:28 A cool "cut"scene, you say?

[@minicoopa2683]

Fuck yeah Spanky's Quest that was my shit on the game boy, might still have the cart around here

[@TeruteruBozusama]

Can I have one serving of spinning electricity on the conveyer belt please!

[@MythicMachina]

I kind of want Jon to play the Shinobi games for the Genesis. I wonder what we would think of them? Also, I want him to see the boss in Shinobi 2 that was just straight up Spiderman that turns into Batman. I'm not even joking on that one.

[@williamjeffery9653]

Most ninjas in movies and videogames are not good ninjas. Historical ninjas were really more like spies then mystical warriors, and the art of ninjitsu was really the art of espionage. So technically anyone trained to be a spy in ancient Japan was a ninja, whether that person was a peasant, a scribe, a geisha, or a samurai. Anything regarding "ninjitsu" that involves super secret fighting techniques or magic is mostly pop-culture nonsense that came about after WWII. And yes, much of it was propagated by the Japanese themselves, though western interest in Japanese pop-culture played a role in the modern pop-culture image of the ninja.

[@Rukalin]

Maybe you were thinking of Final Fantasy 5's Galuf? Edit: Well, guess you got it yourself at the end

[@CentaurWorks]

GaLm?! 👀 Oh that would be fun to see a Co-Op LP if possible!

[@deefdragon]

That game over jingle is super familiar...

[@TacoBlinx]

10:09 I guess Jack does Jack sh*t! *ProtonChugga*