The GG Shinobi II - Sega Game Gear Review

Portable games could be just as fun as console games when in the right hands. Was that true of Sega's Shinobi games? Let's find out!
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Opening 3D Logo By:
Jan Neves
KZbin Page - / jan3d
Opening 2D Animation By:
Kevin Bhall
Facebook - / kevin.bhall.14
Episode Notes:
1. Captured on the Mega SG.
2. There are elements of this game that I prefer over the first, but the first is still a better game IMO. The music is more powerful and the bosses more difficult.
3. Sega never reissued/remade these games on any original Sega hardware.
4. Should you find yourself stuck in the final stage. Remember all ninja powers. The game really makes you use them in that final assault.
5. Neither GG Shinobi games are super expensive as cart only.

[@thecunninlynguist]

So many memories of this game. Had this one as a kid. Loved how they had different colored ninjas w/ different weapons/powers.

[@crism8868]

Imagine a 32 bit Shinobi on par with Symphony of the Night, what could've been...

[@MarshCreature]

Man imagine if the GG shinobi games got a 16bit port back in the day. Dam that would have been soo good. Still im happy to still be able to play them today.

[@Super_Richi]

when i was 5 years old in 1992, my parents gave me this game including a sega game gear for christmas. even i am now 33 years old, i still remember the day. after beating the game, the ending song was stuck in my head once in a while. after the internet became a thing, i finally found out who the composer was. good memories.....

[@Gaming_since_the_eighties]

Maybe games like Shinobi, Outrun, Ristar or Ecco the Dolphin could make a comeback on next gen consoles. Since Streets of Rage made a comeback it is possible.

[@sloppynyuszi]

Alex Kidd is getting the Wonderboy/streets of rage treatment next. I think Shinobi should be a no brainer. Ristar and Ecco are fine to stay in the 90s though. And I love Outrun, but outrun 2 still looks great, and not out of place next to a modern game.

[@SuperAngryWalrus]

I really hope SEGA lets the same team who made SoR4 make Golden Axe 4.

[@mylesdeep1736]

Streets of rage 4 is awesome!! I love being able to co-op online.

[@dtyndall11]

2 years later and Shinobi just got announced (looks like developed by Dotemu and Lizardcube)

[@Gaming_since_the_eighties]

@@dtyndall11 Yes i saw the announcement, also Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio are in development.

[@shiningphantasy1393]

I couldn't agree more about the evolution of the series on the Saturn; I very much tried to like Shinobi Legions but I couldn't ignore the reality that a Shinobi franchise release could have and should have been much more of a showpiece and standout title on the 32-bit Saturn hardware than it was. Would have been nice for Sega to make greatly upgraded versions of the two GG Shinobi games for Sega CD and offer them together in one package for the big screen, not unlike the approach they took with the Sega CD version of Shining Force.

[@ravagingwolverine]

I had a Game Gear, and I wanted to get at least one of the Shinobi games, but it was one of those things that didn't work out. I wish I had them as a kid, as I know I would have liked them a lot. This one is a fantastic game. I love how they reworked the game for the portable hardware and low resolution, where it would be difficult to maintain the same kind of action and level design of the arcade and Genesis games. Yuzo Koshiro did some excellent work on these games. I know the Master System/GG sound chip isn't the most versatile and that its sound isn't to a lot of people's tastes, but I think it was used very well here. It had limits, but the music that best used it seemed to be fast and dynamic stuff like what is on display here.

[@yannisbskt]

This was a MASTERPIECE ! offcourse not only one of the best 8bit games but one of the best in the history of video games. 🤘🤘🤘

[@sprnightfire]

Used to play this at my friend's house great game. They have the first game on the e-shop on the 3DS. They need to release this one on there too.

[@DGR_Dave]

Man did this flood me with memories. Played the tar out of this game as a 5 year old. I was never able to beat it sadly, the last level always whooped me 😂

[@Gatorade69]

Hey DGR. Didn't expect to see you here.

[@laughingseal2282]

This game is BRUTAL, relentless. Needs to fully learn the stages to proceed. At least the second one gives infinite continues. The first one only gives 3, which is insane.

[@SlyBeast]

My favorite GG game, nothing else even comes close.

[@JimboJones99]

God Bless GG Shinobi 🥷 God Bless Sega Lord X 🙏 God Bless President Trump 🙏🇺🇲 Happy New Year 🎉

[@igorivanov299]

I remember how difficult it was. Very rewarding though. I loved it as a kid

[@donkeyparadise9276]

​@@JimboJones99hi

[@e.e.-tv1683]

This game is good. I would like SEGA to adapt a modern take to this game.

[@stevenbowen9216]

That will be fire if sega allows it today

[@fisho3139]

With you on that, I'd be thrilled for something similar to how strider came out.

[@stevenbowen9216]

@@fisho3139 strider is my taste of a awesome game I agreed with you homie

[@e.e.-tv1683]

@Goodness Graces I agree, I still haven't completed Shinobi for the PS2 to this day. Nightshade's difficulty was even worse.

[@salahadine77t]

Or just remake it wil be hit

[@samokuma9596]

One of my fav Shinobi. Top 3 ! And what a freakin soundtrack...

[@OMGmyFACE]

GG Shinobi is still one of my all time faves.

[@KrimsonKB]

I really do admire your dedication to Sega stuff! It's truly inspirational for me to keep going on my own stuff!

[@digitalworms]

This was one of the first game gear game I got! Was a very awesome game!

[@SteveBrandon]

That level select menu music sounds a lot like background music from Kenseiden on the Master System.

[@MrDreamer60]

This game was fantastic . I spent many years playing this over and over rescuing different ninjas in different orders for variety.

[@JOESSECRETGARDEN85]

I remember playing this in the 90s my cousin had it this was one of the best games

[@ThomasSerruques]

i beat gg shinobi 1 and 2 on my gg back in the time. I was 14. loved them. yup they should have used a 4mbit cartridge for the 2nd one. And probably this was the way to take the franchise megaman style on the saturn. an opportunity lost there.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

What we did get on the Saturn was okay but a total waste of potential.

[@Filmonaut]

Best Game Gear game period! This should have become Segas Mega Man.

[@kathleendelcourt8136]

8:28 so basically a Shinometroidvania?

[@thatryeguy6145]

Since Sega won't do it, we need a new Shinobi in the same vein as Sonic Mania, Monster Boy, and Streets of Rage 4.

[@DhinCardoso]

ABSOLUTELY AGREE ♥

[@Raphael_De_La_Ghetto]

I look forward to your videos! Keep em comin SLX!

[@PixelShade]

A portable master piece! This game together with Wonderboy the Dragon's Trap was what made my time with the Game Gear feel like a high quality home console at the time. It didn't even feel like a compromise from the great 16-bit games out there.

[@lonesquiff6551]

Aw yeah this was my jam. This was my first and only foray into the Shinobi franchise. I was disappointed to learn the Genesis entries weren't like it.

[@SegaCDUniverse]

I liked it as a kid. Never beat it but enjoyed it. I think it was this one.. unless I'm thinking of another shinobi on gg

[@16BitJayGaming]

My cousin had the first one, I loved the different ninjas. When I got the Megadrive my cousin was a little disappointed when he saw that Revenge only had the one ninja. I think with the Shinobi games in the 90s Sega really knocked it out of the park.

[@leemason666]

Great video as always Sega Lord X. I never played this on the Game Gear so will give it a try via emulators. 👍🏻

[@MrJibaku]

This game was so good! I wonder why they didn’t have the foresight to do what you suggested?

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

Mostly because Sega couldn't ever seem to make the right decisions. Anytime they were giving a choice it seemed like they went in the wrong direction. What's happened to the shinobi series is a travesty. The Saturn version was a bit of a joke the PS2 version was good if flawed and the 3DS version was pretty good actually but pretty much forgotten. (Also the 3DS effect in it was horrible) I'd say they need to do a nice hand-drawn 2D style game next.

[@jaymzx2587]

Awesome stuff. I didn’t even know this game existed. Looks and sounds great!

[@homejonny9326]

And plays great as well!

[@PSPMan]

I got introduced to the Game Gear's library primarily through the 3DS's Virtual Console and I'm honestly surprised this was never released there. They released the first game and It seemed really cool, I enjoyed the bit I played of it, but this looks like its in a completely different league.

[@Dinosnore69]

Going to play this before bed tonight! Thank you for the great review as always!

[@leegoderz83]

Gosh this takes me back! Thank you fella

[@BocaRetroGames]

Another great daily review! Thanks for such a great recommendation as I've never played any of theses games, I've got to check them out.

[@gregnezz]

Had to sub for the history, lore and nostalgia! Thank you for all these great video's.

[@yoman8027]

As you said, this game should have been the blueprints for a 32 bit Shinobi. - Make it a Metroid-style game, with exploration and new paths open with the upgrades you obtain. - Have several melee weapons like katanas, bos, chains... each with their strengths and uses. - Also, give different projectile weapons: bombs, shurikens, chakrams... - Several spells, with their strengths and uses. - Add, of course, passive upgrades (double jump, water-walking, ceiling crawling...) - And to give a next gen look, combine sprites with some polygons here and there for giant bosses, some rotating scenarios, magic effects... It would have ended being one of the console's killer apps. Instead, we got a forgettable digitalized mess.

[@janardadams6664]

Loved how they had a save game option by giving you a code at the end.

[@darkestlost]

The animation closing his arms it's amazing

[@RamblinErikk]

A true pinnacle of the franchise. Worth buying a Game Gear just to play this! YES, it IS that good.

[@matthewconley7568]

I love the Game Gear content you do. Such an undiscovered console. Would love more content on this and the Saturn.

[@travistalbot1456]

I owned the first one growing up never knew there was a second....man I missed out lol

[@ajgreen868]

Man I live your channel. Always has some amazing content!

[@kubev]

Best game on the Game Gear, in my opinion. Best Shinobi game (regardless of system), as well. I agree that it would've been great to see this take on Shinobi on more powerful hardware. The length of this game never really bothered me, though, as I feel as though the crystals and health increases managed to make the first four levels feel pretty fresh once you had the other ninjas unlocked. I think adding two more stages would have a negative impact on the game. I mean, how would you handle it? Add two more stages that're selectable from the start? That raises some additional questions. Do you make it so some levels DON'T give you a health increase and some levels DON'T give you a ninja? Why bother visiting those stages early in the game if you're not increasing your abilities? There's no incentive to play a stage like that early. Oh, but you could just put two more stages immediately before the Enemy Base. In my opinion, that sounds a bit too much like the Mega Man X games, in which the stages before the final stage generally felt more shallow (and you had very little incentive to explore them thoroughly). It'd just feel like padding, in my opinion.

[@sohatyi]

I only found out there was a sequel about a year ago... Shame as I played the hell out of the first one in my youth. I totally agree with your stance on these games, I played far too many crappy, half-baked Game Gear games that when things like this showed up, they blew me away. It definitely has that near 16-bit on the go feel to it and the music has stayed in my memory for three decades.

[@shanekelley3064]

My brother and I had this as kids. It was a great game! This brought back a ton of childhood memories. 👍👍

[@musicismypassion7686]

I loved this game as a kid. it felt like a metroidvania shinobi game

[@jaxcellentvideogames689]

I remember playing this one on vacation... Its a great game! Sega LordX, thanks foir yet another great vid!

[@LesBretBros]

This was my favorite GG game.. by far! 😉👌🏻

[@jimmyedwards5908]

Wow. That looks really fun. I never had a game gear at all. I'd love to play that if I ever can

[@getondese]

This was a good one. I bought a game gear back when it was new. I loved the GB and most certainly was looking forward to the GG when I had got it. Honestly alot of the GG games do not hold up as well as the GB games at least not to me. However looking back just having the color, backlit screen, and gems like this made the feeling of having one true next level experience at the time.That is one feeling I never got from the GB lol! Great vid man!!

[@miguelroman4294]

Sega Lord X I gotta say I always look forward to your next video cause you have become my favorite KZbin Sega content creator! Kind of like back in the day when I watched Voltron and Thunder Cats and couldn't wait for the next episode.

[@eskimojoe6564]

I love these videos You are my go to for sega reviews:)

[@Zyrule]

Best game on Game Gear!

[@bloodykenshiro8218]

I only lament we never got a third GG entry to round out this excellent duology. I can safely say I enjoy GG Shinobi more than Revenge of Shinobi.

[@patrickmartin7692]

As always an excellent and balanced review, your consistency is very refreshing. So much about Sega was great, but just barely because they never seemed to understand what they had. I loved my GG Ave this game. Even my Dad thought it looked great. Though he'd joke "Yeah it's great looking for about five minutes then I've got to buy new batteries." Though there were several times I'd get up at night to go the bathroom and he'd be in the living room playing the GG.

[@ehha21]

The music of this game is incredible. The end game is brutal though, precise hooks and jump timing. Kept me hooked for a long time as a kid to finally beat it

[@timothypeters7160]

Thank you...just awsome

[@xylsky1300]

I like reading how people grew up with these games. I never played this game but I like to imagine how much I would of loved it as a kid

[@DrProfessorMD]

I still have my game gear with this game in it and my password from.waaaay back when, Sharpied on the front. LOVE IT

[@roberto1519]

I with these games were ported to the Genesis/Mega Drive back in the day, and expanded upon with more stages, I played both games recently and loved both.

[@rockman7503]

One of my most played game gear titles as a kid.

[@boayoon8715]

I remember playing shinobi as a kid.. wow 🤩 just wow.. music is amazing.

[@derekofbaltimore]

i never played this but those stages where you are going through multiple look a like doors trying to find the right one, thats a 8-16 bit classic

[@OG-SherlockHolmes]

That "Castle 1" music was awesome

[@TheTrueBro]

Since DotEmu has brought back a lot of classic Sega titles, it would be neat if they release a new 2D Shinobi (with Joe Musashi as the main char). I would buy it ASAP.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

Them or inti creates or way forward. I guarantee one of those three would make an absolute classic.

[@terrygibbs1827]

Have you played ps2 shinobi? I loved it, a pure arcade mentality went into the design and once you got the trick of it the mechanics lend themselves to some cool moves and secrets. Then there's the post game content...

[@DeludedOne]

They always capture all the ninja BUT the red one. It's like they have expectations for him or something.

[@jamesstaggs4160]

I swear one of those sound effects is from the first Castlevania.

[@djstyles97]

Those tracks are bangers!

[@Azure4Shore]

Thank you @SegaLordX for showing the SEGA Genesis the proper respect it so rightfully deserves. HAPPY HOLIDAYS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

[@64-Bit-Gamer]

GG Shinobi was brilliant. The sequel was also good, but I found it a little too easy.

[@juliuscarlopoblete2092]

Wow.. i never expect to see this game again, last time i saw and played this it was 95.. one of the best games i played in the 90's

[@ALbertoDoriguzzi]

Great games, love them both. I bought last shinobi chapter for the 3Ds but man if they didn't understand what was good of the series.

[@jacobbaranowski]

I hade a SEGA Game Gear back in the day and a bunch of games...I am a SEGA fan

[@contrabandresearch8409]

I think these GG Shinobi games are great. Tough as nails enjoyment.

[@Rohaldos]

This game looks great. Back in the days I owned a GG with sonic and castle of illusion it Sonic was giving me headaches the size of the screen was small with fast scrolling.

[@mhans311]

I had a GG growing up but somehow never played this game. Looks awesome. I'm going to have to play it...any way I can.

[@muat1155]

I haven’t played this game since I was 5/6 years old (my game gear is currently somewhere in my parents loft) and I could never get past the final level. Reason being I didn’t know until watching this video that you could use the pink ninja on the moving platforms (3.48). For some reason my primitive brain must not have figured that out, which is particularly frustrating as I knew he could walk on ceilings...I must have though that the platform isn’t a ceiling and therefore never even tried that! I’d always get to the final stage and then just try and run through the spikes! I can’t believe I never connected the dots back as a kid. I never got to see any of the final stage other than those first two rooms! But man, what a game this was!

[@Psychology]

I used to play the life out of this game. Loved it. My brother, who was a toddler at the time, used to call the final level "enema's base".

[@micktaylor9332]

I loved my game gear when I was a kid. They should remake it the same size as it was, with a lithium ion battery and a load of pre installed games it would be epic and would sell like mad.

[@amadoxxxx7593]

Got this game straight from japan .... back in tha day!!! Played on my North American GG.... alongside the master system converter ..... Who the hell would want gameboy!? This was and remains pure gaming bliss....playing kenseiden in the back seat of my dad’s car in 1991 .... 🥷

[@robinwatkins8789]

This and power rangers were the pinnacle of GG for me. Absolute classics that I still play from time to time.

[@jamesmoss3424]

Shinobi 2 for the game gear is a excellent sequel. 😀👍🎮

[@joseluki]

Had this games in my game gear, they were awesome, never understood why they weren't released in Master System.

[@RichtersShadow]

I'd love for sega to rerelease this. Perhaps in a gamegear collection. One if my fave game gear games and my favourite shinobi game.

[@paulgorman2801]

I was about 7 or 8 when I saw this game on a game gear and got to play it. It wasn't easy but it was a cool game (plus NINJAS!). Even though I didn't own Sega consoles or handhelds, having mostly Nintendo and Sony, I feel fortunate to have had places I could go to play on Sega consoles, or cousins that did. I'd only ever played on a Genesis/Megadrive & Game Gear a few times, mostly Sonic on Genesis/Megadrive & Shinobi 2 once on a GameGear. Sega Games were what a lot of teenagers were playing in the mid to late 90s. The games I remembered most for Megadrive were Sonic 2, Toe Jam & Earl, NBA, & Earthworm Jim. I don't think people realize what a big deal the Game Gear was; At a time when handhelds were dominated by black and white screens and mostly Gameboys, the Game Gear was the only console that had color graphics AND a backlit screen. Nintendo did have a backlit Gameboy pocket but it was only in Japan. The Gameboy Color wouldn't come out until 1998, so the Game Gear was for a time the only handheld that was both in color and backlit for most of the 90s. So despite Nintendos popularity among handheld gamers, both the Game Gear and the NeoGeo Pocket Color had phenomenal graphics for their time in the 90s. Speaking of handhelds, I know it's SNK but could you do one on the NeoGeo Pocket Color (specifically King of Fighers)? Otherwise, I would love to see you do a review of Virtual On Cyber Troopers for the Saturn ^_^. It was one of my favorite games for the PC and Arcade.

[@NiGHTS1980]

Sega should make a new Shinobi in the Ghost of Tsushima style.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

I'd love a hand-drawn 2D style one that would be amazing. someone like inti creates or way forward should do it heck they should have done it already way back.

[@dreamspheree]

Man I forgot about this game man it was awesome

[@snakeeagle6930]

Looks good.

[@gundamsdm]

Good point about Shinobi Legions needing a little more exploration... I always thought a Shinobi Metroidvania would a good evolution for the series.

[@mambatabac]

Amazing game. I always wished Sega would make a modern Shinobi in this style

[@Sut1978]

Watching this made me realise why I didn’t jive much with the Game Gear. Master System ports using zoomed in assets rendering them annoying to play. Games like the GG Shinobi designed with the Game Gear in mind play hell of a lot better.

[@aka1linux1]

For some reason I just enjoy your videos. ;)

[@MarquisDeSang]

I am waiting for you to make a video about Captain Silver on the Master System.

[@thefifthdoctor6780]

My childhood 👊

[@luckyluke95]

Best music ever on GameGear 😍😍😍

[@fazares]

i own both these games and yes they are pretty good..portable gaming at its finest..miss the 90ies

[@duckfield2520]

Dude has been cranking out the videos. Must live in California.

[@billcook4768]

Joe Musashi for Smash. OK, probably won’t happen. But if Sega were to get one more character in Smash, who should it be? Hornet 41???

[@magicjohnson3121]

Ryu Hayabusa

[@magicjohnson3121]

Joe Musashi vs Ryu Hayabusa in Smash