Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors. A game that's been "reborn" no less than three times, with it's latest steam/PC release being the optimal way to play it. However, each version of the game is different enough to warrant experiencing for its own merits and gameplay. Originally on Arcade it was later remade for SNES as an excellent side scrolling beat em up and then released about three years ago on Steam with yet another remake, but this time keeping the last iterations art assets and general campaign intact. The premise for the game's plot is inspired by other media from the era, but you can certainly see Terminator, Robo Cop, and certain OVA's like Angel Cop/Black Magic/Cyber City/etc baked into its DNA. This game is very much a love child of the 1980's. As for a Beat Em Ups, it counts itself amongst ever made. Rubbing shoulders with Alien vs Predators on the Arcade, Dragon's Crown, and any other supremely made classic you can think of.
The plot is simple. A once free and Democratically controlled first world nation has descended into an oligarchy, police state, corporate controlled shit fest. You are a prototype, state of the art android released to combat the regime one on one, and liberate it from its dictator. The twist being you're not a good guy, but more like somebody that didn't get his cut of the pie so you're taking over. The end heavily implies that the dictator's twin brother is behind the creation of these five available super warriors, and while it's also implied he's a better ruler than his brother was. The country ultimately remains a dictatorship in all but name. The little people only benefit so much from a change in management. You (and one possible friend) are the only members of the resistance that were manufactured before the existing regime closed in on the production line to shut it down. So, you've only got once chance.
You fight against every corrupt faction within the country as you seek out the dictator to assassinate him ala terminator. The initial forces are common soldiers with combat knives fighting you paired with commandos and SAS dressed special forces that know advanced kung-fu. Eventuall you're confronted by ninja and supernaturally trained fighters and special forces soldiers armred with rifles and grenades, and finally by rivial androids, magic weilding supernatural ninjas, elite security (suit wearing super soldiers) and heavy ordinance from the country's larger war machines. The bosses are over the top commanders, ninjas, androids, super soldiers, mechs, and eventually the dictator himself in massive installation. The game ends with you detonating a nuclear bomb in your body and saving the day, obstensively. The game has single player and two player modes. Two campaigns an ordinary and hard mode. Both are scored by a clock, which despite giving you infinite continues your score stops if you continue once so the game expects you to make it through in one go. Each play through is about an hour. With five characters (who I will cover next) you're looking at potentially around twenty hours to see and do everything and "git gud." This game is also fairly hard, but not impossible. Once you learn the basic mechanics, which you have to learn on your own as the tutorial is a spartan guide that doesn't cover nearly everything you can do. Initially, two of the characters are locked and require you to beat the game twice to play, which you don't have complete with a timed score. Simply clearing the game twice with Ninja is all you need to do, and probably how most people will unlock them.
Ninja
The game's poster boy, and main character. Unusually for a beat em up he's not the jack of all trades character, but the second heaviest of the five. He's unable to jump, instead he activates a hovering stance, which can be launched into several unique air based attacks. He has a normal ground combo, an ex meter combo, a ducking combo, and a super up combo that can be used when his meter is full. He's able to slide across the arena for rapid movement dodging and attacking. And, finally he has the most powerful throw arsenal. Not only picking up enemies but actually able to carry them before performing one of four throw moves. Bosses included. He's by far the most user friendly and my personal favorite. His special move allows him to chain endless nunchucks moves together and it's paired with generous I-frames. And, like all the other characters with a full meter he can do a clearing move that burns away all the enemies on the ground while providing I-Frames and ground recovery after getting knocked down if timed correctly.
Kunoichi
The all rounder of the cast. Similar to Ninja but less durable. She's able to jump and combo normally without the need of a hover stance. She also has access to the same amount of throws he does, but is unable to move with her opponents. Her special move allows her to attack at range, which is unique to her and Raiden. And, extremely powerful in this game. Beyond her air moves she also gets access to a kind of hop kick. And, much like Ninja has back off down jump move that gives her a bit of space by knocking opponents back. She is a bit more technically demanding than Nina, requiring intelligent use of the block mechanic and has an excellent roll jump while blocking that will allow her to close in on tougher bosses like the first one and lay down some serious pain. Probably best for second or third playthroughs.
Kamaitachi
The third starting character and the "agile," speed member of the group. And, he is one nasty customer. He is your combo monster. Armed with stronger than average double rabbit punches while crawling on the ground, and two stronger normal finishers than either Ninja or Kunoichi. His normal attacks in general are more damaging and faster. He also has access to an air dash that can be comboed out of into a ground landing. A rapid ground kick for distance clearing. And, a backwards air ranged attack that can be comboed into his strange throw mechanic. He only has access to two throws and he can't use them at will requiring to combo before executing them, but they're still highly effective for control and provide I-Frames. From a purely technical stand point. He's probably the "strongest" character in the game once you've mastered its mechanics. But, isn't for beginners.
Yaksha
The Big Boobs girl, and apparently an "infiltrator" according to some online fan post I'll take as canon for what it's worth. She is the first unlocked character and far and away the hardest character in the game to use. Short ranged in her normals, but freely able to use all four throws just by walking into an enemy like Ninja and Kunoichi. Her lower health and slow movement demand technical mastery and use of blocking while moving or you will die, and quickly. Her special moves involve her extendable arms that allow to attack at range, super combo, and utilize a number of strange maneuvers and long range throws giving her impressive control of the battlefield. She's a beast once you get gud with her.
Raiden
Ninja's big brother. How big? 30 tons. How big? You have to double tap jump to make him turn left or right. He doesn't jump, he stomps. He can command grab giant bosses. He can pick up two enemies at once. He can turn into a metal gear and blow up enemies with a chain gun, mortars, and armor piercing rounds. His super combo is flame thrower that kills everything in front of him. He can rapidly turn by command throwing enemies behind him. His back attack is a room clearing super move that he can use at will. His normal down moves involve killing everything behind and in front him. He has twice as much as HP as ninja, who has twice as much HP as the other characters (I think, don't quote me on that). The catch? He's hard as hell to use. He's got damn near twice the inputs as the other characters, twice the spawn rate of enemies, and his large health pool don't mean a whole lot when he's getting killed in less than a minute from mobs as you struggle to remember how to use his abilities. He's the most technically demanding of the entire cast, but very fun once you get gud with him. Also, he doesn't auto grapple, but must use it as a command like Kamaitachi sans the need for combo start up.
And, that's a lot o' stuff. This is one hell of a fun game. Pick it up as it's available for PC and every major game console out right now. The same studio that made it did a bunch of other well received SNES remakes and a nice little indie hack and slash 2D game featuring a swordsman kangeroo.
Here's the arcade version if you're curious. It's very different, and still looks great.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ7-4ldPqdA
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