Alex Kidd in Shinobi World is this weird little gem on the Sega Master System where, surprise, Alex Kidd wakes up in the middle of a ninja adventure. Instead of his usual platforming, he’s tossing shurikens, climbing walls, and pulling off these awkward-but-charming ninja moves. The controls take a second to get used to—jumping feels a bit floaty at first, but once you adjust, it’s oddly satisfying.

It’s got that classic "ninja out of water" vibe where everything’s trying to kill you, and you’re just some kid figuring it out as you go. The levels are short but packed with traps, enemies that pop out of nowhere, and these weird power-ups that make you question what you just picked up. The music’s catchy in that 8-bit way that sticks in your head way longer than it should.

Not gonna lie, it’s janky in places, but there’s something endearing about how hard it commits to turning Alex Kidd into a makeshift shinobi. If you’ve got nostalgia for old-school Sega oddities, this one’s worth a look.