Shinobi on the Sega Master System is one of those games that makes you realize how tough ninjas should be—no fancy cutscenes, just straight into throwing stars and backflips over enemy swords. The first level throws you right into it: you’re dodging archers, timing jumps over pits, and figuring out which enemies go down with a slash and which need a shuriken to the face.

The controls feel tight once you get used to them, though that jump-kick move takes some practice to nail consistently. And those boss fights? Brutal in the best way—you’ll memorize patterns fast or get wrecked. The music’s got that classic Sega vibe, all tense and punchy, perfect for when you’re sneaking past guards or dueling some dude with a flamethrower.

It’s not just nostalgia either—the level design holds up, with hidden hostages to rescue and those satisfying moments when you clear a screen of enemies without taking a hit. Just don’t be surprised if you yell at the TV a few times first.