
Next week's Arcade Archives release is Mirai Ninja, a Japan-only Namco title from 1988 which was never ported to any home system, and holds a special place in video game history.
Released in the same year as Keita Amemiya's 1988 movie Mirai Ninja: Keigumo Kinin Gaiden (known as Cyber Ninja in the United States, Warlord in Canada and Robo Ninja in the UK), Mirai Ninja was powered by the Namco System 2 coin-op board and looks a lot like other ninja titles from the period, like Shinobi and Ninja Spirit. Amemiya, it should be noted, has since worked on video games like the Onimusha series and Shin Megami Tensei IV.

Interestingly, the game isn't actually based on the film, as is so often the case. It's actually the other way around! Namco was actively involved with Mirai Ninja's production, rather than using it under licence. It was even involved with the movie's distribution, making this one of the first examples of a live-action video game movie – even pre-dating the likes of Super Mario Bros., Double Dragon, Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat.
You can check out the North American trailer – intended to promote the VHS release to rental stores – below, and there's some gameplay of the arcade release below that.
Will you be downloading this one? Let us know with a comment.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 17
Well I know what I'm watching tonight.
Game looks fun as well, like Ninja Gaiden on crack. Just where does he keep all those throwing stars?
This game looks SO COOL! I definitely plan to get this arcade archives release, and maybe even look into the movie.
The west missed out on a lot of cool stuff in the 80s and 90s, so I'm glad companies like Hamster are instrumental on getting players all caught up.
@OldManHermit You know where he hides them.
YO Mirai ninja?
That’s what I’m taking about
They should include the movie with game.
This game needs a seizure warning lol
Reminiscent of Star Wars? Well... I GUEHUESS....
@Astral-Grain Of course! Why didn't I think of it before. His magical ninja codpiece, obviously.
It feels like a video of someone speed running the game is not the best gameplay example. I mean, look how they completely cheese that water level by running on top of the water? And we hardly got to see the bosses? Also, where is the story? I mean, at the end there’s the two bosses, but what was their deal? Who was the guy with spider legs coming out his back? Do I need to see the movie to find out, or is the story explained in game and they just skipped it?
Be advised of rapid screen flashing on the arcade gameplay video. I've been sensitive to that in the past and I know others have much worse reactions than I've had. Luckily, I seem less sensitive to it.
So from Mirai Ninja they got robo and cyber instead of Future?
Future Ninja: something something side story? maybe there is a robot in here some where.
Thank you for the super spoiling playthrough of the game.
Oh man! How good does this look! Awesome
Can't say it looks as good as the amazing Ninja Spirit referenced, or even Shinobi. But might be worth a try.
This looks like what you'd get if you threw Shinobi, Contra and Sonic the Hedgehog into a blender.
HOLY!! I love the Mirai Ninja movie (Keita Amemiya's Toku master!) and I never thought I'd see THIS get re-released! Count me in!
Whoa, I can get Cyber Ninja on VHS for only $89.99? Sign me up!
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