Shadow Legend

The player controls the ninja Kage (Shadow), a skilled Iga ninja on a mission to rescue the kidnapped princess Kirihime from the evil warlord Yoshi and his forces. Gameplay is a side-scrolling hack-and-slash platformer where Kage jumps across vertical stages, fights hordes of enemy ninjas and warriors with a kodachi sword and unlimited shuriken throws, and uses the scroll power-up to instantly kill all on-screen enemies for ten seconds. The three main stages cycle through summer, fall, and winter settings, with the princess rescued twice (or three times in some versions) to change seasons. Story focuses on the ancient Japanese Edo-period tale of ninja heroism and princess rescue. Characters include the heroic Kage, the captured princess Kirihime, and the villainous warlord Yoshi (and samurai Yuki). What makes it stand out is the fluid vertical movement, emphasis on speed and platforming, and beautiful traditional Japanese art and music that blend action with authentic cultural feel.