This is one of those games I beat a couple years ago legitimately just to say I did it. The cutscenes hold up incredibly well, the music is outstanding, and the first couple of stages are fun. Even the movement is really good. It's just a shame that the level design completely breaks apart halfway through and completely sours the experience.

I'll die on the hill that most of the Shinobi games are better and that, if it weren't for the (at the time) groundbreaking presentation and notorious difficulty level, most wouldn't care about this game. Sue me and tell me I suck...but at least I beat the thing the way the sadists at Tecmo intended before sharing my opinion online.