Shadow Dancer (US) - MAME machine

Arcade Video game published 35 years ago:

Shadow Dancer - Kage no Mai © 1989 Sega.

A loose sequel to 1988's "Shinobi", Shadow Dancer stars a young Ninja who, together with his faithful canine companion, must battle against a terrorist group. The terrorist group have planted a number of time bombs throughout the metropolis. The Ninja and his dog must set out to gather up all the explosives placed by the evil gang and to annihilate the criminal mastermind.

Game-play is very similar to that of the original Shinobi, and features the jumping and projectile weapon-based game-play of its illustrious older brother. However, a new and crucial attacking move has since been added to the Ninja's arsenal. Pulling DOWN on the joystick and pressing the ATTACK button sends the hero's dog to attack the nearest enemy. This will stop the enemy from attacking the player as he wrestles with the dog. The enemy must be killed quickly, however, or the dog itself will be killed. If the dog is attacked, he will turn into a small puppy, and once the player has killed a set number of enemies, the puppy will grow to be a full-sized dog who can once again be used to attack enemies.

TECHNICAL
Runs on the Sega "System 18" hardware.

Players: 2
Control: 8-way joystick
Buttons: 3 (ATTACK, JUMP, MAGIC)

TRIVIA
Released in December 1989.

The subtitle of this game translates from Japanese as 'Dance of Shadows'.

The identity of the main character differs between the supplemental materials of the game's various home versions.

• In the Japanese Mega Drive version, the main character is named Hayate and is characterized as the son of Joe Musashi (the game being set 20 years after original Shinobi). His canine companion is named Yamato.
• In the English Sega Genesis/Mega Drive version, the character is Joe Musashi himself. His canine companion is still named Yamato in this version.
• In the Master System version, the ninja is named Takashi in the manual and Fuma during the attract sequence.

UPDATES
The United States cocktail version is different.

• 'Winners Don't Use Drugs' screen added.
• 'Sega' logo during cocktail mode.

TIPS AND TRICKS
Finish a stage without throwing ANY star (only 'close attacks'). You can use your 'Dog Attack'. You will receive a 100,000 points bonus.

SERIES

• Shinobi [Model 317-0049] (1987, Arcade)
• Shadow Dancer - Kage no Mai (1989, Arcade)
• The Revenge of Shinobi (1989, Mega Drive)
• The Cyber Shinobi - Shinobi Part 2 (1990, Master System)
• The GG Shinobi [Model G-3302] (1991, Game Gear)
• The GG Shinobi II [Model G-3315] (1992, Game Gear)
• Shinobi III - Return of the Ninja Master (1993, Mega Drive)
• Shinobi X (1995, Saturn)
• The Revenge of Shinobi (2002, Game Boy Advance)
• Shinobi (2002, PS2)
• Nightshade (2004, PS2)
• Shinobi 3D (2011, 3DS)

PORTS
Note: The Sega Genesis / Mega Drive port of this game has a completely different level layout, a completely different plot, some mechanics changes (such as being able to collide with enemies), and the bombs were turned into hostages.

• CONSOLES:

[EU] Sega Master System (1991) "Shadow Dancer - The Secret of Shinobi [Model 9009]"
[BR] Sega Master System (1991) "The Secret of Shinobi": by Tec Toy
[US] Sega Genesis (1990)
[JP] Sega Mega Drive (dec.1, 1990) "Shadow Dancer - The Secret of Shinobi [Model G-4043]"
[EU] Sega Mega Drive (1991)
[BR] Sega Mega Drive (1992) "The Secret of Shinobi": by Tec Toy

• COMPUTERS:

[EU] Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1991)
[US] [EU] Commodore 64 (1991)
[EU] Amstrad CPC (1991)
[EU] Commodore Amiga (1991)
[EU] Atari ST (1991)

CONTRIBUTE
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