Ninja Gaiden (1990-)

• Developer: BlueSky Software

• Publisher: Atari

• Genre: Beat 'Em Up

Ninja Gaiden for the Atari Lynx was developed by BlueSky Software and published by Atari in 1990. Unlike the NES trilogy that focused on fast-paced side-scrolling platform action, the Lynx game was a port of the arcade original, designed as a scrolling beat ’em up. This distinction made the Lynx version quite different from what many players expected, since it leaned heavily on martial arts combat and cooperative-style fighting gameplay, rather than intricate platforming or narrative-driven progression. It remained a Lynx-exclusive among handhelds, with no other systems receiving this specific arcade port during its time.

The story followed Ryu Hayabusa, who takes on a dangerous crime syndicate, facing endless streams of street-level enemies. With its inspiration rooted firmly in the arcade release, the Lynx adaptation retained the brawler structure that had been successful in arcades during the late 1980s. Much like contemporaries such as Double Dragon, the action focused on defeating waves of enemies while moving through gritty, urban-themed stages. Though simpler than the NES games in storytelling, it provided handheld players with a pure combat experience that fit the arcade mold.

Gameplay in the Lynx version emphasized hand-to-hand combat, with Ryu executing punches, kicks, and grabs to fend off enemies across scrolling environments. BlueSky Software took advantage of the Lynx hardware to render relatively large and well-animated character sprites, creating a portable experience that captured the feel of the arcade game. The soundtrack supported the action with sharp sound effects and looping background music, which, while limited by the Lynx’s audio capabilities, gave the game a steady sense of momentum and impact during battles.

There was no prequel to this title on the Lynx, but Ninja Gaiden as a franchise had already established itself on the NES by the time of this release, and would later see sequels such as Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos and Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom. Promotion of the Lynx version highlighted it as an authentic arcade experience in handheld form, aiming to show off the power of the system. Reception was mixed, with some praising its ambition and graphical presentation, while others criticized its limited variety and controls compared to the home console counterparts. Even so, it remains a distinctive part of the Lynx library and an important piece of Ninja Gaiden’s history.

Images from MobyGames