The Legend of Kage

About

Kage is a ninja action game where you slash through enemies with a shortsword and fling limitless shuriken. Play as a young Iga warrior navigating forests, fortresses, and castles to rescue a princess. Collect crystal balls to cycle through colored outfits that boost your speed or shuriken size. If hit in green or orange, you drop back to red but stay alive. Pick up scrolls to pause and kill nearby foes, though this mechanic is limited to the arcade release. The MSX version adds co-op multiplayer, letting two players team up to survive waves of attackers. The game’s mix of combat and power-ups stood out for its time. Its co-op mode predates many modern multiplayer standards. With roots in 1985 arcades and ports to home systems like the C64 and ZX Spectrum, it’s a relic of early ninja action. Seasonal shifts after each rescue add visual variety, while the unlicensed port to Taiwan’s SG-1000 hints at its cult appeal. Kage’s blend of speed, strategy, and survival keeps it fresh for retro fans.

Storyline

The player takes role of the young Iga ninja named Kage ("Shadow") on the mission to rescue Princess Kiri (Kirihime) from the villains Yoshi (Yoshiro Yukikusa) and Yuki (Yukinosuke Kiri). Kage must fight his way through the forest, along the secret passageway, up the fortress wall and through the castle, rescuing her two times (three in the NES version) in order to win the game. Each time the princess is rescued, the seasons change in the game.