The Ninja Warriors (World, later version)

Two players take on the role of ninjas in The Ninja Warriors, a fast-paced side-scrolling action game released by Taito Corporation in 1987. The objective is to battle through waves of enemies and ultimately confront an evil dictator, requiring skillful use of shuriken and daggers as your primary weapons. This cooperative gameplay features visible damage to the ninja characters, adding a layer of vulnerability to the intense combat. The game’s unique visual presentation stems from its original cabinet design which utilized three monitors for a wider screen display. Players navigate horizontally across the screen, facing increasingly challenging opponents while utilizing jumps and attacks to overcome obstacles. A memorable character, bearing a striking resemblance to Yoda from Star Wars, later reappeared in another Taito title. The Ninja Warriors spawned sequels on various platforms including Super Famicom and PlayStation 4, and its soundtrack was released on limited-edition albums by Pony Canyon / Scitron. Brian Chapel currently holds the high score record for this arcade classic.