Shinobi no Okite

Shinobi no Okite follows three female ninjas on a secret mission along the Tokaido 53-tsugi, the highway connecting Kyoto and Edo. Karin from Koga, Kunai from Iga and Yuri from Negoro travel from Edo in the present day, overcoming obstacles and enemies. Their journey takes them through the 53 post towns, where travelers once stayed, rested and traded harnesses and outfits; the route also features famous places and historic sites that retain features from 400 years ago. As the three complete their goals, they gain an experience called “Kizuna.”

Story and Ukiyoe

Each stage alternates between Ukiyoe artwork and action: you see an opening section of art, play an action section, see more art, play a second action section, then see the final section. Clearing the stage reveals the continuation of the Ukiyoe image. The artwork also presents Japanese history, and at each post you can view the modern scenery of the inns.

Cut through each stage

You choose a character and move across the main screen, cutting away areas while avoiding enemies and obstacles. To make a cut, hold the Incision Button as you move through the screen, then connect the incision marks back to the border. The enclosed area is removed, revealing the corresponding part of the Ukiyoe image behind it. Each stage has a clear condition, shown when its action section begins, and a timer; running out of time before meeting the condition ends the game.

You can move up, down, left and right, but not diagonally. You can generally travel along the border lines, where you are safe from damage from the main screen except for bombs. Enemies can move inside the main screen and along its borders, and can be removed by cutting away the area they occupy. During a cut, enemies can damage you by touching the incision marks; overlapping incision marks also cause damage. Taking damage reduces your character stock, and taking damage when it is at zero ends the game. Choosing Continue lets you restart the same stage.

The area removed is the smaller portion enclosed by the incision marks and the borders. If it contains an item, the item is automatically used; if it contains an enemy, that enemy is removed. Obstacles block your movement, while affecting enemies in different ways: blocks do not alter their movement, speed panels change their speed for a set time, and reactive handicaps push them back when they hit one or a border.

Characters and abilities

The three ninjas use techniques and ninjutsu that have survived since the Sengoku period. They differ in movement and incision speed, and each has three named skills:

• Kunai IGA: balanced movement and incision speed; her skills are Karasemi, Toha and Hagan.
• Yuri NEGORO: slower movement but faster incision speed; her skills are Shinma, Jinrai and Hien.
• Karin KOGA: faster movement but slower incision speed; her skills are Hito, Shityo and Onjutsu.

Removing areas fills the Superpower Gauge according to the size of the area cut. Pressing the Superpower Button activates an ability. For random effects, it starts a roulette that you stop with the Incision Button; the displayed effect then takes effect.

Game modes and items

The game has three modes, each with its own clear condition:

• Normal: remove the specified percentage of the main screen.
• Treasure: use all the items hidden in the main screen.
• Catch: remove the enemy characters from the main screen in the exact order they appeared.

The number and kinds of hidden items vary by stage. Items include 1UP, which adds one to your character stock; Item Reveal, which shows where all hidden items are; Special Up, which raises the Superpower Gauge level; and Special Plus, which adds a set amount to the gauge. If you use an item while another is already active, the latest item's effect takes priority.