Ninja Gaiden Black

This page sucks. If you could make it suck less, that would be awesome. Specifically: Most of this page is just the same as the one for Ninja Gaiden vanilla, so either focus on unused content ONLY present in this version or better yet merge it with vanilla's article (preferably with a subpage).

This article is a work in progress. ...Well, all the articles here are, in a way. But this one moreso, and the article may contain incomplete information and editor's notes.

Ninja Gaiden Black is a re-release of Ninja Gaiden that includes both Hurricane Packs released for the previous game, a new Mission Mode, and two new difficulties (Ninja Dog for beginners and Master Ninja for veteran players).

Unused Sounds

To do: Check if the Japanese dialogue has unused lines.

sse.afs

Contains the voiced dialogue used in-game, plus several that aren't.

010_Murai.adx

Unused Murai voice line, probably meant to be used when talking with Ryu at the beginning of Chapter 3.

071_Rachael.adx

Unused Rachael voice line, probably meant to be used when meeting with Doku at the beginning of Chapter 8.

073_Doku.adx

Doku's voice without the voice filter, probably a leftover.

094_Rachael_alt.adx

Unused Rachael voice line, probably meant to be used as an alternative to the call for Ryu at the end of Chapter 15.

103_Ryu.adx

Unused Ryu voice line, probably meant to be used as after his previous dialogue "You're still open?" during Chapter 14.

Unused Music

bgm.afs

Contains the songs used in-game, plus several that aren't.

0611_bgm.adx

A song that was used for the E3 2002 trailer. It sounds similar to the Supply Base music, except for the intro. This was included in the Original Sound Trax, though.

bgm_rtm_dummy.adx

Maybe a leftover from Ninja Gaiden's early development stages.

shinobi_sato.adx

Probably meant to be used at the beginning of Chapter 1, as Ninja Gaiden Sigma makes use of this song as soon as starting the game. This was included as a bonus track in the Original Sound Trax.

Unused Text

s_yasik00.sty

Leftover text lines from Ninja Gaiden are present in this file, specifically the Ultimate Techniques tutorial from Murai at the beginning of Chapter 2.

I shall teach you one thing before you go. It is especially important now that evildoers are in our midst... You must use your Ultimate Techniques! These techniques are secret arts that use the souls of vanquished enemies, called Essence, to boost the strength of your attacks. These Ultimate Techniques are the one of the innermost secrets of the Ninja. Shall we try one?

Murai teaching the player how to use the Ultimate Techniques, just before Ryu makes his way to the Hayabusa Village.

Press and hold @AY to absorb the surrounding Essence. Once you have charged enough and feel as though you are about to explode, release @AY

The button indications to use the Ultimate Technique (@AY is used to show the Y button in-game).

You are taking too long. Try again.

This is what should show on-screen when failing the technique.

That is it! That is your first Ultimate Technique, the Extinction Straight Slash.

This is intended to show when you successfully perform the first Ultimate Technique.

Next, try it with 2 Essences. Absorb 2 or more to use even more powerful Ultimate Techniques. Press and hold @AY to charge, then release.

Instructions for the level 2 Ultimate Technique.

You must absorb both Essences with your blade. Try it again.

Ultimate Technique level 2 failed.

Yes, that is right! When this attack makes contact with an enemy, you will witness its true power. The secret of this technique is that it allows you to extract even more Essence than usual from defeated enemies. Do you wish to learn something else?

Successful Ultimate Technique level 2.

I will teach you another useful technique. The Reverse Wind is a Ninja rolling technique that allows you to avoid even the most intense enemy attacks. While blocking, move the Left Thumbstick.

Another technique that Murai teaches to Ryu, the Reverse Wind.

That is right. Remember to stay sharp even when you are surrounded by enemies or facing certain death... Do not die on me!

Reverse Wind technique success.

I have nothing left to teach you. Go now, and protect your people!

Last dialogue from Murai.

The game cannot be saved in the demo.

Leftover text line from the Ninja Gaiden demo included in the OXM29 demo disc and kiosks demo, when trying to save the game.

Unused Sprites

spr.afs

This file contains several common sprites, like items or menu screens.

Name	Sprite	In-Game	Description
xbox.spr			Unused Prototype Xbox sprite. It was used for the Prototype Xbox item, seen in the Ninja Gaiden E3 2003 gameplay footage. (Source: David Lim)
arc_fo1.spr			Unused unknown book sprite.
arc_pa1.spr			Unused unknown map/scroll sprite.
arc_st1.spr			Unused unknown stone sprite. Probably an early version of the Stone Tablets.
ay_ku.spr			Unused Ayane kunai sprite.
gofu.spr			An alternate sprite for the Talisman of Rebirth. It is taller than the used one. Top is unused. Bottom is the final version.
nodata.spr			Unused "No Data" sprite.
ss_orb.spr			Unused sprite. The sprite is the same as nodata.spr. Probably for an unused or unfinished item found in The Hayabusa Village, which is known as ssato in the files.
yoto2.spr			Unused Kitetsu Level 2 sprite. It is unfinished. The sprite is the same as nodata.spr. (The Kitetsu is known as yoto in the files.)
sv_chap23.spr		N/A	Unused save point sprite, at the entrance of the Military Supply Base at nighttime, contrary to Ninja Gaiden where the sprite shown is this one, no matter of the actual day time.
sv_chap29.spr		N/A	Unused save point sprite, just at the entrance of the Ice Cavern.
theat_p2.spr			Obscured E3 2002, E3 2003, and TGS 2003 sprites, meant to be displayed in the Movie Theater, probably to play their respective press conference trailers.
saveload.spr		N/A	Early Ki meter gauge. During early stages of development the Ki power was apparently refilled by inflicting damage to enemies, instead of using the Devil Elixirs. (Source: David Lim) Meant to be displayed at the Save/Load screen. These are also present in demo.spr inside demo.afs.
		N/A	Unused "Select" and "Cancel" buttons. Meant to be displayed at the Save/Load screen. It is present in many other sprite files, such as shop.spr and clear.spr.
			Unused Ninpo icon. Probably linked to the 5th Ninpo Scroll mentioned in the default.xbe. Meant to be displayed at the Save/Load screen. It is also present in menu.spr inside cmn.afs and in game.spr inside demo.afs.
option.spr		N/A	Obscured information sprite. Only part of it is actually displayed. "Press start to back" is totally obscured. It is present in many other sprite files.
		N/A	Unused Xbox Duke Controller sprite. Meant to be displayed in the Button Remapping screen.
		N/A	Unused Japanese Xbox S Controller jewel. Probably meant to be displayed instead of the American/European counterpart.
coming.spr		N/A	Leftovers from the OXM29 and Kiosk demo versions, meant to be shown as a sequence after the ending cutscene of Chapter 1. (Source: XZize)