This page details one or more prototype versions of Ninja Gaiden (Sega Master System).
A prototype of the Master System Ninja Gaiden was dumped by the Image/Helsinki/Finland Group on July 9, 1999.
The entire storyline was rewritten between the prototype and final, with the prototype going more in-depth rather than the final that was done in Ryu's perspective.
Intro
| Proto
|
Final
|
|
RYU HAYABUSA IS A DESCENDENT
OF CLAN OF DRAGON NINJAS
WHO HAVE KEPT THE PEACE
IN JAPAN FOR GENERATIONS.
|
I AM NINJA MASTER RYU OF THE
HOUSE OF DRAGON.
|
|
ONE DAY HE RECEIVED THE NEWS
THAT HIS HOME VILLAGE,
THE DRAGON VILLAGE,
WAS ATTACKED BY SOMEONE.
|
NOW THAT BUSINESS HAS BEEN
TAKEN CARE OF IT WILL BE
MOST RELAXING TO SPEND SOME
TIME AT...
|
|
HE HURRIED HOME
TO TAKE CARE OF THINGS.
|
| Proto
|
Final
|
|
BUT HE RETURNED HOME ONLY TO
FIND THAT HE WAS TOO LATE.
|
...HOME?
|
|
HE COULD DO NOTHING
BUT STARE AT THE RUBBLE
THAT WAS ONCE HIS VILLAGE.
|
| Proto
|
Final
|
|
RYU FOUND THE SOLE
SURVIVOR IN THE VILLAGE.
|
...EVERYONE DEAD...
|
|
WITH HIS LAST FEW WORDS,
THE SURVIVOR TOLD RYU THAT
THE BUSHIDO HAD BEEN STOLEN.
|
...RYU... YOU MUST...
...RYU...THE BUSHIDO...
...GONE...GONE...
|
| Proto
|
Final
|
|
THE BUSHIDO IS AN ANCIENT
SCROLL THAT HAS BEEN HANDED
DOWN THROUGH GENERATIONS
OF DRAGON NINJAS.
|
THE BUSHIDO - A SCROLL OF
GREAT NINJA POWER. IN THE
WRONG HANDS ITS POTENTIAL
FOR DESTRUCTION COULD BE
LIMITLESS.
|
|
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS
SECRETS ABOUT WAYS TO SUMMON
THE POWERS OF THIS WORLD.
|
|
ACCORDING TO RYU'S,
ANCESTORS WHOEVER SUMMONED
THESE POWERS COULD
EVEN CONQUER THE WORLD.
|
| Proto
|
Final
|
|
RYU WHIPPED OUT HIS
DRAGONSWORD WHICH IS ALSO
ENDOWED WITH SUCH POWERS.
|
LET THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR
THIS BEWARE. I WILL AVENGE
MY HOUSE AND I WILL TAKE
BACK THE BUSHIDO.
|
|
HE SWORE TO HIMSELF
THAT HE WOULD REGAIN
THE BUSHIDO AND TAKE
REVENGE FOR HIS VILLAGE.
|
SO I DO SWEAR!
|
Chapter 1
Chapter Intro
| Proto
|
Final
|
|
AS RYU STARTED WALKING
AWAY FROM THE VILLAGE,
A HOARD OF MEN
STOOD IN HIS WAY.
|
YOUR FRIENDS THOUGHT THEY
WERE PRETTY TOUGH TOO,
LITTLE NINJA. HA! HA!
|
|
>THE SUMO WRESTLER
"I'M SURPRISED THAT
ANYONE IS LEFT ALIVE
AFTER WHAT WE DID."
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"WHAT? WHERE DID YOU
TAKE THE BUSHIDO?"
|
|
>THE SUMO WRESTLER
"I'LL TELL YOU IF YOU CAN
DEFEAT ME IN BATTLE.
BUT I DON'T THINK YOU'RE
STRONG ENOUGH TO DO THAT."
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"YOU'LL REGRET THOSE WORDS!"
|
Chapter Ending
| Proto
|
Final
|
|
>THE SUMO WRESTLER
"I NEVER EXPECTED THAT
YOU WERE THIS STRONG...
THE BUSHIDO ISN'T HERE..
IT'S IN THE.."
|
GO TO TOKYO AND SEEK... AGH!
|
|
SUDDENLY,
SOMEONE STABBED THE SUMO
WRESTLER IN THE BACK.
|
A KNIFE THROWN FROM THE
FOREST SUDDENLY CUTS OFF THE
SUMO WRESTLERS LAST WORDS.
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"WHO IS THAT?"
|
|
RYU TRIED TO CHASE
THE MAN WHO HAD
STABBED THE SUMO WRESTLER,
BUT THE MAN QUICKLY
DISAPPEARED INTO THE FOREST.
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"COME ON, DON'T DIE NOW!"
|
|
>THE SUMO WRESTLER
"TO... TOKYO..."
|
Chapter 2
Chapter Intro
| Proto |
Final |
|---|
 |
 |
Ninja is spelled "Ninjya" in the prototype, which applies to all chapter intros. The final also fixed a typo on "pursuit".
| Proto
|
Final
|
|
IN TOKYO,
WHILE RYU WAS LOOKING FOR
CLUES AS TO WHERE HE
COULD FIND THE BUSHIDO,
A NUMBER OF YAKUZA
GANG MEMBERS APPEARED.
|
HEY! SAW HOW YA TOOK CARE OF
THE SUMO. TOO BAD HE DIED
BEFORE YOU COULD FIND OUT
ANYTHING USEFUL. RIGHT BOYS!
|
|
>YAKUZA OYABUN
"ARE YOU THE ONE WHO
KILLED THE SUMO WRESTLER?"
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"WHO ARE YOU?
HEY! THAT'S HIM!"
|
|
RYU IDENTIFIED ONE MAN
AMONG THE CROWD.
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"YOU'RE THE ONES WHO
KILLED THE SUMO WRESTLER!"
|
|
>YAKUZA OYABUN
"THAT'S BECAUSE HE
WAS TALKING TOO MUCH.
HOW ABOUT IT RYU,
WHY DON'T YOU JOIN OUR GANG.
I'LL PAY YOU WELL
FOR YOUR EFFORTS."
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"ARE YOU CRAZY?
I'LL NEVER JOIN
YOU SCOUNDRELS!"
|
|
>YAKUZA OYABUN
"THAT'S TOO BAD.
I GUESS WE'LL HAVE TO
KILL YOU THEN.
KILL HIM!"
|
Chapter Ending
| Proto
|
Final
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"WHERE DID YOU HIDE
THE BUSHIDO?"
|
WHAT DO MEAN "THE BUSHIDO IS
IN THE HANDS OF THE
KENDO SAMURAI".
|
|
>YAKUZA OYABUN
"I DON'T KNOW...
IT'S PROBABLY
AT THE TSUTENKAKU
SAMURAI'S PLACE IN OSAKA."
|
HONORABLE SWORDSMEN DO NOT
SIDE WITH FILTH LIKE YOU!
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"WHAT? TSUTENKAKU?"
|
|
RYU KNEW THIS NAME.
TSUTENKAKU WAS THE NAME
OF A FAMOUS SWORDSMAN.
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"I DIDN'T THINK THAT
TSUTENKAKU WAS THE KIND OF
MAN WHO WOULD TAKE SIDES
WITH THE LIKES OF THESE MAN.
BUT WHY?"
|
Chapter 3
Chapter Intro
| Proto |
Final |
|---|
 |
 |
Changed the location between the prototype and final. Tsutenkaku means Tower Reaching Heaven and is located in Osaka while the final is not a location but rather a martial art.
| Proto
|
Final
|
|
RYU HEADED FOR OSAKA TO
FIND THE TSUTENKAKU SAMURAI.
BUT THE MAN HE FOUND
THERE WAS NOT THE SAMEMAN
HE HAD KNOWN BEFORE.
TSUTENKAKU HAD THE
LOOK OF A KILLER NOW.
|
SOMEHOW I KNEW YOU WOULD
MAKE IT AT LEAST THIS FAR,
RYU. NOW, NOTHING PERSONAL,
BUT YOU MUST BE KILLED!
|
|
>THE TSUTENKAKU SAMURAI
"I HAVE NOTHING PERSONAL
AGAINST YOU BUT YOU'RE
GOING TO HAVE TO DIE!"
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"WHY IS A MAN LIKE YOU
TAKING SIDES WITH
THOSE SCOUNDRELS?"
|
|
>THE TSUTENKAKU SAMURAI
"I DON'T NEED TO
ANSWER THAT.
HERE I COME,DRAGON NINJA!"
|
Chapter Ending
| Proto
|
Final
|
|
>THE TSUTENKAKU SAMURAI
"YOU... ARE...
VERY POWERFUL.
YOU LIVE UP TO
THE REPUTATION OF
DRAGON NINJAS."
|
HURRY TO MOUNT FUJI! THEY
HAVE MY DAUGHTER. SHE IS A
GEISHA AND CANNOT FEND FOR
HERSELF. PLEASE...SAVE HER
...SAVE...HER...
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"..."
|
|
>THE TSUTENKAKU SAMURAI
"I HAVE A REQUEST FOR YOU.
PLEASE SAVE
MY GEISHA DAUGHTER."
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"DAUGHTER?"
|
|
>THE TSUTENKAKU SAMURAI
"SEVERAL MONTHS AGO,
A MAN WHO CALLS HIMSELF
THE SHOGUN OF DARKNESS
KIDNAPPED MY DAUGHTER
AND BLACKMAILED ME INTO
TAKING SIDES WITH HIM.
MY DAUGHTER IS CAPTIVE
ON MOUNT FUJI.
THE BUSHIDO SHOULD BE WITH
HER CAPTORS RIGHT NOW...
PLEASE, SAVE MY DAUGHTER!"
|
|
THE SAMURAI GRIPPED RYU'S
HAND ONE LAST TIME AND DIED.
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"I'VE HEARD YOUR LAST
REQUEST LOUD AND CLEAR!"
|
Chapter 4
Chapter Intro
| Proto
|
Final
|
|
RYU HURRIED TO MOUNT FUJI.
IF THE ENEMY FINDS OUT
THAT THE TSUTENKAKU
SAMURAI WAS DEFEATED,
THEY MIGHT MOVE THE BUSHIDO
TO A NEW HIDING PLACE AND
KILL THE SAMURAI'S DAUGHTER.
MOUNT FUJI STOOD OUT
RED FROM THE MORNING
SUNLIGHT AGAINST THE SKY.
|
I MUST MOVE QUICKLY. IF THEY
FIND OUT ABOUT THE SAMURAI
THEY MAY HARM THE GEISHA!
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"IS THAT IT?"
|
THAT MUST BE THEM!
|
|
SOMETHING FLASHED HALF
WAY UP THE MOUNTAIN.
IT LOOKED LIKE
A MAN-MADE STRUCTURE.
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
IF ONLY I'M NOT TOO LATE..."
|
Chapter Ending
| Proto
|
Final
|
|
>THE GEISHA
"WHO IS IT?"
|
NINJA MASTER RYU?...THEN MY
FATHER...WHERE IS...
OH RYU...
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"I'VE COME TO RESCUE YOU ON
THE REQUEST OF YOUR FATHER."
|
|
>THE GEISHA
"THEN YOU MUST BE
THE DRAGON NINJA."
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?"
|
|
>THE GEISHA
"MY FATHER TOLD ME THAT YOU
WOULD COME TO RESCUE ME.
RYU, THE BUSHIDO HAS
ALREADY BEEN MOVED TO
THE CASTLE OF DARKNESS.
YOU MUST RETRIEVE
THAT SCROLL!"
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"WHERE IS
THE CASTLE OF DARKNESS?"
|
|
>THE GEISHA
"THEY SAID THAT IT WAS
OFF TO THE NORTH,
ACROSS A FROZEN SEA
AND THROUGH A CAVE."
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"I SEE, THANK YOU.
NOW LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!"
|
Chapter 5
Chapter Intro
| Proto |
Final |
|---|
 |
 |
Rewritten the chapter name to flow better in English.
| Proto
|
Final
|
|
RYU HAYABUSA
"THE CASTLE OF DARKNESS
MUST BE CLOSE NOW."
|
I OVERHEARD THEM SAY THAT
THE CASTLE OF DARKNESS WAS
BEYOND THIS LAND OF ICE.
I'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU
HERE SO HURRY BACK SAFELY.
|
|
>THE GEISHA
"YES IT IS.
BUT THE PATH AHEAD
IS UNDER THE CONTROL
OF THE SHOGUN.
IT WOULD BE VERY
DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO GET
TO THE CASTLE ALONE."
I'LL GO WITH YOU."
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"NO.
PLEASE WAIT FOR ME HERE.
I'LL BE OK.
I'LL COME BACK FOR YOU."
|
|
>THE GEISHA
"RYU..."
|
Chapter Ending
| Proto
|
Final
|
|
>THE ICE MONSTER
"EVEN AFTER YOU'VE
DESTROYED ME,
YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO
GET THROUGH TO
THE CASTLE OF DARKNESS."
|
YOU MAY HAVE DEFEATED ME,
BUT NOW YOU MUST DEAL WITH
THE WRATH OF THE DARK SHOGUN
AND HIS EVIL MINIONS. BY
ENTERING THAT CAVE YOU WILL
SEAL YOUR DOOM.
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"
|
|
>THE ICE MONSTER
"THE PATH AHEAD IS PROTECTED
BY CREATURES FROM
THE WORLD OF DARKNESS.
NO HUMAN CAN GET THROUGH
WITHOUT THE PROTECTION OF
THE SHOGUN OF DARKNESS.
AND YOU'RE NO EXCEPTION!"
|
|
AS SOON AS
THE ICE MONSTER DIED,
THE WALL BEHIND
HIM CRUMBLED.
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"SO THAT'S THE ENTRANCE
TO THE CAVE."
|
|
AN EERIE AURA CAME SPILLING
OUT OF THE ENTRANCE.
|
Chapter 6
Chapter Intro
| Proto
|
Final
|
|
ABOUT THAT TIME,
SOMETHING WAS HAPPENING
TO THE GEISHA
WHO WAS WAITING FOR RYU.
|
WELL...WELL...WHAT HAVE WE
GOT HERE? DON'T YOU KNOW
THAT IT'S NOT SAFE TO GO
OUTSIDE ALONE?
SOMETHING BAD COULD HAPPEN!
|
|
>THE SHOGUN OF DARKNESS
"YOU'RE TRYING TO
MAKE LIFE DIFFICULT
FOR ME AREN'T YOU?
YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED
RIGHT WHERE I PUT YOU."
|
|
>THE GEISHA
"OH NO,
YOU MUST BE THE... SHOGUN."
|
|
>THE SHOGUN OF DARKNESS
"DON'T WORRY,
I WON'T KILL YOU RIGHT AWAY.
YOU'RE STILL GOING TO
BE USEFUL TO ME."
|
|
THE SHOGUN STARED AT
THE GEISHA WITH EYES
FULL OF MADNESS AND EVIL.
THE GEISHA FELT HER
POWER BEING SUCKED AWAY
THROUGH HIS STARE AND
FINALLY FELL UNCONSCIOUS.
|
Chapter Ending
| Proto
|
Final
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"THIS IS NOTHING BUT
A STONE STATUE.
WHY IS IT HERE?
AND THOSE MONSTERS...
HE EVEN USES
OTHERWORLDLY CREATURES.
JUST WHO IS THIS SHOGUN?"
|
ROCK! JUST COLD. LIFELESS
STONE. ONE WHO CAN CONTROL
EVEN THE EARTH SPIRIT IS
A DEADLY FOE INDEED. JUST
WHO IS THIS DARK SHOGUN?
|
Chapter 7
Chapter Intro
| Proto
|
Final
|
|
RYU FINALLY REACHED THE
ENEMY'S HOME TERRITORY.
|
THE CASTLE OF DARKNESS...
NOT THE KIND OF PLACE I'D
CALL HOME, THAT'S FOR SURE.
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"SO THIS IS
THE CASTLE OF DARKNESS!"
|
|
THE CASTLE OF DARKNESS
WAS SHROUDED IN A BLACK,
MYSTERIOUS AURA.
AND THE MYSTERIOUS AURA
SEEMED TO DRAG
EVERYTHING TOWARD THE
HIGHEST SECTION OF THE
CENTRAL CASTLE TOWER.
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"THE SHOGUN
MUST BE IN THERE.
MAYBE THE BUSHIDO IS
ALSO THERE..."
|
Chapter Ending
| Proto
|
Final
|
|
>RYU RAN UP TO THE
CENTRAL TOWER.
|
THE BUSHIDO!
AT LAST I HAVE RECOVERED
THE ONLY TRUE ARTIFACT OF
THE HOUSE OF DRAGON. NOW
TO FIND THE GEISHA AND
TAKE CARE OF THE DARK...
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"THERE IT IS, THE BUSHIDO!"
|
|
JUST WHEN RYU REACHED
OUT TO GRAB IT,...
|
|
>THE GEISHA
"RYU, LOOK OUT!"
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"WHAT?"
|
|
BY THE TIME RYU
TURNED AROUND,
THE SWORD WAS ABOUT
TO DESCEND ON HIS HEAD.
HE TRIED TO DODGE THE BLOW
BUT HE WAS NOT FAST ENOUGH.
THE SWORD CUT DEEPLY
INTO HIS LEFT SHOULDER.
|
|
>THE SHOGUN OF DARKNESS
"I'LL GIVE YOU CREDIT
FOR COMING THIS FAR.
BUT YOU AND THIS GIRL ARE
GOING TO DIE RIGHT HERE."
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"YOU... YOU ARE THE SHOGUN!"
|
Chapter 8
Chapter Intro
| Proto
|
Final
|
|
>THE SHOGUN OF DARKNESS
"WITH THAT WOUND,
YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO FIGHT.
I'LL USE THIS GIRL AS A
LIVING SACRIFICE TO
BRING OUT THE FULL
POWERS OF THE BUSHIDO.
THE TIME WHEN I CAN RULE
THE WORLD IS HERE AT LAST!"
|
...I THINK, IF YOU EXAMINE
THE SITUATION CAREFULLY,
YOU WILL FIND THAT YOU ARE
IN NO POSITION TO BE MAKING
THREATS. THOUGH YOU HAVE
COME MUCH FARTHER THAN I
WOULD HAVE EXPECTED YOU
STILL FAIL TO REALIZE THE
POWER YOU ARE UP AGAINST!
IT IS BECAUSE OF YOUR LACK
OF PERCEPTION THAT IN THE
END I, THE DARK SHOGUN,
WILL BE THE MASTER OF THE
EARTH. HA! HA! HA!
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"DARN! IF ONLY
I HAD MORE STRENGTH.
DRAGONSWORD...
DRAGONSWORD..."
|
|
SUDDENLY THE DRAGONSWORD
AND BUSHIDO STARTED
HUMMING IN UNISON.
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THIS?"
|
|
>THE SHOGUN OF DARKNESS
"OH NO,
THAT SWORD YOU'RE HOLDING,
IS IT THE DRAGONSWORD?"
|
|
RIGHT THEN,
THE BUSHIDO EMITTED
A STRONG LIGHT THAT SENT
THE SHOGUN FLYING BACK.
THE BUSHIDO TRANSFORMED
INTO A BALL OF LIGHT AND
ENTERED INTO RYU'S BODY.
|
|
>THE BUSHIDO TRANSFORMED
"MY STRENGTH IS BACK!"
|
|
>THE GEISHA
"RYU!"
|
|
THE GEISHA RAN TO RYU.
|
|
>THE SHOGUN OF DARKNESS
"YOU FOOL.
YOU'VE TAKEN THE BUSHIDO.
I'LL TEAR YOUR BODY
TO SHREDS TO GET IT
BACK IF I HAVE TO."
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"COME AND GET IT. SHOGUN!"
|
Ending
| Proto
|
Final
|
|
>THE SHOGUN OF DARKNESS
"AAAGH...
I WON'T BE DESTROYED...
I'LL BE BACK SOME DAY..."
|
AAAGH...NO...I REFUSE TO
DIE...I'LL BE BACK...I'LL
BE BAAAAAAACK...
|
|
THE EVIL SPIRIT UTTERED
THESE WORDS AS IT
DISINTEGRATED QUICKLY AND
DISAPPEARED FROM THE GROUND.
AT THE SAME TIME,
THE CASTLE OF
DARKNESS BEGAN TO CRUMBLE.
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"THIS WHOLE PLACE
IS GOING TO CRUMBLE.
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
FAST!"
|
|
>THE GEISHA
"YES RYU."
|
| Proto
|
Final
|
|
>THE GEISHA
"DID THE SHOGUN DIE?"
|
YOU NEVER KNOW. HE MAY
APPEAR AGAIN LIKE HE SAID
...BUT I'LL GET HIM NEXT
TIME TOO! NO MATTER HOW
MANY TIMES HE COMES BACK!
|
|
>RYU HAYABUSA
"I DON'T KNOW.
HE MAY APPEAR AGAIN
LIKE HE SAID...
BUT I'LL GET HIM
NEXT TIME TOO!
NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES
HE COMES BACK!"
|
Level Differences
In Chapter 5 (The Land of Enemy/Enemy Turf), after the second screen transition (which indicates a checkpoint), you have to make your way down into an ice cave with spikes on the ceilings and the same slippery surfaces as before. There are two sections of ceiling-spikes you need to crouch-walk through (or just slide through letting ice physics take care of traversal), but the prototype also has a red slime enemy in the first corridor and two in the second.
| Proto |
Final |
|---|
 |
 |
| Proto |
Final |
|---|
 |
|
Given that these enemies cannot be defeated easily from a grounded state even when crouching, combined with the ice physics, the knockback on hit, the low spiked ceiling, the fact that enemies can respawn off-screen, and that the player may not necessarily have powerups like the Dragonfire or Fireball, the developers probably realized having enemies here was needlessly difficult if not unfair.
