Saturday, 25 April 1995
Endo was practically bouncing with energy that morning, a grin plastered across his face. Why? His all-ti favorite video ga series had just released a brand-new sequel, and this wasn't just any release—it was on the ZEPS 2, the gleaming console he treasured. The title? None other than the third installnt of Ninja Gaiden—Ninja Gaiden 3. To Endo, the series was more than just a set of gas; it was part of his identity. His E-Sport na was "Hayabusa," inspired by Ryu Hayabusa, the stoic, unstoppable main character he admired since the first ga. He'd really loved Ninja Gaiden and Ninja Gaiden 2 and play it plenty of tis, morizing every stage, enemy pattern, and bit of lore. Now, after what felt like an eternity since Ninja Gaiden 2, that day had arrived—Ninja Gaiden 3 was finally here for ZEPS, and nothing else in the world mattered.
Endo quickly bought the ga and rushed ho, almost tripping over himself in his excitent. He grinned broadly. "Finally, we et again, Ryu Hayabusa… hehehe." Sitting cross-legged on his bedroom floor, he tore into the shrink wrap and carefully slid open the ga package. Inside were the familiar four treasures: the crisp, shiny video ga cartridge; the fresh-slling ga manual; a colorful ZEPS 2 WOW flyer listing all the ZAGE gas already released for the system; and, gleaming against its plastic holder, a black-and-silver Z coin proudly declaring that Zabo-man made an appearance in the ga. He held each item for a mont, savoring it like a collector handling rare artifacts.
Endo grinned, inhaling the scent of the ga manual like it was the rarest perfu. "Ooooh, slls so gooood," he murmured, almost in a trance. With steady hands, he slid the cartridge into his beloved ZEPS 2, the satisfying click making his grin widen. The RCT TV flickered to life, first with the familiar ZAGE logo, then bursting into the Ninja Gaiden 3 title screen, its impressive 16-bit graphics practically glowing. Endo's eyes lit up, his jaw slack in awe. "Oh my god! This ga is so beautiful!" he whispered, his voice trembling with excitent, before grinning even wider and pressing start with a decisive, eager tap.
The screen shifted to a 16-bit cutscene:
[Black screen. Ominous music fades in.]
TEXT SCROLL:
In the stillness of night, a shadow moves without sound…
[Cinematic panel: Ryu Hayabusa leaps across a moonlit rooftop.]
NARRATION:
"Ryu Hayabusa… the Dragon Ninja who has fought evil from the depths of darkness… will now face the most dangerous battle of his life."
[Cinematic panel: Irene Lew turns in surprise as a figure steps from the shadows.]
IRENE: "Ryu…?"
[Close-up panel: a blade flashes, Irene's eyes widen.]
NARRATION:
"But on this night… the enemy wore his own face."
[Cinematic panel: Ryu's double smirks over Irene's fallen body.]
DOPPELGÄNGER: "Your na dies with her… Ninja."
[He vanishes into the dark. Ryu kneels beside Irene, gripping her hand.]
TEXT SCROLL:
The next morning, the world learned the na 'Ryu Hayabusa'… as a murderer.
[Cinematic panel: Ryu's wanted poster blows across an empty street.]
NARRATION:
"To clear his na and uncover the truth… Ryu must follow the trail to a fortress known only in whispers… Castle Rock."
[Panel montage: a desert under a blazing sun; a jungle at dawn; steel gates of a high-security facility.]
NARRATION:
"But what awaits him there is no re fortress… and the shadow over this world is darker than he has ever known."
[Last panel: distant silhouette of the Ancient Ship looming in the clouds.]
Thus begins the legend of the Dragon Ninja's final trial… The Ancient Ship of Doom.
Endo's eyes widened, his jaw dropping as if the cartridge had just slapped him in the face. "What!? There are two Ryu? And Irene died? No way… this can't be happening!" His heart pounded, shaking his head in disbelief, Endo muttered under his breath and tightened his grip on the controller.
The scene shifted again — Ryu Hayabusa heard a rumor that a certain lab was doing cruel experints, and he went there to investigate.
The ga opened with a gritty factory stage, its towering steel beams and conveyor belts bathed in dim, flickering light. The chanical hum was broken only by the clang of gears and the sharp tallic footsteps of robotic foes lunging at Ryu from every direction. Sparks flew each ti his blade clashed against their armored shells. Endo's grin widened. "Finally, gaplay!" he exclaid, leaning closer to the screen. The 16-bit visuals were richly detailed — pipes dripped steam, gears turned in the background, and the shadows of moving machinery swept across the floor.
Ryu Hayabusa's controls were precise and satisfying: pressing Square unleashed fluid combo attacks, X gave him a nimble jump, Circle triggered a swift dash, and Triangle hurled deadly projectiles like kunai. L2 let him cling to walls with ease, adding a layer of acrobatics, while R2, curiously, seed to serve no function yet. L1 combined with Square, X, Circle, or Triangle unleashed specialized weapon arts, each producing a satisfying flourish. L1 plus the D-pad switched between weapons — though for now Ryu only carried his trusty katana. R1 with any face button activated ninjutsu, at this point, he had only one — the searing Fire Breath — but its roaring flas were enough to engulf multiple enemies at once.
Endo grinned — the gaplay had clearly evolved from Ninja Gaiden 2, with tighter controls, more intricate level design, and richer enemy variety. He cut through the first stage with confidence, weaving Ryu between collapsing platforms and ambushes from agile foes. Each leap, slash, and wall run felt smoother and more responsive, and Endo couldn't help but murmur, "They really nailed it this ti." The first boss, the Mantis Warrior, appeared in a dramatic zoom-in — , robot-like mantis whose bladed arms sliced arcs through the air with deadly speed, occasionally hurling razor-sharp discs. The fight was fast and punishing, forcing Endo to dash, jump, and cling to walls to avoid devastating combos. With his health down to a sliver, he unleashed his final Fire Breath ninjutsu, the flas engulfing the boss in a blazing, screen-filling explosion before it collapsed in a shower of sparks.
After the battle, a shadowy figure known only as the "Mysterious Man" appeared, his voice low and deliberate as he told Ryu that if he truly sought answers about Irene's fate and the strange man bearing his own face, he would have to make the dangerous journey to Castle Rock Fortress.Ryu, still catching his breath from the fight, replied through the on-screen text, "But I need more preparation," his tone
Ryu then dashed through the industrial streets to a small, dimly lit store tucked between two towering warehouses. The faint jingle of a bell announced his arrival, but instead of an ordinary shopkeeper, a humanoid robotic ninja stepped forward. His armor glead in shades of gray and black, every joint polished to a mirror sheen, and etched into his tallic forehead was a bold, unmistakable "Z." His blue visor eyes glowed faintly as they locked onto Ryu — it was none other than the Zabo-man himself. Endo's real-world grin widened as he blurted at the screen, "Hehehe, hello Zabo-man!"
On-screen, Zabo-man's familiar pixelated form appeared, his words materializing in chunky 16-bit lettering: "Oh, hello, Ryu! You've co at just the right ti—looking to buy sothing today, perhaps?"
Zabo-man's shop offered "Weapon," "Ninjutsu," "Stats," and one locked option.
Endo explored the weapon nu with the curiosity of a kid in a candy store, his eyes scanning each pixelated option as if it were a treasure map. There were two neat categories laid out on the screen: Main Weapons and Secondary Weapons. The Main Weapons list , offering six distinct types — Katana, Dual Katana, Great Sword, Spear, Fist, and Halberd — each boasting multiple upgradeable versions with their own strengths and weaknesses. Endo hovered over each choice for a mont, picturing how Ryu might wield them in battle, before settling on the Dual Swords. They dealt slightly less raw damage than the Katana, but their lightning-fast attack speed and fluid combo potential made his decision easy. He could already imagine himself darting in and out of enemy range, delivering rapid slashes before the foes even knew what hit them just like his favorite build in Ninja Gaiden 2.
Secondary Weapons were neatly organized into three categories: Projectiles for ranged precision, Explosives for wide-area damage, and Talismans for unique mystical effects. Endo decided to leave these untouched for the mont, eager to see what the Ninjutsu nu held. There, the screen displayed an impressive array — elental techniques spanning Fla, Water, Wind, Thunder, and Earth, along with Buff/Debuff ninjutsu to alter stats in battle, and Taijutsu techniques designed for enhanced mobility such as faster dashing or extended wall-running. Endo's eyes lingered on each description, his mind racing with possible strategies, before he finally settled on the Thunder Ninjutsu: "Thunder Bolt Jutsu." The text promised a crackling burst of lightning with a chance to stun enemies, giving him both offense and crowd control. The mont he confird the purchase, Endo couldn't help but grin, imagining the satisfying flash of light and frozen foes mid-attack.
Endo grinned and continued playing — clearly very excited.
Next ca the second set of stages — the scorching Desert and the shadowy Caves. The enemies here were a mix of swift, knife-wielding Bandits and massive, intimidating Big Scorpions. Endo maneuvered Ryu with ease, dispatching foes and navigating the tricky terrain without much trouble. After defeating a tough Semi-Boss, a glowing Energy Orb appeared on the ground. A quick on-screen prompt revealed that it unlocked an Ultimate Attack by pressing R2. Without hesitation, Endo tapped R2, and on screen, Ryu Hayabusa's body flared with a fierce aura. In a flash, he slashed the screen at blistering speed, the animation sharp and dazzling — it looked incredible. Endo chuckled to himself, impressed, before diving right back into the action.
He then faced off against the second stage boss, none other than Night Diver — a sleek, nacing robot equipped with enormous chanical wings and the ability to soar through the air while unleashing a barrage of deadly projectiles. The battle demanded focus and quick reflexes, forcing Endo to weave between aerial dives and precise shots, landing his own attacks whenever an opening appeared. Though the fight required effort, with Endo timing his strikes and dodges carefully especially because Night Diver are weak to Lightning attack and Endo utilize his Lightning Ninjutsu Carefully, Night Diver ultimately failed to pose any serious threat, and Endo dispatched him without much real trouble and Endo Continue to play
To be continue
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