91. Mystic Warriors

(Arcade, Konami, 1993)
Sunset Riders with ninjas.


I was really tempted to leave it at that, but you people who take the time to read my inane ramblings deserve better, so here's a little more:
Konami's Mystic Warriors is a side scrolling fighter/shooter for up to four budding ninjas. A member of a young squad of ninjas has been kidnapped by the evil SKULL corporation. Ninja is supreme and he double crossed it, Why did he do that?

So, having received the death message from the ninja empire, Our young heroes don the fruitiest ninja outfits they can find and hit the road. (Yuri forgets her trousers, thankfully)
It REALLY REALLY IS Sunset Riders with ninjas, it follows the same play, animation, art, control style and features girls throwing explosives, fat bad guys carrying pickups, campy speech, and a ski ride where horses used to be.

But Sunset Riders is fun to play and so is this, probably better as 2 player (4 player turns it into a bit of a button mash) its fast and action-packed, like all good arcades used to be. Its one real standout is that its features a plot twist a few levels in that was quite unexpected for its time. TEH SPOLIER BELOW~~

(Whichever ninja you are attempting to rescue sacrifices him/herself and dies to save the player, the rest of the game then plays out as a revenge mission.)

Mystic Warriors isn't bad, its enjoyable, colourful and has cool music (plus one of the best "inserted coin" sounds ever: "NINJAHHH!!") but its only really nostalgia that's holding this game for me.

It's Sunset Riders with ninjas.