Ninja Gaiden/Gameplay

Controls

 * Joystick: Use the joystick to guide the player ninja throughout the game. The player can run in eight different directions.  Whenever the player runs up to an inanimate object such as a wall or phone booth, the player will automatically perform the "Phoenix Backflip".
 * Grab: The grab button is located on top of the joystick. Whenever the player is standing below an object which can be grabbed onto, such as a pipe or a lamppost, press the grab button to hang from the object.  Press the attack button while handing to perform a "Hanging Kick".
 * Attack: Press the attack button to attack the enemies. Press the button repeatedly to initiate a combo which usually results in an enemy getting knocked down.  However, use it carefully, as you are vulnerable to attack from behind.
 * Jump: Press the jump button to leap in the air. Use it in conjunction with the joystick to jump up to higher ledges.  While jumping through the air, press the attack button when you are close to an enemy's head to perform the "Flying Neck Throw", which tosses an enemy a short distance away.

Player
Throughout the game, you take control of a ninja on a mission to defeat an evil cult led by Bladedamus, a descendant of Nostradamus who seeks to fulfill his end of the world prophecies. You must guide him through six stages, where members of the cult will attempt to stop him at every turn.

At the ninja's disposal are several techniques which, if used properly, can give him the edge in hand to hand combat despite being hopelessly outnumbered. These techniques include a devastating attack combo known as the "Triple Blow Combination," as well as other attacks such as the "Flying Neck Throw" which is performed while jumping, and the "Hanging Kick" which is performed while hanging.

The ninja is incredibly agile, and can make leaping through the air to evade enemy attacks look effortless. In addition to jumping, the ninja can also hang from various items which he may find overhead. But you must be careful and make sure that the ninja's feet always land on solid ground; you will lose on life if the ninja falls through the bottom of the screen.

On the default settings, the ninja begins the game with only one extra life in reserve, although it is possible to earn more lives by finding and collecting extra life icons. The ninja has a health gauge which starts out with three bars by default, though this can be decreased down to one or increased to as high as five through the arcade dip switches. As you take damage, the health bar will decrease. It is possible to find items which restore your health. You will lose one life if the ninja's health bar becomes empty. It is also possible to lose a life if the stage clock reaches zero before you have completed the stage.

Items
Items can be found by tossing or defeating enemies so that they crash into objects scattered around the stage, such as signs, barrels, or phone booths.