One of the most memorable titles in SNK’s early '90s arcade lineup.

Ninja Commando is a 1992 Commando-like arcade shoot ’em up/run and gun that follows three warriors who use their Ninjutsu skills to face off against the Mars Corporation, an organization plotting to take over the world using a time machine. Get the full info here.

Overview

Ninja Commando is a vertical-scrolling arcade shoot ’em up/run and gun that follows three warriors who use their Ninjutsu skills to face off against the Mars Corporation, an organization plotting to take over the world using a time machine.

Originally released in 1992 to the arcades, this game was developed by Alpha Denshi and published by SNK. Its gameplay is in the same vein of classics such as Commando, Ikari Warriors and, of course, Alpha Denshi’s Time Commando. Here, we have its original arcade version set to run online, in your browser (HTML5), without the need to install, set emulators, etc.

Throughout the adventure, the players (up to two in co-op matches) travels across different historical eras — from the Stone Age to Ancient Egypt, and through the Japanese Civil War — facing a variety of enemies and bosses inspired by legendary or historical figures, such as a dinosaur, a pharaoh, and a samurai. Each hero has unique attacks and a special move known as a ninja trick, and can collect power-ups to upgrade their weapons.

Ninja Commando offers fast-paced gameplay, increasing difficulty, varied themes, and an energetic soundtrack, making it one of the most memorable titles in SNK’s early ’90s arcade lineup, and a great example of Alpha Denshi’s creativity during the golden age of arcade games.

Plot

A group of three elite ninjas must unite to stop the villain Spider and his Mars Corporation from using a time machine to destroy the past and control the future.

The young men—Joe Tiger, an American descendant of the Kōga-ryū ninja who uses shurikens as weapons; Ryu Eagle, the 23rd descendant of the famous ninja Fūma Kotarō (from World Heroes) who uses magical ninja fireballs in combat; and Rayar Dragon, a British ninja who learned the ways of Iga-ryū ninjutsu and uses a bow with flaming spirit arrows—have been tasked with this mission.

The three heroes pursue the enemy across seven time periods, including the Sengoku period in Japan (where Ryu avenges his ancestor by killing Oda Nobunaga), Ancient Egypt (battling a floating recreation of Tutankhamun), the Stone Age, China in the Three Kingdoms era (fighting Lu Bu), and World War II.

Controls

  • Directional – Arrow Keys (Move)
  • Button A – X (Shoot)
  • Button B – Z (Somersault)
  • Button C – S (Ninja tricks)
  • B, A +  – Throwing Knife
  • Insert Coin – Shift
  • Start – Enter
  • Attention – These controls are default for Player 1. Hover your mouse into the lower part of the screen and a control bar will show up. Click on the gamepad icon and set the Player 2 controls if you want to play Ninja Commando with a friend.

More info and vertically scrolling shmup

Added In: July 24th, 2025

Categories: Arcade, Classics, Shooting

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Developers and/or publishers: Alpha Denshi, SNK

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Link to Ninja Commando

Ninja Commando gameplays, tips or walkthroughs

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