My first game ever and what a ride ...
The game is divided into five areas. Four (Highway, Harbor, Woodland and Valley) of which you can play in any order right from the start. The fifth area, Neo city, opens up once you have successfully finished the first four.
You start out with a red ninja armed with a sword who is able to conjure up earthquakes that kills enemies on screen and also destroys stone barriers. Every time you finish one of the first four areas you are 'rewarded' with another ninja. These ninjas are pink (can throw bombs and walk on ceilings), yellow (has a chargeable energy attack and can walk on water), blue (uses a chain weapon which he can also use to swing from place to place) and green (throws shurikens and can double jump). Each of these ninjas also has a special 'Ninjitsu' power. Pink can blind/freeze enemies, light up dark areas and lower poison water. Yellow can put up a lightning barrier that works like a shield. Blue can turn into a tornado with which he can fly over gaps and green can blow himself up clearing the enemies of the screen after which he is 'resurrected', but this will cost you a live and all your Ninjitsu power in the process.
Even though you can finish the first four areas in any order it is much easier to use a specific ninja in each of the different areas taking advantage of their specific skills. In the Valley level for instance you would use the yellow ninja more as he can walk on water.
After freeing all ninjas you are able to venture into Neo city where you have to tackle room after room filled with traps/challenges using the different ninjas ninjitsu powers before facing the final boss. After finishing the game you can try to replay it, using only red as much as possible or freeing the ninjas in a different order.
All in all this game is a must have if you own a Game Gear. The game play is very good, the graphics are colourful, the music fits the game perfectly and there's even some re-playability here.
9 out of 10.