Last Ninja 2: Back with a Vengeance is an action-adventure video game developed and published by System 3 for the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC in 1988 as a sequel to the 1987 game The Last Ninja. The Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, 1990: Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS and NES ports followed in 1989. The NES version of the game was named simply The Last Ninja.
In 1990, the Last Ninja Remix edition of the game was re-released for 8-bit systems, which added a short intro sequence, minor graphic changes and a remixed soundtrack by Reyn Ouwehand.
The Limited Edition of the original release included a ninja mask and a rubber shuriken (not available with the Remix versions of the game).
A sequel, Last Ninja 3 was released in 1991.
Gameplay
The player, controlling a ninja, must fight his way through various levels populated by opponents, collecting necessary items in the process. Each level depicts a different locale and is divided into several screens. The game is presented in an isometric view and the ninja can move in eight different directions and jump.
Enemies, armed with fists and various ninja weapons, wander around the levels. The ninja must fight them either bare-handed or with the weaponry he finds along the way; in either case, he has a number of blows and attacks at his disposal, as well as the ability to block. There is a special weapon, shuriken, which are thrown in a straight line rather than used for melee combat; if they strike an enemy, they will instantly kill or at least severely damage them.
Various items are scattered around the levels, such as keys, a rope and a map; collecting these items and using them in a proper place is necessary for completing the game. There are also hamburgers that award an extra life when eaten.
Plot The game continues from the aftermath of the events of The Last Ninja. With the Koga scrolls now in his possession, Armakuni has begun training a new order of shadow warriors. During a training session, he is mysteriously transported to 20th-century New York City. Torn from his own time, Armakuni must defeat the evil shogun Kunitoki once more.
Reception Last Ninja 2 was an enormous commercial success. According to System 3's Mark Cale, 5.5 million copies were sold for the Commodore 64 version alone; at that time, the user base of the C64 was estimated at 20 million, meaning that one in four C64 owners bought the game.Retro Gamer 18, page 57.
It was a runner up for Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards. In 2004, readers of Retro Gamer voted Last Ninja 2 as 68th top retro game.Retro Gamer 8, page 66.
8-bit versionsPlatform Magazine Score AccoladeAcorn ElectronElectron User9/10Golden GameElectron User 7.5 (Feb 1990) Commodore 64/128The Games Machine93%Top ScoreThe Games Machine 14 (Jan 1989)Computer + Video Games9/10C+VG Hit!Computer + Video Games 81 (Jul 1988)Commodore User9/10CU Super StarCommodore User (Aug 1988)IGN7.5/10The Last Ninja 2: Back with a Vengeance Review - Commodore 64/128 Review at IGNACE747/1000 ZX Spectrum Sinclair User92%Your Sinclair9/10Crash90%Crash SmashThe Games Machine89%Top Score 16-bit versionsPlatform Magazine Score Accolade AmigaThe Games Machine70%The Games Machine 33 (Aug 1990)Amiga Format58%Amiga Format 14 (Sep 1990) Atari STComputer + Video Games77%The Games Machine70% DOSComputer + Video Games76%Computer + Video Games 106 (Sep 1990)The Games Machine73%The Games Machine 34 (Sep 1990)
Legacy In 2015 the source code of the Konix version was discovered.Last Ninja 2 Port Discovered For Unreleased Konix Multisystem Console on retrocollect.com (19 January 2015)LAST NINJA 2 Konix Multisystem game and source found on konixmultisystem.co.uk (17 January 2015)
The NES version would be re-released by City Connection on June 4, 2025 for the Nintendo Switch, as part of the Jalecolle label. This re-release marks the first time Last Ninja 2 was released in Japan.
References
External links
Images of Last Ninja 2 box and manual at C64Sets.com
Terry Greer (the game's artist) Last Ninja page