Wrath of the Black Manta

Wrath of the Black Manta is a 1990 NES action platformer that combines classic ninja combat with some surprisingly unusual ideas. Developed by A.I. and published by Taito in North America, the game is actually a localized version of the Japanese Famicom title Ninja Cop Saizou. The Western release changed quite a bit, including its graphics, soundtrack, level design, and story presentation.

You play as Black Manta, a powerful ninja who sets out to rescue kidnapped children and stop the criminal mastermind El Toro. The adventure takes you through five stages, with each area filled with enemies, traps, platforming sections, and bosses. Black Manta fights primarily with throwing stars, but his real strength comes from the collection of special Ninja Arts.

After completing stages, Black Manta gains new abilities that can completely change how you approach certain situations. These include techniques such as invisibility, teleportation, and the devastating Fire Ring. You can switch between your available techniques during the game, making it worthwhile to think about which ability will be most useful against a particular enemy or boss.

The game also has a few moments that feel surprisingly experimental for an NES platformer. The final stage includes a first-person-style section, while the different environments and unusual enemies help keep the adventure from becoming too repetitive.

It may never have reached the same level of fame as Ninja Gaiden, but Wrath of the Black Manta has its own charm. Its ninja abilities, strange level ideas, and old-school difficulty make it an interesting choice for anyone exploring the less famous corners of the NES library.