Ninja Gaiden speed runs set new records
by John Bardinelli 
{ May 26th 2007 at 12:01PM }
A new round of Ninja Gaiden speed runs have set a number of records in the Speed Demos archives. Player Tommy Montgomery, who blazed through the original Ninja Gaiden in 13:49, never really liked the game (and likes it even less after doing the run), but few attempt speed runs for these frustrating games, which was as good of a reason as any to give it a shot. No tricks or shady shortcuts, just straight-up "OMG they memorized the game" action. If you've got the time to spare (admit it, you do), check out the speed runs and wish you could get half as far in any of these games...
Ninja Gaiden (13:49)
Ninja Gaiden II (12:09)
Ninja Gaiden III (15:09)
Ninja Gaiden Black (1:55:05)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Datyedyeguy @ May 26th 2007 12:56PM
I love the SDA. You definately see games in a different light after these guys run through the games. And for everybody out there, these runs are not done on emulators, they're actual people playing the actual console.
Antonio @ May 26th 2007 12:59PM
Wow, this will be the first time I see the endings to any of those games LOL
why not the LS2/LS7? @ May 26th 2007 1:12PM
Wow, the boss fights sucked in the original Ninja Gaiden. Most of them are over in under 1 second.
I didn't know that game came out so late in the NES lifecycle.
generaldane @ May 26th 2007 1:37PM
i have completed all of the games listed already however i am not so good as to clock those times
Cypher @ May 26th 2007 2:25PM
The SDA record is STILL 3-5 minutes away from matching the TASR records? I thought they'd be much closer by now... http://tasvideos.org/Search.html?key=ninja+gaiden
Zepolcire @ May 26th 2007 2:38PM
Man that BGM takes me back...
Dustin @ May 26th 2007 2:48PM
Only Ryu could survive falling into lava on multiple occasions.
Also, Ninja Dog? Is that worse than Lesser Ninja? I never did get Ninja Dog before.
Sonicandtails @ May 26th 2007 3:06PM
Yea, these "new" records suck. The records over at tasvideos.org are about 3+ minutes better, and I know what a TAS (Tool Assisted Run) is and everything done in them is actually possible to be done by humans on an actual console. Nothing is cheated, they just use features such as slowdown to perfect them.
josh @ May 26th 2007 3:55PM
everything atheletes who use steroids do is doable by humans... they just use steroids to help perfect it.
orAngeMicro @ May 26th 2007 3:42PM
that dude who ran like a madman thru ninja gaiden black sucked all the fun out of the game.. speed runs suck, they're no fun to play it seems. just for bragging rights on the tubes. plus he kept using the damn combos over and over. sad to see a great game reduced to this.
hegemonyhog @ May 26th 2007 4:15PM
Can you imagine the furor if someone released a game today that you could play through in fourteen minutes?
Fuzzmosis @ May 26th 2007 4:26PM
Sonicandtails/Cypher: SDA and TAS are completely different. And TAS uses much more than just slow down, including frame advance, RNG and RAM checkers, and hex editing. Judging by the fact they break world records in all games, including Super Punch out, it's not humanly achievable. Or if you watch the newest Mario Kart video where huffers breaks the World Records by upwards of 60 seconds...
Sorry, I'm a daily visitor to both sites, and it annoys me when people undervalue TAS or legit ones. I find both amazing to watch. I can only wish you agree.
Vexorg @ May 26th 2007 5:04PM
#11:
If you think that's bad, there's 13-minute Morrowind speed runs out there on the Net if you were inclined to look.
Sonicandtails @ May 26th 2007 5:38PM
Fuzzmosis: My point was that even though TASrunners indeed check RAM and manipulate luck and use frame advance and all other such means used through any rerecording emulator, it does not mean that it is impossible to be done by a human. All button presses could be done by a human, nothings saying you can't. It just wont happen because the intense precision needed is almost impossible to replicate. But the key word there was 'almost'. It CAN happen. But it won't.
Fuzzmosis @ May 26th 2007 6:00PM
When humans get frame precise (60 fps games) controlling abilities, I'll agree with that. Till then, it's a reason it's tool assisted.
Like racing a car. Someone has a pretty distinct advantage, but you're damn good if you're close to it.
ShortFuse @ May 26th 2007 11:05PM
I used to love Ninja Gaiden. I was so young when I played this game (3 or 4 years old) and I never knew what game it was. When I see the video now, I'm shocked because I actually remember parts of the game. Now, at 20 years old, I finally know what game it is! Thanks Joystiq!!!
wow power leveling @ May 27th 2007 4:23AM
wow power leveling
geves @ May 27th 2007 5:08AM
So Sonic...your saying that they ARE cheating, but just not using a GAME GENIE????
am i rite?
Spirit-of @ May 27th 2007 8:36PM
I can remember playing all of these games back in the day and both Ninja Gaiden 1&2 speed runs seem completely doable. Ninja Gaiden 2 I found to be extremely easier than 1, but Ninja Gaiden 3 was damned hard and that speed run was very impressive.
Three steps to successful Ninja Gaidening-
1. Keep moving
2. Know your enemy placement/pattern
3. Get the correct magic weapon for that level and NEVER let it go.
def PD @ May 28th 2007 10:11AM
Boy do those videos bring back memories. I'm going to have to dust off the ol' PSP (or DC) and start playing again.