The kanji you see on mountains isn't heaven (天) but large (大). This is part of a festival in Kyoto where fires are lit at the end of the Bon festival to send the visiting spirits of the dead back to the afterlife. (A few different symbols are used, but large is used twice, which is why it is the iconic one seen in so many images.)

God I hope you continue this. These 90's FMVs are pure B movie gold right here.

Two really good examples of ninja-themed tokusatsu I can think of are the TV show "Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya" (World Ninja War Jiraiya), and the movie "Mirai Ninja" (Future Ninja), both from 1988. Jiraiya was the 7th entry in Toei's "Metal Heroes" franchise, which North American audiences might know as the source footage for shows such as VR Troopers and Big Bad Beetle Borgs. It centered around a young ninja master who fights rival ninja masters from around the world while donning special armor. The international ninjas were based on stereotypes from around the world, so you had stuff like the American Cowboy Ninja and the British Templar Knight Ninja. The show aired in Brazil and had a pretty big following there. Mirai Ninja was a direct-to-video tokusatsu fantasy/sci-fi hybrid film and a Namco co-production. It was based on the obscure Namco arcade game of the same name as a way to promote it, but more people are familiar with the movie than the game itself. The legendary Keita Amemiya (who you would recognize from his work with the Onimusha series and Dual Heroes) directed the film and also did the character designs. The setting is a cool mix of Akira Kurosawa-style feudal Japan with sci-fi, featuring Japanese castle airships and tanks, cyborg ninjas, and hi-tech weaponry such as laser cannons and bullet-loaded katanas. The film eventually got a English-dubbed release in the West years later, going by several titles depending on the region (Cyber Ninja in the US, Warlord in Canada, and Robo Ninja in the UK). Both Jiraiya and Mirai Ninja are really awesome cult favorites and I highly recommend them to fans of ninja flicks, tokusatsu henshin heroes, or both.

Whenever old videogames has live action scenes we're in for fun.

"Sorry my gameplay was mediocre" Don't say that matt,it's awesome seeing you play and having fun with any game. Keep up the good work and stay healthy dude 👍

Thanks again, Matt! So, this was one of the first edits I did after a lengthy burnout... As soon as the Dino appeared, I KNEW it was going to be the intro because I was tearing up from laughing so much at it.

If you're still curious about the 大 character (which means "big", the "heaven" character has a second line on the top) look into the "Obon Festival" which features that character, amongst others, lit up on the mountainside like that. It's worth learning about. ;D

The 大 kanji on the mountain in the background is known as Daimonji (大文字) which are lit up during Gozan-no-Okuribi (五山送り火), a festival held during Obon period in August. Used to hike the mountain back when I was studying in Kyoto and the view up there is stunning, you can see the whole Kyoto city and even glimpse of Osaka when the weather’s fine. To be able to see familiar scenery in video games played by my favourite boi is something else

Jiraya and Kakuranger are the prime toei ninja tokusatsu of the showa era

Some other very good Saturn ninja game suggestion: Shinrei Jusatsushi Taromaru. Very cool ninja sidescroller, that got shafted at release due to publisher shutdown right as it was releasing, which made it available only in Japan and with very limited amount of copies, and thus making it possibly the most expensive Saturn game (should not be a problem for Totally Legit Saturn). A whole lot of Shinobi/Castlevania/Treasure vibes in that one, highly underrated.

Some ninja themed tokusatsu includes Shotaro Ishinomori's Henshin Ninja Arashi, the Metal Hero show Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya, P-Production's Lion-Maru series, the early Toei series Ninja Captor, and the three Super Sentai shows Kakuranger (Power Rangers S3), Hurricanger (Ninja Storm) and Ninninger (Ninja Steel). Kamen Rider had ZX and Shinobi, but they don't have full shows. Doesn't seem to be as many. A lot of the stunt actors from those shows are in this game, in fact, so you're not far off.

Honestly, that scene is very well filmed. I love how the guy drops in and is in the perfect spot. I wonder how spaced apart everyone was on set. Also, this game kicks ass. It makes me kind of want some more FMV style games in this style.

A few years ago I purchased a lot of Saturn games Shinobi legions, D, and Virtual on for 35.00 on ebay. All complete in perfect condition

This game has an unapologetic charm to it, and it meshes really well with your senses of humor and aesthetics. I'd love to see more!

Just a few seconds in and its already the best game of all time.

Amazing FMV. I'd love to see more of this!

Tokusatsu ninja show,Jiraiya comes to mind and a Chicken ninja,Henshin ninja Arashi.there is also a crap Bandai arcade game based on a cool designed movie called Mirai ninja(closest live action SNES HAGANE style)

Why I never heard of this Shinobi game. It's brilliant n those fmv cut scenes are perfect. Please do a let's play on this game

It’s also worth trying the PAL version with a 60hz patch. PAL got a completely new soundtrack by Richard Jacques that tried to be much closer to the feel of the earlier games, especially Revenge of Shinobi, and is generally considered to be the better sounding one.

To answer Matt's question, there are several ninja tokusatsu shows of varying popularity. Aside from the 3 ninja themed Super Sentai series (Kakuranger, Hurricanger, and Ninninger) and the Kamen Rider Zi-O spinoff miniseries Kamen Rider Shinobi, there's the Metal Hero series Jiraiya, Henshin Ninja Arashi and Ninja Captor. Metal Hero is a franchise partly made to fill the gap Kamen Rider left when the franchise went on hiatus, Focusing on more 'realistic' storylines several Metal Hero shows were adapted to the US. Namely VR Troopers (Metalder, Sharivan, and Shaider), Big Bad Beetleborgs/Beetleborg Metallix(B-Fighter/B-Fighter Kabuto) and somewhat Jiraiya itself (Power Rangers Ninja Steel) Henshin Ninja Arashi was created by Shotaro Ishinomori, who also created Kamen Rider and Super Sentai. Set in the Edo Period the Blood Wheel Clan plots to create chaos in Japan by using an ancient ninja transformation art to turn into anthropomorphic animal monsters. One member of the clan betrays them and teaches his son Hayate to turn into a birdman called Arashi to fight them. Ninja Captors follows a team of 7 ninjas of all ages and walks of life in their battle against the Wind Demon Stealth Army. Each Ninja controls one of seven elements: Fire, Wind, Gold, Ground, Flower, Water, and Thunder. For a short time it was considered the 2nd Super Sentai series, but that has since been retconned, as it wasn't created by Shotaro Ishinomori.

Cracking up at the first stage, the mountain in the background with the burning symbol on it ... The whole thing's just floating in the air when you get enough height to see it!

That's not 天, that's 大, which means big. Other than that, that's gozan no okuribi, the end of obon festivities, something i knew and didn't read here en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gozan_no_Okuribi

"Gas mask ninja" is the edgiest shit I've ever seen//heard in a while and I love it.

Kaga no Gudan (影の軍団) aka Shadow Warriors was produced by Toei in the early 80s and starred the late Sonny Chiba. It has 5 seasons in which Sonny portrays different generations of Hattori Hanzo and the stories are more like spy thrillers with Hattori and his clan of ninjas battling various rebels and villains during the Edo period. The shows also star Sanada Hiroyuki and Oba Kenji in the later seasons as Hattori's ninjas. Some episodes with no subtitles are uploaded to Toei Jindai KZfaq Channel which can only access with a VPN. The Japanese cover for the Super Shinobi for Sega Megadrive is actually Sonny Chiba dressed as Hattori Hanzo in ninja gear. The game and show have no relation at all but it is badass!

Fire on the hill is a festival in August. Bon fires are lit in the hillside to signified the spirits returning to the spirit world after the festival. That is not same symbol Akuma has.

That laugh in the intro lives rent free in my mind!

I don't know where that bomb sound originated, but I distinctly remember hearing it a lot in the GBA Kirby games.

slowbeef and diabetus have a classic commentary they did over a full LP I'd recommend

I forgot I owned this! Mortal Kombat sure had it's influence in the 90s.

C,X,B,Y,A,Z start on the totally legit controller during the first FMV when the game starts. Then sit back and you get all the Kung Pow FMV in one movie! Sit back and enjoy the 90's!

Matt is one of my favorite content creators mainly because of his frequent Kung-Pow quotes. Keep up the good work!

The dinosaur looks like a close up of The Hulk's crank with eyes.

The character is "big" and they set a fire shaped like that character every year in Kyoto. I learned about this because the day when this event happens is my birthday, and as a Leo, I like to pretend they're doing it for me XD

Using the in-game sound effects for the fight FMV was a nice touch by the game

wow the music and everything I swear the devs thought it was the 80's still

I love how Sho's armor is customized red Dirt Bike Safety Gear with the largest Flat square spikes stud I've ever seen!

Fun fact - the EU version has a completely different soundtrack by Richard Jacques of Sonic R fame for absolutely no reason other than SEGA Europe were like “change that”

My god this is awesome! More please Matt!

Please continue! I could watch this all day.

The mountainside fire symbol is pronounced "hi (he)" it means fire. The symbol on Akuma's back is pronounced "ten" which is a prefix for heavenly things, like angel being "tenshi" or actual heaven being "tengoku". It's also in Nintendo when in kanji. Their name means "people on a heavenly road" or something similar.

DUDE, WHY HAVE I NEVER HEARD OF THIS ONE?!!! I don't remember this Shinobi game at all!!! I know about the newer ones and the classics on Genesis (including Shadow Dancer), but I never knew the Saturn had a Shinobi game!!!! Wooooooowwwww...

I am sure someone else brought this up already, but I would STRONGLY recommend Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya if you want a Ninja-based toku show!

Ninja Tokusatsus you have Jiraiya from the metal heroes series

The music in that fight scene sounds a lot like Bon Jovi's Runaway.

this is a masterpiece, we need more.

This game is awesome. Funny how after all these years, I find live action cutscenes in games to be more charming than eye-rolling, when that was definitely not the case in their heyday.

Omg please do more of this!!

Swingin the chain, swingin the chain...

Shinobi 3 on the genesis\Mega Drive is legit one of the best action platformers of all time. Sure people throw that a lot because of nostalgia, but no Shinobi 3 plays buttery smooth for its 16 bit era, great art and amazing music. It remains so playable I think indie devs in 2d should always check out what it did well.

I was caught off guard by that wee wuu wee wuu reference. Holy shit that movie

Never heard of it before thanks for teaching me something new

I would love a full playthrough of this. And the music is boss.

I got this recently, it’s pretty good! Very fluid gameplay and lots of moves

I think I've seen footage of a game that has dinosaur spider hybrids Where one of the playable characters is a chick with a guitar

It looks terrible (obviously) but this is my favorite Shinobi game. The short range of the default sword attack put me off at first, but once you get comfortable with all of the available techniques it's a lot of fun.

I didn’t know this existed. I loved Shinobi 3 and wanted to see what a follow up would be like.

Keep it up game looks like a blast

on the mountain that's actually the character for fire, it's missing the top line that would make it heaven

This is the one and only Shinobi game I had as a kid, until eventually buying the PS2 game as an adult. I dont think i ever beat the third level

The retsupurae riff of this game is ancient by now. Nice to see another fun youtuber showcase this weird mess.

The FMVs "stutter" a little bit in retroarch (I'm guessing you are using it cuz' mine did the same lol), so I use SSF emulator and run perfectly

I remember playing my first Shinobi on Sega Master System, then the best ones on Mega Drive The Revenge of and Return of the Ninja Master. I had the Shinobi on PlayStation 2 and man that was rock hard when the sword woke up and started to drink your life, I couldn't finish it. But I don't remember this on Saturn ??? Huh

I played this game so much on the Saturn. Stage 5 and forward the difficulty really starts picking up. But it's a really fun game the FMVs are so gloriously cheesy too.

It's not a Ninja show but last Tokusatsu I saw was Kaiketsu Zubat, it was amazing. It's on the official channel.

I love this game. Beat it a lot some time ago.the final level is a real hell

Love this game!

Some good ninja Toku shows would be: World War Ninja Jiraiya, Ninja Sentai Kakuranger, Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger, and the short 3 episode Kamen Rider Shinobi.

0:05 I'm the Muthafuckin T-Rex!

please more about this game I love the live action videos looks very funny

Yo Matt any plans to check out midnight fight express? Seems very cool and up your alley! Also great work in general always love watching your stuff!!

There are a few ninja toku shows like World ninja Jiraiya part of the metal hero series and the Jiraiya figures we're sticky/stretchy and with armor just to know.

I dont know if it is popular but I loved Jiraya as a kid. I think it was called Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya

I wasn't aware of this game. I wish it was on PS1 also so i could play it back in the day,looks fun and i love these kind of graphics.

I did not expect Kung Pow references 🤣 ow my sides

Maybe Im weird, but im really digging it.

I remember Retsupurae riffing on this, thank god this goofy game is getting exposure again

I love this look. Forget 16-bit throwbacks, I want more cheesy digitized graphics!

This was fun. I hope you Sho more.

Appreciated.

14:36 remember slipknot before they went with the crazy masks?

10 seconds in and i'm already laughing loool. that dino

THis is so good. I hope you do more and finish this. haha

Can you do another long play through for a game? I love those man. You are so funny and entertaining 🙂also it makes my day when you post.

This is absolutely legit! Hey, Matt, have you or Liam ever played T.R.A.G. on the PSX?

I know no ninja shows. I used to watch Samurai Pizza Cats.

Matt's laugh be killing me lmao XD

@11:35 "YOU JUST CAN'T THROW THAT AT ME SHINOBI!" Well call me fuckin' Shinobi then shiiiiet..😎😛

There will never be a intro as cool as that. #facts

I wonder if Sega will remaster this game just like they’ve did both with Night Trap and Corpse Killer,but with 4K Ultra HD quality.

I remember playing this game and yeah the FMV scenes are in the so bad it's good category.

I love digitized actor games and this game is great. Subzero mythologies should've learned from this far as controls.

MOAR!

This game looks awesome.

It feels weird to watch this without the European soundtrack by Richard Jacques. Still, I'd be down for a continuation.

This game is magical.

You should bring Maffew on for part 2. He’d have a blast with this game!

Matt, I know you can roll up that heaven character in Katamari Damacy.

Not gone lie those cut scenes go hard🥷🏾

I'd like a game that is all actually all of his commentary incarnate.

Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya is a good ninja tokusatsu.