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This horizontally scrolling beat-'em-up was originally a three screen, two-player coin-op. The PC Engine version is single-screen (of course) and only has a one-player option, but the programmers have cropped the top and bottom of the screen to make the game look as similar to the coin-op as possible. And they've certainly captured the feel too!

The game is set in 1993, and the player takes control of a robot ninja whose mission is to destroy the head of a ruthless and sinister organisation.

Pre-mission options allow you to change the difficulty level, choose your robot ninja (there are two different ones), and select the colours of his clothes.

With that done it's time to hack your way through level after level of hostile territory, defending yourself with twin knives and a limited supply of shuriken lobbing stars.

The enemy are numerous, and range from kung-fu commandos, to knifers, robo dogs, machine gunners and snipers.

What I particularly like about this, apart from the incredibly fast slash-'n-hack action, is the way that as the ninja sustains damage, parts of his machinery is exposed - near the end of a game, he becomes a walking metal skeleton.

Ninja Warriors offers plenty of excitement, and should become a firm favourite with PC Engine beat-'em-up fans.

A tough, action-packed and addictive beat-'em-up which budding ninja assassins should find very enjoyable.