1993年推出的SEGA CD版《忍者戰士》，是Taito 1988年街機名作的家用強化移植之一。雖然原作以三螢幕超寬畫面聞名，但Mega-CD版本並未具備街機的三螢幕技術，而是針對家用機能做出重新調整，著重於音效、動畫過場與整體敘事呈現。這個版本尤其以CD音軌重製配樂、補完故事細節，以及更具敘事味道的開場旁白而受到玩家喜愛，使其成為眾多移植版本中風格最鮮明的一款。

世界觀比街機版更加具體，透過SEGA CD的敘事加強，能看到一個曾繁榮、如今被暴政拖向毀滅的國家。獨裁者巴ングラー（Banglar）憑著黑暗魔術奪取政權後，整個社會迅速腐化。謀殺、毒品、軍警暴力與犯罪蔓延，疾病與貧困肆虐人民，城市崩壞、治安消失，國家瀕臨末日。

在地獄般的壓迫下，被迫沉默的大眾終於孕育出反抗火種，一支祕密革命軍悄悄成形。他們的目標不是談判，而是直指暴君性命的「總統暗殺計畫」。成員在多次會議中提出無數方案，最終在執行日前一週，將行動縮小至三種可能性：以病毒摧毀政府中央電腦、與S聯邦合作策動軍事政變、或派出代號為「殺人機械（Murder Machine）」的仿生忍者執行終極刺殺任務。

究竟哪個計畫會被採用？這個決策交由革命軍長老會決定，而負責將最終結果回報給作戰本部的情報員Lee Wong（リー・ウォン）卻遭政府盯上，無法回到總部。於是情報工作落到另一名特工OGR身上，他必須在城市中找到Lee Wong，確保暗殺行動能如期啟動。

然而當OGR終於找到目標時，Lee Won 已身亡，僅在血泊中留下三個字母—— ZTT。OGR四處追查ZTT的含義，直到某天在酒吧內看見招牌上出現相同字樣；當他試著向樂團打聽時，一首曲子從舞台響起，那正是後來代表本作的經典名曲—— 〈Daddy Mulk〉。他於是恍然大悟，長老會選擇的是「殺人機械」計畫。數日後，名為KUNOICHI與NINJA的兩名仿生忍者由「Mulk 計畫」正式啟動，革命軍最終的反抗序幕就此拉開。

SEGA CD 版沿用街機版的兩名可操控角色——身形迅捷的女性忍者KUNOICHI以及力量型的男性忍者NINJA。他們不是血肉之軀，而是以忍者為藍本打造的殺戮兵器，外表覆蓋合成忍者服，底下藏著鋼鐵結構。當他們承受傷害時，外層皮膚會破裂，露出機械內構，象徵角色已邁向毀滅的邊緣。這種「裝甲破碎式」的生命表現方式讓本作在同時代作品中特別突出，也成為SEGA CD版本中最具視覺衝擊的特色之一。

《忍者戰士》Sega CD版保留街機系統，讓玩家在連續不斷的左右夾擊中生存。操作上以單一平面橫向卷軸為核心，搭配近戰斬擊、遠程手裏劍與多方向跳躍。角色攻擊時手中的苦無能以高速近戰連擊清除敵軍，而有限的手裏劍則可遠距離擊殺威脅目標。防禦方面，忍者能以交叉擺臂格擋飛行物，但火焰與爆炸仍不可防。最關鍵的技術是「旋轉跳躍」，能讓角色在空中維持短暫無敵，用來逃脫包圍或反擊強敵。

Mega-CD 版因硬體特性，動畫呈現略慢於街機三螢幕版本，但動作節奏依然流暢，敵人潮水般湧入的壓迫感也完整保留。完整收錄街機六大關卡，從骯髒的貧民城區、軍事基地、機庫、都會建築群、地下水道到最終的Banglar官邸。每一區都有自己的風格，敵人種類也極為多樣，包括軍官、狙擊手、投彈兵、忍犬、土蜘蛛、會滑翔的ムササビ、會模仿玩家動作的Shadow Man，以及火焰忍者與鐵球怪物Iron Arm等強力對手。忠實收錄街機原作的BOSS版本，並搭配SEGA CD版的高音質CD配樂。特別是第一關與最終關卡的〈Daddy Mulk〉在CD音源下表現更具厚度，是SEGA CD版本最大的亮點之一。

由於CD介面的優勢，SEGA CD版的重要加強項目之一便是「高音質的 ZUNTATA 原聲」。小倉久佳（OGR）的編曲在此版本以無壓縮音軌呈現，使音樂成為敘事與氛圍營造的重要支柱。〈Daddy Mulk〉、〈Are You Lady?〉、〈Che!〉、〈Motherless Children〉等曲目在Mega-CD音質下更加厚實鮮明，也讓這版成為音樂愛好者收藏的熱門目標。

SEGA CD 版《忍者戰士》推出後，在評論界普遍獲得正面評價。雖然沒辦法重現三螢幕的視覺震撼，但玩家普遍認為本版本的音質、劇情鋪陳與整體完整度勝過多數家用移植。

許多評測指出 Mega-CD 版保留街機版的暴力美學、緊張節奏與高難度，同時加入更明確的背景敘事，使其比起PC Engine或8位機移植更具故事感。此外，由於音樂表現突出，本版本也常被視為欣賞ZUNTATA作品的最佳「家用機平台版本」。不足之處大多來自Mega-CD本身性能限制，例如畫面比街機更單薄、動作幀數下降、敵人數量略減、速度比原作稍慢等。但整體而言，它仍被認為是相當忠實且具有收藏價值的移植。

SEGA CD 版《忍者戰士》是一次成功的「以敘事與音樂深化原作精神」的移植。雖然它缺少街機三螢幕的氣勢，但它讓更多玩家透過家用平台體驗這部硬派動作作品的世界觀與美學。在暴政、革命與宿命的世界裡，兩名機械忍者孤身挑戰整個國家軍事力量的悲壯感，在SEGA CD版中被表現得更加鮮明。它既是80年代街機文化的延續，也是90年代CD-ROM家用遊戲時代的重要象徵。

The SEGA CD version of The Ninja Warriors, released in 1993, is one of the enhanced home-console adaptations of Taito’s classic 1988 arcade hit. Although the original arcade game was famous for its ultra-wide triple-screen display, the Mega-CD version did not replicate that technology. Instead, it was redesigned around home hardware limitations, focusing on improved audio, animated cutscenes, and expanded storytelling. This version became beloved for its CD-quality soundtrack, its additional narrative details, and a more dramatic opening narration, making it one of the most stylistically distinct adaptations among all releases.

Compared with the arcade game, the SEGA CD version presents a more concrete and fleshed-out world. Through the enhanced narrative, players witness a once-prosperous nation dragged into ruin by tyranny. After the dictator Banglar seizes power using dark sorcery, society collapses—murder, drugs, state violence, and crime sweep across the land. Disease and poverty devastate the population, cities decay, law and order vanish, and the country teeters on the brink of annihilation.

Under this hellish oppression, the silent masses finally give rise to a spark of rebellion. A covert revolutionary army forms in the shadows. Their goal is not negotiation—it is a direct strike at the tyrant himself: a presidential assassination plan. Across multiple meetings, members propose countless approaches; one week before the operation, three final options remain: unleashing a virus to destroy the government’s central computer, cooperating with Federation S to orchestrate a military coup, or deploying a bionic ninja known as the “Murder Machine” to carry out the ultimate assassination.

Which plan will be chosen? The council of elders is tasked with making the final decision. The intelligence officer assigned to report the result back to headquarters, Lee Wong, is tracked and prevented from returning. The responsibility then falls to another agent, OGR, who must locate Lee Wong somewhere in the city and ensure the assassination begins on schedule.

But when OGR finally finds him, Lee Wong is already dead, lying in a pool of blood with only three letters left behind—ZTT. OGR searches everywhere for the meaning. One day, he sees the same three letters on the sign of a bar. When he asks the band about it, a song bursts from the stage—the track that would later become iconic for the series: “Daddy Mulk.” In that instant, OGR realizes the elders have chosen the Murder Machine plan. Days later, two bionic ninjas—KUNOICHI and NINJA—are activated under the “Mulk Project,” marking the beginning of the revolution’s final uprising.

The SEGA CD version retains the arcade’s two playable characters: the agile female ninja KUNOICHI and the power-type male ninja NINJA. They are not flesh and blood, but killing machines modeled after human shinobi, clad in synthetic suits covering steel frameworks. When damaged, their outer skin tears away to reveal mechanical components beneath, a visual cue showing they are nearing destruction. This “armor-breaking life gauge” system made the game visually striking for its time and remains one of the SEGA CD version’s most memorable features.

Gameplay remains faithful to the arcade: players survive constant multi-directional assaults in a single-plane side-scrolling format. Combat revolves around close-range strikes, throwing knives for long-range attacks, and multi-directional jumping. The kunai can unleash rapid melee combos, while the limited shuriken eliminate distant threats. The ninjas can cross-block projectiles with their arms, though fire and explosions cannot be defended against. The most crucial mechanic is the “spinning jump,” providing brief invincibility to escape encirclement or counter strong foes.

Due to hardware limitations, animations run slightly slower than the arcade’s triple-screen version, but the action remains fluid, and the oppressive waves of enemies are faithfully preserved. All six arcade stages are included—from filthy slums and military bases to hangars, urban skyscrapers, underground sewers, and the final confrontation in Banglar’s mansion. Enemy variety is immense, featuring officers, snipers, grenade throwers, attack dogs, tsuchigumo creatures, gliding musasabi assassins, mimic-style Shadow Men, flame ninjas, and the monstrous Iron Arm. Boss battles follow the arcade originals, accompanied by high-quality CD music. Notably, the CD rendition of “Daddy Mulk” in the opening and final stages offers greater depth and becomes a standout feature.

Thanks to the CD format, one of the SEGA CD version’s greatest enhancements is its high-fidelity ZUNTATA soundtrack. Hisayoshi Ogura’s (OGR) compositions are presented in uncompressed CD-quality audio, allowing the music to become a major pillar of storytelling and atmosphere. Tracks such as “Daddy Mulk,” “Are You Lady?,” “Che!,” and “Motherless Children” sound richer and more vibrant than ever, making this version highly valued among music collectors.

Upon release, the SEGA CD version of The Ninja Warriors received generally positive critical reception. Although it couldn’t replicate the arcade’s triple-screen spectacle, players praised its audio quality, expanded narrative, and overall completeness. Many reviewers noted that the Mega-CD version preserved the arcade’s violent aesthetic, tight pacing, and high difficulty while adding clearer world-building, giving it more dramatic weight than the PC Engine or 8-bit ports. Its music performance, in particular, led many to regard it as the best home-console platform for experiencing ZUNTATA’s work.

Most criticisms stemmed from hardware constraints: thinner visuals, reduced animation frames, fewer simultaneous enemies, and slightly slower speed compared to the arcade original. Even so, it is widely considered a faithful and collectible adaptation.

The SEGA CD version of The Ninja Warriors stands as a successful example of strengthening an arcade classic through narrative and music. Though lacking the triple-screen grandeur, it allowed many players to experience the game’s harsh world and unique aesthetic at home. In this realm of tyranny, revolution, and destiny, the tragic struggle of two mechanical ninjas challenging an entire national army becomes even more vivid. It embodies both the legacy of 1980s arcade culture and the symbolic rise of 1990s CD-ROM home gaming.