How Ninja Are You? Five Unique Ninjas in the Video Game World

You know, with cultures influencing many games, the Japanese and their Ninja influence is hardly an exception. Many popular video games that might not come straight to mind nowadays include some form of a ninja! Whether it be simple classic ninjas with their katana and shuriken draped in dark colors, or even a turtle with a staff, ninjas are almost everywhere. But the conception of the classic ninja has evolved into so many different kinds of ninjas, and today I am going to run through with you five major totally different games and the type of ninjas in each, and how close they are to the archetypal ninja.

i-Ninja
The Ninja that looks cute, is almost classic. but has unrealistic moves
As a ninja simply named Ninja, he obviously has his sensei. However, throughout his journey, he performs feats that the classic ninja would probably not be able to do. Although he does have his ninja gear(sword and shuriken), this kid is able to grind on his wooden sandals, double jump, and even have long fight scenes in mid-air. However, he is able to do stuff that are more physically possible too, including running up half-pipes and using grappling hooks. Overall I find Ninja to be pretty close to a realistic ninja.

Naruto: Clash of Ninja
The seal forming ninjitsu fighting Ninjas with the right mind
The many ninjas of Naruto almost seem unrealistic with their abilities to form various seals to use many different attacks(if you can Chidori or Rasengan in real life, mega props to you). However, it was legend that ninjas from way back when could use similar seals to cause mystic moves. Ninjas from the Naruto games also can use shurikens, although they are able to throw almost 5 at a time. The many missions in the tv series fit the tasks and objectives that ninjas similarly have, whether it be to scouting or assassination. In the video game, the 3D sidescroller fighting game includes many abilities that seem otherwise impossible to perform in real life. Real-ability? Not so much.

Ninja Gaiden
A ninja that simulates reality but only in the sense that it’s effing hard
Ryu Hayabusa, the main character of this game series, is a ninja with the normal tools of an archetypal ninja, but has the inclusion of some spells that make him seem unreal. Since the chance to cast moves are really slim, and mana is small, you would rely on other moves. However, these combos are insanely hard to pull off, and could be paralleled to the hardness it must be to perform them in real life. Grappling with enemies is a realistic way of breaking defense. Overall, Ninja Gaiden (without the use of magic) is very close to a real life ninja.

Final Fantasy
So basic that you can’t get anymore basic, but extremely archetypal.
Essentially, you attack with the same weapons a ninja would, and you learn moves similar to a ninja. Basing off Final Fantasy Tactics, one of the requisites you have to do to earn the Ninja class is to become a trained thief. Ninjas of old were very good at pulling off tricks like these because they had to be secretive. The requirement of archer gives the concept of having to learn how to use ranged weapons, something commonly used by ninjas, especially a bow and arrow. The geomancer requirement gives the extra ninjitsu appeal of being able to cast magic, but its a minimal level two. The main ability of the FFT Ninja (Throw) is realistic in the sense that you throw items at people to damage them. Although you can throw just about anything, shuriken are the main form of use. Pretty close, probably the closest I would say out of this list to being like the archetypal ninja.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Ninjas in the form of turtles. Obvious to spot, hard to defeat. Living the way of the ninja.
I know you saw this coming! Four green mutant men all with different color headbands and all going to defeat the multiple enemies ahead of them. Well, after playing the video game, the closest to real you can get is their weapons. The ability to constantly dash attack to kill a boss is kind of cheating, and I don’t think that’s possible in real life to dash that fast. There are also special abilities that can be used like ranged sword attacks, which don’t seem to work in real life (trust me, I’ve tried with a lightsaber). The concept of good defeating evil isn’t so true either, since ninjas are more so mercenaries. True-ability? Not so much.

Overall, I gotta say ninjas have become extremely popular in today’s culture, not only in video games, but all around many other things as well. I think it is mainly because we are so fascinated by their mysterious nature and therefore want nothing more than to be like them. How realistic do you think ninjas from the video game world are? Do you think their is any more accurate representation of one?