I don't know the exact dates, but I am positive this all took place in this period of time.
March 1989. Ninja Gaiden would be released for the NES. I don't know when but at some point my next door neighbor got a copy of it and shared it with us. He would eventually beat the game and then called us over so we could watch him beat it. I don't remember much about that day other than two cutscenes that stuck with me. The first was the scene just after the first part of level 4. If you're unfamiliar with it, it features Ryu (the main character) standing on a cliff gazing at a castle/fortress in the distance. Something about that scene just really struck a chord with me. I truly believe that's when my love affair with Ninja Gaiden began. The second scene was later in the game and was basically just Ryu falling through the floor....yeah, I never really figured out why that stuck with me. Maybe because it's the last thing I remember about that day because I fell asleep before the game was finished. So I never knew how it ended....
Fast forward ten years and change (roughly somewhere between Jan and Nov. '03, I think) My brother had downloaded an NES emulator, FCE Ultra, if I remember correctly. Finally, after all these long years I would be able to finally play the one game that ever really mattered to me (other than SMB3, Revolution X and basically every arcade shooter). Finally I would see how it all ended, not through screenshots at VG Museum, but because I played through to the end. Finally, it was my time. So I downloaded the rom and began. It was pure joy. Every sound took me back to that time so many years ago, even the tune that played when I died was pleasure to my ears. Then on a Saturday morning I did it: I made it to the cutscene that had started it all for me. I think I may have teared up as that scene played out. And that's when all the good feelings disappeared....Suddenly the game turned on me. I was getting my ass handed to me. The game was bombarding me with enemies left and right. And the birds.....oh, those damn birds. Despite it all, I somehow slashed my way through the levels. Then the jump came. I had read somewhere that this was considered one of the most difficult jumps in any game. I soon learned why as I was forced to repeat it over and over. And when I finally made it....a bird knocked me off. I'll refrain from repeating here what I shouted out then, but I will say that I was very close to putting my fist through the monitor. Eventually I would make it through and complete the game and finally see the ending, but never again. I just don't have the patience.
Ninja Gaiden: It's my all time favorite game and the one game that can piss me off like no other.
Comments:
kga245 (March 9, 2007. 10:50pm)
I know the feeling. I'm terrible at games. But I love them so much when I'm playing. Get me on 007 Goldeneye and I can't keep from shouting and twitching. You inspired me to write a story about that. Stay tuned!
GordoTheManChild (March 10, 2007. 01:31pm)
Goldeneye....so many hours lost on that one. And I still didn't beat it.