This is a platform game that the player takes control of Shadow Ninja Warriors.
Players attack enemies by thrusting at them with Dragon Sword.
They can also use "secondary" weapons that consume Ninja's "spiritual strength".
Secondary weapons include throwing stars (shuriken), "windmill throwing stars" which cut
through enemies and return like boomerangs, a series of twirling fireballs named
"the art of the fire wheel", and a mid-air slashing technique called the "jump & slash".
When Ninja's spiritual strength meter becomes too low, the player cannot use secondary weapons.
Players can replenish Ninja's spiritual strength by collecting red and blue "spiritual strength"
items found in lamps and lanterns. Other items found along the way include hourglasses that freeze
all enemies and projectiles for five seconds, bonus point containers, potions that restore six
units of physical strength, "invincible fire wheels" that make Ninja temporarily invincible to attacks, and 1-ups.
Ninja has the ability to jump on and off ladders and walls, and by using the directional pad,
he can climb up or down ladders. Ninja can spring off walls by holding the directional pad in the opposite direction
he is facing and pressing the jump button. He cannot attack while on walls or ladders.
Players can use this technique to get Ninja to climb up spaces between walls and columns by holding down
the jump button and alternating between left and right on the directional pad. Ninja can also vertically climb
a single wall by springing off it and then quickly pressing the directional pad back towards the wall.