Last Ninja

The Last Ninja - the 1987 action adventure for Commodore 64 from System 3.

Cross feudal Japan as Armakuni on a quest to reclaim the sacred scrolls
from the evil shogun Kunitoki. Explore isometric flip screens, collect
gear, and duel guards while threading pixel precise jumps over traps.

Core loop
- search each screen for items, keys, and hidden routes
- fight with punches, kicks, and found weapons
- solve light inventory puzzles to open new areas

Systems and items
- weapons - nunchaku - sword - staff - shuriken
- inventory - grab context items to bridge gaps or unlock passages
- health and lives - contact - traps - and falls drain energy
- relative movement - diagonals map to the isometric view

Level design and feel
Six themed stages across the island: The Wilderness - The Wastelands -
The Palace Gardens - The Dungeons - The Palace - The Inner Sanctum.
Tight hazard placement and flip screen transitions reward careful
alignment and rhythm. Music by Ben Daglish and Anthony Lees powers the
pace and gives each zone a signature feel.

Why it is notable
- breakout System 3 hit that defined isometric action adventure on C64
- iconic dual composer soundtrack remembered as a C64 classic
- launched a long running series on Commodore 64

Tips
- align to tile edges before jumps to avoid slide offs
- approach guards on a diagonal, strike once, then step out to reset
- search corners and shrubbery for small but vital items

At a glance
Year - 1987
Developer - System 3
Design - Mark Cale
Programming - John Twiddy
Music - Ben Daglish - Anthony Lees
Publisher - System 3
Genre - Action adventure
Players - 1
Controls - Joystick in port 2