Most Difficult Bosses In The Ninja Gaiden Games

Summary

• 3D Ninja Gaiden had save points before bosses, compensating by making bosses harder.
• Infamous Jaquio boss fight in the original NES Ninja Gaiden is frustrating due to being sent back levels.
• Higher difficulties in Ninja Gaiden Black make the Alma boss tougher; beating it requires specific Dragon Sword strategies.

Before Dark Souls came out, there were two series synonymous with brutally difficult games: Ghosts ‘n Goblins and Ninja Gaiden. While Arthur never tried to save the princess in the third dimension, Ninja Gaiden did go 3D and became a lot more difficult, especially regarding its bosses.

The challenge in 2D Ninja Gaiden was about endurance; if you died at a boss, you’d often go back. However, 3D Ninja Gaiden had checkpoints or save points before bosses. The boss fights were harder than ever to compensate, and you’ll die a lot before you pass them.

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Jaquio: Ninja Gaiden NES

A Difficulty 90-Degree Angle

The boss fights in the classic Ninja Gaiden games aren’t too bad, for the most part, but there’s an infamous encounter everyone remembers. That is the final boss of the original NES Ninja Gaiden: Jaquio. After going through stages 6-1, 6-2, and 6-3, the hardest levels in the game, you must fight all three forms of Jaquio.

If you die at the boss, you start at stage 6-1 and have to start all over again. If you’ve already beaten forms one or two, you won’t have to fight them again; the only silver lining. It’s incredibly frustrating being sent back over and over again until you finally beat this boss.

9

Murai – Ninja Gaiden Black

The Boss That Stonewalled Countless Players

Looking back, the original 3D Ninja Gaiden wouldn’t have its iconic opening level if it was made today with Steam’s two-hour refund policy. The main reason for that is the first boss, Murai. It’s time for the student to meet the master, and you will get crushed by Murai endlessly until you learn the game. Attacking head-on is a very bad idea

Thankfully, Murai has a tendency to roll, which is the best opportunity to deal damage. Just do XX with the Dragon Sword as soon as he rolls, and you can do that over and over again. The fight can still be pretty challenging on the higher difficulties, though, when windmill shuriken ninjas and flame ninjas get added to the fight. You have to watch out for them.

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Alma – Ninja Gaiden Black

An Already Hard Boss Gets Much Worse On The Higher Difficulties

Both Alma and Awakened Alma will be counted here as they’re difficult for the same reason. She’ll be tough but doable on your first playthrough because flying swallow and ninpo do some serious work on her. Sadly, once you get to Master Ninja, these tricks won’t really work anymore. She’ll dodge or block flying swallow and ninpo nearly every time.

This can be really frustrating until you know the right Dragon Sword strategies. For regular Alma, you’ll want to dodge her stomp or full-screen charge move, then do the hold Y move to stun her. For Awakened Alma, wait until she’s on the ground, charge up an ET, and then hold Y or rotate Y, depending on if she stopped or is still moving, then flying swallow to stun her.

7

Doku – Ninja Gaiden Black

Arena Size Makes A Big Difference

When you first start playing Ninja Gaiden, Doku is wildly hard. His attacks deal a lot of damage, and his grab can be one of the deadliest in the game. However, once you start learning his attacks, he isn’t too bad, and you can quickly escape the grab by mashing the four face buttons and wiggling the stick.

The problem is when you fight Doku in Eternal Legend or Descent of the Fiends 5. With an immensely smaller arena compared to story mode, Doku’s attacks and his minions are a much more serious threat. You have to watch out for Doku’s attacks because his lunge move can get you if you dodge immediately based on reactions, and you’ll eat a ton of damage.

6

Marbus – Ninja Gaiden Black

The Greater Fiend Of The Underworld Doesn’t Mess Around

One of the hardest bosses in the first 3D Ninja Gaiden has to be Marbus. He’s challenging in both story mode and mission mode, but his appearance in Eternal Legend and Descent of the Fiends 5 is definitely the hardest version. In that encounter, he summons a nearly endless supply of cat fiends, one of the tougher standard enemies in the game.

Equip your Dark Dragon Blade or Dabilahro and ensure no cat fiends get out. Be underneath him at all times, and stun him with a jumping Y if it’s clear he will summon enemies to stop that from happening. If he does a ground pound, do XY, and if you dodge his big charge move, do forward Y twice, then jump off the wall to hit him with another Y. You’ll have to be quick, though.

5

Murai Devil Incarnate – Ninja Gaiden Black

The Easiest Boss Turned Into The Hardest Boss

If you haven’t played the vanilla 2004 Ninja Gaiden, you probably won’t know that the final boss was ridiculously easy. In his Devil Incarnate form, Murai could simply be flying swallowed to death. Team Ninja must have discovered this trick because it turned the stellar final boss into the hardest boss in the game in Ninja Gaiden Black.

In story mode, you’ll probably be fine with the items you have, but mission mode is ridiculous. His attacks do a ton of damage, and they’re fast, too, with his grab being lightning-quick. The other enemies present make this fight way more hectic and painful. The Dragon Sword’s XYXY does a decent job of getting in damage, but this fight sometimes feels like pure luck.

4

GigaDeath – Ninja Gaiden 2

One Of The Hardest And Worst Bosses In The Series

Even lovers of Ninja Gaiden 2 can admit that GigaDeath is one of the worst things ever created for the series. This boss is pure luck. The two best ways to deal damage are by performing UT arrow shots to the head or Lunar rotate Y UTs. Both are super inconsistent strategies as they’re risky as all hell, and you’ll need some quick reflexes to get out of aiming your bow to avoid attacks or hit the little enemies that come.

GigaDeath’s attacks are completely unfair because the only way to consistently evade them 100 percent of the time is to use ninpo. What’s even worse is that in the original 360 version, GigaDeath can glitch out and exit the arena, forcing you to quit the game.

3

Drunken Skeleton – Ninja Gaiden 2

Keep The Pressure Going

There’s a reason why the start of chapter 6/7 in NG2 gives you two Talismans of Rebirth. The Drunken Skeleton, or Gogmagog, as it was renamed in Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, is one of the hardest bosses in the game on Master Ninja. There’s two main reasons why the boss is so hard. One, you must keep the pressure going.

If you keep attacking and hitting Lunar rotate Y UTs, you can eventually put him in a stun loop. However, that’s a problem because of the minions, which makes the ground a constant hazard you must watch out for. In the original 360 version, there’s no checkpoint for beating him, either, so if you die before getting to the next save point, you’ll have to fight the boss again.

Fun fact, the motion capture for the Drunken Skeleton was performed by game director Tomonobu Itagaki himself.

2

Dagra Dai – Ninja Gaiden 2

A Boss That’s Absolutely Relentless

One boss fight that’s wildly hard to beat without taking a ton of damage is Dagra Dai in Ninja Gaiden 2. Like Marbus in NGB, he’ll summon minions, but the boss itself is the main problem this time. While on the ground, his attacks are vicious and very hard to evade while getting your hits in.

If you’re using the Scythe, prepare to trade just as much damage as you’re dealing to him. Forward Y with the Talons is pretty good, and while he’s airborne, use the wings of the vermillion bird string, which is XX, forward X, mash Y. Dagra Dai’s hard in story mode, but much worse in mission mode, where he’s the final fight in the gauntlet that is mission ten.

1

The Goddess – Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge

A Final Boss That Completely Changes The Game

Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge is probably the hardest game in the series due to how fast you die in Ultimate Ninja mode. However, even if you play on Normal, the final boss, The Goddess, will completely screw you over.

You’ll have to build up your ninpo meter to activate the ultimate ninpo technique to damage the boss. The problem is you’re now forced to build up meter fast, a strategy you probably didn’t use throughout the entire game. If you haven’t leveled up the Lunar, the best weapon to rack up hits, you’re done for.