Ninja Princess

Ninja Princess was developed by Sega and originally released as an arcade game in 1985. It stands as a significant entry in the history of action games, notable for its innovative use of a throwing star mechanic rather than traditional melee weapons, which helped bridge the gap between early shooters and the burgeoning stealth-action genre. The game was designed by Rieko Kodama, who later became one of the industry's most influential developers and art directors during the golden age of Sega's console hardware.

The game is characterized by its distinct aesthetic, which combined traditional Japanese motifs with a vibrant, fast-paced arcade sensibility. While it was well-received for its tight controls and inventive gameplay loop, it is often remembered for its transition to home consoles, where it was later retooled and released as Secret Commando. Despite being an early title in the Sega library, its influence remains visible in the design philosophy that would eventually lead to more robust ninja-themed action series in the 1990s.