Ninja Gaiden (Xbox)

To do: Protos from Project Deluge [https://hiddenpalace.org/Ninja_Gaiden_(Feb_17,_2004_prototype) Feb 17, 2004] and [https://hiddenpalace.org/Ninja_Gaiden_(Sep_15,_2004_prototype) Sep 15, 2004]. Along with some todos and renaming image file names

Ninja Gaiden is a reboot of the classic 2D platformer series. When Ryu Hayabusa's clan is attacked by demons, he goes forth to seek revenge. Also joining him is a busty dominatrix and some chick from Dead or Alive.

Not only was this the first Ninja Gaiden title to drop the Shadow Warriors name in Europe, it also dropped the Ninja Ryukenden name in Japan. It would see a re-release in the form of Ninja Gaiden Black and a port for PlayStation 3 called Ninja Gaiden Sigma

Unused Sounds#

To do: Check if the japanese dialogues have unused lines too.

sse.afs#

Contains the voiced dialogue used in-game, plus a few ones that aren't.

010_Murai.adx
Unused Murai voice line, probably meant to be used when talking with Ryu at the beginning of Chapter 3.

071_Rachael.adx
Unused Rachael voice line, probably meant to be used when meeting with Doku at the beginning of Chapter 8.

073_Doku.adx
Doku's voice without the voice filter, probably a leftover.

094_Rachael_alt.adx
Unused Rachael voice line, probably meant to be used as an alternative to the call for Ryu at the end of Chapter 15.

103_Ryu.adx
Unused Ryu voice line, probably meant to be used as after his previous dialogue "You're still open?" during Chapter 12.

Unused Music#

bgm.afs#

Contains the songs used in-game, plus a few ones that are partially obscured or totally unused.

0611_bgm.adx
The song used when entering the Military Supply Base, though in-game it starts playing at 0:36, while the intro remains obscured. The full version of the song was used for the 2002 Xbox Summer lineup trailer, as well as being included in the Original Sound Trax.

bgm_rtm_dummy.adx
Maybe a leftover from early development stages for background music testing.

shinobi_sato.adx
Probably meant to be used in the Hayabusa Village in early development stages, since the song is named "Village" in the Original Sound Trax (included as a bonus song). Ninja Gaiden Sigma makes use of this song as soon as starting the game. Remains unused in Ninja Gaiden Vanilla and Ninja Gaiden Black, even when unlocking the sound test in the options menu.

Unused Text#

To do: Document game's .xbe strings which mention 5th ninpo scroll and shuriken repelnish.

s_yasik00.sty#

The game cannot be saved in the demo.

Leftover text line from the game demo included in the OXM29 demo disc and kiosk demo, when trying to save the game.

Unused Sprites#

spr.afs#

This file contains several common sprites, like items or menu screens.

Name	Sprite	In-game	Description
xbox.spr			Unused Prototype Xbox sprite. It was used for the Prototype Xbox item, seen in the E3 2003 gameplay footage. It's still attached to the item list with the name "Prototype X-BOX" (Source: David Lim)
arc_fo1.spr			Unused unknown book sprite.
arc_pa1.spr			Unused unknown map/scroll sprite.
arc_st1.spr			Unused unknown stone sprite. Probably an early version of the Stone Tablets.
ay_ku.spr			Unused Ayane kunai sprite. It's attached to the item list with the name "Kunai Scroll".
gofu.spr			An alternate, unused, sprite for the Talisman of Rebirth. It is taller than the used one. Top is unused. Bottom is the final version.
nodata.spr	style="text-align:center;"		Unused "No Data" sprite.
ss_orb.spr	style="text-align:center;"		Unused sprite. The sprite is the same as nodata.spr. Probably for an unused or unfinished item meant to be found in The Hayabusa Village, which is known as ssato in the files.
yoto2.spr	style="text-align:center;"		Unused Kitetsu Level 2 sprite. It is unfinished. The sprite is the same as nodata.spr. (The Kitetsu is known as yoto in the files.) Oddly enough, the Kitetsu doesn't have any upgrades in this version of the game, these upgrades were implemented in Ninja Gaiden Black, though Level 2 and Level 3 Kitetsu both use the same sprite as the one from Level 1
gameover.spr		N/A	Unused background image. Purpose is unknown.
sv_chap22.spr			Unused save point sprite, at the entrance of the Military Supply Base at daytime, contrary to Ninja Gaiden Black where the sprite shown is this one, no matter of the actual day time.
sv_chap29.spr			Unused save point sprite, just at the entrance of the Ice Cavern.
theat_p2.spr			Obscured E3 2002, E3 2003, and TGS 2003 sprites, meant to be displayed in the Movie Theater, probably to play their respective press conference trailers, which are absent from the game files.
saveload.spr		N/A	Early Ki meter gauge. During early stages of development the Ki power was apparently refilled by inflicting damage to enemies, instead of using the Devil Elixirs. (Source: David Lim) Meant to be displayed at the Save/Load screen. These are also present in demo.spr inside demo.afs. Using memory editing, it is possible to show these in-game.
		N/A	Unused "Select" and "Cancel" buttons. Meant to be displayed at the Save/Load screen. It is present in many other sprite files, such as shop.spr and clear.spr. Font is similar to the one that was used during the E3 2003 showcase.
			Unused Ninpo icon. Probably linked to the 5th Ninpo Scroll mentioned in the default.xbe. Meant to be displayed at the Save/Load screen. It is also present in menu.spr inside cmn.afs and in game.spr inside demo.afs. Using memory editor it is possible to show this icon in-game.
option.spr		N/A	Obscured information sprite. Only part of it is actually displayed. "Press start to back" is totally obscured. It is present in many other sprite files.
coming.spr		N/A	Leftovers from the OXM29 and Kiosk demo version, meant to be shown as a sequence after the ending cutscene of Chapter 1. (Source: XZize)

Unused models#

Found within the game's files are many models that were shown in early screenshots, teasers, and trailers but didn’t make an actual appearance in any area of the final game. However, there are many others that never appeared anywhere before, during, or after the game's release.

To do: Check if it's possible to load these in-game.

box_wd_l.kmd#

Contains a model of a two-tone wooden chest.

Closed	Open

ch_bench.kmd#

Contains models for both a complete bench and a broken-apart version of it. This one was seen in some early screenshots and in the TGS 2003 trailer, in the Monastery. The prefix "ch" is used in the game's files to reference a church, or in this case, the Monastery.

Model	Broke-apart

gl_box03.kmd#

Contains models of a wooden barrel and its broken-apart version. The "gl" prefix designates this as a global object, implying it was intended to appear across multiple areas of the game. Ninja Gaiden II, however does features barrels.

Model	Broke-apart

gl_box04.kmd#

Contains models of a wooden box with decorative gold-plated corner reinforcements, as well as a broken-apart variant. Again, it is implied by the prefix "gl" that this object was originally intended to appear across multiple areas.

Model	Broke-apart

s_box.kmd#

Contains the model of a small box with a texture reminiscent of reddish leather. It features the silhouette of a shuriken on top. Oddly enough, this model doesn’t quite match the rest of the objects present in the game, as it is low poly and its textures have lower resolution compared to other models. It may have been used in early development stages to replenish shurikens, as some strings in the game’s .xbe file mention that Ryu "obtained some shurikens."

hr_door2.kmd#

Contains a model of a barred gate. Its size, shape, and textures match those of the barred walls located in the section of the Moat of Zarkhan where the Silver Medallion is found, suggesting it may have been intended to open a direct route to the Catacombs entrance area. Interestingly, in Ninja Gaiden Sigma, the Medallions puzzle was removed along with the underwater labyrinth, and a direct path to the Catacombs entrance was added in its place—though in the form of a door rather than a barred gate. The prefix "hr" stands for hori, the name used internally to refer to the Moat of Zarkhan.

hr_trp1.kmd#

Contains a model of a long, horizontally-oriented, square-shaped object with a shiny red circle in its center. The "trp" prefix suggests it may have been intended as some kind of trap. Its textures match those of the side walls of the underwater labyrinth where the Silver Medallion is located, so it is possible this trap was meant to function as an underwater block that pushed Ryu back to prevent him from obtaining the Medallion.

nr_1.kmd#

Contains a model of a compact disc. It was probably once used as a freestanding model for picking up any of the three classic Ninja Gaiden games, as in Japan, those were known as "Ninja Ryukenden", coinciding with the prefix "nr". In early versions of the game, when Ryu opened a chest, the item inside wasn't picked up automatically, it was needed to interact once again to pick them up. So it is possible that this model was done before the change was made to pick the items up automatically. All three classic games are found inside chests, so this model is never seen.

st_bwall.kmd#

Contains models related to a breakable wall. Similar to other destructible walls in the game that can be broken using a heavy weapon, this set includes a model of the wall with a visible crack, a version without the breakable section, and several smaller debris models, likely used for visual effects when the wall is destroyed. The "st" prefix may stand for "sato", the internal codename for the Hayabusa Village. The OXM 29 demo features a couple of unused areas from early development, including a section of the Hayabusa Village where the river that runs beneath the bridge where the Chapter 2 boss fight takes place was once explorable, similar to how it appears in Ninja Gaiden II. The hole is too small to contain a chest, suggesting it may have originally been intended to hold a freestanding item, such as a Life of the Gods or a Spirit of the Devils.

Cracked wall	Open	Debris	Overlaid (OXM 29 Demo unused area)

tla_gt22.kmd#

Contains a model of an unused wooden door with steel reinforcements. The "tla" prefix designates that this door was meant to appear in Tairon (Tairon is internally referenced as "tla," whereas Dworku uses "tlb").

tla_tbl.kmd#

Contains models of a decorative table and its broken-apart variant. Given its textures and fancy appearance, it was likely intended to appear inside Han's Bar.

Model	Broke-apart

ys_pot.kmd#

Contains models of a destructible pot, similar to those found in the first chapter of the game. These may have been intended as a variant of the used version, as the prefix "ys" stands for yasik, the codename used for the Shadow Ninja Clan Fortress.

Model	Broke-apart

References#