iii ancient ship doom iii ancient ship doom known japan lit legend dragon sword iii scrolling video game developed published released japan june north_america august nintendo_entertainment_system nes nes version released europe later ported released north_america europe european version retaining iii title released compilation japan north_america long released virtual console service north_america february wii north_america europe november january respectively nintendo 3ds designed took designer games nes series game installment trilogy events place games series dark sword chaos player controls framed murder investigates circumstances death eventually discovers plan cia agent foster person named utilize rift create control race energy infused game features similar gameplay previous titles includes new features ability hang overhead pipes sword power ups previous titles received positive reviews critics early reviews praised game plot gameplay difficulty later reviews criticized plot overly inconsistent level designs game difficulty level north american version intentionally harder japanese version limited continues stronger enemies omission system port receiving general praise graphics controls received poor reception sound inability players characters items small screen plot iii ancient ship doom takes place events original dark sword chaos story opens protagonists titles agent mission called cardinal gets chased edge cliff man looks like edge gives way falls water apparent death accused murder says somebody looked like tried frame investigates laboratory investigating going laboratory mysterious man appears tells fortress information gets way outer limits fortress encounters foster head cia special auxiliary unit game video image saying fortress defenses alive foster replies don know talking vows push reaching foundation fortress encounters original person designed look like finds killed thrust look alike tells gained powers look alike flees saying foster ordered eliminate reaches fortress encounters stranger met trip laboratory reveals tells project foster working called plan says longer work foster said foster designing creatures called transformed infused life energy flows rift appeared demon game defeated explained rift appeared site ruins foster rebuilt order harness power reveals killed foster controls pleas stop foster making way fortress encounters foster look alike foster vows eliminate use life energy rift secrets dragon clan powerful foster look alike advance appears foster armed machine gun working army regards foster plan look alike defeats defeat look alike door rift throws wide open appears telling foster plan ruins claim life energy foster tries follow door energy tears apart destroyed instructs stay goes rift knows protected power inside encounters look alike inside resurrected super creature defeats look alike instantly room meets tells claimed life energy explains truth ruins dimensional warship called ancient ship doom says super dimensional ruins foundation new world created new life originate ship reappears real world fires test shot ship distance demonstrate power watches horror drops trap door outside ship fights inner chambers prepares engage final showdown super offers work human race usher new age refuses final battle transforming twice progressively stronger versions defeated transported outside warship watch ancient ship doom brought explodes witness fortress aftermath tells foster plan mankind live refuse evil plans adds mankind level completely destroy mere ambition watch sun rises new day begins gameplay iii ancient ship doom scrolling platform game player controls player character investigates events death game jump hang climb walls control pad pressing jump button holding control pad direction away wall causes spring wall able attack enemies secondary weapons wall pressing attack button new feature introduced iii ability hang overhead pipes ivy swing drop walls attack enemies hanging secondary weapons previous games physical strength represented life meter screen decreases gets enemies dangerous objects levels player find recovery medicine bottles partially physical strength items game located crystal balls slash open player loses life life meter runs falls pit runs game ends players lose lives continue resume play beginning act lost lives iii players continues total required restart game beginning defeat enemies attacking dragon sword secondary weapons consume power weapons include following throwing stars forth like fire dragon balls launch downward angle launches upward angle invincible fire wheel forms series rotating destroys enemy comes contact new weapon series called vacuum blades simultaneously players collect red blue power collect spirit dragon increase maximum power level new item iii dragon spirit sword increases range sword end act boss life meter decreases damaged defeat boss completely life meter iii bosses consist super human creatures created controlled foster world represent earth wind fire water version iii ancient ship doom ported handheld game port features levels reach end level defeating robots dragon sword weapon ball end level fights boss levels bosses nes version fifth level final enemy giant boss defeated beat game gameplay similar nes version bosses life meters feature similar items features included built sound muted battery backup high score automatic switch feature device minutes inactivity development iii ancient ship doom developed released previous games series dark sword chaos released japan june title iii released north_america nes august ported released game compilation released wii virtual console service north_america february designed took main role game development previous titles interview said iii needed new direction game given science fiction motif opposed motif previous titles enemies changed look robotic previous games original intent developers game easier previous titles create game normal player enjoy perceived popularity difficult video games north_america caused release game nes higher difficulty level japanese version decided place events events titles order maintain continuity figured difficult continue story dark sword chaos developed plot events revolved game main antagonist foster reception iii ancient ship doom received preview coverage video gaming magazine displayed trade tokyo march said iii best game display easily walked away best system game previewed july issue nintendo_power said game contained old features previous games included arts lamented lack jump slash absent dark sword chaos similar usage cinematic cutscenes original game popular particularly praised new moves excellent plot gamepro magazine previewed game august said game visuals good par previous titles scrolling great game featured electronic gaming monthly july issue exclusive praised game saying gets better time featured games august issue nintendo_power received pages coverage included acts plus brief plot overview entire game issue purported final game preview gave praise action gameplay elaborate plot difficulty gamepro reviewed game september issue magazine gave game ratings categories sound noted difficulty level dictated enemies strategic environments added act easy remainder game difficult review praised usage secondary weapons new ability hang overhead new addition sword power said bore resemblance game slightly criticized game leaving power dark sword chaos limited continues lack march received nominations nintendo power awards following nes related categories sound best challenge best overall won best challenge category magazine commented game playing public knows challenging game placed second best graphics sound category finishing spot ranked best overall nes title finishing close super bowl version received coverage magazines gamepro magazine criticized fact small screen makes difficult players power ups enemies use secondary weapons praised good controls said sound fine weird praised game better arcade version previously ported disappointed port nes titles handheld electronic gaming monthly praised good translation game nes complete good graphics controls varied gameplay saying iii game longing despite reviewers noted small screen sprites small players screen makes frustrating players track character movements retrospective review gave negative review saying background makes difficult foreground elements players character power ups collecting sound poor saying thirteen different key songs begin approach bad music modern video gaming websites reviewed release gave lackluster ratings saying game passed radar added presentation great pointed flaws silly plot laid level designs frustrating difficulty addition continue limit said gamers prefer previous titles ign appreciated improvement ability scale climb walls ability hang overhead good storyline new items power vacuum wave chief criticism game difficulty saying rewarding kind difficult instead cheap annoying kind difficult makes want throw controller screen read book nintendo life review thomas similarly criticized inconsistent level design storyline progressively bizarre including weird science fiction themes clones retrospective series eurogamer said game nes trilogy europe similar criticisms difficulty level saying north american version difficult japanese version utilizing limited continues making enemies powerful removing system present japanese version said story calling plot short lived anime series loosely based glorious load old version super nes criticisms said game added new included slower lower quality controls omission tracks said precisely sort thing makes die hard fans rage
Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom