Classic Games Database
ClassicGames DB

Little Ninja Brothers

Review
Also known as
Super Chinese 2: Dragon Kid スーパーチャイニーズ2・ドラゴンキッド

Rescue the Emperor by exploring a world map and fighting monsters in action RPG combat.

Little Ninja Brothers is the NES version of Super Chinese 2: Dragon Kid, originally released in Japan for the Famicom in 1989. The NES release in North America occurred in 1990, so the legacy year of 1989 is incorrect for the NES platform.

About Little Ninja Brothers

Little Ninja Brothers is a role playing game for the NES, representing the second entry and a genre shift for the Super Chinese series. The setting is Chinaland, where the ninja masters Jack and Ryu begin a quest after the Yoma clan, led by Blu Boltar, captures the Emperor and seizes control.

Exploration occurs on an overhead world map, where random monster encounters trigger action based combat. This combat style is inherited from the first Super Chinese title, involving direct movement and attacks like punches and somersault jumps. Defeated enemies provide shared experience points, keeping both characters at an identical level, and Sen currency. A second player can join the adventure at any time, immediately matching the first player's progression.

Currency is used in town shops to purchase enhancements such as new weapons, projectile attacks, martial arts techniques, and special powers. Townsfolk also supply clues and information. The gameplay shifts for boss fights, adopting a turn based system where commands for items and skills are issued before each side executes actions. These encounters conclude when one side's hitpoints are depleted.

A separate field meeting mode offers competitive sports events between the characters. These include a foot race, an obstacle course, popping balloons, finding hidden treasure, eating food from balloons, and target shooting.

Little Ninja Brothers Screenshots

10 images
Title screen
Title screen (Japan)
Selecting the number of players, message speed, and difficulty level.
Conversing with another character.
World map.
Enemies appear. Choose to either fight or run.
Battle screen
Walking around a village.
Buying equipment at a shop.
Your character's submenu