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Nintendo has revealed three new releases joining the Nintendo Classics range today. Ikari Warriors, R.C. Pro-AM II, and Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom will be available to download for all Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.
Developed by SNK and released in 1986, Ikari Warriors is a vertically scrolling shooter inspired by the Sylvester Stallone smash hit Rambo: First Blood Part II. One or two players control jacked-up mercenaries Ralf and Clark (later of King of Fighters fame) as they pick their way through the jungles of the titular 'Ikari' on a mission to rescue a captured army commander. Eventually ported to myriad home platforms, the NES release of Ikari Warriors is notoriously tough - no thanks to its clunky controls and sluggish pacing.
Rare's R.C. Pro-AM II is one of several titles that arrived late in the NES timeline, but still showed that there was life in the lil' lunchbox yet. Released in 1992 (a sequel to its 1988 predecessor), R.C. Pro-AM II is a cute 'n' zippy racer which pits four R.C. vehicles against one another on a series of 24 isometric speedways.
Players can use race winnings to improve their vehicles with technical upgrades and powerful weaponry, while extra cash can be earned via bonus stages, incorporating dragstrip racing and a vehicular tug-of-war. R.C. PRO-AM II supports four players, so charge up your RX 540 VZ Technigold motor and hit the asphalt.
The third entry in Tecmo's still-popular adventure franchise, Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom released on the NES in 1991, before later being ported to the Atari Lynx in 1993. Despite its numerical release, Ninja Gaiden III takes place between the events of Ninja Gaiden I and II, and sees shadow-stalker Ryu Hayabusa framed for the supposed death of his beloved Irene Lew.
Seeking revenge, Hayabusa uncovers a plot involving a rogue CIA agent, an army of biomutants, and the titular Ancient Ship of Doom. Much like its predecessors, Ninja Gaiden III was praised for its engaging gameplay and lofty challenge, as well as its strong narrative detail. It would be the final Ninja Gaiden release for the NES platform.
For Japanese Nintendo Online subscribers, R.C. Pro-AM II is replaced by Namco RPG Dragon Buster. Originally released in arcades in 1985, the Famicom port retains the coin-op's side-scrolling action, as spritely hero Clovis embarks on a quest to slay a rampaging dragon, save the village, and rescue the beautiful Princess Celia. All in a day's work for a 1980s video game hero. While Dragon Buster would not receive a localised NES release, it would later turn up in various Namco Museum compilations.
Ikari Warriors, R.C. Pro-AM II, Ninja Gaiden III, and Dragon Buster are available now via Nintendo Classics.