Controls are very responsive, slick, easy to move. Additionally, it's easy to shoot, slice, and block. Although there's the possibility of 'cheap death', there's a great deal of countering attacks, which the enemy can employ as well. Excellent variations in enemies. Some use smoke bombs, some breathe fire, and there is a boss fight at the end.
A kind of "run and gun" but ninja-style, The Legend of Kage has the player dashing from point A to B with a kind of "wire-fu" floating feel to jumps. Attacks come from nearly all directions as an unforgettable koto tune plays. Fun stage designs, great feeling of accomplishment at the end, even though the game loops back. The only things that would put this in the 'perfect' category for me would be being able to continue after deaths with more quarters, a little more direction on how to complete the stage (do I kill more or run to the end?) and most certainly two player simultaneous.
