10 Greatest Video Game Ninjas Of All Time
2. Ryu Hayabusa - Ninja Gaiden
The Ninja Gaiden games are damned hard, so naturally they need a tough as nails ninja to act as the main star. In Ryu Hayabusa they most certainly have one.
Making his debut way back in 1988, Tecmo's most famous creation has never had it easy. Whether it's battling it out with a slew of demonic baddies in the Ninja Gaiden series or taking on more conventional foes in the Dead or Alive series, it seems like Hayabusa is constantly having to use his ninja skills to fight off his foes.
And skills he has. Anybody who has ever seen Ryu Hayabusa in the hands of a true master player will recognise just how effortlessly graceful he is when demolishing whatever stands in his path. He has no use for stealth and laughs in the face of the many threats that he faces before he introduces them to his sword.
Much like many of the other ninjas on this list, Hayabusa's story is also tinged with the pain of loss and the desire for revenge. However, with his trusty Dragon Sword close to hand, Ryu defends the honour of his clan with a certain amount of style that most other ninjas can only dream about.