Currently "mastering" Ninja Gaiden

In Ninja Gaiden

I FINALLY beat this game a little over a week ago, (been haunting me since my childhood with its ridiculously cheap enemies and jumps), and still THOROUGHLY enjoy the game.

My current Goal is to beat the game without dying. Problem is, seems that if I make it to Jaquio without dying, I die on him, and if I die on the way TO Jaquio, I can beat him first try, no problem. Soon I will put it all together...

Anybody else here beat this game? I'm the only person out of all my NES-playing friends that has done it.

Ah... that is one of my greatest Goals that I ever achieved, beating Ninja Gaiden without dying! Yes, you lose all your magic POWer when you get to Jaquio, so you have to learn to do it with your sword. It's not as hard as it sounds, though. I usually just run towards the right wall, and attach to that when he is near the left of the screen. You have to time that right, though, because of the fireballs. The hard part is defeating the demon with your sword! I don't know how many times I've gotten all the way to him without dying, just to perish and have to start from the defeat of Bloody Malth! What a game!

I'm still in NG training, soon I'll get it done. Then I can join the ranks of the elite Ninjas.

I have absolutely no problem with the demon after Jaquio. I think he's easiest with the sword, and MUCH easier than Jaquio. I have only beat Jaquio with the sword twice.

I hate fighting the demon with the sword. If I die against him, I like to use the boomerang-style ninja star on him. It gives me more range. Plus, if the first one is thrown right, the demon's head explodes instead of dropping to the ground and coming at you.

Normally when the head falls off is the only time I take damage during that fight. I run in and destroy the tail, go back and attack the head, then head for the belly. For every jump, you can hit once on the way up, and once on the way down. I can destroy him in like 30 seconds. Like I said, Jaquio is the one that gives me trouble.

Just be patient with him. When he shoots his fireballs, dodge in between them. You can time attacking him with the sword when you have enough time to jump off the wall and slash at him while jumping over his fireballs. It is really difficult and took me some time to master, but it is possible.