In Ninja Master's, the core objective is to defeat opponents in best-of-three round martial arts duels. The game's defining mechanic is the ability to switch between weapon-wielding and bare-handed fighting styles at any time by pressing the weapon switch button. Fighting with a weapon increases your attack range and damage, while fighting bare-handed allows for faster movement, different combo paths, and unique command grabs. Players must manage their character's custom movesets in both states to adapt to the opponent's spacing and defensive options.
Moment-to-moment gameplay revolves around building the power gauge at the bottom of the screen, which enables devastating desperation moves and super combos once filled. Beginners should focus on mastering basic chains and understanding when to sheathe their weapon to execute quick counters. Combine attacks, jumps, and dashes to maintain pressure, and use the special command inputs to unleash elemental ninjutsu attacks. Defending effectively and utilizing the weapon-switching mechanic dynamically during tense neutral exchanges is key to securing victory.
