Set three years before the events of the first Ninja Gaiden for the NES, the player controls Ryu Hayabusa, who must save New York City from the forces of Emperor Garuda (Emperor Gulf in the European version), a servant of Jaquio. Garuda's minions includes the cyborg "Spider", kickboxer Gregory and his manager Jack, former military commander Colonel Allen, and the Japanese nobleman Fūkisai.
