Legend of a Ninja: A Shadow to Remember is a top-down RPG with classic sprite graphics. The battles are first-person, turn-based, with strategic emphasis on skills and items. There is a single save slot, and it auto saves player progress.
You play as a ninja who has been requested to complete a secret mission. Deep in the woods, a magical orb was hidden to keep it out of the hands of the deadly ninja, Orlo. Now, forced to work with Orlo, you train to be powerful enough to rebel. If you don’t escape, people you love could be hurt with your own blade.
The game relies on choices and consequences. On ninja missions, you have to choose between honor and power,
and you also have to consider if you would follow a mission to assassinate someone you know. The story is passively based on the choices you make throughout the game, making it partially non-linear.
There are four party members in the game, besides the player. Two are ninjas, to help on missions, and two are wizards to help on adventure missions. You can choose to have only party character at a time. You will find the ninja missions, and adventure missions, open different parts of the map, so you have to do all of the missions to explore the entire kingdom.
Random battles only occur if you step off the roads, expect on the kingdom map there are no encounters. Battles are quick, lasting no longer than three rounds. If you lose, you are not penalized, and it can be difficult to win a battle in the first part of the game. Battles can always be won with strategic use of items and skills.
The games lore is extensive, and there is a book series that includes some of the characters and places in the game.