I'm not even trying to be contrarian but I really don't understand how this game is universally regarded as better than the first game. It's worse in almost every regard except graphics.

Revenge has so much better level design, boss design, challenge, replayability, pacing, and secrets. Shinobi 3 is just so dull and easy; it's almost twice as long without even a fraction of the challenge or memorable moments.

The first four levels really might as well not even exist, as they are so easy they practically play themselves to the point where you have to go out of your way to die. Stage 4 boss is maybe the only memorable or relevant boss in the game, although POW + lightning makes him trivial.

The fifth level is just a boring slog of platforming and destroying bombs to reveal platforms, featuring more of the boring ceiling hanging shit. The Mecha Godzilla is just a lamer, easier retread of Godzilla in the first game.

The sixth level is where things finally get interesting with the rock jumping section, although I could definitely see it being bullshit if you never played the first game, as the game almost never utilizes the double jump up to that point, then just gives you a trial by fire. The maze right after though is just an easy, boring retread of the final stage of the first game, (bonus points for the stupid instant death mashers with dogshit hitboxes). The boss here is so braindead that you can just mash mindlessly your first time and will probably succeed.

The final stage is more hanging bullshit (does anyone actually enjoy the hanging sections??), the slowest elevator ride ever as the most wimpy turrets feebly fire a single shot at you, and then the cannon section is like the first section of the entire game that actually feels like it could be in Revenge of Shinobi (and it would be in the bottom tier of levels if it was).