About

<h2>Overview</h2><figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/9408/736298-joe_and_mac___caveman_ninja_9.png" data-ref-id="1300-736298" data-ratio="0.625" data-width="320" data-embed-type="image" style="width: 320px"><a class="fluid-height" style="padding-bottom:62.5%" href="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/9408/736298-joe_and_mac___caveman_ninja_9.png" data-ref-id="1300-736298"><img alt="No Caption Provided" src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/9408/736298-joe_and_mac___caveman_ninja_9.png" srcset="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/9408/736298-joe_and_mac___caveman_ninja_9.png 320w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" data-width="320"></a></figure><p>Caveman Ninja (known in Japan as <em>Joe &amp; Mac: Tatakae Genshijin</em>, loosely translated to "Joe &amp; Mac: Caveman Fight") is a side-scrolling platformer developed and released by <a href="/data-east-corporation/3010-157/" data-ref-id="3010-157">Data East</a> for <a href="/arcade/3045-84/" data-ref-id="3045-84">arcades</a> in 1991.</p><p>Set in the <a href="/caveman/3015-3335/" data-ref-id="3015-3335">prehistoric era</a>, Caveman Ninja has cavemen duo <a href="/joe/3005-15704/" data-ref-id="3005-15704">Joe</a> and <a href="/mac/3005-15705/" data-ref-id="3005-15705">Mac</a> fighting rival cavemen and deadly animals to rescue various <a href="/damsel-in-distress/3015-100/" data-ref-id="3015-100">damsels in distress</a>. While they start with their melee club attack, they can obtain throwable weapons (such as <a href="/boomerang/3055-76/" data-ref-id="3055-76">boomerangs</a> and <a href="/wheel/3055-1210/" data-ref-id="3055-1210">stone wheels</a>) as <a href="/power-up/3015-700/" data-ref-id="3015-700">power-ups</a>.</p><p>The game has numerous console and computer ports under the <em>Joe &amp; Mac</em> name between 1991 and 1993. The only first-party port, made for the <a href="/super-nintendo-entertainment-system/3045-9/" data-ref-id="3045-9">Super Nintendo Entertainment System</a>, is known for various gameplay changes (such as an <a href="/linear-overworld/3015-5669/" data-ref-id="3015-5669">overworld map</a> system with additional levels, and the removal of charging-up weapons). It was also included in multiple compilations and digital re-releases after Data East's bankruptcy.</p><p>The game received <a href="/joe-mac/3025-825/" data-ref-id="3025-825">multiple sequels and spin-offs</a>, prior to Data East's bankruptcy. This includes the two sequels to the SNES version: <a href="/congos-caper/3030-2434/" data-ref-id="3030-2434">Congo's Caper</a> and <a href="/joe-mac-2-lost-in-the-tropics/3030-9982/" data-ref-id="3030-9982">Joe &amp; Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics</a>, and the 1994 arcade puzzle-platformer <a href="/joe-mac-returns/3030-39222/" data-ref-id="3030-39222">Joe &amp; Mac Returns</a>. Joe was later included in the European Game Boy puzzle game <a href="/franky-joe-and-dirk-on-the-tiles/3030-71152/" data-ref-id="3030-71152">Franky, Joe &amp; Dirk: On The Tiles</a>.</p><h2>Ports &amp; Re-releases</h2><h3>SNES Version</h3><p>The game received only one port made by <a href="/data-east-corporation/3010-157/" data-ref-id="3010-157">Data East</a> themselves, released for the <a href="/super-nintendo-entertainment-system/3045-9/" data-ref-id="3045-9">Super Nintendo Entertainment System</a> in Japan (on December 6, 1991), North America (on January 1992), and Europe (by <a href="/elite-software/3010-4146/" data-ref-id="3010-4146">Elite</a> sometime in 1992).</p><p>This version is unique for reworking various aspects of the game, such as new and longer levels, an <a href="/overworld/3015-1004/" data-ref-id="3015-1004">overworld map</a> system, new enemies (including a new final boss), and two multiplayer modes (one of which, "Super Game", allows <a href="/friendly-fire/3015-2243/" data-ref-id="3015-2243">friendly fire</a> and player collision for both a challenge and a way to reach higher areas easily). It also removes certain weapons, while removing the ability to charge-up weapons.</p><p>This version later received two sequels: <a href="/congos-caper/3030-2434/" data-ref-id="3030-2434">Congo's Caper</a> and <a href="/joe-mac-2-lost-in-the-tropics/3030-9982/" data-ref-id="3030-9982">Joe &amp; Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics</a>.</p><h3>Third-Party Ports</h3><p>The game received third-party ports to numerous consoles, computers, and handhelds in both North America (as <em>Joe &amp; Mac</em>) and Europe (as <em>Joe &amp; Mac: Caveman Ninja</em>) from late 1991 to sometime in 1993. The North American releases were published by <a href="/data-east-corporation/3010-157/" data-ref-id="3010-157">Data East USA</a> (except the PC version, which was released by <a href="/new-world-computing-inc/3010-503/" data-ref-id="3010-503">New World Computing</a>, and the Genesis version, which was released by <a href="/takara-co-ltd/3010-110/" data-ref-id="3010-110">TAKARA</a>), while the European releases were published by <a href="/elite-systems-ltd/3010-285/" data-ref-id="3010-285">Elite</a>. None of these ports received a Japanese release.</p><ul><li><a href="/cygnus-software/3010-3610/" data-ref-id="3010-3610">Cygnus Software</a> developed the MS-DOS PC port, which was released in late 1991.</li></ul><ul><li><a href="/motivetime-ltd/3010-1309/" data-ref-id="3010-1309">MotiveTime</a> developed ports for the <a href="/nintendo-entertainment-system/3045-21/" data-ref-id="3045-21">Nintendo Entertainment System</a> (in late 1992), the <a href="/game-boy/3045-3/" data-ref-id="3045-3">Game Boy</a> (in mid-1993), and the <a href="/amiga/3045-1/" data-ref-id="3045-1">Amiga</a> (released sometime in 1993).</li></ul><ul><li>Eden Entertainment Software developed the <a href="/genesis/3045-6/" data-ref-id="3045-6">Sega Genesis</a> port, which was released exclusively in North America in 1993.</li></ul><h3>Later Ports &amp; Re-releases</h3><p>After the acquisition of Data East's IP from <a href="/g-mode-inc/3010-1973/" data-ref-id="3010-1973">G-mode</a>, the game received a port to the <a href="/zeebo/3045-122/" data-ref-id="3045-122">Zeebo</a> exclusively in South America on April 16, 2010. This port was handled by <a href="/onan-games/3010-16889/" data-ref-id="3010-16889">Onan Games</a>.</p><p>It was later released on the 2010 <a href="/wii/3045-36/" data-ref-id="3045-36">Wii</a> compilation <a href="/data-east-arcade-classics/3030-28034/" data-ref-id="3030-28034">Data East Arcade Classics</a>.</p><p>It also received received a digital re-release by <a href="/flying-tiger-entertainment/3010-6681/" data-ref-id="3010-6681">Flying Tiger Entertainment</a> for the <a href="/nintendo-switch/3045-157/" data-ref-id="3045-157">Nintendo Switch</a> on May 31, 2018 as part of the <a href="/johnny-turbos-arcade/3025-4283/" data-ref-id="3025-4283">Johnny Turbo's Arcade</a> series. This version was later included in the compilation <a href="/retro-classix-collection-1-data-east/3030-81647/" data-ref-id="3030-81647">Retro Classix Collection #1: Data East</a> on October 1, 2020.</p>