Ninja Kazan puts players in control of a warrior armed with a sword at the outset, though combat options expand as shuriken, chains, and kunai become available during exploration—with kunai being the only tool that depletes when damage is taken. The ninja can harness magical power by holding down a button to unleash devastating spells that outpace standard weaponry, with four collectible scrolls scattered throughout granting access to additional magical techniques. Starting with a modest three hit points, health can be gradually expanded by discovering items hidden in the environment, while rare blue creatures offer extra lives, or players can claim bonus lives by reaching specific point thresholds during their mission.