Ikiki

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/3850/ikikiteppo.jpg

http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/6667/teppo.jpg

http://indiegames.com/2011/08/freeware_game_pick_buntan_ikik.html

Man, Buntan is hard. After the first boss there are these naginata-wielding guys you have to throw several ninja stars at and then jump over before they slash you, and then throw more stars in the opposite direction. It wouldn't be such a big deal if the game weren't a hit for a life. Plus your throwing stars have an indistinctly limited range. They fly across the screen but at some point they aren't staying true and the game considers the ninja stars to miss their targets.