In Shinobi* selecting CGA or Tandy 4-color you see your status line completely.

However, if you select either MCGA or EGA, only 1/3 of your status line information is displayed. The other 2/3 is "cut out".

As a side note, the game's display places status line information at the top of the screen on CGA and Tandy 4-color mode, but places it at the bottom in MCGA or EGA mode.

-Trebor

*For those without, it is obtainable at HotU.