Ninja Gaiden

"Magnificent"

Every console generation there are a few elite titles that stand out among the best of the best. Gaming experiences so exhilarating, so soul stirring that the entire industry takes notice with respect and awe. Such was the case with The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Time, Resident Evil, the HALO, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and now once again with the Ninja Gaiden.

Ninja Gaiden is an epic adventure that will satisfy your every fantasy and deeply probe your livid nightmares. The game play and control is so perfectly refined and within minutes you’ll be able to perform moves that Neo could only dream of pulling off in the Matrix. There are more moments playing Ninja Gaiden that will have you screaming expletives in joy and fury than the average human will do so in their lifetime.

Ninja Gaiden’s story is of honor, justice, and revenge.
As Ryu Hayabusa, your duty is to avenge the massacre of your clan and retrieve the stolen Dark Dragon Blade. This weapon holds enormous evil power and if in the wrong hands will bring doom to the peaceful world. From the ashes of your village you will hunt down those responsible, the unholy minions of the vicious Vigoor Empire. Armed with the enchanted Light Dragon Blade your quest will trek you through the most diverse of levels as you uncover clues to the darker purpose behind the malevolent attack. From floating airships to sprawling cities to deadly underground caverns you’ll encounter unimaginable foes and huge end of level bosses. There’s even an underwater stage where Ryo will fight a beast that makes the shark from Jaws seem like a goldfish. Can you imagine?!

There are dozens of upgrade-able weapons and new scroll techniques to be found and purchased throughout the game. A shopkeeper and blacksmith named Muramasa is accessible on every level and offers many items and healing potions. He also hints at several secrets and will supply you with bonuses if you collect and give him the well-hidden Golden Scarabs. Hidden chests offer other rewards and sometimes it will even be necessary to recover arrows from the bodies of fallen comrades and use them against your attackers. Such a joy of redemption!
There are also some surprise allie's that join you as the story unfolds.

Graphics and Animation: Absolutely incredible. Everything is highly detailed and runs at a solid sixty frames per second.

Music and Sound Effects: Stirring and perfectly suited for every level and encounter. Hopefully an original soundtrack will be made available.

Pro’s: The main quest clocks in at a surprising twenty plus+ hours but there is so much more that can be unlocked, including the three original Ninja Gaiden games that appeared on the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System. Once completed you will be able to replay the game with all accumulated weapons. Ninja Gaiden also offers a revolutionary online Live feature that not only has downloadable content but will also offer tournaments and contests.

Cut-scene's are stylish and top quality and really help progress the story.

Controls are fully customizable and that’s always a good thing.

Cons: Not an easy game. Even regular enemies can cause significant damage if your Ninja skills are lacking. Thankfully there's a Save Point prior to each boss and it’s a great help until you’ve learned the true techniques of offense, defense and how to dodge and counter.

Sometimes the action moves so fast that the camera isn’t in the best position.
A quick tap on the L-Trigger (default) usually instantly solves the problem.

Conclusion: Ninja Gaiden for Xbox is a magnificent action game and among the very best offered this generation or any other.
High-five to Tecmo and Team Ninja for delivering the epic fun stuff.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 03/03/04