"The stylus controls make this game. This is another killer app for the DS."

Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword

3/29/08

This game is one of the most eagerly anticipated DS games I remember, up there with the Ace Attorneys and Pokemon Diamond/Pearl. The game got pushed back a few times, and the screens and vids and the stylus-based controls spawned much speculation, and a general consensus was reached that this game would either royally suck or be really, really good, depending on if the stylus controls worked well or not.

Well, they work better than I could have imagined. You do a disservice to yourself if you do not get this game!

Graphics: 10/10

Just wow. Pre-rendered backgrounds and 3D models. I don't care if people consider this some form of "fake graphics", it looks better than any other DS game and doesn't obstruct gameplay at all, Everything is sharp and clear, Ryu's edges are smooth (no pixellization), the backgrounds, being pre-rendered, are as beautiful and detailed as one would expect. Animation is SUPERB. Ryu's attacks look and "feel" superb. Every movement of his is well-defined and it just thrills the player to see him moving. Personally, I just love to see him running in the distance, and sheathing his sword while he does so. Very well done indeed.

But what is even better are the little stylistic touches to this game. I won't go into them in depth, but it suffices to say: the symbols and little (or not little, as in the case of the pictures in the introduction video) are a delight to see, and just reek of ninja. I won't tell you all the neat little artwork that so enhance this game's tone, but just check out the left (or non-touch) screen while you're doing a Ninpo attack. Man, the visuals to this game are well done.

Sound and Music: 7/10

I know a lot of people on the boards are very fond of the sound in this game, but I find the music a little drab. That's my only semi-major complaint from the game,a nd the reason it didn't get a 10. More and better music would have got it a 10.

The sound effects, however, are great. Ryu's shouts, the sound of shuriken hitting the walls, the enemies groans, and the little words the villagers say are all natural; sounding and enhance the gaming experience.

Gameplay: 9/10

This is where the game truly shines. I too had my doubts about the stylus controls, but rest assured, they are great. Moving Ryu around is simple and intuitive, jumping is easy, slashing and throwing shuriken is easy. No, the game doesn't mistake one command for the other. Only a couple of times did I execute a different move than I had intended, and that was in my first 5 minutes of the game.

The best part, however, are not the movements themselves. They are the techniques and combos our Ninja protagonist harbours. They look unbelievably cool and are well-varied, non-repetetive, and very easy and unabrasive to perform. This game really pushes the touch screen interface to a whole new level of precision- it takes off where Phantom Hourglass left. It's a genuine treat to play this game and devastate the enemy with the ninpo and combos. The only reason why I didn't give this a 10 is because the platforming aspects are missing in action slightly, and the wall run has been taken away. C'mon, there should have been more cool ninja acrobatics =( I'm not saying there is none, but more would have been greatly beneficial.

Story: 9/10

Ah, good old storyboard introductions n_n Personally, I'm fond of the over-the-top, mystic ninja kind of storyline (suspend those disbeliefs =D), but I can understand why some people would be a little disappointed at how the game's story is a bit untrue to reality. But then again, what is the point of always having a true to life story in a game? Leave that kind of story to other games, and enjoy Ninja Gaiden for what it offers. And the NG series isn't exactly known for its true to life storylines anyways <_<

A clarification I would like to make is that you don't need to have played the Xbox or NES / SNES games to follow this game's story. It would be better to have played the Xbox title, but it's not mandatory like, say, the Ace Attorney series. So no sweat if this is your first foray into the Ninja Gaiden series.

In conclusion, this is a great game that lives up to its hype, and will be a system seller for the DS. Do get a screen protector before playing this game, though. Heh. My only beef with the game are the slightly under-the-bar music, and the lack of ninja acrobatics. Both were made up for by the remaining aspects of the game, though.

9/10. A definite purchase, nearly flawless.

Fifth

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/31/08

Game Release: Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword (US, 03/25/08)