A lot of the difficult games nowadays are hard because they’re 'cheap' or are brought down by deficient mechanics. Ninja Gaiden was able to rise above these kinds of annoyances (for the most part) and deliver a challenging but rewarding (and, it has to be said, mindblowingly sublime) experience. After its initial release, Ninja Gaiden received probably the most extensive support over the original Xbox Live network with a series of downloads and upgrades. Later on, these upgrades and additions were included in re-release, Ninja Gaiden Black, which unfortunately, never saw release in Australia. Now, three years after the original release, the game sees its “ultimate” version released on the PS3 in the form of Ninja Gaiden Sigma.
Gaming's ultimate bad-ass is back, again.
Upon its initial release, Ninja Gaiden was the heralded return for Ryu Hayabusa to single player exploits. In Ninja Gaiden Sigma, the story remains essentially the same with a few revealing tidbits added in between. While some thought the story to be rather obscure, it’s actually rather simple. An evil blade that the Hayabusa clan has been protecting has been stolen by the Emperor of Vigoor and it’s up to Ryu to go back and retrieve it single-handedly, while slicing and dicing anything that moves along the way. Sure, it may not really be apparent why we fight an array of monsters, fiends, ninjas, military men, tanks, copters, freaks, yetis, zombie dactyls and everything in between, but isn’t keeping yourself alive a good enough reason? That, and it’s a whole lot of fun taking the most agile of ninja’s through countless battles against hordes of enemies.
Essentially, Ninja Gaiden Sigma is the same game that we first played three years ago. There are a quite a few games out there from three years ago that feel old just a few years on. However, despite its familiarity, this game still feels as if it were a fresh and new release, as Ryu still plays just as well as he originally did and better than a lot of other characters that have come along in the interim. The differences and additions for the original to Sigma aren’t initially apparent, nor explicitly noticeable but there have been a few made. Some are good, while there is an argument that a few more changes could have been made.
The most substantial addition to the game has been the inclusion of three extra chapters to add to the initial sixteen. Through out these chapters, you’ll be playing as Rachel, the fiend hunter who has a significant role in the story. While a little on the short side and contained within levels that you’ve already seen, these chapters go a little way into explaining a few of the story’s intricacies and provide a bit of variety to the game. Rachel is nowhere near as fast or as agile as Ryu, and while slow, her warhammer can plough through enemies once the players have adopted to the rather different style. At first it may seem awkward, but it’s merely a question of getting used to it.
Why have one weapon when you can have two?
Otherwise, there have been mainly subtle changes to the core game. A few parts of the game have been tweaked and some removed. Outside of fighting, the original game contained a few Resident Evil puzzle elements and key hunts. Sigma removes a lot of the puzzles and makes for an even more action-orientated experience. Sure, the game progression is more fluid, though not everyone will appreciate the removal of the more cerebral elements, nor the removal a few little things such as the “talk” feature with shopkeeper Muramasa. The camera is essentially the same, though you can now use the right analog stick to maneuver it, just as in the later downloads and Ninja Gaiden Black. This helps a lot of the platforming but if you never liked it, this won’t change your mind. Still, it was never busted, it just needed to be kept on a tight leash, which was easily done with the R1 button.
Ninja Gaiden Sigma is almost the definitive edition of the 2004 Ninja Gaiden release. Outside of the story mode, which if you’re playing for the first time will take some 15-20 hours, you’ll be able to partake in a series of short missions that are challenging on their own. The game also includes the option of reverting to “Ninja Dog” mode, which is essentially the game’s easy mode. If things get too tough, Ayane (of Dead or Alive fame) will come to help you with extra items and “rations”. It’s something that will help those who otherwise would have found the game too tough. Downloadable content is also on the way. Unfortunately, the package doesn’t include the old NES Ninja Gaiden games which is quite a bummer really.
So why is Ninja Gaiden Sigma still one of the best action games currently available? Despite its familiarity, the game still puts you into the slacks of one of the most agile, fastest and powerful protagonists in gaming. The controls border on flawless, as every one of Ryu’s moves can be sublimely executed. While the combat system does somewhat come off as “dial-a-combo”, it still manages to retain great depth and requires deft skill to get through the game. The depth not only comes from the unlockable combos, but a variety of contextual situations that if completed successfully, will leave a smile on the face of even the most seasoned of gamers. Not only this, but aspects such as the fluidity of the blocking and dodging moves run rings around just about every other action game available.
Rachel's inclusion is quite robust.
While you are the baddest of the bad-ass ninjas, pretty much anything in the game that moves, can and will hurt you, bad. While at times it may seem cheap, the truth is that the game demands a high level of skill and precision. Seriously, you can beat the game's hordes of enemies and even the bosses (with the exception of those flipping worms) without taking damage, though it requires the skill. Still, the aggression and attacking power of the enemies ensures that a mighty high level of skill is needed. It’s not only these elements, but the game’s overall immaculate design and structure that puts a lot of current games to shame that highlight just how good a game this really is.
As a PS3 game on its own, Ninja Gaiden Sigma is virtually unrivaled. The closest competition to the game, the farcical Genji: Days of the Blade, only further shows how good Sigma really is. As we’ve mentioned, the game easily stands up today and sits at the top of the pile of action games. If you haven’t played this game already and aren’t afraid of a challenge, there is no reason not to get this game, as it’s one of the best PS3 games currently available. However, if you’ve already spent the time mastering either of the Xbox games, the price of entry is a little steep given the amount of additions and changes. At its core, it’s still the same game but it’s still a mighty fine one. However, as Ninja Gaiden Black was never released in Australia, the deal just might be a little bit sweeter.
Ninja Gaiden and Ninja Gaiden Black were and still are two of the most graphically stunning games available on the original Xbox. Ninja Gaiden Sigma is still nothing to be sneezed at, but while mighty nice, will almost definitely be superceded during the PS3 life cycle. Still, for game that is essentially an upgrade, it does a few things so well that it puts a lot of “new” games to shame. The level of fine detail and “life” that has been added to everything in Sigma makes the game flourish on its own. While based off the original architecture, aspects such as texturing and detail have been wonderfully recreated and upgraded to give the game its own unique atmosphere. Not only this, but the animations are wonderfully fluid and almost life-like. There are a few little issues, namely clipping but in the least, this is one of the few “next-gen” titles that runs without a single framerate dip. One aspect the game that just looks ridiculous though, is Rachel’s gelatinous upper half. Given how everything else looks so well put together, it's really laughable and looks completely out of context.
The detail in this game is insane.
The soundtrack is close to being the same but there have been a few chops and changes. The music doesn’t really keep to a Japanese or Ninja theme, but more of an action setting, as the up-tempo tunes really keep things going and most of them fit quite well into their respective environments and contexts. They give something of a cheesy B-grade action feel, what with the guitar and rock themes, but it fits in extraordinarily well. The sound effects are quite awesome as well, as everything from the shattering of enemy defenses to explosions to splitting of fiends sounds like it could shake down the house. Not only that, but when a beastie roars in this game, you can tell that said beastie is out to hurt you. Some have complained about the English voices, though we’ve heard much, much worse and there is always the option for the Japanese track.
While it may be the same three year old game at its core and it may end up being surpassed many times over this generation, Ninja Gaiden Sigma is still among the top action games currently available. As far as PS3 games go, Sigma is the unrivaled top game from a rather meager selection (including the above-mentioned atrocity) and if you exclude the original game, there really isn’t much on the Xbox 360 either. The game may have been open to few more changes and it isn’t going to be terribly appealing for those who have already invested heavily in the Xbox games, which is the one major deterrent of an otherwise excellent game. Still, on it’s own, Ninja Gaiden Sigma retains its status as one of the top action games and one that’s there for anyone with the stomach for a real challenge of skill.
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