When people think of ridiculously difficult action games, they tend to gravitate instantly toward Ninja Gaiden. Personally, I feel Ninja Gaiden relies instead on being "annoying" rather than "challenging," but that's just me. Still, no matter how irritating the game gets, one can't deny it's a finely crafted experience, and can be quite empowering in the hands of a skilled player.
Ninja Gaiden 2 has been an Xbox 360 exclusive for well over a year, but as usual, Tecmo has been waiting in the wings to produce Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, a PS3 version of that annoying-but-somewhat-awesome sequel in which a ninja flips out and starts kicking the crap out of demons for no sensible reason.
Sporting new characters, online co-op and a number of visual tweaks, is Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 the ultimate version of Ryu Hayabusa's ridiculous journey around the world, or are Xbox 360 users missing out on nothing spectacular? Read on as we put this game through it's paces ... and jiggle some boobs with our SIXAXIS.
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 (PS3)
Developer: Team Ninja
Publisher: Tecmo
Released: September 29, 2009
MSRP: $59.99
Let's get the most important thing out of the way first: The boob jiggling in this game is absolutely bloody stupid. Like two jello cups in the wind, they barely even move and the way do move is kind of creepy and unsettling. Tecmo gets points for the creativity of its sexism, but the delivery leaves a lot to be desired. That's not even considering the fact that one of the women whose breasts you can manipulate is supposed to be fourteen-years-old.
The jiggly boobs is but one of the aesthetic changes made to Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, the most dramatic of which is the severe toning down of the gore. In the original NG2, players could paint the floors and walls in the claret of their enemies, as rent limbs and decapitated necks would spray beautiful fountains of the stuff in all directions. For a game that was taking itself more seriously than it should have, the buckets of blood served as a dose of much-needed silliness and helped to give the game a sense of gratuitous charm.
I don't know who Tecmo thinks it's kidding, but removing the blood does not make for a classier game. In actual fact, it makes the experience feel so much more lacking. You wouldn't think that the reduction of blood would really have a huge impact on one's enjoyment, but in a game like Ninja Gaiden 2, where an arm is torn off every few seconds, the lack of blood directly corresponds to a lack of satisfaction. Simply put, this game suffers through the very poor decision to reduce the gore.
It's still there, but only as minor splashes and stains on the weaponry. Much of the blood has been replaced by inappropriate purple light that shines from wounds in a very unrewarding manner. It just doesn't feel as good as it once did to perform an execution on a prone enemy ninja when he's vomiting purple all over the place. Compared to original version, this PS3 remake has considerably less character.
Less character, but more characters. Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 adds to the main story of the original game with three brand new chapters featuring a trio of well-endowed, barely-clad female warriors. Interspersed throughout the main story, these new levels are a welcome break from Ryu's adventure and provide some interestingly fresh moves, weapons and abilities to get to grips with. While the new levels are welcome, they are certainly nothing spectacular, simply thrown into the story with recycled bosses and environments. It's fun to play as them, but you never get to play with them very much at all.
Also new to NG2 is the "Team Play" mode. This is a series of arena battles designed for online co-op play (or offline with an AI partner). This is actually a very fun addition to the game, although I detected a bit of lag throughout the online battles I fought. When the online isn't lagging, co-op is great and well worth trying out, especially if you're better than your partner and can show off your selection of moves and character costumes while he's just hammering one button with his puny little sword ... before he gets himself killed and wastes your time.
Outside of these changes, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is business as usual. It still looks absolutely stunning, and the combat flows as impressively as always. The same memorable battles are there, and the same annoyances such as endless rocket launchers, tiny little biting fish, and cheap shots are all in abundance. PS3 loyalists who have not played the original version will be satisfied with the magnitude of weapons thrown at Ryu as he progresses, and feel accomplished when they battle toward the final confrontation with the Archfiend. It's still an incredibly solid game, although I personally have never found this series as much fun as, say, Devil May Cry.
There are a few technical irritations with the game, sadly. Despite a mandatory install, the loading times in NG Sigma 2 are frequent and more lengthy than they should be. It also takes an inordinate amount of time to enter and exit the shop screen. Even pausing the game can be a bit laggy at times. If a game is forcing data on my PS3 hard drive, I expect it to run smoothly and efficiently. The wait between screens simply isn't acceptable.
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is worth checking out for PS3 owners who like hardcore action games and have never played the Xbox 360 version. The new additions, however, simply aren't worth replaying the game for if you have the original version, and the removal of the blood has done the game a significant disservice. If you only have a 360 and were worried that Tecmo was gypping you, don't worry. You've not really missed out on anything important. It's still a really good game and a worthy addition to the PS3 library, but it's not quite as rewarding as the original and while the online co-op is a very notable feature, the game's new toys just aren't enough to make this a truly must-have title.
Also, OH MY GOD DIFFERENT TEXTURES 11/10!
Score: 7.5 -- Good (7s are solid games that definitely have an audience. Might lack replay value, could be too short or there are some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.)
Contest:
6:00 PM on 09.30.2009
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good review tho.
The gore in the 360 version was great, but i ended up selling the game to buy NG Sigma 1, which was awesome and more satisfying gore-wise than NG sigma II. The PS3 versions both look alot better - the 1080P @ 60fps is a huge boost, especially with such a fast pace as NG, but the gore might actually kill it for me. Thats not to say im obsessed with gore... its just, which is more distracting: huge amounts of blood, as one would expect when you cut someones arm off, or stupid spurts of multicolored fairy dust?
Sure, it packs well with a violent Ninja story, but I'm buying this game interested in the gameplay and the co-op.
If the full game is anything like the demo, then the camera still sucks ass.
I agree! In terms of the difficulty, Ninja Gaiden II was VERY cheap: as in, I died a heap of times. However, in Sigma II, I haven't died yet (almost halfway through the game). They added a SHIT ton of nuances into the game to make it easier (free weapon upgrades!). Sigma II is the most accessible iteration yet.
@DaedHead8
If money is not an issue, EASILY Sigma II. It has about twice the replay value of any past NG iteration, and is tweaked very well.
@Pedro
You're right: the full game doesn't have a better camera, despite the fact that they said it would be fixed from the 360 original.
Some people criticizing here seem bothered that the game is merely as good as the original version, with some changes. $60 is a big price to justify if you have both systems and NG2 is available for $20 brand new on 360. If you only have a PS3 though? Grab it, you'll love it.
Logic is logical.
Fuck sake's guys. Really? Really? He even says it looks stunning, is that not good enough? Does he have to proclaim every fucking PS3 game to be the second coming and the one reason to burn your Xbox 360, Wii or anything non-PS3 before you're satisfied?
Don't answer, because I have the answer for you. The answer is: No. You don't want to be satisfied. Because you already are satisfied in twisted everything into some kind of Anti-PS3/Anti-Jim shitfest. It's some bizarre physiological need to fulfill a lacking ego or ... something.
It's like you people are only happy if you're angry. Are you so invested in a piece of electronics or a video game franchise that if anything that isn't glowing praise can only be viewed as outright slander? Do you really have that little in your lives or have you just not experienced enough of your life to realize how pathetic this is.
Whatever. Who cares. I wish I didn't and that's all I know for sure.
Good night and good luck.
"Mortal Kombat on Super Nintendo compared to the Genesis version, where the game was the same, sans blood, which was the whole underlying characterization of the game."
This misconception HAS to end guys! Did you ever play Ninja Gaiden 1? It was the ORIGINAL series iteration, and it did not contain excess blood. As a result, the gameplay was more clean, and the screen was less cluttered.
How in the world are you people (not just Jim) saying things like "without blood this game fails". Are you completely snubbing the fact that Itagi himself did not have blood in the original?
The original Ninja Gaiden (Xbox) WAS better than 2: I don't think anyone will debate that, both critically and commercially. So when Tecmo decides to return to its roots, with the artistic style of the original version, somehow commenters think that it's completely forsaking Ninja Gaiden's "essence". News flash: Ninja Gaiden II (360) was the game that did the abandoning.
Long range weapons ruin pacing, and unlimited ammo takes away the balance the game needs. The difficulty tone-down takes away from the game's inherent structure. Bloodless gameplay feels empty and takes away a lot of the "reward" in gameplay (again, think SNES MK). Bonus characters (Rachel, looking your way) still play awkwardly. Online coop has played laggy for the three people I know who picked it up. This is a $60 release, when an arguably comparably version has been out for a year and costs $20. The video record mode has been removed.
Jim said the game is still very good, but there were positives in the original which still hold true. I don't see how that's a terrible review. He says specifically that if you only have access to a PS3, you will really enjoy the game.
Seriously, it's his opinion people. If he doesn't like the game as much as you do, and it's that big of a deal, write your own damn review.
It makes the game less frustrating, and more fun. Having to run and search for ammo during a tense boss fight completely ruined the fights themselves. Do you remember the worm tunnel fight? Having to constantly find ammo over and over again wrecked that encounter. Also, you failed to mention that the long range weapon system has actually improved by allowing you to move whilst aiming (which should have always been the case).
"The difficulty tone-down takes away from the game's inherent structure."
No, it doesn't. Play on a higher difficulty, and you'll find that Sigma 2 is leaps and bounds better than its 360 predecessor in terms of "cheap difficulty".
"Bloodless gameplay feels empty and takes away a lot of the "reward" in gameplay (again, think SNES MK)."
See what Ninja Gaiden 1 thinks about that: people didn't complain about it then.
"Bonus characters (Rachel, looking your way) still play awkwardly. Online coop has played laggy for the three people I know who picked it up."
You're right about Rachel, but Momiji and Ayane are just fine, and feel different enough on their own: I also had a bit of lag, but no more than 2 .05 second spikes.
I completely respect Jim's opinion, and people that are ragging on him as a person really need to take a step back, and realize that its an opinion (people that seem to think other people cannot possibly have a different opinion also need to take a step back).
I will however, address the criticism you just presented, after admitting you do not have the game (going off "three people you know"). I don't think its fair to the prospective buyers to not hear the whole story, if possible.
@The "360 vs. PS3" people
Really? This is about a game, not a console...
-Enemies take way more hits than they used to, and the rate of losing limbs is severely lowered. Enemies on Warrior difficulty will survive an ultimate technique and multiple full combos without losing a single limb only to pitifully fall over.
-The game is much easier with enemies that are far less aggressive, even on higher difficulties. The explosive shuriken ninjas now only show up a few at a time, and only throw 1-2 shuriken at a time.
-The new bosses are the same boring GIANT <THING> we've seen before: hit their hands and they die.
-The new weapon, Enma's Fang, is the same weapon we didn't miss from NG1 (Dabilahro). Only now it has fewer, and less interesting, moves.
-Some higher levels moves are available at lower levels (lvl 1 Dragon Sword can do Izuna Drop, Vig. Flail now has Izuna Drop), and certain weapons are found in different places (Vig. Flail at beginning of level 3 instead of level 9).
-Only certain Muramasa statues can upgrade weapons, and although it's now free, each statue can only upgrade 1 weapon. Basically, if it has a blue flam, upgrade a weapon, if it has a red flame, ignore it because the game is so easy you'll be constantly stocked on gear.
-You now have unlimited projectile ammo, but they do less damage and can no longer be charged. A new control scheme maps your projectile weapon to R2 and shurikens remain the Circle button. Holding L2 no longer looks around in first-person, but lets you aim, and you can move.
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With all this in mind, I can't help but think, "What if Sigma was the one to come out a year ago and NG2 came out today?" It would go something like this:
-Removed multiplayer and team missions, but added survival arenas woven into story which give you stuff.
-Tons and tons and tons of blood added.
-Enemies take less damage and lose limbs faster but are much more aggressive. Explosive Shuriken ninjas throw 5-10 shurikens at a time, and fight in groups of 4-8.
-You can charge projectile weapons, but now have limited ammo. No aiming while moving.
-You can upgrade whatever you want whenever you want, but it costs a whole lot.
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NG2 on 360 is much harder and much more demanding. As a fanboy I'll play Sigma 2 plenty, but NG2 is going to stay on top, just like I hold NG Black over Sigma. Playing so far I almost feel like I can literally tell that Itagaki is gone. They really fucked with his formula.
All that aside, Jim's review is pretty much right. My only sidenote is if you've never played NG2, Sigma is easier and less violent and the co-op is kindof fun but simplistic. If you've played (and especially if you really enjoy) the 360 version, stick with that.
I'll skip both versions of the game.
As for 360 VS PS3 - the 360 version is cheaper - so when considering buying the PS3 version ask yourself if the changes/upgrades to the title are worth $30 - I would say no probably not but I'll pick up Sigma later for $20.
"herefore the removal of the visceral bloodshed is actually against the intention of the original director."
Itagaki had one game without bloodshed (1), and one game with it (2). How are we to know what he would have eventually wanted in Sigma II: would he have taken the bloodshed out in hindsight?
All we have to go off of is the fact that it wasn't in the original incarnation of the game, despite how many people think that 1 never existed. While I won't say it is for sure what he have wanted, to say it "betrays" the series' roots is ludicrous.
That said, why do you even comment on the retardedness of those people? Ad nauseum I might add? If you're big into discussion... well, some people have asked some reasonable questions or brought up reasonable points about the game that they may be counting on you as the reviewer to address. Instead of pointing out, once again, the idiocy of the fanatic, why don't you take that time and spend it on reasonable conversation with reasonable people asking reasonable questions?