ird rendition of the "Ninja Gaiden" franchise and the first on a console not developed by Microsoft. It retains the same signature game play that the series has been known for since appearing on the Xbox in 2004, while adding new features and upgraded graphics to a tried and true formula.
Tecmo, the developer behind "Ninja Gaiden," has kept the game's core unchanged. In comparison to other entries in the "hack and slash" genre of video games, such as "Devil May Cry," the "Gaiden" series stands out because of its level of difficulty and lack of button mashing. For those who aren't familiar with the term, button mashing refers to games where you can be successful just by repeatedly pressing the same button and not really thinking much. "Ninja Gaiden" does not fit into this category. Anyone who expects to rush through levels hammering buttons will experience some gruesome in-game deaths. Luckily, Tecmo has taken pity on those who aren't yet familiar with the intricacies of "Gaiden". After the player dies enough times, an easier mode titled "Ninja Dog" will become available for play.
Much of "Ninja Gaiden Sigma" remains the same as previous installments in the series. Players take on the task of guiding Ryu, a ninja who defies the laws of physics, through a world infested with enemies. The square and triangle buttons are used in conjunction to perform beautiful and deadly slashing combos on all sorts of creatures. Meanwhile, jumping has been relegated to the X button, and projectiles are handled by the circle button. The controls are well laid out and fairly easy to master. Within 20 minutes or so, most will be able to perform some pretty amazing stunts that are made even more breathtaking, thanks to the game's improved graphics.
"Sigma's" graphics are far superior to its predecessors. The processing power of the PlayStation 3 has been put to good use. The scenery looks good, as do the detailed character models, and the game's frame rate never slows down. The game now runs in full 1080P (which benefits all the HDTV owners out there), and the jump to high definition has made a big difference. While there is the rare occurrence of slight screen tearing (visual distortion during quick movement), the game is truly beautiful and a joy to play and watch. The visuals are accompanied by a decent sound track, good sound effects and a choice between English and Japanese voice-overs.
Other additions to the game include a new weapon (dual swords), new enemies, bonus missions and the chance to play as a secondary character, Rachel. These extras definitely improve upon the original "Ninja Gaiden," though some players may not find them all enjoyable. In particular, while the Rachel missions provide a change of pace and the chance to experience a different fighting style, many may find her slow attacks annoying. On the plus side, if male gamers don't quite enjoy the way Rachel fights, they'll probably enjoy her choice of clothes.
Sigma has two major flaws. The first is Tecmo's choice to include areas where you must fight nearly endless waves of enemies. Such situations become tedious and unnecessarily difficult. Second, Ryu's objectives are at times unclear, and players will probably wind up wandering around unsure of where to go. A minor issue is that the only way to switch weapons is through the pause menu. Having to pause just to change weapons breaks up the flow of combat.
All in all, despite being a remake, "Ninja Gaiden Sigma" is a great game. Hacking through hordes of ninjas, demons and dinosaurs has never been this much fun. The game will keep you busy for well over 20 hours, and downloadable upgrades are on the way through the PlayStation Network. This is worth buying for newcomers to the series and veteran ninjas alike.
