Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2: PS3 Upgrades Keep on Coming

By Richard Leadbetter Published 3 July, 2009

The recent rush of new media assets for Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 has allowed us to update our previous analysis of the game, and it's even more good news for PS3 owners.

In our first look, it was clear to see that the Tecmo team had enhanced the PS3 version in many ways, with superior lighting, shader and bloom effects when the first shots were put up against counterparts from the 360 code. But it looked to us like the PS3 version also shared the sub-HD leanings of the original version, with a disappointing 1152x585 resolution. Media released this week, and checked out by DF associate MazingerDUDE, demonstrates that this is no longer the case, with the new Sigma title showcased to journalists exhibiting full 720p resolution.

'Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2: PS3 Upgrades Keep on Coming' Screenshot 1
'Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2: PS3 Upgrades Keep on Coming' Screenshot 2

Resolution analysis of straight PS3 game captures from Sigma 2 show the clear detail advantage over the original 360 version.

The only disadvantage to this approach is that the edge-smoothing anti-aliasing found in the Xbox 360 version has been completely omitted, but something tells me this is a compromise most people will be happy to live with... especially when new elements of bonus bling crop up in every new set of media Tecmo releases. For example, depth-of-field effects have been introduced during gameplay, something again unseen in the 360 version. All of which goes to show that Tecmo is taking the PS3 seriously with this new project, even if the gore level has been inexplicably toned down...

Picture of Richard.

About Richard Leadbetter

Rich has been a games journalist since the days of 16-bit and specialises in technical analysis. Commonly known around Eurogamer as the Blacksmith of the Future.

Read more articles from Richard by visiting the Richard Leadbetter archive page.

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Comments (21) Latest comment 9 months ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • #1 3 years ago

    Yeah I think I will live with out zooming in 500% to see pixels that arent AA.

    /ffs

  • cyacomini #2 3 years ago

    Given the poor sales of the 360 version - I'm at a loss as to why they are even bothering to release this on PS3.

    Loved the first on the xbox but the second was complete pants.

  • juuken #3 3 years ago

    Can't wait!

  • Gay-Lord-Perry #4 3 years ago

    lack of AA seems to be an annoying problem for ps3 games, but I can't say anything until I play a demo

    after playing halo 3 alot the jagges are really annoying

    also NG2 sold over a million in just a little over months after release

  • Gay-Lord-Perry #5 3 years ago

    lack of AA seems to be an annoying problem for ps3 games, but I can't say anything until I play a demo

    after playing halo 3 alot the jagges are really annoying

    also NG2 sold over a million in just a little over months after release

  • cyacomini #6 3 years ago

    Just noticed Eurogamer Networks is listed as a client on the digitalfoundry.org site

    does that mean EG pay DF for these articles?

    If not, in what respect are EG 'clients'?

  • Doctor_What #7 3 years ago

    Personally, I generally prefer games without AA turned on, so I'm not fussed when it's missing on either machine.

  • lolife.se #8 3 years ago

    The fans bought it the first time. Why the hell should they have to buy it a second time to get it fixed.

    No, Namco/Team Ninja can shove it up their useless behinds, and smile while doing it. Fucking useless.

  • local_celebrity #9 3 years ago

    I've just seen that Public Enemies. That is definitely running at 1080p. Can we have some sort of video analysis, Rich? I wasn't too sure about the anti-aliasing on some of Johnny Depp's pockmarks.

  • XXmen #10 3 years ago

    Because PS3 owners are going to get the BETTER version of it, Xbots are complaining that because of low sales on their shitty version, that doesnt mean that ps3 sales will be the same....sigh get out of here xbot fanboys

  • shotgun44 #11 3 years ago

    The problem I had with NG2 is that it was just plain unfair in places rather than a calculated hardness. NG1 is one of my fave xbox games but I found this crushingly disappointing...

  • SaberEdge #12 3 years ago

    Yeah, Ninja Gaiden 2 had some problems on the 360, but Sigma 2 looks like an improved game in many areas. Ninja Gaiden Sigma and NG Sigma 2 are definitely the versions to get if you like the Ninja Gaiden franchise.

  • riceNpea #13 3 years ago

    does this mean that ps3 owners have bigger genitals then xbox owners? discuss

  • dominalien #14 3 years ago

    does that mean EG pay DF for these articles?

    If not, in what respect are EG 'clients'?

    Like they're going to tell you...

    does this mean that ps3 owners have bigger genitals then xbox owners? discuss

    I won't.

  • Scimarad #15 3 years ago

    "Just what is the point in this Digital Foundry site? I`m personaly into game play than wether a game has AA or bloom effects!"

    Probably not aimed at you, then:)

    Plenty of people ARE interested in the technical aspects of games.

  • Darren #16 3 years ago

    IMO a sub-720p resolution plus 2X AA is far more preferable to 720p with NO AA. It's the reason I think Oblivion still looks that bit nicer visually on the Xbox 360 (sub-720p with AA) than the PS3 (720p with no AA) for example as the latter is noticeably jaggy in places where the 360 version isn't.

    Those NG Sigma 2 screenshots might look fine without AA now but that's because they're both dark which helps mask the jaggies. Just wait until the game shifts to daylight though...
    Edited by 1 at 07/07/09 @ 11:19

  • Darren #17 3 years ago

    P.S. Ninja Gaiden Sigma was a jagfest on the PS3 even at 1080p (which added lots of screen tear too). I personally preferred playing NG Black on the Xbox 360 where it is upscaled to 720p with AA. That's just me though.

  • fiery_jackass #18 3 years ago

    it didn't look much like they've been fixing the problems from the EG videos: still getting bedevilled by off-screen flaming arrows etc.

    More to the point, I'd imagine the average PS3 owner would rather swap a few resolution points for bloody eviscerations, rather than the gutless purple clouds of flatulence.

  • segarr #19 3 years ago

    No AA? Eww. I'll take the cleaner and gorier NG2. This is too jaggie and sterile.

  • Geordiemp #20 2 years ago

    I have both NHII and NGIIS, lot of crap fanboys on here talking rubbish. The framerate in NGSII is better as well.....And no annoyingspamming missiles.

    Spew out any old crap about jaggies or anything to justify the fact cant afford 2 consoles and mine is better cos its all I can afford.

  • lamontnoble #21 9 months ago

    I have played Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 on a Xbox 360 and I liked very much. Anti-aliasing is very important in a game and hearing that this game won`t have AA implemented on Xbox 360 make me think if I made the right decision to buy a Xbox instead of PS3. When I bought a 120gb HDD for my Xbox I had to find a <a rel="follow" href="http: //file-extension.paretologic.com/index.php">file extension software</a>, because the console could not recognize the games I installed on the HDD drive. Tecmo releases a lot of wonderful games and I hope in the near future we will hear some new releases appear on the market.