Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Review

By Christian Donlan Published 29 September, 2009

Purple rain.

Version tested: PlayStation 3

Once upon a time, there was a six-limbed giant demonic werewolf named Volf, who lived in a lovely upscale mansion in the heart of Venice. One day, a Mr Ryu Hayabusa came to visit. Volf was pleased, as - truth to tell - he'd grown rather bored of late. Not surprising, really, seeing as the city beyond his manly stained-glass windows was entirely devoid of inhabitants besides Volf's own marauding monsters, and he rarely got out much these days, anyway, on account of the bizarre layout of his home, which saw rooms slotted together haphazardly, with some chambers only accessible by backflipping up through the chimney below and out of the fireplace.

Anyway, Volf suggested that Mr Hayabusa join him across the street, in his own private coliseum. Long story short, once they got there Mr Hayabusa chopped Volf's head off before escaping on the skids of a passing attack helicopter, piloted by a sexy CIA agent dressed only in some leather underwear.

There are two things you need to know up front about Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2. One: it's still ridiculous. Two: it's still hard. Three: it's no longer ridiculously hard, however. Four: that makes three. Team Ninja has used the PS3 remix of last year's Xbox 360 splatterfest to make a number of tweaks to its original design, adding a handful of new elements like bosses, playable characters and modes, while seeking to refine the whole experience. The result is a game that's certainly a little more forgiving than it previously was, and perhaps a little more enjoyable too.

'Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2' Screenshot 1

Ninja cinema allows you to view your best moments over and over. Ninja cinemas, however, would be awesome.

We should start with the controversial stuff, however: Ninja Gaiden's no longer quite the bloodbath you knew and loved. While Hayabusa, a deadly ninja who likes to head out on his adventures dressed in the manner of an S&M pro ice-skater, still wastes little time separating arms from torsos and heads from necks, the lopped-off appendages have a habit of disappearing before they hit the ground on this outing, and the resulting spew of particles from mangled stumps tends to be a festive purple rather than a thick viscous red.

It sounds like heresy but, to tell the truth, once you're deep inside the game upgrading weapons, lamping strangers and busting up gigantic skeletal dinosaurs, you may find that you don't have time to miss the gristle and brain matter. I barely noticed the difference after the first few minutes. If the worst comes to the worst, as your enemies expire in a cloud of jaunty violet spray, you can always pretend that you're wading through Teletubbies.

There's even a plus side: Sigma's frame-rate is a significant improvement over the original, possibly because the engine no longer needs to keep track of all those rolling heads (I know nothing about engines, so this is conjecture). Elsewhere, the series' notorious camera has also been tweaked somewhat. It still struggles with interiors and narrow alleyways - and, okay, sometimes it struggles with exteriors too - but it feels more decisive as it chooses its targets, and rarely opts to frame your best moments from the wrong side of a gloriously high-def wall.

'Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2' Screenshot 2

Weapons can be selected on the fly using the d-pad.

Checkpoints seem a little kinder in their placement, too - although this may just be the onset of Stockholm Syndrome - and beginners playing on the Acolyte setting now stand a decent chance of getting to the end of the game, albeit with a few major roadblocks along the way. And then, of course, there's new stuff to hack to pieces, although the headline act turns out to be a bit of a bore. With her glowing eyes and blank stare, The Statue of Liberty looks deeply spooky, but limp attack patterns mean that beating up a famous landmark turns out to be a bit less exciting than you may have expected.

A much better inclusion is the new playable characters sprinkled into the main campaign: Momiji from Dragon Sword on the DS, Ayane from Dead or Alive, and Rachel making a return visit from Ninja Gaiden. All of them give you fresh options - Momiji has height and reach, Ayane's super speedy, and Rachel's slow but has a really big hammer, which seems like a fair trade - and at one level apiece none of them outstays their welcome, providing a series of vivid interludes before you're back to the grind with Hayabusa.

If they're too fleeting in the main campaign, the new Team Missions give you more of a chance to learn the additional characters' quirks and exploits. The developer's concession to the online world, the missions are slices of smartly-paced score-attack combat that get progressively harder until you're fighting against four bosses at once. The single-player design of Ninja Gaiden adapts surprisingly well to the change and since there's no split screen - the mode is limited to two players online, or one player accompanied by surprisingly decent AI partner - the camera is no more of a problem than it usually is, which means you'll still get hit by shuriken thrown from off-screen opponents quite a lot, but you won't be able to blame the fact that you're playing with your friend Floyd from Milwaukee.

Ultimately, though, it's business as usual. Ninja Gaiden 2's insane story has lost none of its mindless appeal - the Fiends, right, are trying to raise the Arch Fiend - and it still provides plenty of opportunities to face off against waves of creatively accessorised baddies in beautiful, if lifeless, locations.

And the core of the game, the combat, is as brilliant as it ever was, its simple mixture of weaks, strongs and blocks, melee, ranged and magic, coming together to allow for delirious complexity as weapons level up (albeit in a simplified form, with each blacksmith granting you one extra level each time), dodges are perfected, and new techniques emerge. It's a rhythm game at heart, as you unearth the best combo to take down each foe quickly, or learn to spot the moment an enemy's guard is lowered, and the true master - granted, not me, but I have a friend who's not bad - works with a stylish efficiency.

'Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2' Screenshot 3

Bad news, arena fans: the 360 version's Tests of Valor are out.

Not that Team Ninja always gets it right. A nasty combination of flying fish attacks, coupled with the game's sudden intention to become as acrobatic as Tomb Raider, cross the line between challenge and frustration early on, and the spectacle offered by some of the larger bosses often misfires, as they face you, rather undramatically, as if propped against a lunch counter. It can be hard to feel like a badass when you're simply hitting someone in the fingernail until they drop dead. Unless you're hitting them in the fingernail with a Trans-Am, I guess.

Such irritations are short-lived, however. Back in the mid-nineties, after an evening spent listening to OG: Original Gangster on heavy repeat, a wise friend of mine pointed out that Ice-T couldn't lose, really: his lyrics were either brilliant or hilarious, and either way there was something for you to enjoy. The same is true of Ninja Gaiden - the combat is fantastic, while the goofy leather-clad nonsense remains endearingly loopy.

'Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2' Screenshot 4

Everyone you encounter is either hot or dead. Or maybe they have wings.

As games steadily become more ingratiating, Team Ninja offers you an increasingly rare prospect: the chance to truly master something brutal. It's the chance to bounce up out of a well into a midnight world littered with skyscrapers and pagodas and fearsome enemies who are yours to toy with, the chance to spend your time finding the best means of slicing a foe's life expectancy from 15 seconds to just two. You wouldn't want every game to present a challenge so steep, perhaps, but when it's put together with such arrogant style, it's hard to dislike.

In the end, then, despite the toning down, despite the wonky camera, and despite the fact that at times it's all just a remix, all that's left is the controller in your hand at three in the morning. You'll be late for work tomorrow, but as the cherry blossom fills the air, and six new enemies drop into view and, behind them, you spy the familiar blue glow of your next save point, none of that really matters.

8 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Christian.

About Christian Donlan

Chris Donlan writes about games for Eurogamer and some magazines. His heroes include Eugene Jarvis, Errol Morris, and Linus Van Pelt.

Read more articles from Christian by visiting the Christian Donlan archive page.

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Comments (69) Latest comment 12 months ago

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

  • Cloudane #1 2 years ago

    I would like to buy this game but Ninja Gaiden was way too hard for me!

    I hope I am not alone...

  • TurboBailey #2 2 years ago

    I loved them demo!!

    Maybe a trip to blockbusters for a rental in the near future

    Good score though

  • OnlyMe #3 2 years ago

    Which versions of Ninja Gaiden Sigma are cencored? I want to decapitate people - having a katana and playing a ninja without that ability is just a waste to me. I want Sigma, but not the cencored version.

    Or should I just buy Ninja Gaiden Black on the X360 store?
    Edited by 1 at 29/09/09 @ 13:22

  • DrDean #4 2 years ago

    some comment on whether this was worth getting if you already own/have played the x-bot version would have been useful?

  • darkmorgado #5 2 years ago

    I've got Ninja Gaiden 2 for the 360 (picked it up for a fiver second hand the other week) but haven't played it yet. Its reputation for bastard-hardness has so far intimidated me so much I haven't taken the disc out of the case.

    @onlyme, the 360 version has full-on severed limbs, and more claret than a french AA centre. But apparently it also has a dodgy framerate from all reports I have read. I'm guessing the "censored" ps3 version was more to save clock cycles and improve the frame rate.

  • Zanuah #6 2 years ago

    OnlyMe :: The decapitation in NGS2 is still there together with the limblos... Though instead of the large amounts blood the enemies spew out a purplish haze. Gameplay wise everything is still there I believe.

    I liked the demo, regardless of the wonky camera (especially at the end where your fighting this giant buddha statue, where the camera would occluded by pillars).

    I'll probably pick it up at some point, might even look up the first one also.

  • muscleblade #7 2 years ago

    Too bad they censored the game. Still one of the best games ever made. Its incredibly hard on the hardest difficulty. Most seasoned gamers shouldnt have too much trouble on the normal difficulty though. Dont be scared ( Miiiguel take note).

  • muscleblade #8 2 years ago

    Ninja Gaiden Black is still the best Ninja Gaiden game. Looks great even now.

  • OllyJ #9 2 years ago

    Not as bothered about the blood as I thought I might be. apart from the corpses....that looks a bit naff.

    Hope they have got rid of the Subway Fish JFK face boss. Worst.Boss.Ever

  • OnlyMe #10 2 years ago

    I should have elaborated that I was talking about the first game. Sorry about that. Which version of the original (sigma or Black) is cencored?

  • Ornithophobe #11 2 years ago

    I should really finish Sigma, became enraged at the fish on the stairs in the Core.

  • penhalion #12 2 years ago

    @Cloudane

    The PS3 version of Ninja Gaiden 2 is far easier than the 360 version. If you ever get stuck you can simply do the flying swallow move and it will kill anything in the game including the bosses! You will definitely be able to handle and enjoy this game on the PS3.

    @OnlyMe

    All the PS3 versions of the game are censored. The 360 version went all out to be both bloody and gory at the same time. Severed limbs were shown and blood would pour from legged ninja as they crawled towards you. All of that has been removed to allow the game to appeal to a wider audience. The difficulty is also toned down significantly to remove the frustration that was a cause of much moaning with the 360.

    The 360 version was made by a sadist who seems to have played the game and then deliberately put in obstacles that he himself couldn't get past! Such stupid moments as the volcanoe boss come to mind, where you were killed by it when it died, unless you were psychic enough to know that you needed to block after delivering the finishing blow!

  • GundamJehutyKai #13 2 years ago

    another question would be "is it worth a purchase for those who own the 360 version?"

    Do the additions and changes warrant that purchase? I'm erring on the side of yes thanks to the demo, but I'm far from wholly convinced.

  • Geordiemp #14 2 years ago

    Played them all, and to be correct ONLY NGII on Xbox has the gratutitous blood and gore, all the others, NG Black, Sigma and Sigma II do not. So its NGII is the odd one out.

    On hardness, both NGII and NGIIsigma seem easier as you can charge up your strong attack easier and do not have to do the jump and press when land to immediately charge it (called on land charge)

    Simple tip, hold triangle whenever you have space or go around a corner, let go before enemies get there. EASY Game then. When fighting, always hold block if not hitting someone.

    Also, when you are charged you can spin the view in both sigmas 360 degrees, for the Xbox NGII you cannot when waiting to release(made it harder to time release). I actually liked the camera up close and not moving, you kind of know where enemies are even when you cant see them when you get used to the game strangely enough...

    Best possibility of this sigmaII is the COOP - the important question pn a fast 60 FPS twitch figher is the LAG - whats it like ? If its laggy, will stick with the XBox version, if its good, will have to buy it ...
    Edited by 3 at 29/09/09 @ 14:00

  • groovychainsaw #15 2 years ago

    I hated the xbox 360 demo and loved the ps3 demo - strange, wouldn't have thought they'd have changed that much, but really enjoyed playing through this on the PS3... maybe I needed it to be easier??

  • shotgun44 #16 2 years ago

    I got stuck at the bit with the giant werewolf thing that comes from a pile of bones. Awesome game though even if some of the bosses are completely batshit insane retarded.

  • Machiavellian #17 2 years ago

    The thing you have to remember when playing NG is that you must continue to move, block and counter. Staying still in one place will make the game much harder and cause a lot of frustration. Also different weapons do make different portion of the game easier.

    I completed NG2 on the 360 and after playing the PS3 demo I did miss the blood and appendages scattered all over the place. Maybe it's me but you really get a visceral feel when spattering parts all over the place. I will say that if you never played the 360 version you probably will not miss the blood and stuff because the game can be challenging enough that you will never have a chance to notice. I liked the PS3 demo and really liked playing Ayane but I will wait to get the game when it hits the bargain bin. There was nothing within the demo that screams to me to purchase the game since I already have it on the 360.

  • penhalion #18 2 years ago

    @groovychainsaw

    Speaking as someone who finished the 360 version on way of the warrior. I can tell you it was a lesson in frustration and swearing. It was needlessly hard. The block was near useless as every enemy, even the weakest ones would constantly use unblockable grabs when near to you! Your health regenerated too slowly to be useful i.e. after each fight finished and you had to deliberately activate the revive tablets or you could still die while one was in your inventory!

    I've played the PS3 demo and I can safely say that that is how the game should have been from day 1.

  • Douche #19 2 years ago

    The combat is immensely satisfying and wipes the floor with the all style and no substance of Devil May Cry. There are a number of very bad design choices in the game (the wee annoying flying fish things spring to mind) but i loved it.

    @darkmorgado - a fiver for the 360 version is a bargain in my opinion.

  • muscleblade #20 2 years ago

    I must say that Ninja Gaiden Sigma was waaaay easier than Ninja Gaiden Black on normal settings. I prefer NG Black over NG Sigma any day.

    I bought a PS3 for NG Sigma even though i finished NG Black on xbox the year before.

    edit: Im talking about the original NG versions here not the sequels.


    Edited by 1 at 29/09/09 @ 14:40

  • 4thVariety #21 2 years ago

    I never thought the game was too hard. The player just needs to adapt instead of mashing buttons. Knowing the right strategy to every opponent, even if that includes trying and failing the first few times. The same goes for off-screen explosive shuriken. You know they are there, you can't block them, so why the hell aren't you moving then?

  • cam_guin #22 2 years ago

    Excellent review. Especially like the Ice-T reference...

  • Emth #23 2 years ago

    Some of the boss fights are incredibly frustrating but I've never had much trouble with the general play, and II seems more forgiving than I.

  • freakzilla #24 2 years ago

    Demo was very impressive, I really enjoyed Ayane's titts.

  • Machiavellian #25 2 years ago

    @penhalion
    Just blocking on the "Warrior" difficulty will get you killed. The best method I have found is to constantly move, dodge, setup your ultimate attacks when possible. Actually, most times, I was always trying to setup the ultimate attack moving, jump dodging and combo. On the harder difficulty, you really have to master movement because as you said, the AI will continue to use unblockable moves or you will get hit with exploding Shurikens, gun fire etc.

    The Fish boss was a real pain for me as well and really was the only truly frustrating boss to fight. I did find out how to kill it easy after dying a lot. The boss that explodes and kill you if you did not block was definitely put in there to piss you off since you would have to play that whole segment again.
    Edited by 2 at 29/09/09 @ 14:28

  • WinterSnowblind #26 2 years ago

    Sigma was a lot easier than Black, and judging from the demo, this seems to be a lot easier than the original version too. A lot of parts have been toned down, especially the enemies spamming attacks.

    Finally being able to play as Ayane is great, and I loved Momiji in Dragon Sword, but I really don't understand why they toned down the gore. One of the best parts of NGII was getting into massive fights, and when it was over, seeing all the carnage. The limbs and blood disappear now :(

    But the rest of the improvements will probably make up for that.

  • Ryze #27 2 years ago

    Wow. I'm really tempted.

  • darc #28 2 years ago

    "...backflipping up through the chimney below..."

    Even weirder than intended, surely.

  • darc #29 2 years ago

    OG reference, wow!

  • JahB #30 2 years ago

    Ninja Gaiden without Itagaki - FAIL. all the tits in the world won't make up for that

  • drumbaby #31 2 years ago

    Hmmmm, will try the demo to see if this can still make Uncharted 2 my big Xmas game.

  • Godhather08 #32 2 years ago

    Very good review, I just might pick this one up.

  • JonFE #33 2 years ago

    @ OnlyMe:
    "I should have elaborated that I was talking about the first game. Sorry about that. Which version of the original (sigma or Black) is cencored?

    The original Xbox version of Ninja Gaiden was censored in PAL territories. They later released it again for the original Xbox as Ninja Gaiden Black without any censor-cuts. That much I know from experience.

    Then they ported NGB to the PS3 as Ninja Gaiden Sigma with additional playable character and content. I haven't played that version yet (got it a month ago), but I think the gore is toned downed compared to NGB but not actually censored. I could be wrong though. Hope that helps...

    EDIT: Anyone know how the bouncing tits... hmm, erm, how should I put it, oh, got it... *feature* can be checked in NGS2 demo?
    Edited by 1 at 29/09/09 @ 15:18

  • fiery_jackass #34 2 years ago

    NG Black was the one for me. NGII seemed to lose a lot of the intricacy of its forebear, I think I ended up spending half my time charging up Ultimate Attacks and the other half spectating on a load of whizz-bang camera shiftery as the UAs were unleashed. The difficulty seemed... inconsistent and unfair too. I never really got the feeling of mastery that grew over time with NGB. With NGII I either got lucky or I got pasted.

    Missing gore aside, I'd like a go at the PS3 version.

  • Quint2020 #35 2 years ago

    Damn good game on the 360, shame they removed the blood from the PS3 version though.

    I really must play through Gaiden II again sometime soon...

  • Feanor #36 2 years ago

    "The combat is immensely satisfying and wipes the floor with the all style and no substance of Devil May Cry."

    Don't be a douche. If you're any good, DMC has extremely deep gameplay to sink your teeth into.

  • GamesConnoisseur #37 2 years ago

    Enjoyed NG2 on X360, sure not as great as the first one but had a blast and I finished the game too! Keeping moving and unleashing combos and ulimate attacks WERE the key to the game as well as timings.

    Toned down on PS3? Mmm but will still get it on Fri as keen on extra features, and why not unlocks the 'orginial' mode with all gores for those who wants it? I mean people would happily purchases this dlc including me.

    Softening it down seems a cop out, either if to take moralistic stance when you are still killing and miaming, seems an overkill?! Also the boobs and such?! Or if it's to keep frame rates up.... still a cop out in my book and should give users the choice of either fps or gore.

    Still a good fun game to tide us over until the God of War 3 comes out.

  • GamesConnoisseur #38 2 years ago

    Enjoyed NG2 on X360, sure not as great as the first one but had a blast and I finished the game too! Keeping moving and unleashing combos and ulimate attacks WERE the key to the game as well as timings.

    Toned down on PS3? Mmm but will still get it on Fri as keen on extra features, and why not unlocks the 'orginial' mode with all gores for those who wants it? I mean people would happily purchases this dlc including me.

    Softening it down seems a cop out, either if to take moralistic stance when you are still killing and miaming, seems an overkill?! Also the boobs and such?! Or if it's to keep frame rates up.... still a cop out in my book and should give users the choice of either fps or gore.

    Still a good fun game to tide us over until the God of War 3 comes out.

  • Bazfrag #39 2 years ago

    @Donnie. the main difference is that Ninja Gaiden needs skill to play effectively. Dynasty Warriors only needs the ability to hammer the button(s) and to stay awake.
    Edited by 1 at 29/09/09 @ 16:51

  • Geordiemp #40 2 years ago

    I noticed when you charge your UT when new opponents come towards you in the demo on way of warrior, only one opponent often comes forth and the rest stay back (so not to get hurt and attach when you finished).

    Hence the AI seems a bit better, on NGII Xbox all of them would blindly run at me and get killed with the UT (or not much of them left anyway). Also the spider claw ninjas take more killing in sigmaII

    Found I needed to set 3rd person camera on Fast on SigmaII demo to feel he same as XBOX NGII...

  • glaeken #41 2 years ago

    I bought the first game and the second for the 360 and never got past the first boss on either game. I won't be buying the 3rd if there is one. I am nowhere near good enough for these games.

  • lagoonalight #42 2 years ago

    Honestly, the blood was not that cool in the original. Every one making this out to be something serious when the game actually had a ridiculous amount of flaws needs to take a step back. You have MUCH improved graphics and framerates and that should be enough.

  • muscleblade #43 2 years ago

    "You have MUCH improved graphics"

    I doubt the graphics is MUCH improved tbh.

  • patchbox360 #44 2 years ago

    Once upon a time, there was a six-limbed giant demonic werewolf named Volf, who lived in a lovely upscale mansion in the heart of Venice

    already genius ... now back to the review

  • patchbox360 #45 2 years ago

    It can be hard to feel like a badass when you're simply hitting someone in the fingernail until they drop dead.

    more genius ... now back again to the review

  • kentmonkey #46 2 years ago

    Best review on EG for quite some time; it's like we've turned the clock back two-three years and got EG of old again. Brilliant stuff.

  • hiscore #47 2 years ago

    Screen tearing from the first minute on in the demo. After one year of 'tweaking'? After omitting all that blood?

  • Machiavellian #48 2 years ago

    The only reason that NGII is easier then NG Black is how health is handled. In Black, you get hit and your health stay at that level. In NGII you can get hit a lot and if you do not die before killing all of the enemies, your health will return to a certain point. This gives you the ability to manage health better and not find yourself after a fierce battle with a sliver of health and no means to get anymore. Also the way NGII handle health allows you to experiment more with different combos and technique and even gamble with moves because you know that you can regain most of your health back.

  • Machetazo #49 2 years ago

    As a comparison, and also because I wanted to beat evil Mr. Subway Trout, I had another go at NGII.
    Firstly, I very strongly doubt that I'll miss the blood, when playing Sigma 2. It seems to me, really, to be only as much of an issue as you care to make it. The attacks and motion are as smooth, and effective, that I didn't notice while fighting, although sometimes the area looked like an abattoir, once I'd finished a wave, lol. NGII isn't any slouch, but neither does it always visually stand out.
    Machiavellian's right on the money, when they talk about the differences in the way health is managed, in the sequel compared to the first iteration.
    Edited by 1 at 29/09/09 @ 19:49

  • septimus #50 2 years ago

    Camera is still wonky.

  • Diomedes #51 2 years ago

    Its strange ,I downloaded the demo and the spurts of blood ,although less frequent than in the 360 version ,are still there and remain in the ground for the remaining of the combat and after ...and they are red ,not purple.

    You still decapitate people ,dont worry.

    All in all ,a sure buy for me.

  • Darren #52 2 years ago

    The PS3 version from the demo looks slightly better graphically than the 360 original but the abundance of ugly screen tearing kind of offsets any visual improvements in my opinion. Yuck!

    I wasn't a big fan of the sequel anyway on the 360, I found it lazy and predictable which led to me getting bored of it part way through (at the canal bit where you have to cross the wayer) and nowhere near as enjoyable as Ninja Gaiden Black on the Xbox. Each to their own though I guess.

  • Geordiemp #53 2 years ago

    Screen tearing, got none outputting 720 P and even scaled 1080 P to a 42 " Plasma, must be your slow LCD telly maybe ? Played the demo levels maybe 10-15 times each.

    Is the tearing in the cut scenes (did not watch them), but none in game....Me thinks some teen trolls talking rubbish on here. Anyone who comes on here and only says screen tearing (no there is not, link a picture or a vid) or lack of blood just ignore.

    Try beating the team mode way of the warrior, with the devil in red dress in demo - great fight, MUCH better than NGII.

    + Improved AI
    + no slowdown
    + less cheapness - the PROJECTILES do less damage and you die from flighting not been spammed with missiles.

    Finished NGII three times on 360 (different difficulty, some levels with the spamming missiles / exploding shirkens annoying on harder levels), this is much better. Annoys me when little fanboys cant afford both systems so they troll. Looks good.
    Edited by 4 at 30/09/09 @ 09:43

  • Geordiemp #54 2 years ago

    hiscore - you never played the demo, get a job and buy both consoles when you grow up.

  • ParanoidZombie #55 2 years ago

    I don't know about the blood, cleared NG2 on master ninja and on my way to 1250/1250 (hopefully, I have 1220 right now), sure it's absolutely brutal but I never got really frustrated, thanks to the blood and gore: every time I got my hands on an enemy, chopping him to bloody pieces was a very satisfying, rewarding and appropriate payback. So basically, NG2Sigma seems less frustrating but less rewarding, I don't know.

    About the frame rate issues: after a couple title updates, there's no slowdown anymore on the x360 version except for the infamous stairs part in chapter 10.

  • Geordiemp #56 2 years ago

    Pzombie - play the red skirted blood boss in the team demo (set third person camera to fast to be similar to Xbox). Beaten Xbox game numeous times, but this is a tough fight as you have to look out for your team mate and this level is tough. You have to time joiint Ninpo well as compiuter always dies first...

    Yes, the stairs, think it almost was 5 fps on Xbox going up which is a shame as one of my fav games. Yes, it still slows for me when more than 5 enemies but not so bad as it wss when there were lots on those stairs....
    Edited by 2 at 30/09/09 @ 10:47

  • Machiavellian #57 2 years ago

    On Master Ninja, you have to come to that difficulty knowing you cannot make any mistakes or it will cost you plenty. I just completed Master Ninja within the PS3 demo and it is just as brutal as the 360 version without the blood.

    The PS3 version is definitely prettier but not by much. I would be hard press to say the AI is better. There might be some changes to make the game a tiny bit easier but I did not see any new AI patterns that I could not exploit like I do in the 360 version. Actually all the little exploits I use within the 360 version works the same within the PS3 version. On master Ninja, you really do not go into any confrontation without having a gameplay. Just button mashing will only get you so far but the instant you make a mistake, one hit kills or take one or two heavy hits from the AI and you are gone.

    I also have to say that I have not encountered any screen tearing in the demo. I do believe this is a case depending on your HDTV and the way Darren complains all the time, I have to believe your HDTV is definitely more sensitive to tearing then mine. I have played a number of games you have played and have not experience any tearing.

    Edited by 1 at 30/09/09 @ 14:35

  • Godhather08 #58 2 years ago

    Wow, yet another great review for a PS3 game!! I'll be sure to pick this game up.

  • Sorb #59 2 years ago

    Too bad the Xbox version was announced as an Xbox EXCLUSIVE or I would have waited for the PS3 version. I completed it on Way of the Warrior last weekend but it took me 312 continues (!) and so I am not inclined to buy a NG game ever again :/

  • Pacman8MyGhostkart #60 2 years ago

    I haven't played NG2, but for those still having problems with the ghost fish in NG1 all you have to do is equip the flails and jump straight up whilst using "X" to attack. It's that simple. You are welcome.

  • spookyzombie #61 2 years ago

    I found the 360 version to be annoying, as the difficulty level was crazy in places. Been playing the PS3 version over the last couple of days and it's still fairly hard and frustrating in places.
    Edited by 1 at 02/10/09 @ 00:46

  • Geordiemp #62 2 years ago

    They have taken out most of the annoying exploding shirkens and the like, but they toook maybe a little more killing with swrod.

  • Vanmunt #63 2 years ago

    really enjoying this, especially Jap voices and english text....... though last night was unplayable online, laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaag fest.

  • Geordiemp #64 2 years ago

    Vanmunt, was this a random match or with a friend and do you have to login to a server ?

    Was wanting 2 copies and 2 PS3 to play LAN ? Does the full game allow LAN coop ?

  • Vanmunt #65 2 years ago

    @geord

    Both to be honest, and just as bad last night... actually had to turn it off in on mission.

  • Geordiemp #66 2 years ago

    Got 2 PS3's now and next to each other, you still have to sign into PSN on both, but lag is OK and its great playing together with a mate.

    Howver, please god sony / team ninja put an option in for LAN play through a router so that we can have no lag at all times.
    Edited by 1 at 12/10/09 @ 13:54

  • SlackMaster #67 2 years ago

    I have the 360 version but have Sigma 2 on its way to me. I quit a few levels into the game due to having to redo levels due to cheapness and hard as nails bosses. I could have put in the time to get better but I guess I've gotten lazy and have a lot less patience for these games now.

    I think the thing that irritated me the most was getting spammed by explosive arrow ninjas that I couldn't even see while trying to fight off hordes of enemies. After that it only took the worm boss to tip things then I lost interest and started playing something else. I'm hoping that Sigma 2 is a little more fun to play rather than so punishing and cheap.

  • Feanor #68 2 years ago

    Explosive arrow spam seems almost totally absent in Sigma 2. I think you'll have a great time with it.

    I beat Acolyte first, and am up to Chapter 14 on Warrior difficulty. I really enjoyed NGB on the Xbox, but Sigma 2 is a much more user-friendly game.

  • Dante-X #69 12 months ago

    until now I like this game ...

    but this game really hard ..

    Now , I'm waiting the new part of this game ...