Ninja Gaiden Sigma Review

By Kristan Reed Published 6 July, 2007

Paint a vulgar picture.

Version tested: PlayStation 3

Let's get one thing out of the way early on: Ninja Gaiden is a great game. If you have an unholy appreciation for all things action, then this is a game that's well worth a look. Boasting the kind of combat depth that's had the hardcore frothing for the past three years or more, it's a brutal exercise in how to use top-line beat-'em-up mechanics in a fleshed-out game.

Now expanded into an epic 19-mission campaign (with countless extras), it's well-constructed, with an array of memorable moments, pad-trashing boss encounters and plenty of worthwhile unlockable extras to keep you coming back for more. Sure, there are plenty of negatives to go into (more of that later), but the core combat at the heart of the game is unarguably what makes it so revered. As Tom noted in the review of the Xbox original, "No other game manages to deliver on the potential of controlling a ninja with this much flair and authority - it is one of the finest action games ever made."

Tecmo and Team Ninja is evidently really fed up with being told how brilliant its game is while not reaping the full commercial rewards for its efforts. How else do you explain why it's releasing its 2004 classic for the third time? Last time we revisited the game, releasing Ninja Gaiden Black in the latter half of 2005 was a totally understandable and justifiable decision. For a start it was a budget 'Classic' release, so it was something Microsoft was going to do anyway. On top of that it helped address several of the things that were wrong with the game in the first place - such as adding proper camera controls, and a far more accessible difficulty level, as well as a number of added bonuses that fans appreciated. It was, effectively, a Special Edition, and, as far as Xbox games go, one of the finest in the console's repertoire.

Extra track and a tacky badge

'Ninja Gaiden Sigma' Screenshot 1

If Ninja were sponsored by Nike, they'd do this.

In 2007, with whatever period of Xbox exclusivity having now expired, you might logically expect Tecmo to port this to the PlayStation 2 and mop up the stragglers with another tempting budget-priced release that would finally expose the game to a mass audience. Having seen the PS2's technical prowess recently in God of War 2, there's absolutely no reason to imagine that Tecmo couldn't have done a great job with a belated port. It's not as if compatibility with the PS3 would have been much of an issue, after all.

Instead, Tecmo has gone down the road of inexplicably releasing the game as a full-priced PS3 title - and one that you might reasonably expect is an all-new game in the series. Not so. All it has done, effectively, is add the 'Sigma' subtitle and three really short levels where you play as Rachel, thrown in a higher top resolution, shoehorned in utterly pointless Sixaxis controls and stood there with its hands held out. Are we supposed to be grateful? Remaking the original Tomb Raider or Resident Evil is one thing, (and something that worked out amazingly well in both instances), but this is no crafted remake. Ninja Gaiden Sigma is a cynical exercise in porting a very good last-gen game with minimal effort. No one should be under any illusions here.

There are two ways of looking at Ninja Gaiden Sigma. One is from a fan's-eye view, and another is from the perspective of someone who's never played it before. If you're in the former camp, you've already played it to death, and probably pre-ordered the game weeks ago. Good for you. It's out now, so there's no need to waste any more time. Go play.

You could have said no, if you wanted to

'Ninja Gaiden Sigma' Screenshot 2

But after a while you'd see through their corporate sponsored shenanigans.

If you're someone who's never played it before, but have maybe dabbled in Devil May Cry, Onimusha or God of War on PlayStation 2, you might feel obliged to play Ninja Gaiden Sigma. After all, isn't this supposed to be the absolute pinnacle of the genre, akin to being a rock fan who hasn't heard any Led Zeppelin yet? A mighty, leather-clad, blood-spurting action spectacular to end them all? In terms of the combat, indeed it is one of the best you'll find, but playing it in 2007, it's nowhere near as deserving of all this undiluted praise as you might imagine.

The most obvious thing to comment on is how it looks, as it's probably the first thing that lets the game down. When games were designed to run on SDTVs, developers could get away with all sorts. It didn't matter a great deal whether the textures were particularly detailed, for example, because the natural aliasing that you get from smaller TVs with scanlines fools the eye into making the image look great. Without completely overhauling the entire art in the game, upscaling the image to 720p or even 1080p can instantly make things look too sterile, too clean, and, ultimately, rob it of any atmosphere it had. And, somehow, there's still noticeable v-sync issues. Compared with the recent strides made by the likes of God of War 1 and 2, Ninja Gaiden Sigma lacks the wow factor, with environments that are far too 'clean' for their own good, and creatures that you've seen before in numerous other games. As impressive as the game looked in early 2004, we've been spoilt rotten ever since, and even the once-massive boss monsters look fairly standard through today's eyes. Progress is as harsh a mistress as it ever was, sadly.

Furthermore, the game simply feels old fashioned in all sorts of ways today. The fact that there are dreadful loading pauses all over the place is something we didn't even think to comment on in 2004. Most games had that. But in today's seamless streaming game worlds, it's a bugbear to have the sense of immersion shattered every time you run between one short section and another. [Edit: even installing the game to the PS3's hard disk does not cure the problem, despite what you may have read]. Admittedly, things like the wall-running and the slick way Ryu can bound gracefully between walls and platforms is still exhilarating, but doesn't ever feel as slick or as intuitive as any number of action adventures that we've played since.

Buy both and feel deceived

Unfortunately, the list goes on: why on Earth make the attack button the same one that opens doors? Not only is it annoying to find yourself entering another room midway through a life or death battle, but it can be very costly thanks to the game's insistence on respawning enemies in certain sections, no matter how many times you've slain them. In other words, you might have one enemy left, and accidentally open a door, only to return to find the whole posse is back, as if by magic. But it's not the kind of magic we appreciate: The whole respawning enemy thing was an old fashioned, lazy approach to level design in 2004 - in 2007 it feels as unnecessary as one hit kills and daft checkpointing - things most top developers have eradicated from games since then. In Ninja Gaiden, it's just about justifiable on the basis of harvesting the game's currency (which you need in order to upgrade weapons and buy health vials and so on), but it makes navigating around previously explored areas a mighty pain in the backside. Given that this is something you have to do a lot, this isn't a minor issue either.

While we're in full power Moan Mode, why does the game not bother to save your progress automatically upon completion of a level? The game even states 'saving' in the top right of the screen, but if you happen to, say, fall into a bottomless pit on the next level, you might find yourself having to re-do that really tough boss battle on the climax of the previous level if you're not careful. Other silly things chip away at your love for the game, like an inability to quit the game from the in-game menu (without knowing the secret combination of shoulder buttons, select and start - oh THANKS Tecmo), or reconfigure your controls, or the way the game forces you to run over all the 'essence' blobs to pick them up unless you hold down the triangle button. All of these nitpicky things should be standard-issue by now, and it's just a sign of Tecmo's sloppy approach to this project.

Compounding all of these niggly issues, it's not a game that ever likely to grab you on a narrative level. As many have observed over the years, the story's still harmless, throwaway nonsense, made even less appealing in this version by the fact that the rendered cut-scenes haven't been resampled to take advantage of high definition. Switching between razor-sharp game-engine moments to somewhat blurry-looking renders to move the story on is, well, lazy in the extreme. Add to that some sub-standard voice acting, some of the most generic bad guys ever seen, and the enigmatic lack of star quality from the lead character, Ryu Hyabusa, and it's a game that's distinctly lacking soul.

They can never taint you in my eyes

'Ninja Gaiden Sigma' Screenshot 3

He may look like a badass, but he's got a voice like David Beckham.

As we said right at the beginning, the real core of the game - the combat - is as good as any game we've played in the long history of the genre. That said, it comes at a price: unless you're prepared to tough it out on the harder levels, this acknowledged subtlety is not something you're ever likely to fully appreciate. But much could also be said of every game in this genre, to be fair. Remember on the original Xbox version where you had no choice to just spend hours on end learning and re-learning how to get through certain sections, and build up a proper understanding of the combat? Well, as with the Black version, you do have the option to make it a lot more forgiving and drop down to Ninja Dog difficulty if it's all getting a bit too frustrating. If we assume that this is where most mere mortal players will head after a few hours of being beaten to death, then the cold reality is that Ninja Gaiden Sigma feels much like any other blockbuster hackandslash - which is to say relentlessly entertaining, without doing anything especially different to any number of its equally entertaining rivals. Just like all the games in this genre, it's all about using triangle and square a lot, using special power-ups wisely, mixing it up with aerial attacks, 'Ultimate Techniques', blocking well, and careful use of dodge and counter manoeuvres.

In common with its rivals, Ninja Gaiden Sigma has a variety of weapons to power up as you wish (one of which, Dragon Teeth And Tiger Claws, is a dual-wield weapon new to this version), and you'll build up a roster of special techniques over time. But is it really so much more sophisticated and enjoyable than other games in the genre? Not to the extent that the evangelical following will have you believe. In fact, taking into account some of the problems we've discussed, it's fair to say that, overall, as good as it is, it certainly does not warrant being re-issued at full price.

But even if you're prepared to overlook every single piece of criticism directed at the game, there still remains a question mark over whether the new content and tweaks are justifiable to make you want to shell out full whack for the game all over again. In terms of long-term challenge, the addition of new standalone combat missions doesn't hurt, while the appearance of online leaderboards will be a must for the biggest fans of the series. Elsewhere, the new additions aren't such a big deal. As we touched on, two out of the three Rachel levels are ridiculously short and lightweight, and her sluggish yet all-powerful hammer attack ploughs through most enemies without too much finesse - like that galoot in Genji. Cynically, we might suggest they're more an excuse to show more of her hilarious wobbly bits than to make the game more interesting. Well, they had to use that Volleyball tech somewhere didn't they?

'Ninja Gaiden Sigma' Screenshot 4

Walking into invisible washing machines was an occupational hazard.

Elsewhere, little nips and tucks help make certain moments of specific levels less frustrating and others have just been changed in minor ways that balance the play a little more. For example, the placement of shops near boss encounters is one key thing you might notice, or the unexpected arrival of creatures and different items in the many chests scattered around - but like we said, these aren't things that you'll notice unless you're a massive Ninja Gaiden obsessive.

What we will say, though, is that the changes and additions do make it a better game and, as such, Ninja Gaiden Sigma is unarguably the best version of the game to date. For some, that might be all you'll need to know, but for the rest of us merely looking for a blockbuster game to see us through the barren PS3 summer, we'd strongly suggest you try before you buy, because it's by no means the best the genre has to offer any more.

7 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (131) Latest comment 4 years ago

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

  • Azazel #1 5 years ago

    zomg!

  • MrBiggles #2 5 years ago

    7/10...ouch, still best on Xbox then,

  • SeesThroughAll #3 5 years ago

    What we will say, though, is that the changes and additions do make it a better game and, as such, Ninja Gaiden is unarguably the best version of the game to date. For some, that might be all you'll need to know, but for the rest of us merely looking for a blockbuster game to see us through the barren PS3 summer, we'd strongly suggest you try before you buy, because it's by no means the best the genre has to offer any more.

    :)

    You've restored my respect for your reviews, Eurogamer.

  • JayPee #4 5 years ago

    SURPRISE!!

    /Battens down hatches.

  • Xerx3s #5 5 years ago

    Ninja Gaiden SIGMA is unarguably the best version of the game to date.

    Surely. (?)

  • Xerx3s #6 5 years ago

    7/10...ouch, still best on Xbox then,

    didn't read the review then.

  • MrBiggles #7 5 years ago

    I don't know why they even bothered with this game, just put all your resourses into Ninja Gaiden 2 and throw the Sony fans a cookie by letting them have that game. Instead they've got to watch it this E3 on Xbox 360 with open mouths wondering what it must be like to play such a awesome game, but they'll never know...shame

  • Eraser #8 5 years ago

    Why does Eurogamer still mess around with low res pictures for a HD system like the PS3?

  • SeesThroughAll #9 5 years ago

    Maybe because they wanted to use this game to test how well would a port of the game engine work. Maybe NG2 will be multiplatform, probably timed exclusive on the 360.

  • MrBiggles #10 5 years ago

    Ninja Gaiden black is better than Sigma so I stand by my claim, the spider ninjas have been made piss easy in the PS3 version, taking away much of what made the game great in the first place, the difficulty. Ninja Gaiden black will not be beat until Ninja Gaiden 2 lands. That's what happens when the master is away making Ninja Gaiden 2 and he lets noobs remake his best game hoping to steal some of his power and glory.

    Not happening.

  • Azazel #11 5 years ago

    Teh Masterer?

  • SeesThroughAll #12 5 years ago

    I could swear a lot of people still find sigma difficult. What the noob did was tone down the frustrating difficulty at points to ease gamers in. Maybe because you already became an expert at Black, that makes Sigma feel too easy in comparison?

  • Monkey_Puncher #13 5 years ago

    Out of interest what do you consider to be the best game in the genre?

    I personally can't think of a single game that is better than Ninja Gaiden, please don't say God of War...

  • lambtron #14 5 years ago

    Its pretty scandalous that they are charging (up to) 50 quid for this. Should be a budget release or thereabouts really...

  • SeesThroughAll #15 5 years ago

    Aye, if I found this in a bargain bin, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

  • jonsaan #16 5 years ago

    Blimey. Kristan in panning a TECMO game shocker. :)
    I have yet to try the new copy I have in my bag but re: the loading times. My mate says you can install it and then you don't get any.

  • HarryPalmer #17 5 years ago

    @ MrBiggles: Well thats like, you opinion dude, y'know?
    Edited by 1 at 06/07/07 @ 13:10

  • #18 5 years ago

    If it's by no means the best the genre has to offer, that suggests it's a fair way off being top of the heap, so what are the games that are better? In the same genre of course :)

  • drumbaby #19 5 years ago

    DMC 3 FTW

  • Stilicho #20 5 years ago

    Once again we get the controversially "different" review from Eurogamer....

  • #21 5 years ago

    Installing the game removes loading times from gameplay, I'm on chapter 4 and haven't noticed any in game loading yet.

  • EmiliasHorse #22 5 years ago

    Had this been multi platform released for the 360 would it still get a 7 or would you advise buying NG Black for a fiver from almost any bargain bin? I ask this for those with both a 360 and PS3.

  • FlamingCarrot #23 5 years ago

    Controversial to some eyes but honest in mine. I just bought it out of desperation to play something on the PS3.

  • RiverMan #24 5 years ago

    Mmmmmmmm, Smiths lyrics.

  • Darren #25 5 years ago

    Fair score... I got the game yesterday and confess to being a little underwhelmed by the whole game. It plays as well as ever, which is the main thing, but graphically it's a big disappointment with some very nasty tearing at times (not noticeable in NG Black at all on my 360 @ 720p) plus it's an absolute jagfest. The improvements amount to some nicer textures (although you occasionally see Xbox quality ones!), a gorgeous vibrant colour palette and HDR lighting otherwise the modelling, etc. is nigh on identical. The game just does not do the hardware justice in my opinion and if you've played either of the Xbox games there's really very little here to warrant buying it again.

  • SBfistfun #26 5 years ago

    Teh real Next GeN!

  • absolutezero #27 5 years ago

    So I hear this game has huge comedy tits?

    Lets talk about those. I find that making Rachel playable with her massive "weapon" in fact ups the class of the title. Making akin to a work of art.

  • smoothpete #28 5 years ago

    Typo in 3rd paragraph, 2nd page. "be", should read "been"


    I didn't realise this was more or less a port...

  • MrsPacMan #29 5 years ago

    Lol, another disappointment for PS3 owners

  • tiddles #30 5 years ago

    Quitting from in-game - can you quit by holding down the shoulder buttons, select and start? Works for many Japanese developed games...

  • tiddles #31 5 years ago

    Lol, another disappointment for PS3 owners

    Do you mean the review or the game?

  • #32 5 years ago

    Yes, you just hold down the shoulder buttons and start and select, I was doing this last night, resets the game to the menu.

  • MrsPacMan #33 5 years ago

    choice is yours, both if you like.

    All this and on the day they drop Assassins Creed from PS3 line-up

  • JayeM #34 5 years ago

    I think the review is a bit harsh, I've only played 2 chapters so far and I think it's as much fun as ever.

  • deepmenace #35 5 years ago

    this is spot on what i would have given it on the basis of the ps3 demo having never played any Ninja Gaiden game in the past.

    it was the epitome of the word "meh" for me and did not understand all this "omg, look at the gfx" talk....it just looked like a very well upscaled ps2 game to me.

  • Bill_Gates_Bitch #36 5 years ago

    "choice is yours, both if you like.

    All this and on the day they drop Assassins Creed from PS3 line-up"

    Yep, more ps3 pwnage.

  • rotmm #37 5 years ago

    "All this and on the day they drop Assassins Creed from PS3 line-up "

    What? Smell's like bull. Link?

  • krudster #38 5 years ago

    "Buy both and feel deceived..."

  • #39 5 years ago

    Kristan, just picking up on a few things in the review:

    Furthermore, the game simply feels old fashioned in all sorts of ways today. The fact that there are dreadful loading pauses all over the place is something we didn't even think to comment on in 2004. Most games had that. But in today's seamless streaming game worlds, it's a bugbear to have the sense of immersion shattered every time you run between one short section and another.


    Installing the game fixes the loading issue.

    an inability to quit the game from the in-game menu


    Hold down the shoulder buttons and select and start to reset to the main menu

    or the way the game forces you to run over all the 'essence' blobs to pick them up.


    Hold down triangle to suck 'em all in where you stand which is actually essential for good UT's. That's precisely why they are left until you charge up your sword.

  • TripSkyway #40 5 years ago

    I played a tiny bit of the xbox version, but didn't really get on with it. Bought this after having some fun with the demo, and woke up each day wanting to play it. A fantastic game, with excellent, satisfying controls, and rewarding combat.

    Visual niggles are there, SD videos and tearing, slightly flat and empty environments, but so much fun.

    Worth full price me, looking forward to word of a sequel.

  • krudster #41 5 years ago

    I did install the game...and still got loading delays. So what gives?

  • TripSkyway #42 5 years ago

    There's still mid level loading once you've installed the game. It's brief but present.

    I didn't know about resetting the game with all the buttons, and found the lack of a back to main menu button annoying.

  • dredd97 #43 5 years ago

    'All this and on the day they drop Assassins Creed from PS3 line-up '

    proof?

  • #44 5 years ago

    omw to the store to get NGS now!

    Can't wait :)

  • Hog-lumps #45 5 years ago

    some of the most generic bad buys ever seen

    An intentional spelling mistake?!!! :p

  • #46 5 years ago

    I did get a really weird glitch where I couldn't save my game after killing fiery horsey bloke in the second chapter. I continued on to the airship and still couldn't save my game. Then I exited to the main menu and couldn't load any games.

    In the end I had to reset the PS3 to fix the problem so watch out for it.

    It also meant I had to fight fiery horsey bloke again, which absolutely did my melt in :D

  • MrsPacMan #47 5 years ago

    @rotmm


    "All this and on the day they drop Assassins Creed from PS3 line-up "

    What? Smell's like bull. Link?

    [link url=http: //www.gullibleps3owners.net/assassinscreed
    ]http://ww w.gullibleps3owners.net/assassi...[/link]

  • dirigiblebill #48 5 years ago

    That link appears to be borked. Much like your credibility, I guess.

  • #49 5 years ago

    lol

  • MrsPacMan #50 5 years ago

    or your brain, can u read?

  • dirigiblebill #51 5 years ago

    Apparently not.

    EDIT- though in all fairness, 'gullible ps3 owners' is a very well-circulated phrase on Google ;)
    Edited by 1 at 06/07/07 @ 14:14

  • #52 5 years ago

    I demand a furious and over the top backlash similar to the resi wii review otherwise I want my money back :D

  • redd #53 5 years ago

    How havent i thought of it before, achievements + ninja gaiden = perfect combination. Damn that game cant come soon enough!

  • FlamingCarrot #54 5 years ago

    http://www.mrspacmanreallyneedstogetoutm...

  • AcidSnake #55 5 years ago

    @FlamingCarrot:
    I actually clicked to see if it existed...You never know on teh interwebz...

  • dirigiblebill #56 5 years ago

    That link's borked too. Fortunately I've managed to dig up the correct one-

    http://www.weAL Lneedtogetoutmore.net

  • MrsPacMan #57 5 years ago

    @flamingcarrot

    Here's one for you!!

    http://im g.alibaba.com/photo/51534542/Gl...

  • dirigiblebill #58 5 years ago

    Thread delivers.

  • morriss #59 5 years ago

    Weird. This review exemplifies everything I thought the game would be, without even playing it. Glad I decided to buy Darkness instead. But somehow saddened that another week goes buy without a decent game for the PS3. :(

  • MrsPacMan #60 5 years ago

    @morriss

    You've had nucleus. God what more do you want. U PS3 boys are never happy.

  • #61 5 years ago

    morriss since when is 7/10 not a decent game :D

  • FlamingCarrot #62 5 years ago

    @MrsPacMan - if you are female this doesn't work, but as its friday and who cares...

    http://Mr s.Pacman.swellserver.com/news/t...

  • MrsPacMan #63 5 years ago

    yea!! it's also one better than nucleus, so it must be gr8
    Edited by 1 at 06/07/07 @ 14:49

  • JDub #64 5 years ago

    Ouch, that's a little damning...

    Picked this up last night - and funnily enough noticed some of the foibles (sp?) mentioned, but surely most of these can be solved, y?

  • FlamingCarrot #65 5 years ago

    Lets just hope Heavenly Sword delivers....

  • MrsPacMan #66 5 years ago

    You only had to ask...

  • Cyhwuhx #67 5 years ago

    .::: So what is this review trying to say? Because the conclusion is schizophrenic to say the least.

  • FlamingCarrot #68 5 years ago

    @ Mrspacman

    Sorry highly childish and bored at my desk. Apologies

  • morriss #69 5 years ago

    @Mapster: When it's not an 8!!

    I never buy anything that scores less tbh. Even if I get them before the review.

    My gut hasn't let me down yet!! :)

  • #70 5 years ago

    Oh so you have a different scoring criteria to EG? You should have said!

    It's utterly essential if you've never played Gaiden before.

    I suggest you take yourself off to metacritic and read a few more reviews.

    If you're happy to go on one review alone then by all means, continue to miss out one of the most visceral and hardcore games you'll ever play.

    I think it'd be too hard for you anyway to be honest ;)

  • TheJanitor #71 5 years ago

    the complaints are there just because its on ps3. bias bias

  • MrsPacMan #72 5 years ago

    @Carrot

    Accepted!! shouldn't you be working!! Naughty boy!!

  • Santino #73 5 years ago

    while i can't disagree with the score as i think it should have been a budget release, i can't aree with some of the points, especially the notion that there are better games in the same genre out there. it is still head and shoulders ahead of the rest.

  • nickthegun #74 5 years ago

    Does anyone actually play it on Ninja Dog?

    I know theres one in every thread but........im not particularly l33t and I didnt find Ninja Gaiden that difficult at all, really.

    Once you realise the flying bird strike can kill all the bosses, it sort of fits into place.

    Oh, possible spoilers if you wanted to work that out for yourself.

  • MightyMouse #75 5 years ago

    Review seemed reasonable apart from missing some of the finer points of the game (not automatically picking up essences gives you a greater choice of tactics). It's an awesome game, and I'd say it is currently the best of the genre, but that's just because the combat system is amazingly deep and not much else has come out that's any good. It definitely looks a bit dated.

  • FlamingCarrot #76 5 years ago

    @MrsPacMan

    Should be but really can't be arsed. Shipping is not rock n roll.
    Apropos of nothing, thinking about firing up Forza 2 for online fun tonight but heartly pissed off with being punted off on the 1st corner every fcking race.
    I own both the 360 and the PS3 but really wished i'd cooled my jets on buying the PS3. Its a cracking DVD player but right now its nowhere near essential. I bought NGS out of a certain degree of desperation for something to show off the black box. If you have it, the games will come in a sortoffieldofdreams kindaway.. Still, roll on the weekend! :-)
    Edited by 1 at 06/07/07 @ 15:09

  • tiddles #77 5 years ago

    For me this one lines up with Resi 4 Wii Edition... a must-buy if you've never played it or really love it, probably not worth it otherwise.

  • Santino #78 5 years ago

    @nickthegun

    actually once Ninja Gaiden Black came out that tactic no longer worked cheaply on bosses, same applies here.

  • The-Bodybuilder #79 5 years ago

    >"you might find yourself having to re-do that really tough boss battle on the climax of the previous level if you're not careful. "

    Heh.
    Sounds like someone tried to jump down to the next save point after suffering (multiple times) at the hands of that skeleton-dinosaur boss. Heh.

    That's you fault for thinking you were smart, and in fairness that only happens ONCE. This review paints it as a constant issue.

  • nickthegun #80 5 years ago

    OMG! And I thought I was awesome!

    Hmm....now im tempted to buy NG:B....
    Edited by 1 at 06/07/07 @ 15:27

  • oldergamer #81 5 years ago

    EG's score falls almost 4 standard deviations outside Metacritic's average. Controversial indeed. Looking forward to reading Halo 3 get 8/10.

  • JediMasterMalik #82 5 years ago

    I missed out on Black so this is a must-buy for me.

  • smoothn00dle #83 5 years ago

    Kristan Reed's review is hardsh but he got a point. Why should gamers pay full price for a two years old port? Other reviews said NGS is cool, able to walk on water automatically.. is that feature worth extra 40 Aus dollars? No way! It is only the best NGS port with fancy marketing. Thanks Kristan for pointing that out.

    Action adventure game have improved since the day first NGS came out. After playing God of War 2 and God Hand, I felt DMC3 dated. It is natural Kristan felt the same. Thank you.

  • morriss #84 5 years ago

    @Mapster: I completed it around 2-3 years ago, thanks. :)

  • haowan #85 5 years ago

    Great misuse of "upscaling" there kristan...

  • aabyssx #86 5 years ago

    I own NG and NG Black. Together with DMC3 NG is one of the finest action games I've ever played.

    The "Playstation only" audience (a huge install base) could not play this game before. So I think that Sigma needs two scores. One very low score for gamers who already own NG (Black), and one very high score for gamers who never played NG before.

  • Dizzy #87 5 years ago

    I guess the EG sponsor SPAM didn't help lift the score :)

  • septimus #88 5 years ago

    It still plays well, and at 1080P looks great (what jaggies?).

    Btw, MrsPacMan needs a life. Seriously. You're sad.

  • messiahtj #89 5 years ago

    Oh well, i see today the reviews in IGN.com and Gamespot for this game and they gave it 9.1 and 9.0 and i agree with them...........hahaha, the slogan for this not well knowed site must be "The Videogame Page From Trolls to Trolls"................this game is quite amazing and deserve a better note, but actually ppl barely visit this place , so u can say whatever u want, nobody is reading u xDDDD......................i c now why ppl dont need to pay to read, all about this place is shitty and biased......good luck boys in eurogamer, u need it to become not just a true reviewer but a true gamer.

  • haowan #90 5 years ago

    let's play "spot the fanboy"

  • SeesThroughAll #91 5 years ago

    It sounds like a solid game, but next-gen it ain't. EG did a great review here.

  • MrsPacMan #92 5 years ago

    Septimus> http://im g.alibaba.com/photo/51534542/Gl...

  • JYM60 #93 5 years ago

    MrBiggles is one funny guy :D

  • DanWhitehead #94 5 years ago

    Looking forward to reading Halo 3 get 8/10.

    But what if Halo 3 only deserves an 8? That's what I don't understand - this assumption that any major new release automatically warrants a 9, with anything less being controversial.

    An 8/10 is still a very strong recomendation in my book, with 9/10 for games that are truly exceptional and 10/10 for those incredibly rare moments where a game goes above and beyond everything expected of it. And, frankly, I think top marks can only be handed out retrospectively, once a game's impact and legacy can be better judged.

    This is why I find sites like Metacritic problematic. Too many reviewers just give a big new release a 9/10 because it's a big new release. Whether they feel they have to conform to some unspoken consensus, or they're just over-excited to finally have Game X in their hands, I don't know. I can honestly only think of a handful of games from the last five years that were honest-to-goodness 9/10 material.

    This stigma that anything less represents a "bad score" for a AAA title really needs to be broken.

  • captain-future #95 5 years ago

    v-sync problems? on the super-duper-most-powerful PS3-beast?

  • Abscido #96 5 years ago

    This is why I find sites like Metacritic problematic. Too many reviewers just give a big new release a 9/10 because it's a big new release. Whether they feel they have to conform to some unspoken consensus, or they're just over-excited to finally have Game X in their hands, I don't know. I can honestly only think of a handful of games from the last five years that were honest-to-goodness 9/10 material.

    True, Dan, but let's be honest - games journalism is a bit of a mess at the moment anyway. When games like Motorstorm and Perfect Dark Zero get average 8s there's obviously a fearfulness endemic to the scene. This is partly because games have become so bloody derivative that 80% of them should be getting 5/10 anyway - but no one will take a stand, why would they? - and partly because we, as reviewers, are far too closely associated with the people behind the games.

    I can only see a future where 'all-round' experienced gamers review for the casual masses, while specialist gamers review for their chosen field.

  • Darren #97 5 years ago

    Septimus - "It still plays well, and at 1080P looks great (what jaggies?)."

    The jaggies you get when a game doesn't use any anti-aliasing at all as is the case with NG Sigma. I play at 1080p and the game is rife with jaggie edges, most noticeable on floors and buildings. The swords Ryu and the enemies hold at times look more like saws!!! LOL

  • DjFlex52 #98 5 years ago

    "Oh well, i see today the reviews in IGN.com and Gamespot for this game and they gave it 9.1 and 9.0 and i agree with them...........hahaha, the slogan for this not well knowed site must be "The Videogame Page From Trolls to Trolls"................this game is quite amazing and deserve a better note, but actually ppl barely visit this place , so u can say whatever u want, nobody is reading u xDDDD......................i c now why ppl dont need to pay to read, all about this place is shitty and biased......good luck boys in eurogamer, u need it to become not just a true reviewer but a true gamer. "

    @messiahtj
    why then...are you here if people rarely visit this site?
    So IGN and Gamespot aren't biased? That's a laugh.
    BTW, trolls (ahem!) inhabit all sites especially Gamespot.
    And when did their reviews become gospel?
    Release the hounds....
    Edited by 1 at 06/07/07 @ 18:02

  • Feanor #99 5 years ago

    "Unfortunately, the list goes on: why on Earth make the attack button the same one that opens doors?"

    + oo

    I can't believe they didn't fix that design flaw for Sigma. It fucked me up a bunch of times in NGB.

  • deaner #100 5 years ago

    Ninja Gaiden was always a naff franchise anyway...

    It could be on virtual-reality super-mega-definition platform, and it would still be naff.

    Just like everything else to have spilled out of the offices of Team Ninja!

  • Scimarad #101 5 years ago

    I haven't played any of the other version of NG and I enjoyed the demo. Definite purchase for me, I think.

  • Les #102 5 years ago

    Think it's a fair review. Played the demo and wasn't very impressed. Graphics are OK but it's just an outdated game. GoW and GoW2 have shown how action games should be done. Glad you can play those as well on PS3... ;)

  • Santino #103 5 years ago

    i think comparing god of war to ninja gaiden is pointless even though both are great games. 1 is an action game with the emphasis on a deep combat system and intelligent ai, whilst the other is more focused on puzzles/adventure and featuring combat that is basically as simple as it gets. so to say god of war is how action games should be done is just plain narrow minded.

  • SeesThroughAll #104 5 years ago

    So you don't think combat in GoW requires any thought at all in Titan mode?

  • SimonM7 #105 5 years ago

    Well, Dynasty Warriors: Gundam getting 8 and Ninja Gaiden Sigma getting 7 is... um... er..... hmm.


    Refreshing? Surprise is good after all. Every :o smiley adds another year to your life no doubt.

  • Mephistopheles #106 5 years ago

    There's several issues with this review, but this statement strikes me as particularly ignorant:

    "...or the way the game forces you to run over all the 'essence' blobs to pick them up unless you hold down the triangle button."

    It is essential that the game does this, since this is related to one of the fundamental gameplay strategies in the game - ultimate techniques. Normally, to perform an ultimate technique you would hold the triangle button for a period of time. The ultimate technique can be charged to one of two power levels, depending on how long you hold the button. However, this is dangerous in battles since you can never charge it long enough to unleash the most powerful UT before an enemy strikes you. The key, therefore, is to speed up the charging process exponentially by absorbing the nearby essence in the area. By doing this, you can charge your UT to level 2 immediately and unleash some devasting attacks. But by absorbing the essence to charge an UT, you relinquish its use (ie. you don't earn money anymore by absorbing yellow essence, or health with blue essence). So in a possible gameplay scenario, your health may be very low and there's blue essence lying around, however you decide it's better to charge your UT than to get the health. It's a risk vs. reward scenario. Furthermore, absorbing essence is the only way to "chain" UTs - a higher level gameplay technique. In the original NG, you couldn't even use UT UNLESS you absorbed essence. The ability to charge it without essence was brought in NG Black, however remains largely useless compared to the original technique I described above (which wouldn't be possible if the essence gravitated towards Ryu).

    In the future, please educate yourself about the gameplay mechanics of the game you are reviewing by paying attention to the instructions it gives you in order to avoid making statements which reek of ignorance. Not every action game adheres to the design principles of God of War. Remember, DMC and NG arrived long before GoW entered the scene.
    Edited by 1 at 06/07/07 @ 20:56

  • Santino #107 5 years ago

    well i am sure on the harder difficulty settings the combat does take more thought. but it doesnt change the fact that u can just reel off long combos by hammering the x-button. in terms of depth it is a little basic, even David Jaffe stated that the system is not complex but it is aimed at being fun. my main point was that god of war wasnt really a 'proper' action game it is more of a puzzler/adventure, and the combat system is not the main focus. in many ways god of war has more in common with a zelda game than an action game. NG and GoW are both great at what they set out to do, and that is 2 different things.

  • Royal Fool #108 5 years ago

    So, um... I'm interested in knowing something. Can you chop off heads in this new PS3 release? I distinctly remember it being removed for the PAL versions of the original Xbox game.

  • Santino #109 5 years ago

    as far as i know the pal version of this is censored, i imported from the US and use http://www.tronixweb.com/ (brilliant service use it all the time, 2 days to deliver and trackable online) and am happily chopping heads off. was around £36 delivered
    Edited by 1 at 06/07/07 @ 21:28

  • Les #110 5 years ago

    "my main point was that god of war wasnt really a 'proper' action game it is more of a puzzler/adventure, and the combat system is not the main focus."

    Might not be as deep as the combat system in NG, I agree. But next to great action GoW has great atmosphere. That's something that I miss in the NG demo. Although it's maybe a bit harsh to judge it on a single, quite barren level. Might still pick it up for the gameplay but as a total package, it hasn't aged well.

  • MrsPacMan #111 5 years ago

    I'm not worthy after reading all this crap... and people give me shit

    they really get going after dark. Is it a full moon tonight?
    Edited by 2 at 06/07/07 @ 23:22

  • crazyhorse174 #112 5 years ago

    I'm still confused as to why some people slag this site off for their reviews and the subsequent scores. I see the same names around a lot doing this as well, which suggests to me that despite the fact that they dont like what they see, they still keep coming back.

    Why? If your so pissed at the reviews, why keep reading them?

    Also, why get so pissed off that a game doesnt get a higher mark. If you seem to think that it should get a higher mark, you've already decided that your going to buy it, regardless of what anyone else says, so why get wound up!?

  • carrotcake #113 5 years ago

    It was arguably the best action game of all time as recently as a few years ago, and now that they've improved it and released it on a different console it's suddenly "old fashioned in all sorts of ways"? And why? Because some levels rarely have brief two-second loading breaks? And exiting to the start screen isn't so obvious to people who don't know the standard PlayStation soft reset method? Spawning enemies can be annoying I suppose, but you always have the option to simply run past them if it's not the first time you've cleared the room. I'm not even sure that taking it away would be an improvement. I don't want to clear a room once and then have it forever be a safe zone, especially when the fighting is so much fun. And that's what is most important - the fighting is as satisfying as it ever was. You have so many options to attack, counterattack, dodge and escape your foes, and even the easiest moves to pull off look incredible. It makes you feel like a superhero, and in fact makes other action games feel old-fashioned, still. Why do videogame reviewers have to treat remakes so harshly? Yes, this game happens to have a slightly older version that some readers may have played - can we cover that in a sentence and move on please? Ninja Gaiden Sigma is just a fantastic game. It's fun to play. It most definitely is worth the amount it costs, and the lead character does not sound like David Beckham.

  • SeesThroughAll #114 5 years ago

    It most definitely is worth the amount it costs, and the lead character does not sound like David Beckham.

    It's a remake of an old game in which you get very little graphical upgrade, the FMV sequences are SD despite the game running at 1080p, and the extra content is 3 short levels and boobs.

    Call me unimpressed.

    I don't think it would be worth the amount it costs, about the David Beckham part, I don't know, and it doesn't make a f-ing difference.

  • crouchy #115 5 years ago

    Silly review. I must say it is tedious reading ps3 reviews from xbox fanboys. Remember only a tiny miniscule number of gamers have ever owned a microsoft console.

  • SuperZ #116 5 years ago

    Great review, really sums up how I've felt about the game for a long time. I personally think God Hand is far more enjoyable.

  • carrotcake #117 5 years ago

    SeeThroughAll said:
    It's a remake of an old game in which you get very little graphical upgrade, the FMV sequences are SD despite the game running at 1080p, and the extra content is 3 short levels and boobs.

    Call me unimpressed.

    I don't think it would be worth the amount it costs, about the David Beckham part, I don't know, and it doesn't make a f-ing difference.
    ----------
    Isn't it good though? I mean, are we saying that no matter how good a game is, it's never worth £40 if it's not the original edition? Maybe only 3 levels are new (all of them if you haven't played the Xbox version) but why judge the game's value entirely on the bits YOU haven't seen before. The game as it was is worth full price, and they've made it even longer now. Compare it to other full-price games; even on PS3 it's one of the best so far. For those who aren't convinced, solid sales will probably lead to a Platinum version down the road anyway. The David Beckham comment, I was replying to an image caption in the review. Not sure if it was supposed to be a joke. The voice acting isn't bad.
    Edited by 2 at 07/07/07 @ 11:05

  • Lukus #118 5 years ago

    As I'm a lazy bugger and haven't read the rest of the comments, I'm going to state the obvious: If it's the best version, why only a 7? I played the original Xbox game through a couple of months ago and it was as enjoyable as ever. This review makes no sense.

  • Overlush #119 5 years ago

    Lame, crowd pleasing, pedantic review IMHO

    Great game and it's best incarnation. Fact.
    Edited by 1 at 07/07/07 @ 13:59

  • gonzax #120 5 years ago

    I loved the Smiths references from the song "paint a vulgar picture" in the review

  • carrotcake #121 5 years ago

    to jump back to the start screen you just hold start and select for a few seconds.
    Edited by 1 at 08/07/07 @ 02:49

  • SeesThroughAll #122 5 years ago

    @ Lukus: Basically, the 7 is given to how the game aged.

  • #123 5 years ago

    Bought this game yesterday, and it's a hell of a lot of fun.

    More like an 8/10 or even 9/10.

    Oh well. EG can't be right always.

  • Skeletor #124 5 years ago

    Seems all EU versions are censored. Rated 15, no decapitations for human enemies. Can anyone confirm this?

  • carrotcake #125 5 years ago

    I noticed that. Yeah, the Wikipedia page confirms no human decapitations in the British version, but elsewhere in Europe they get it uncensored.

  • smoothn00dle #126 5 years ago

    I like this review because fill up the gap of other reviewers' missed. It is two years old port charged with a new game price. It may be the best port yet of the series. but full price for a game cost less a million to modify. hahaha Why should I pay for NGS team's PS3 learning lesson? They properly have three tea break per day while making this port, so relaxing! I will wait for another year till it dropped to half price. I felt like a smart money saving gamer *v*

    About GoW2, it is the little thing that make the game awesome. The stage design - wow. No load time.. I just keep playing like seven hours.. One puzzle I really like, this guy suicided by jump off the cliff. Don't want to spoil the plot. You see him jump off the cliff over and over again. Such dark humor! More puzzle should be like that!!

    Speak of Gow2, does anyone find they put a puzzle at the end of the game, kinda anti-climax -the last sister. There is a gameplay problem with the last boss, too. comments? I sent Cory Barlog, the designer an email about this. hahahaha hey, guys, he is on myspace.. too

    @Mephistopheles
    What you said, other player may hate it. Gameplay is a personal thing.

  • hybridial #127 5 years ago

    Um.. Ninja Gaide is still the best the genre has to offer. What's better? God of War 2? >_>

  • LeShin #128 5 years ago

    err......what on earth?

    Resident Evil 4 on the Gamecube gets 9/10
    Resident Evil 4 on the PS2 (which has more content) gets 9/10

    ok fair enough...

    Ninja Gaiden on the Xbox gets 9/10
    Ninja Gaiden on the PS3, with more content gets 7/10???
    I smell some major bs here.....

    Silly me, I thought games were meant to be based on, oh I don't know.......gameplay?

    I don't believe the argument that nothing new has been added to the action genre with Ninja Gaiden. Why should it, as long as it's fun to play. Damn, Geometry Wars and Super Stardust HD aren't doing anything new, but they're both bloody great fun. Ninja Gaiden was one of the only games that made me want an Xbox as I thought it was brilliant. Now I get the chance to play it, and it lives up to my expectations....it's FUN.

    Man, I'm really looking forward to see the reviews to Ninja Gaiden 2, Too Human and Heavenly Sword to come out, because if they don't "add something new to the genre" god knows what they're gonna get. In fact, i'll be also waiting to see what you guys give Halo 3 if it doesn't do anything different.

    I know 7/10 is a decent game...but to go from 2 marks down from a 9 which has in effect the same gameplay as it's predecessor is crazy.


  • numptyboymatt #129 5 years ago

    The decapitations (certainly on human enemies) have been removed from the UK version - I spent ages thinking that I was simply doing something wrong as there was a "hint/tip" thing that comes up on the screen telling you how to do it, but of course, if the head doesnt come off, you havent decapitated them, have you? So how are you supposed to know??? Bloody stupid, hardly a deal-braker though.

  • Skeletor #130 5 years ago

    Decapitations have been removed from ALL EU versions unless there's a PEGI 18 version which I haven't seen yet. Seems EIDOS aimed for a 15/16 rating - they did the same thing with EU-NG on the Xbox. German version is censored too though now rated 18 (Xbox NG was 16).
    Anyone interested in the uncut version should import the US one. Should be codefree.

  • Vandrius #131 5 years ago

    One big "meh" from me.

    Of course, as always, I find it amusing that there are more 360 spooges in here than PS3, whining away.

    Super Stardust will keep me occupied for a good long time. Hit no. 15 in 2player last night, yeah!! I'll probably be 30 by the time I get home again though :-(

  • #132 5 years ago

    "Average Reader Score
    This game is not out yet, so reader scoring data cannot be displayed. "

    Where in the world is it not out yet? In EG lal land?

    I got this last friday in Norway.

    Awsome game btw. Loving it.

    The game I got has a a 18 yr rating, it's a PAL version. There are decapitations all over the place, so this baby is not cencored. You better order from Norway if your versions are censored.
    Edited by 1 at 09/07/07 @ 07:48

  • Overlush #133 5 years ago

    There aren't any decapitations in mine, but I did get a review copy free from Eidos - Huzzah!

  • kali_mist #134 5 years ago

    @santino

    "i imported from the US and use http://www.tronixweb.com/ (brilliant service use it all the time, 2 days to deliver and trackable online)"

    Is it a region free copy?

  • Pachinko #135 5 years ago

    The PAL versions that are 'NOt for sale in the UK' have the PEGI 18+ rating and decapitations. Have one, have confirmed.

  • Cherubim #136 5 years ago

    "No longer the best game in its genre"

    What game of the same kind has come out that is better than Ninja Gaiden? God of War? Don`t make me laugh. God of war has a high coolness factor and beautiful graphics, but in terms of gameplay Ninja Gaiden wipes the floor with God of War. Ninja gaiden might be punishing, but the gameplay is extremely solid and based on actual skill. Combat system is detailed with a lot of different combos with a lot of different weapons. God of war doesn`t nearly have the same complexity.

    If they are referring to another game than God of War then please enlighten me, as far as I`m concerned Ninja gaiden is the ultimate game if you want a difficult and challenging game (but based on your skill, not irritating random factors that you can not avoid).

  • captain-future #137 5 years ago

    I played the demo from PS Store now and I'm a huge fan of the Xbox versions (I own both) and I was really shocked to see the v-sync problems... the game really looks dated, which of course is also due to that it looked to stanningly on last generation hardware.

    Most of the gameplay wonders are still there, I've a good feeling for controlling Ryu although somehow I feel the games quite a bit easiere (or maybe I got just better) - some minor loading issues while playing I don't remember from Xbox, so I'm a little wondering...

    Content is of course plentiful and really great, there are a lot of goodies and extras in it.

    What got my attention was this passage in the review: (...) the way the game forces you to run over all the 'essence' blobs to pick them up unless you hold down the triangle button (...) which was already discussed earlier in the comments.
    Whoever reviewed the game wasn't obviously informed (maybe due to stress... time matters...) well enough to realize that this is a gameplay element in NG/S to use "Ultimate Techniques"... I'm used to better reviews from Eurogamer.

    But I (sadly) have to agree on the score, probably one of the greatest game got a sub-par port on PS3. Nonetheless if you don't know it yet, it's worth the money.

    I on the other hand own NG and NG/B and would not shell out full price for it now, maybe I'll pick it up later.

  • barnard666 #138 4 years ago

    I assumed that the GFX were very similar in both, but after playing the PS3 demo I went back to the xbox original, the textures are almost completely different.
    I now have my PS3 copy and cant wait to play it!

  • mooseman721 #139 4 years ago

    I like it. Regarding the Gaiden 2 exclusivity, it's not the end of the world, God of War 3 Will be coming soon enough. :)

  • Les #140 4 years ago

    "But I (sadly) have to agree on the score, probably one of the greatest game got a sub-par port on PS3. Nonetheless if you don't know it yet, it's worth the money."

    The low score has absolutely nothing to do with the technical quality of the port. The game (like the review says) just didn't age well. Even by the standards of a few years ago its presentation was dismal but after God of War and 3 Devil May Cry-s on a next gen machine this is inexcusable.