Despite some killer difficulty, Ninja Gaiden Sigma can be a fantastic action game.
Ninja Gaiden Sigma is, in fact, the very first PS3 game I bought and played on the system. I had read previous reviews and had heard that it was a decent game so I was looking forward to seeing what it was all about. On a history setting, I only had a brief encounter with the original Ninja Gaiden on the NES as I played it a few times at a friend's house. From what I remember of it, it was a cool game but was definitely something you had to play a lot of to get good at and to really appreciate. Ninja Gaiden Sigma follows in the same footsteps but also manages to create uniqueness from its predecessors mostly due to the awesome capabilities the PS3 opens up for potential gameplay and graphics in next generation games.
Gameplay: 9
There's no denying it, an action game lives or dies based on its gameplay. And Ninja Gaiden Sigma certainly does not disappoint in this area. The game is just crammed full of awesome battles, incredible combos, numerous weapons and of course hidden secrets. Areas might be a little small for gamers that are used to wide open expanses but you will come to appreciate the smaller areas as they allow for more off the wall attacks which provide a needed compliment to combo attacks. Sadly I have found some issues with the game that I just can't over look, but luckily they are items that some gamers might find minor in their play throughs. Difficulty and learning curve have been my major gripes. Bosses are, understandably, pretty hard to defeat. And many times it's a good thing that they are since it gives you a chance to really challenge just how much of a bad ass ninja you really are. Just know that some bosses may take two are three tries to finally figure out their patterns and the best way to attack them; until then be ready to take some beatings as they will definitely come. What will really get you down is when the minor enemies, you know the little pissants that run in between each boss fight, can potentially do some major harm to you as well unless you really know what you're doing. And really getting to know what you're doing can take awhile as new weapons/techniques/enemies show up on every level and each presents a new learning curve to overcome. Thankfully there are some combos that are shared between weapons, techniques usually only get more powerful, and thus more helpful, and enemies usually just get lengthier combos and a few additional defensive techniques to make them harder to hit. After you finally do scrap past your first play through, and if you really need to you can always unlock the easy difficulty and become a Ninja Dog like me (WOOF!), any additional attempts will likely seem a lot easier as you will already know what to expect and will have a firmer grasp on effective fighting techniques. The only other problem I noticed was with the camera. The camera is not bad, per say, so much as it is annoying. It has a tendency to move to angles that takes all your oncoming enemies out of view (especially when you first walk through a door) which can be disastrous if a mob is barreling down on you. Just keep your finger on the block button, whenever entering a room, and try to make a quick camera adjustment so you can get your right thumb back on those attack buttons.
Story: 8
I had heard grumblings about the story in this game and I tried my best to keep an open mind as I played through it. I actually found little fault with the story and thought it played out rather well for an action game. Gamers who are expecting a long, drawn out, epic story with deep character interaction will be disappointed though. The story is just enough to get the gamer interested in pushing through to the next chapter and wonder what will happen next. That's about it. Character development is nearly non-existent and if it wasn't for the little biographies in the instruction manual, I'd dare say I wouldn't really know how any of the support characters were related to the main character. But, as action games go, there is just enough material to maintain interest and keep the plot going smoothly enough.
Graphics: 10/(9)
With the inclusion of Hi-Def support, reviewing Graphics presents me with somewhat of a poser. Do I review it for 720p/1080i (no 1080p for me as that option was too expensive at the time) or 480i? I've decided to try and play PS3 games in BOTH resolutions and on both TVs (HDTV and CRT) so as to give the best rating possible for readers who do and do not have a HDTV. When played in 1080i, you're in for a real treat. The graphics are simply amazing and you will certainly feel like you're rewarded for ever last cent you will have spent on your PS3, HDTV and this game when you see that first screen come up. Characters look as good, perhaps better, than any CGI movie character. Background effects (such as leaves and water) look almost life like and there's no hit to graphical rendering or even any hint of stuttering even when the camera is moved. Arguably, you cannot go wrong with this game's graphics when played in Hi-Definition. On the 480i front, there is a noticeable difference from the Hi-Def presentation, but the graphics still look good. Characters still look good but the differences show up in little details such as musculature and background art. The game will look good in 480i but I can assure you, once you see the game in Hi-Def format you will not want to go back to the lower resolution.
Sound: 9.5
Musical scores, sound effects and voiceovers can make great additions to any game. However, much like in the graphics department the PS3 gives yet another new dimension to gamers as they can opt to play games in 5.1 digital surround sound. I think anyone will admit that if they could play a game in surround sound it's going to kick stereo's butt at any time. So, for the sake of argument I've tried to focus more on the sounds stereo presentation and will leave the appreciation of fine 5.1 digital surround sound to those who are lucky enough to have it; I will say that it is quite awesome to be able to hear enemies coming up, quite literally, from behind you so if you can get surround sound then stick to it! The musical scores add a nice touch to the game but there is one glaring problem with them: there is usually only one, maybe two, musical scores per chapter. So if you don't beat a chapter quickly enough you are subjected to listening to the same music track over and again until you do finally move on to the next chapter. Sound effects are simply incredible. From the ever present "clinking" of your blade as you reposition it to the sound of blood gushing from a headless body, you will not be denied of any great sound effect here. Voiceovers are nicely done too and there's a decent number them to look forward to. In fact, voiceovers will likely be the lone place where you will get any sense of emotion or purpose from a character, but that is a problem that falls squarely on the story for not expanding upon outside of the voiceovers.
Tilt: 9
The tilt rating I have kept because it fits the need well for listing all those strange items that a game possesses, can never garner a rating spot all its own, but sorely needs to be commented on. That being said let me comment on the most important part (as my tilt often pertains to items any gamer with children should be aware of): this is a VERY violent game and as such should probably not be played around very young children. Of course, if you are a parent then it's up to you to set your own rules on what your children should see. So it's always up to you, the parent gamer, to decide what is played in your house. I merely want to share concerns that I've noticed could be problems for any gamer with young children and not dictate how you should raise your own kids. For gamers who prefer an online option, while there is no head to head online play, there is a ranking system that can give you that extra incentive to clear levels faster and better all in the name of being top dog. The fact this game has been out for almost a year lends it to being an easy target to find in a used store for nearly half the price of its release sticker. Even better, for those not sold on used games, is that if Sony of America follows suit of Sony of Japan, we may be seeing a Platinum series version of this game for nearly the same price as one found used. Either way, the gamer wins as it means less money spent to get Ninja Gaiden Sigma.
Overall: 9.1
The difficulty of this game is a definite factor to overcome. If you don't mind having your gaming skills put to the test then this will be a great buy and will certainly give you a challenge. If you're hesitant on having your virtual butt kicked around for several stages or get frustrated with difficult learning curves it may be best to avoid this one as it's only going to produce frustration and a sense of "wasted money." Since the game has been out for a year, and may potentially be released as a Platinum title in the U.S., the price should be at least half of its initial release cost. And there's nothing wrong with saving money that can be spent on other games later on. The game's visuals are best played in Hi-Def, but for those who have yet to make the leap to the expensive HDTV, you can still enjoy some great graphics on an older TV. Ninja Gaiden Sigma will certainly fill any void of wanting an awesome Ninja game. The weapons, combos and enemies will give you tons of opportunity to inflict some serious pain. But, you will have to put a decent amount of time into it before you can excel in dishing it out more often than receiving it.