Ninja Gaiden Sigma Review PS3

These days, companies regurgitate old franchises like owl pellets left and right and Ninja Gaiden Sigma is no exception. Sometimes it is a bad idea such as in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, but in the case of Ninja Gaiden, it is a pleasant gift. Ninja Gaiden Sigma is basically a rehash of Ninja Gaiden/Ninja Gaiden Black from the XBOX with some features added and removed. I played Ninja Gaiden Black on the XBOX and was pleased at the time with it, but looking at it now, the game has not aged well at all. Ninja Gaiden Sigma on the Playstation 3 is a beautiful game that lets those who missed the XBOX game a chance to enjoy a gem and for those who played the original on the XBOX, a chance to relive those fond memories without the muddy textures and jaggies of old.

Graphic and sound:

Ninja Gaiden Sigma is a beautiful game without a doubt. It uses high-res textures and supports video output up to 1080p unlike the original which was 480p. The outdoor environments look lush and full of life, especially the autumn forest in the beginning with the leaves falling. Character models are also highly detailed and animated very well. Players will thoroughly enjoy decapitating opponents again and again. For those that played the original on the XBOX, playing the game is almost a new experience in terms of visuals eye candy. There are noticeable camera issues that have still not been resolved and become frustrating at times. Sound effects and voiceovers are of quality and best enjoyed in surround sound.

Gameplay and controls:

Gameplay is a single player campaign in the 3^rd person with optional 1^st person viewing while the character is stationary a la Tomb Raider. The game has the option to be installed which reduces loading time considerably. The game focuses on playing through numerous missions and fighting a sub-boss or boss at the end of each. After the game is completed, one can submit his/her scores onto a leader board for ranking. There are several downloadable content available on the Playstation Store such as survival modes and Rachel specific survival modes.

Some features have been added such as: Ryu can combat enemies while running on water, shooting arrows while in the air, use of restoration items without entering the menu system, new enemies, more save points, new playable character (Rachel), two new bosses, and reworked levels. Also, some features are missing now such as the ability to play the original NES Ninja Gaiden, some puzzles, and other items.

Overall thoughts:

Ninja Gaiden Sigma is not a complete version, but if you have not played the original XBOX version a few years ago, then this will definitely make up for it. Ninja Gaiden Sigma is an enjoyable visual treat and will hold most players over until the release of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, which is a rehash of Ninja Gaiden 2 from the XBOX 360.