Ninja Gaiden Review

Recreating classic titles seems to be quite the fad these days. Sadly, however, most developers only end up ruining the name by putting out a less than spectacular game. When it comes to recreating such amazing classics, a developer has to walk a very thin line by both respecting the original and providing plenty of tie-ins to those games as well as pushing out and making the game as advanced, original, and kick-ass as possible. Somehow, Ninja Gaiden has managed to simply sprint over that line and then some.

First off, gameplay is now on the clock. Keep one thing in mind with this game: it's not for everybody. At its core, this game is just a basic hack and slash. Sure, it is spiced up with crazy combos, but it is still just a hack and slash game. Only certain gamers can handle a hack and slash for long (myself being one of them). If you are one of the lucky few, then this game will be everything you ever dreamed of and then some.

You should know the two main attack buttons, X and Y. X is for quick attack and Y for a power attack. Seems simple enough, right? Well, things get tricky and a hell of a lot more fun once you learn how to really use these. There are a crap load of combos, as mentioned way too many times, and by stringing these two buttons together and also with the jump button, there is a ton of variety that come out of this basic setup. Depending on how you are moving, if/when you jumped, timing, if you are jumping off a wall, how close the enemy is, etc, and then pressing these two buttons (either repeatedly pressing one or stringing them together) there is a ton of moves that Ryu (the "Ninja") will perform. These attacks range from the basic "stab" to a side slash to jumping off the enemy, teleporting above him, leaping off the wall with one foot, holding in mid air for a second as you raise your sword, and then fall to the ground with an earth shattering smash that damages and stuns all of the enemies around you. Yes, my friend, this game packs a punch.