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 Ninja
Gaiden Sigma 2 (Playstation 3)
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is the definitive version of Team Ninja's classic
Ninja Gaiden II, originally released for the Xbox 360, but refined in the
PS3 update. While the basic parameters are fairly similar, the new
revision is more than a port. Several new gameplay modes, including the
viscerally thrilling team missions give the game much more content than
the original release. The gameplay has also been tweaked, with new
additions, such as impressive boss battles, giving Sigma 2 some
unpredictable twists. Graphical enhancements include a steadier frame rate
and smoother animations. These changes are substantial which this makes
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 one of the best action titles released on the
Playstation 3 yet. |
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 has players once more
in control of master ninja Ryu Hayabusa, along with some of the other
characters you've seen in previous games. This time, you can unlock and
play three additional female characters including Rachel from the main
game, Ayane from Dead or Alive or Momiji from the DS version of the game.
In addition to giving the game added appeal amongst otaku, each of these
additions has a unique set of moves and techniques which further deepens
Ninja Gaiden's already comprehensive gameplay mechanics. Team Ninja has
also made other adjustments, the biggest of which is difficulty. There are
now easier levels to play, and while veteran players might breeze through
these without much effort, novice gamers will probably appreciate the more
accessible approach. Even if you do get stuck, there are several dragon
statues in each level, so you won't have to spend a lot of time
backtracking. The new characters can be played as you complete missions in
the single player game, or used in the new Team Mission modes. Ryu's
mission is to stop a character names the Arch Fiend and his demonic
minions before he can succeed in this endeavor and his progress plays out
between levels in elaborate cut-scenes. Those who played the original game
should be immediately familiar with the basic parameters in the new game,
though there are numerous changes and enhancements to the combat system
that make for a deeper game. When he's battling waves of standard foes,
Ryu can use his standard attacks at close range, to slice and dice
opponents. He's got a number of familiar weapons at his disposal including
his trademark Dragon Sword, the devastating Lunar Staff and a cool new
weapon, called the Falcon's Talons which are claw-like extensions that
allow him to slash opponents at close range. There are also several
projectile weapons such as bow and arrow from the first game and shuriken
which allow you to attack enemies from a distance. All of this should be
somewhat familiar to Ninja Gaiden II veterans, but there are a few
unexpected surprises this time around. If you find yourself running low on
energy, you can use one of your scrolls to replenish your life force
instantly, which is a great help.
 Even
if you beat the previous Ninja Gaiden II, you'll find significant
differences. The biggest of these are the new screen-filling boss
encounters, which seem to be ripped from God of War. You'll face a huge
demonic Buddha early on and other nasty bosses that weren't in the
original release, which makes the game all the more challenging. Many of
these are very difficult to beat and you'll have to switch characters or
try multiple times before you knock them out. Even the standard enemies
seem a little bit harder this time around. As in the previous titles,
enemies can be difficult to beat because they cluster together and fight
smarter. In addition, instead of being killed immediately as in the
previous games, many times foes will survive minus an arm and a leg.
They'll still attack you if they can, so it's important to finish them
off, even in their weakened state since they can still cause significant
damage. As you play through Sigma 2, you'll be able to use different
weapons including standard ninja blades, sharp claws and katana. Each of
these gives you different techniques to master, which are special attacks
that can cause a lot of damage. Ryu's techniques allow him to attack from
a distance without much risk, though they do lower his power-bar. A prime
example of this is the Obliteration technique. Using this lets you finish
off these fallen foes in dramatic fashion when you're standing near them.
When you kill many enemies, you'll collect their life force in the form of
essence which increases your own health bar. There are several types of
these which replenish your energy in different ways. Since the enemies
attack you from all directions, and won't stop until they're completely
destroyed.
Ryu has a number of cool athletic
abilities that he can master as he moves through the levels. He can run
sideways along walls, jump over gaps in the levels, swing from bars and
climb over objects to escape attacks. He can also move very quickly and
instantly change position to attack unsuspecting foes in his way. There
are also a number of special attack techniques called Ninpro that he can
learn along the way. These devastating attacks can kill or damage any
nearby foes, though they can only be used a certain number of times
depending on Ryu's energy bar. Each of these moves can be learned by
collecting scrolls, which detail how to perform them. As an added bonus,
mastering these moves adds to your trophy collection. Other scrolls and
magic items allow Ryu to increase his skill set, add to his energy bar or
collection more essence from fallen enemies, all of which helps him to
survive his brutal mission. The game offers frequent save points, which
have the added benefit of completely restoring health completely when
used. Additionally, he can purchase items that can further enhance his
abilities. The menu selection screen is fairly easy to navigate and use
and can be called up at any point during the game. His weapons are quite
powerful on their own, but he can carry two at a time later on and these
can be further upgraded as he catches essence and earns Ninpro by
defeating fallen foes. Most of the action can be viewed from a third
person perspective, but the game gives you the option of viewing some
areas in first-person mode, which is decent. Some of the camera angles can
be distracting and annoying, and allows opponents to attack you unseen.
This can make for some frustrating moments but they aren't enough to ruin
the experience. While the game is mostly action, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2's
also adds some puzzle sequences. Some of these are a little oblique and
can be annoying because they get in the way of the action, hurting the
game's momentum.
Team Ninja has added new characters and
bosses and tweaked some of the camera issues that plagued the first game.
It's still not a perfect game, but it comes closer than the original. The
game seems to move at a smoother frame rate on PS3 and feels better with
more polish. As in the first game, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 offers an
impressive selection of environments. Your quest will take you to sleek,
futuristic office towers, isolated villages and other locations. Ryo
himself is an impressive character and he moves through the levels with an
elegant grace and style befitting a master ninja. Three other playable
characters have been added and their movements and animation are also
impressive. The beautifully rendered character models move with an
incredible amount of grace and realism, and feel quite natural. The game's
impressive environments feel alive and authentic. Excellent
light-sourcing, detailed textures and seamless levels allow you to focus
on the action. There are some areas where the camera still gets in the way
of the action, but the ability to manually change the angle makes this
less of an issue in Sigma 2. The game's soundtrack mixes techno and
traditional Japanese themes to create a score that fits the futuristic yet
traditional action perfectly. Ninja Gaiden II's elaborate cut scenes give
things a nice cinematic feel, but they don't overwhelm the story. You can
see that a great deal of attention has been paid to every element in the
game, and this helps to create a coherent and believable game universe.
One of the more impressive changes this
time around is the new Team Mission mode. Here, you and a friend join
forces to defeat demonic hordes. This mode can be played either on or
offline, with an AI partner used if you want to practice solo. In this
mode, two characters are assigned a specific task, which plays out like a
mini-game. You can select from any of the character's you've unlocked and
play through certain areas of the game for bonus points. In most of these
missions you're confined to a small portion of a level and have to defeat
as many enemies as possible to score points. The cool thing about this
section is that it allows you to play through action sections without
having to sit through the cinematics. In this mode, you work together to
clear each area and you can revive your partner if they run out of energy,
or they can revive you. Waves of enemies make this mode more a test of
endurance, and an enjoyable diversion from the main game. When taken
together, these changes mean that Team Ninja has made an impressive series
of changes in Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2. It feels and looks much smoother than
the Xbox 360 edition, with additional characters adding even more depth to
the experience. While the new boss encounters are cool additions, the
essence of the original game hasn't been changed. Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2's
level of difficulty isn't nearly as intimidating this time around, which
should make it more accessible to new players. When you take it together,
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 ranks as an excellent revision of the original game
that brings new elements that should please those who enjoyed the original
release and offers a solidly entertaining experience for those new to the
series.
- Michael Palisano
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