|
 |
|
| | Title:
Ninja Gaiden Black
..............................................
System:
Xbox
..............................................
Genre:
Action
..............................................
Publisher:
Tecmo
..............................................
Developer:
Team Ninja
..............................................
Release:
9/30/2005
..............................................
Online:
Yes
..............................................
ESRB:
Rated Pending
..............................................
 |
Back in early 2004 Tecmo and Team Ninja put out Ninja Gaiden for the Xbox console as one of the best action games of its time --or of all time, to some. It captured well the action and intensity of its predecessors and was a great success. It was critically acclaimed and was fairly unique in its gameplay due to one of the most refined combat systems of this generation. It focused on the intense, fast, cut and slash action of ninja warriors when confronted in open ground. Overall an excellent game.
Since it was such an excellent game, Tecmo and Team Ninja decided it was time to refresh gamers of the awesome experience with Ninja Gaiden Black, or allow those without Xbox Live a taste of the newest expansions. That said, this new game isn't anything like a sequel or a second part of the first game, it is basically the same, only revamped. As you will see there are a number of new additions but, for the most part, is just like the original Ninja Gaiden.
Gameplay
The first addition discussable to Ninja Gaiden Black is two new difficulties of "Ninja Dog" and "Master Ninja". Only after completing the main story mode will you be able to play on these two new difficulty levels. Like in the old game, after you beat the story mode you will be able to select any mission and replay it on any difficulty you want. If you aren't familiar with Ninja Gaiden, then there is one major issue you probably aren't aware of. Ninja Gaiden (NG) is an extremely hard game and takes a lot of skill to get past a large group of enemies or a big boss stage. The average person will retry a boss stage numerous times depending on how difficult the boss is. Some are easier than others but some will have you retrying time and time again, trying different tactics and becoming extremely frustrated. If you don't like a big challenge or don't have the skill to master the combat system it is possible you will get stuck on a boss stage and then stop playing the game because it is so difficult. However, most gamers seem to enjoy the challenge and feel that they have accomplished something once they are able to move on. For those that really get into it, with NG Black, players can record and compare their stats with everyone else over Xbox Live.
Now...can you imagine what the Master Ninja mode must be like? Only the ultimate of players tread here and Team Ninja recognizes their dedicated experts, so they gave them something to really brag about, assuming they can beat it.
The characters in this game are all unique, play a specific role in the story, and add a lot of flavor to the game. The most memorable would have to be Lord Doku. Lord Doku is lord of the greater fiends and this is quite obvious. He is a heavily armed dark samurai knight and most mysteriously, has no face. Instead an ambient blue flame projects out from under a vicious metallic mask. Without a doubt, he makes for one of the best super-villains in any game. There are a good amount of other characters that you will interact with throughout the game. Even each boss has their own unique characteristics and an integrated roll in the overall story.
Speaking of Xbox Live, scoreboards are the only option available with NG Black, even though it includes the orange Xbox Live "Live Enabled" strip on the game cover. I honestly think that Team Ninja should have taken a shot at online play with NG Black. Playing through the missions in cooperative gameplay would be a dream for almost all NG fans out there. Some sort of battle mode where gamers can face off, one-on-one, would also be extremely interesting with a game like this. For now we will only be able to compare our game stats. Maybe we will see actual online gameplay with Ninja Gaiden 2 on the Xbox 360 console... but we can only hope.
Along with these new mission types are new enemies and bosses to make your life that much harder. I'm sure you can appreciate seeing a newly-created nightmare slaying you, right?
Ok, so what else is new to draw so much hype? To cover that question, Team Ninja did some other admirable things and gave Ryu some choice in apparel as well as additional weapons, or both, depending on the outfit. Ryu has an outfit that's a futuristic blend of ninja which supplies him with a blazing lazer sword instead of starting with the Dragon Sword.
Combat and Movement
Ninja Gaiden's combat system is by far the best of its kind and completely blows everything else out of the water. Honestly, it is that good. Throughout the first few levels you will learn the basics of the combat system and then gradually add on to your knowledge and skill as Ryu Hayabusa. Before you know it you will be taking on a big group of ninjas, performing some crazy stunts, and using a combination of your sword and shuriken (throwing stars). Once you get into some of the quicker and more advanced techniques, its hard to believe that Ryu (main character) won't come tumbling to the ground in pieces from a slight miscalculation of his sword.
Like any other game, you have your basic normal attack (X button) and a stronger second attack (Y button). Most combat will require only a combination of these two attacks. But for sticky situations and harder opponents you are not left high and dry, there are a lot of other options you have. If an enemy is approaching and you have time, pressing and holding Y, your strong attack, will charge up that attack and you will be able to release it once the enemy is close enough. The B button allows you to use your secondary weapon which can range from throwing stars to bow and arrows, to some famous boomerang-type of shurikens seen in the original series on NES. Ninpo is the most destructive attack in the game but is extremely limited. After collected different scrolls you will be able to use the different Ninpo attacks. The attacks range from an Inferno (flame), Ice Storm, and Inazuma (electricity) attacks. These Ninpo techniques are upgradeable and can be extremely helpful, especially in boss fights.
Blocking is also possible and is often used by pulling the Left Trigger. Additionally, pressing a direction on the analog thumbstick will have Ryu dodging and rolling evasively.
Combine all of this together effectively and fluidly and you will be a ninja master that nobody can compete with.
Besides the combat system, Ryu can pull of a number of neat movements aside from the boring walking around and jumping. One of the first that you will be able to do is called wall running. Basically all you have to do is jump diagonally towards a wall and you will be able to walk on the side of it for a small distance. This is useful for getting over small gaps and while you are on the wall you can also jump off of it to clear very large gaps in the terrain. If you choose to run straight up the side of a wall, there is nothing stopping you, but after a few steps you will flip backwards and land on your feet. If you jump while you are walking straight up the wall, Ryu will perform a large arching back flip called the Birdflip --this is extremely usefully during a battle. If someone approaches you from behind you can quickly run up a wall, tree, or anything else that is somewhat flat, perform the Birdflip and come crashing down on your enemy with your sword in hand. Without a doubt this is going to hurt your opponent and probably kill him right off the bat as air moves are of the most powerful. You can also do things such as hanging off of ledges, swing on tree branches, swim, and if you are good enough, you can even run on top of water!
Though Ryu masters the use of the ancient Dragon Sword (and is the heir protector), he also has a handful of amazing weapons at his disposal --and he's a master of them all. Ryu gains the use of an extremely large blade that is slower in use, but is by for the most devastating and useful arm in the game. The most impressive visually, and is a testament to the superb framerate and rendering by Team Ninja, is the nunchaku and the nunchaku-type Vigoorian Flails. These bad boys whirl in an impressive display of grace and power by Ryu. You can quite literally keep the weapons moving non-stop while killing enemies in a beautifully vicious dance of death. Not only does it look amazing, but they are extremely effective. Death comes quickly to Ryu's opponents.
Graphics
Ninja Gaiden Black's graphics are extremely well done, but since the original NG had extremely good graphics for its time it won't be too shocking. Animations look great and are smooth the entire time with seemingly impossible rendering considering the amazing moves and acrobatics Ryu can perform. The camera can get a little annoying from time to time, particularly when rounding corners, but hardly more than a nitpicking comment. The new cut-scenes do a lot in terms of graphics as well. Usually after a major boss battle you will view a cut-scene that explains what happened and sets things up for the next stage. These cut-scenes are pre-rendered and look simply outstanding. The effects used and the action is almost like something you would see in a movie and its almost a shame when you have to start playing the game again. Never the less, the in-game graphics are still astounding and colorful with fluid animations, especially during a battle.
Audio
The audio, including the soundtrack, sound effects, and voices are almost as good as the graphics but fall just a tad short. The sound effects are great to hear during battles and obviously add the much needed realism to clashing swords or departing limbs from bodies; however, it's nothing completely amazing. The music does do a pretty good job of orchestrating dramatic situations but the action is so intense you probably won't even notice. Overall the audio is excellent when compared to most other games, but when compared to all other aspects of NG Black, it seems like almost an afterthought. You won't care much as neither did we.
Overall
Ninja Gaiden Black may not be a completely new game, but it is actually worth the only slightly lower game price. If you've never played the original, this is a whopping deal as it priced at mere $30. Whether you have played the original or not this game is worth every single penny. If you own an Xbox (and heck, if you are reading this why wouldn't you?) you are definitely missing out big if you don't pick this game up and give it a spin. Get it? Spin?
| The Core Score |
Overall
9.5 |
| Fun |
|
9.6 |
| Gameplay |
|
9.7 |
| Graphics |
|
9.5 |
| Audio |
|
9.3 |
| Replay |
|
9.5 |
|
| | | |
