Ninja Gaidenhas been one of the most anticipated games for the Xbox since it was announced 100 years ago. (Actually, it was only a couple of years ago, but having seen the advance screenshots, every second without it feels like an eternity!) This third-person adventure is designed to redefine the genre. Players control Ryu Hyabusa, the revenge-driven ninja ace who starred in the firstNinja Gaiden titles as well as the Dead or Alivefighting games. All elements of the game-graphics, story, and gameplay-have all been cranked to 11 to provide hours of a seamless, hypnotic, jaw-droppingly gorgeous action.
With the strong following that the original Ninja Gaidengames created, the designers and developers at Tecmo knew they had a lot to live up to. Thankfully, the power of the Xbox made it all possible. The textures in Ryu’s world are as close to photo quality as you can get, with lighting and particle effects that totally immerse you in the game’s version of reality. Sparks fly, shadows flicker, and blood spatters as you battle the rival ninjas and terrifying demon monsters that oppose you. The character animations are all smooth and natural. Remember, this is the team that brought you Dead or Alive 3 and Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball™, so you can expect the same high-quality character models, animations, and backgrounds that made those games such a feast for the eyes. The game’s graphical punch never slows down the action-whether Ryu uses his devastating combat abilities against a horde of sword-wielding maniacs or takes the fight to a giant skeleton as big as a skyscraper.
Ryu is capable of truly amazing feats, which he can use to explore his environment and wipe out the bad guys, but the controls are remarkably simple. Our shadowy hero can run up or along walls, rebound from side to side to ascend steep shafts and vertical tunnels, and chain jumps and melee attacks together to take out multiple enemies in the same combo. The camera is both intelligent and dynamic, swinging around to provide the best possible view of the terrain without a hitch, even during the fastest and most frenzied battles. You automatically target the closest enemy, but by moving quickly (and Ryu can move very quickly), you can aim your attacks by moving closer to the targets you want to hit next. Stringing together combos and pulling off spectacular kills will earn you style points, which are useful for unlocking weapons and other hidden secrets in between stages. (One of the best unlockables for nostalgia fans will be the original Ninja Gaiden game, complete with authentic 8-bit graphics).
The ninja-style weapons are a treat to use, and each one feels different and produces different effects. The War Hammer, for example, is far heavier and slower than the default Dragon Sword, but it does more damage with each hit. Enemies that withstood five or more sword blows from the Dragon Sword fell after just two taps with the War Hammer. There are more than a dozen weapons in all, including nunchaku, shiruken, more swords, and even a bow and arrow. The replay value of Ninja Gaiden goes up with each weapon you unlock, as you’ll definitely want to compare the combat (as well as visual bonuses) of using each. Ryu can also choose from several schools of magical combat and call upon the powers of fire, ice, and storm to combat his enemies.
Ninja Gaiden for the Xbox is an incredible accomplishment. The graphics or gameplay alone would be enough to hook gamers, but together, they create an unparalleled action experience.
