Ninja Gaiden 3

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List Price: $39.99
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Had this pre-ordered and popped it in first thing when I got home.

After experiencing what Ninja Gaiden has built itself into since it was first released on the original XBOX, it pains me to say that this Ninja Gaiden is very disappointing. Each installment (including the Sigmas) just got more and more incredible, adding new weapons, missions, playable characters, etc. This game takes all that away. While there are trials (similar to missions), and while there is supposed to be some extra weapons added via DLC at a later date, this game just feels like it has more than abandoned the momentum of the series.

I won't spoil the story, but let me just say I found it to be just as much (if not more) of a throwaway tale as NG2. Combat is much easier on Normal Mode than ever before (you can pretty much just mash square to dispatch most enemies), but a Hard mode is available right from the start for NG fans looking to maximize their challenge on the first play through. There aren't any collectables or upgrades in this game and levels are very linear. Not to mention you can no longer heal, but have the ever-so-popular regenerating health now...

Gameplay is what suffers most from this new take on Ninja Gaiden. You will basically find yourself moving from area to area in a very linear fashion, often being forced to stop and slaughter the same 2-3 dozen enemies you just did only moments before. There are no side paths or any collectables of any kind. Each level typically has 2-3 new enemies in it, but most of the time you'll might find yourself slaughtering repeats as well. Even with new enemies being introduced, it really does feel like you are fighting way too many of the same battles over and over. Another thing that hurts is since you cannot heal manually in this game, you pretty much to get it all right in one try. This will surely frustrate on some of the higher difficulties. Luckily, the game does offer a pretty forgiving checkpoint system should you perish, often restoring you at the last major thing that happened in battle. For instance, if a boss has two forms and you die after having already defeated the first one, the game will simply put you at the beginning of the fight with the second form.

Overall though, I didn't give the game a one star rating because it works. It doesn't freeze and isn't plagued with glitches. It's just an empty game. The kind that you only play through once and then forget you even own it. The combat can get pretty gruesome at times, with some of Ryu's "Steel on Bone" attacks actually making you cringe. I found the enemy commentary while you are chopping up their comrades to be very stupid and unrealistic. However, once wounded, some enemies will beg to be spared instead of blindly attacking you until they're literally in pieces. I found this to be a nice touch as it isn't very believable when every single enemy is so eager to throw his/her life away. Despite others complaining about the camera, I didn't have any trouble with it, so don't believe it when people say it's bad. I found the camera to behave better than it did in NG2.

This is not a review for the multiplayer as I just didn't have anything left in me to try it. Although, if I do try it at a later date, I will update my review. Here's hoping NG4 (if we get one) does much better.

Plus, I miss the ninja babes =,(

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Love NG sigma 1 & 2 and think they are the best action games ever. This game is a big let down. Where are my weapons from NG Sigma 2????? It has all the cool weapons and we can pick the ones we prefer. This game only provides a sword!! This is a huge step back of fun and replay value. Then probably Tecmo heard people complaining and gave us 2 more weapons from free download contents, the claws and the scythe only. However, we can only use them in story mode, not multi-player or ninja trials online. The only way we can use them is to pay Tecmo for the additional download contents. What a joke? Why do we need to pay for stuffs that they should be included? And for sure that those weapons are recycled from NG 1&2 anyway. It's not like Tecmo needed to hire a whole new design team for that.

I know I am more like reviewing Tecmo here, but a great or bad game is depended on what company stands behind the game. And the thing that made me frustrated the most is Tecmo killed a great series and let me and most of its fans down. Thank you for your time and sorry to hear me vent here.

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Most fans of this franchise will already know why my review and subsequent reviews are rating this game poorly. In an attempt to make Ninja Gaiden his own, Hayashi-san has stripped everything out of last generations Ninja Gaiden games, leaving nothing but a hollow, empty shell. Multiple weapons are out the window (yes I know future DLC, regardless that is trash design), terrible level design, shallow gameplay, horrendous story, and otherworldy creatures rarely make an appearance. In fact I would have been fine if they took all this out and filled the void left over with something worthwhile. The fact is that they stripped all these features and have nothing else to show for this game. Even the original score sounds scaled back. I fear for the future of this franchise. Avoid this game until it drops to $20.

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Okay, let's get a few things out of the way.

1. Ninja 3 is not NG1 or NG2. I think most everyone has said that, and many ding the game right away for that simple statement.

2. Ninja 3 is easier than NG1 and NG2. Another recurring theme, another few points taken off in most reviews.

3. Ninja 3's story is weird and confusing. Same thing, points taken, etc. At this point you are somewhere with a 4-6 rating, where most pro reviewers ended up.

4. Ninja 3 is fun and still a top action title. What?! Has this guy lost his mind.......

No, I haven't. I enjoyed this game. Although it was shorter and easier than the prior 2 games, I had a blast playing this and learning the altered combat system. Let's quickly run through the positives and then I will address the items above.

>Visuals. Best looking NG title yet. Still an above average title graphically with some really smooth character animations and details.

>Sound. Typical NG. There is more interaction with enemies with the constant trash talking (kind of weird) and begging (not so tough now,huh black ninjas?).

>Controls. Typical NG stuff. More like 2 than 1, and admittedly the speed seems to be even faster so there can be camera issues at times. Honestly though, it isn't as bad as people claim.

>Replayable. It is short, which makes it an easier game to replay than the lengthy first one. And with new weapons DLC out, a second playthrough is warranted.

Now, the issues above.

Ninja 3 is not NG1 or NG2. Similar comments were made when part 2 came out (new combat was gratuitously violent, too fast for camera, too linear). People forget that when NG2 originally came out it got 7s from a few companies for those very reasons. This is just a cycle in the series, mainly from people that don't like change and felt NG1 and its labyrinthes and puzzles were a better game than the straightforward action driven titles of 2 & 3. To each his own. I preferred 2 & 3 because I didn't have to revisit areas multiple times just because I needed to find a puzzle piece or key.

Ninja 3 is easier than NG1 and NG2. The developers stated that this was a primary theme behind the third game. It should surprise no one at this point. I see it as a legit thing that had to occur. NG1 was critically acclaimed, sold well, but was largely heralded as too difficult. NG2 had fewer sales as a result and was deemed to be even harder by some. Many gamers swore off the series after that because what is the point of punishing one's self when they want to relax? I do think gamers have forgotten the no save NES days, especially of NG, but I see why the developers made it easier so more people would be willing to play. No matter what, sales drives development. In any case, new difficulty modes are available via DLC so the hardcore are being accomodated as well.

Ninja 3's story is weird and confusing. Which NG hasn't had this, yet none got dinged for it. NG1 was about the weirdest game ever with Fiends, naked bounty hunter chicks with sisters turned into Fiends (what is one anyways), an emperor that is essentially a crab with a giant skull on it, etc. The list goes on and on. NG2 was just as weird, mixing in Fiends and a rival spider clan. Dagra Dai, some vampire like witch, and the Arch Demon itself being at least 30 stories tall but being defeated by a pint sized ninja. To hear people say 3 is being dinged for a confusing story I just wonder if those same people played through the first two games.

My whole point is that this game caught a lot of negative publicity for the wrong reasons. It may not have been the strongest title in the series depending on what you are looking for, but it is the most accessible and doesn't lose much of the flavor the prior two titles had. I recommend people give this game a shot, especially since I have already seen it as low as $39.99 at times.

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This game truly upsets me! :(

I've played (own) NG1, NGblack, NG Sigma, NG 2, NG Sigma 2 (but haven't beaten Sigma 2 yet.)

I've only played through 2 boards of 3, and I like some new things...BUT why did they remove so many of the features that made all the previous versions so good!!?

Multiple essence orbs (money, health, ninpo) gone. Muramasa with weapons, upgrades, items...gone! How about the ability to walk around a board and find stuff (maybe hidden areas)...gone. So far it is a one track direction.

I pre-ordered this game, with the idea that such a successful franchise (even without Tomonoba Itagaki) just had to create new levels, new story, maybe add or modify some weapons and boom, continue the greatness like before! Instead they removed most of what made the others great...why!? Did they honestly feel this lived up to the name when testing it!?

I've only played through 2 levels. Maybe I haven't played long enough. But I don't want to waste anymore time on this game unless I can find info that the game gets better...which I have yet to find.

I think I might just go back to finishing Sigma 2.

If you are fairly new to the Ninja Gaiden series, it might be good for you. For anyone that was a big fan of the previous versions (and actually beat them), make sure to play a demo or something before wasting your money!