Ninja Gaiden

*Note: This review is of the 2004 Ninja Gaiden for the xbox, Ninja Gaiden Black, and Ninja Gaiden Sigma. The sequel is not mentioned in this review, though I may write one up later.

Casual gamers may slink back to play this, but if your up for a challenge, do play Ninja Gaiden. Ninja Gaiden is a reboot of the original arcade classic. Similar to games like Devil May Cry and God of War, this action title is notorious for its difficulty. Ninja Gaiden focuses on Ryu Hayabusa and his quest to avenge his slaughtered clan. Traveling to the city of Vigoor, he meets a beautiful woman named Rachel and slaughters countless fiends and rival ninja throughout his journey.

The graphics are worth mentioning, especially on the scaled up NG Sigma. Cutscenes look quite amazing and the in game graphics aren't bad at all. Gameplay is very nice and fluid. The combos may take time to master, but long chains of attacks pulled off successfully can lead to a satisfying kill. The music isn't all that breathtaking, but it complements the fast paced action at times. The storyline in particular was great. Action games are not usually defined by a phenomenal story experience, but the story of Ninja Gaiden simply made me want to play through to the end. Replayability isn't all that great if you can barely beat the game. From the easiest mode, it only gets harder.

Overall, Ninja Gaiden is among one of my favorites in the action game department, up there with Devil May Cry, Bayonetta, and God of War. For the record, it is the best ninja game out there.