Ninja Gaiden Game Reviews
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Ninja Gaiden
Rankings:
Ratings and rankings are based on all available critic reviews for each game.
Overall Critic Score:3.6960
Ninja Gaiden Critic Reviews
This game is cooler than ice cream stored in a fridge on Pluto. It look cools, it plays cool, it sounds cool....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Extreme Gamer
From start to finish, the main element that propels Ninja Gaiden above all others in the action genre is the dazzling combat-based gameplay....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Thunderbolt
There has been such precise and accurate detail placed on this game that it would be near impossible to point out any faults....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at DarkStation
When the Hayabusa Village is attacked and the Dragon Blade is taken it is Ryu's quest to retrieve this sword before its full power is unleashed onto the world. Armed only with his Dragon Sword and shuriken, Ryu sets out on a journey beyond his wildest...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Gameplanet
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If you enter the game expecting to slash through it mashing buttons and kicking some ass, you are in for a severe whooping. From the get go, you will need to learn a few tricks to help you not only survive but also to earn enough essence to fully upgrade...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Video Game Talk
Until now. Tecmo has returned with the best Ninja Gaiden yet, thanks to the power of the Xbox and the talent of its Team Ninja development crew, but not all is what it seems. In this version of Ninja Gaiden, we find Ryu on his way to see a great master...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at UnderGroundOnline
and only deter slightly from what is ultimately the industry's definitive action game. Perfectly difficultAs difficult as it can be, "Ninja Gaiden" does an excellent job of taking you to the edge of toleration and yanking you back by the shirt collar at t...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at G4 TV
than usual. And though the action is thrilling, with challenging bosses and an increasingly bewildering option of fighting moves and weapons to choose from as the game progresses, there’s enough creeping, leaping and problem-solving to make it a tip...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Times Online
in each room, the pace quickens and the punch-ups get tougher and cooler. Gimmicks like over-the-shoulder throws, slow-motion magic spells and ninja finishing moves soon become as vital as finding a good dry cleaner (it’s incredibly hard to get stain...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Stuff
Ninja Gaiden epitomizes all that is beautiful in gaming, an experience that is at once difficult, though never in a cheap way, and artistically crafted....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Deeko
The actual fighting in the game is flawless...One of my favorite games of all time and easily my favorite game on Xbox....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Into Liquid Sky
The plot -- which has nothing to do with...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at GameSpy
Is Ninja Gaiden already a lock for the best action game of the year?...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at GamePro
This is a masterpiece....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at PGNx Media
everything right from A to Z. The loading times are quite short and infrequent. The gameplay is state of the art and one of a kind, and sets the bar for many videogames to be made in the future. The graphics and sound suit the game and compliment it in ev...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at GamingWorld X
As memorable as the games themselves were, equally memorable was the young protagonist Ryu Hayabusa. For a number of years Ryu was considered the ultimate ninja, blending not only realistic and eye-pleasing atheistic, but an intangible sense of just...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at GamersMark
enjoyable. The controls are responsive, including the camera once you get the hang of them. I recommend this game to all Xbox owners, and would recommend to anyone that is on the fence about purchasing an Xbox to finally go out and do so. Ninja Gaiden is ...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Talk Xbox
Not only does this Xbox-exclusive offer blazing action, mind-numbing visuals, and some of the most fluid combat you’re likely to see this year, Team Ninja has buried the original three Ninja Gaiden NES games, taunting you to play and replay this game...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Game Chronicles
But, the real fun comes from flipping off of walls and (taking a page out of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time) wall running to get to areas normally unreachable (or to perform insanely cool fight combos). My personal favorite is starting to wall run, j...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at XboxAddict
Complaints aside, Ninja Gaiden is a great taste of old school, hardcore gaming wrapped in a beautiful package with solid control and combat mechanics....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Game Over Online
The graphical intensity of the 3D environments is breathtaking....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Worth Playing
The weapon combos and gymnastic maneuvers make it one of the most graceful and strategic action games I’ve ever played thanks to some stellar A.I. and challenging gameplay. Combine that with outstanding level design, flawless graphics, and lots of...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Loaded Inc
From the classic stable of the Ninja Gaiden series has emerged a new hero, and it has as much to do with the platform as it does with the game itself....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at GameZone
Drop dead gorgeous!! And I don’t mean the game gets better looking as you go along. I mean from the very second you are thrust into the action part of the game, you can immediately see the raw power of the Ninja Gaiden graphic engine....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Next Level Gaming
Bottom line is once you get used to the difficulty of NG you’ll enjoy it for the challenge it offers and the cool factor the entire game incorporates....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at VGPub
From start to finish, this game captivated me to no end and wowed me like few others have....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Game Informer
The few camera issues that you may have are merely teething troubles and will soon make way to pure unadulterated ninja killing with style and flair. This game has Xbox classic written all over it....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at MS Xbox World
Quicksilver pacing, white-knuckle tension, and spit-shined effects put Gaiden among the most remarkable action games ever made, but it's every bit as hardcore....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Electronic Gaming Monthly
Fighting is one core element of Ninja Gaiden and you will need to perfect your style early on. You can use both offensive and defensive moves and a practiced measure of the two will get you through most fights. Ryu is amazingly versatile and using his...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Contact Music
Often, bizarre neo-fantasy elements thrown into the mix to keep things fresh. Ninjas of gaming years gone by were known to exist in worlds where Ancient Japan co-existed with futuristic techno-cities floating in the sky. They would ride jet-propelled...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Entertainment Depot
It is beautiful, challenging, rewarding and fun. It’s a game that you could play through several times just for the hell of it, and that’s before you actively try going after the many, very cool extras. It is a game that encompasses your thoughts in...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Xbox Advanced
Aside from the camera issues I’d say that Ninja Gaiden is everything that I could have hoped for in an action game. It’s got intense action, a deep and varied combat system, lush visuals and the overall challenge that I had been waiting for....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Gaming Nexus
This grandpappy of games blew me away and captivated me! To this day, I still remember pressing start and being drawn into this world. A world of boxing bad guys from the first level, cross throwing reapers from the second, or those annoying eagles and...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at XBox Exclusive
Don't expect any mercy from the game's variety of fast, ruthless enemies....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at GameSpot
Who needs stealth when you can decapitate any fool in your way? The hype is realized....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at IGN
There aren't many action/adventure games that can compete with Ninja Gaiden. In fact, it may be the best game of all time in that genre....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at XGP Gaming
Yes, the camera can be very annoying and the game is unquestionably difficult and at times frustrating, but the whole is much better than the sum of its parts. It’s rare for an action game to get better the longer you play it....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Game Revolution
Unfortunately, for those looking for a continued storyline – Irene is nowhere to be found. Ninja Gaiden stands alone within the Hayabusa universe. The Hayabusa Clan, the Dragon Sword, its evil twin the Dark Dragon Sword, and the Shadow Clan (although...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Game Helper
NG is a game built by the guys who did the Dead or Alive fighting series, and it shows in the depth of Ryu's moves and combos. You can run and jump off walls (like Prince of Persia), swing on posts, jump off an enemy's head while coming back to hit him...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Lawrence
By far the most beautiful game on the Xbox. I'd go so far as to say it is the best looking title on any system....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at GamingTrend
Onto the game itself, which plays a lot like the new Devil May Cry type genre, with the added difficulty of a sometimes annoying camera. If there is one complaint with the game, it is that the camera takes a while to get used to, and that it at times...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Digital Entertainment News
Behind me, suddenly and at first very quiet, the sound of certain death steps up to me. Without turning around I prepare myself, firmly strap my ninja-suit and I close my eyes. My fingers stretch around the black handle of my old friend and with one jump...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Frag Land
slight camera frustration. Ninja Gaiden is Xbox Live compatible, allowing you to participate in a global Master Ninja Tournament that pits your character one-on-one against other players from around the world. There are other unlockables as well, includi...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at WHAM! Gaming
You play as super ninja Ryu Hayabusa, who has spent his entire life in a secluded village protecting the evil Dark Dragon Blade – the evil powers of which could destroy the entire world. Naturally, this nifty looking blade has captured the attention of...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Gamer Within
Ryu’s power attacks look phenomenal when used properly; he is a one man killing machine, pure and simple. In addition to his basic moves, as the game progresses Ryu learns counter attacks, better combo attacks, the use of different weapons, and certain...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Game Info Wire
It's just unfortunate, though, that the camera mars a game that is so brilliant and tops everything else in the action/beat 'em up genre in so many ways. Ninja Gaiden is a landmark title that's better than anything similar you'll find, but it also serves...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at 1UP
No other game manages to deliver on the potential of controlling a ninja with this much flair and authority - it is, no bullshit, one of the finest action games ever made. Sever my spinal cord if I'm lying....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Eurogamer
The combat system is deep, varied and insanely addictive thanks to dozens of fantastic techniques and plenty of memorable enemies. The adventure is superb and the number of collectibles and hidden items keep the gameplay fresh....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Adrenaline Vault
Ninja Gaiden's plot is some rather generic nonsense about black dragons, sacred swords, and ancient enemies. But who wants to hear about that? Ninja games are all about combat, flashy weapons, and flying limbs. Gaiden has all that in spades. Given a...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Yahoo! Games
I was, admittedly, only ten, and my Atari ST was just about in need of its twelfth joystick in two years, but the game was just one step beyond my reflexes and patience. A similar thing happened recently with Ikaruga - I kept going back, but the game was...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Pro-G
captured and suitably fluid. Ryu is a ninja, and he certainly moves like one. Each of his many weapons features a completely different set of animations and an amazing attention to detail. The enemies are equally detailed with fluid animations and an even...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at PALGN
are shades of platform puzzling; you’ll navigate huge, overlapping maps in each level, backtracking to unlock doors or upgrade your weapons with the blacksmith. But the action never flags. You’ll encounter meatier and meatier varieties of enemie...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Village Voice
Indeed, everything from the boss conflicts to a fight with a lowly ninja or foul creature will have you blocking and rolling about as if your life depended on it (and guess what, it does) such is the relentless nature of their attacks. It's rare to see...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Console Obsession
Well, this one's rated M. Can't get around it. You spend all your time running around slashing things in increasingly cool ways, leavened only by breaking and entering and stealing important-looking stuff with cryptic names. Such is the life of an...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at GamerDad
First Knights of the Old Republic, and now this?? What a time to be alive! For Xbox owners at least. Allow me to introduce the latest and greatest offering from Tecmo and Team Ninja. Can you say "the greatest action game ever made"?
After playing Ninja...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at My Gamer
Virtually anyone who was around during the reign of the NES will remember the original Ninja Gaiden trilogy and have warm, fuzzy nostalgic memories of the adventures of ninja Ryu Hayabusa. First incepted as an arcade beat-em-up, the NES version was a...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Videogame City
This game is extremely difficult -have no illusions about that- but it’s great fun to play and this, combined with amazing graphics and great sound, make this an essential purchase....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Xequted
There is little to nothing wrong with the gameplay. The storyline begins with Ryu, a member of the Dragon Lineage, who has the job to protect the evil dark dragon blade at all costs. Well, of course, this weapon is stolen and Ryu’s hamlet is set to...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Game XC
Graphics are top-notch, with highly detailed characters and environments, and a clever third-person "camera" that follows Ryu during battles, exploration and puzzle-solving....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Cincinnati Enquirer
Other than the odd time that the camera misbehaves on you, Ninja Gaiden is without a doubt going to be in the running for game of the year....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at GameShark
An amazing game whose play hearkens back to the vintage days of gaming, though not without a few hindrances. With beautiful graphics, animations, sound effects, and controls, this game is a must play for any gamer....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Netjak
Thankfully, I was wrong, as Ninja Gaiden is not only a great looking game, but it also plays extremely well. I guess Tecmo put down an ultimatum that Itagaki and his Team Ninja crew would be looking for jobs if they destroyed the Ninja Gaiden series,...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Games are Fun
Visuals also take the cake, the game looks absolutely beautiful. Watching a good player control Ryu is simply stunning. Each character has a distinct look. Environments are amazing. From the lit streets leading to Han’s Bar to the grimy, miserable...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at DreamStation.cc
"So how does this remake fair in this age of save games and 'advanced' AI?" You might ask? Well, it's a very hard game (at first anyway) and by that I mean even on Normal Mode this will turn even the most hardened gamer to mush, you might even throw the...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at NZGamer
Ultimately, Tecmo have created a game that recreates, and in a none too shallow way, the martial arts action movie experience....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Boomtown
It will frustrate you. It's unrelenting, but you’ll keep coming back for more, not just for the challenge itself, but for the hidden treasures that lie within....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at RewiredMind
Tecmo's Ninja Gaiden series, which began as an arcade game in 1988, makes its long-awaited transition to 3D as an Xbox exclusive. Players guide master ninja Ryu Hayabusa (who made his Xbox debut as a playable fighter in Dead or Alive 3) through a variety...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at AllGame
Throws in some streamlined role-playing elements such as basic item gathering and earning experience points. But you’d never mistake NG for a role-playing game because most role-playing games don’t require the reflexes of a mongoose....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Armchair Empire
My biggest criticism of NG is the placement of the save points, especially before bosses....read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Ferrago
In preparation for the new Ninja Gaiden game on Xbox, I popped Ninja Gaiden and Ninja Gaiden II into my NES and tried to finally beat the games that had constantly frustrated me as a child. "2D games were hard," I told my roommate. "Nowadays, all games...read the complete Ninja Gaiden review at Jive Magazine
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