Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Review: Ninja Action You Won’t Believe

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When you think of ninjas, probably the first thing that comes to mind is their covered faces and their ability to perform a range of martial arts, and use an array of different weapons. Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is full hack-and-slash ninja action with loads of special moves and scores of bad guys and “fiends” to slay. The game is for Sony’s PS3 console and delivers hours over hours of immersive ninja action, you probably won’t find anywhere else.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is the redefined version of Ninja Gaiden 2 which was released only for the Xbox 360 in June 2008. Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is developed by the renowned Team Ninja and is published for the PS3 by Tecmo. And it’s been about time that the game made its way over to the PS3 platform.

The game starts off with an incredible sequence during which CIA Agent Sonia gets captured by the Black Spider Ninja Clan, and at the time you have no idea what is in store for you in the course of the next seventeen chapters. Ryu Hayabusa, the son of Joe Hayabusa, leader of the Dragon Ninja, is the game’s main character, and most of the time you are playing as Ryu. But for a few chapters you get to step into the shoes of three female warriors, who are as lethal with their weapons, as they are as gorgeous and delicate-looking, each with their own characteristic moves and weapons, and spells.

After the campaign part of the game has given you your fill of ninja related things, you can always indulge in some different kind of action. You can fight different types of enemies along with a partner and even record the entire battle in the form of a small clip which is just a few hundred kb, but retains all the video quality as when playing the game.

The graphics in the game are really eye-catching, and every little detail stands out. Even parts of the environment which you will never be able to explore appear to move slowly in the distance. But most of all, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2′s graphics never get in the way, and ease the player into the role of the ninja. The lightening quick moves and counters are beautiful. Game graphics receives a strong 9.3 out of 10.

Gameplay in Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is pretty immersive, and once you sit down to play the game, you will never want to turn off the console. The enemies it throws up and the moves and combos you can perform will not let you give up on the game. You just can’t seem to say, “Phew! That’s enough. I’ll continue playing some other day.” You have to attack a few more fiends, kill just a few more ghastly, but amazing creatures and see where the story takes you next. Totally immersive gameplay coupled with stunning moves and combos performed, almost defying gravity and every other rule of physics, help the gameplay achieve its 8.9 on 10 rating.

While you can get a little tired of running everywhere the game makes sure you never run too long or too far without encountering some type of enemy. And some of the enemies in the game are just larger than life, and nothing that any ninja, real or virtual, should ever be putting themselves up against. Ranging from other ninjas wielding weapons, to ninja wolves, to gigantic demonoid creatures, the foes in the game never cease to amaze. Something lacking though is boss ‘back talk’, a short while before they are completely killed off, like that in Capcom’s 2009 game Bionic Commando.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 features a well balanced story, throwing in elements of danger, excitement, shock, and stunning “I can’t believe I’m gonna fight that!” action. Never getting boring or predictable enough to get boring, the game’s story is the underlying factor that keeps you glued to your PS3 console. It has that ninja element sown into its fabric, which is stained with the blood of your fallen opponents. The game story does take things to a bit of stretch, throwing you into the underworld where you must fight the very fiends you dispatched from the earth. Only now, they are stronger and quicker. It receives 8.2 out of 10.

The environments in Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 are constructed for a purpose, whether it is to keep you out of a certain zone or in one. You can perform spectacular acrobatic moves to navigate the environments and to dodge your opponents’ attacks. And hidden in the environments are the points which can be used to buy items. Decimate fruit baskets or lanterns in the environment to collect a few extra points. And even though the game environments are constructed to keep you following a certain pre-determined path, they receive a well-earned 9.2 out of 10.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 offers great replayability value. In fact, the game seems to have been designed not to end just because you’ve finished defeating the Arch Fiend, the fiend of all fiends, although it is not as difficult to defeat than it should be, considering it is the Arch Fiend. After you’ve completed the main “campaign” in the game, you can play the individual chapters in any order you wish. And you can do so with the equipment received and the unlocked costumes. Replayability gets a hearty 9.6 on 10.

The Final Word: Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is an awesome game which always keeps you right at the heart of the action. The game can always be replayed on a higher difficulty setting, and enjoyed each time. A great game which gives you your value for money and which will provide hours and hours of hack and slash ninja action.

Graphics: 9.3/10.
Gameplay: 8.9/10.
Story: 8.2/10.
Environments: 9.2/10.
Replayability: 9.6/10.
Overall (not an average): 8.7/10.