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Wholy sh** they heard me complaining!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: September 22, 2005
Author: Amazon User

A dificulty setting!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you. I did feal like a little girl for wanting an "easy" setting, but then I noticed a lot of people did as well. Now you can enjoy the story that you heard so much about, and not need to spend hours on the game. Even if you were one of the people that could beat the game originaly, there is enough new content to make the small $30 bucks be worth the moo-lah.
New content is available(It's not a completly new game with a new story or anything, just some new stuff added), and just check out that price! Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go clean out my pants.

Difficult in a fair way

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: September 23, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Those of you who have been gaming since the Atari/NES era, think back to what games were like back then. Generally speaking, the side scrollers were difficult affairs...requiring you to practice for weeks and weeks on end, chipping away and learning each level and enemy movement pattern. It took some work, but finally clearing a seemingly impossible level just felt so gratifying.

Enter Ninja Gaiden Black for the Xbox. Despite being in 3D with the usual next-gen eye candy, Team Ninja has somehow made this game play like the old 8 and 16 bit action classics of yesteryear. That said, they make no apologies as to the game's difficulty. It's hard, yes, but never really in a cheap way. Observe and experiment and you'll no doubt see that a solution is always at hand to clear any given situation. In essence, Ryu is the ultimate defensive master so use the block command often.

Ninja Gaiden Black is a worthwhile addition to anyone's Xbox collection. Those who own or have played the first NG installment may have some of the extras unlocked from the get go. Those new to the series are in for a battle as just the main game is available to them at first with other stuff (like the new mission modes and arcade version of NG) being unlocked when certain conditions are met. Either way, there's lots here to keep you playing for weeks if not months and the price is more than reasonable. Give it a shot.

One of the greatest action games got greater

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 24 / 31
Date: September 24, 2005
Author: Amazon User

If you played the original and beat it a number of times like me. Then as soon as you pop this in from the jump off you gon' tell the difference. First off; everything is almost the same for the most part. The controls are better but the graphics and voice acting is the same. Now the controls, remember when you went for the flying head slice and sometimes you would neck throw the enemy? Well that's gone. you can slice there heads off at will and toss them at will, just by pressing one extra button. Now the overall difference between the games. Normal mode is pretty much the same, except the enemies seemed more aggressive and faster(to me).
Also a couple of weapons has been added. The lunar; which happens to be a stick that can be upgraded just as the sword, and damn what a great addition because it is fun to use, plus you get it in the beginning of the game which is really cool because a weapon that fun should'nt have to be unlocked at the end. Also a smoke bomb has been added to disorient the enemies, if used at the right time. Doku's weapon which you acquire later by beating Doku, no longer drains your health when being used, plus that also can be upgraded.
Now for the brand new additions. The new missions mode which you unlock by beating the game is hard as hell. Your put in stages with a set amount of health and weapons, and just have to live through it. I can't tell you all the details because I haven't beat it yet. I also didn't unlock the original ninja gaiden for the arcade yet either, so I can't give you a heads up on that. But I can tell you about the hard mode for sure. If you looked up hard in the dictionary, I'm certain this game and mode will pop up. No exaggeration, I am a ninja gaiden vet, and I get f***** up in the first stage. All the enemies from the normal mode have been removed and replaced by the killing machines you see later in the game. There has also been new enemies with different abilities added to each stage. Just when you thought it could'nt get worst,it does. Tecmo was also kind enough, to add a coming attraction mode, for Dead or Alive 4, which has me salivating already, and movie mode. I saw where someone mentioned, there was an easy mode. I could'nt tell you about that, because I never play games on easy.
I'll close this review with this, I am as accurate as possible with this game. It is a very good game, if you like hard games. But if your the type that slams your control on the floor, or kicks your TV from dying a lot, this game is not for you. Diehard fans and those who are looking for a good challenge, are the ones who will enjoy this.

The Experience...........

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: September 24, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Ever since Team Ninja's mercurial Tomonobu Ithagaki stated that Ninja Gaiden would be the greatest and most challenging action game ever, his remarks were often scoffed as a desperate attempt to garner a few pages of publicity. However, once Ninja Gaiden was unleashed on the unsuspecting public, only one question keeps popping up - "Just how in God's name has Tecmo come up with this blinder ? Seriously, I wanna know !"

The answer lies somewhere in between. Team Ninja boasts frightening talent and has created fanatically popular action titles. They've had some pretty average stuff like DOA:Beach Volleyball so speculation was expected. But Ninja Gaiden was not some average franchise.If ever the classic 2D game was to be revitalised, it had to be done so in all its 3D visual glory, coupled with never before seen action. At the helm of this impossible hope was Ithagaki. In the course of developing the game, he had only one command. 'Quality'.

And quality it certainly was. Ninja Gaiden, simply put, is the most visceral, frenetic and challenging action game made to date. Coupled with spectacular graphics and an eclectic soundtrack, gamers around the world just couldn't get enough of Ryu Hayabusa. But Tecmo didn't create a game that was accessible to all. Hell no. If you are a casual gamer, you'll get roasted. The AI of your adversaries is spectacular, to say the least. Even at Normal mode, Ninja Gaiden makes sure that you put in your best effort to earn those well deserved rewards. Nothing is easy. Team Ninja took great risk in making the game overtly challenging. Despite the high production values that force most studios to play safe, they held to their principle of forcing the player to fight every inch of the way. And the risk paid off as Gaiden garnered critical acclaim and spawned an entire community of fanatical gaming freaks. And don't let me start about the full motion videos that get unlocked as you progress. They are of unmatched, unrivalled quality. Ninja Gaiden truly is an amazing accomplishment.

And after a year of gasping breath, Tecmo has unleashed its greatest game edition called Ninja Gaiden Black. And for a price of 29.99$, the more pertinent question to be asked is, "Is it worth it?". The answer, is an absolute YES!.

Black has the same content of the original and much more. Apart from the identical story progression, Black has four extra unique standouts - Ninja Dog difficulty, Costume unlocks, Hurricane Packs and the Mission mode. Ninja Gaiden was criticed as being too tough for casual players, even on Normal mode. Ninja Dog mode bridges that problem but it isn't accessible directly. After a set number of successive deaths in Normal mode, the game asks you if you'd want to play on a lesser difficulty. If accepted, you'd have to face the igonimy of wearing a pink armband as a sign of submission to Ayane(another character from the DOA and NG universe). This is an amusing insult to your ego but at least you'll find the game much easier to complete. Completing the game in Normal or Dog mode will unlock higher difficulty modes that, safe to say, are just that....tough!. So refine those rusty moves of yours!.

As I mentioned above, costumes also get unlocked and there are around five of them, and all look great while the standout (Ashtar) is immensely cool. The ubiquitous Hurricane Packs, that originally could be downloaded through XBox Live, is now available directly from the menu. The unique Lunar staff is now freely available at the beginning of the game and the ultra cool Kitetsu is upgradeable and it doesn't drain your life either. The famous Intercept technique, that was introduced in the HPs, is now toned down to challenge the gamer a lot more. So that makes HPs, Hard and Very Hard difficulty much harder than the original. But hold on. If you thought that HP2 was tough, you haven't played Master Ninja mode. It seems that only one developer in Tecmo could complete it, albeit after many deaths, screams and a few broken controllers. And I can see why. The first section itself taught me humility. It is the toughest setting of this generation and even hardcore players (myself included) will be brought to their knees. I am in no mental or physical (read button-mashing) shape to play this difficulty, yet. But I will. It's my holy grail to perfection.

However, the highlight of the entire package is the Mission mode, which gets unlocked after the Very Hard mode (I believe). This is the real killer App in the game, wherein you get to face hordes of fiends displaced over 50 different scenarios. Each mission puts you in a unique locale with limited potions and weapons. Some either have just dozens of fiends feasting on you while others force you to complete the level with a particular weapon(s) only. The various locals from the original story form the setting for these missions so you'd naturally feel familiar with the environment if you played the game. But I wont say the same for the adversaries who are brutal, tough and fast. The levels progressively get harder and some have over 3 bosses (with minions) at the same time!. Talk about mercilessness by Tecmo. But that's what brings such fantastic replayability to Ninja Gaiden. You always improve. And just like in the HPs, you can upload your scores and get to boast at you less skilled brethren. Amen.

Along with the above mentioned additions, you are also treated to some more of the sensational minimatics that Tecmo is so good at. There is some story progression in these vids, but I wouldn't say much. It's glorious eye-candy, for sure. And coming to the graphics, do we really need to get to the specifics ?. Ninja Gaiden, being a year old, is still one of the best looking console games. Black simply refines the visuals by adding more polygons and sharpening the animation and body texture. The environments have been lovingly rendered and you'll always find subtle touches to each level that amplify their beauty. Level design is as always, brilliant. Next gen titles surely would look to the Gaiden franchise for inspiration. Gameplay is just as amazingly fluid and I find very little slow down even in the most intense battles. The combat also boasts the tightest response from your controller and it is real joy. The camera that got fixed in the HPs is the same here and w.r.t the blazingly fast combat, it does just fine. No complaints. The soundtrack is just as eclectic and it works really well as you progress deeper into the Gaiden universe. Overall, this is one complete game.

I can go on indefinitely, but you really must savour what this edition has brought forth yourself. Astonishingly, Ninja Gaiden Black seems to improve over the original in almost every way. Tecmo did not sit on their laurels and instead, gave us a game that will raise them to the pantheons of perfection. Ninja Gaiden Black IS perfect, in every conceivable way, right down to its price. No gamer worth his salt should forgo this experience. It is a game that is hard to replicate and even harder to master. But Tecmo has proven it can do both and the ultimate winner here is you and I. If you were overwhelmed by the original, turn around and buy this one. You will finally understand what makes Ninja Gaiden so special. I will sign off by saying that if there is any game that has redefined perfection, it is Ninja Gaiden Black. Enjoy and have a nice day.

My most favorite game !!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: September 27, 2005
Author: Amazon User

NG is my most favorite game among my other 20+ xbox games. It's insanely addictive, I've completed the original NG game three times at Normal, Hard and Very Hard levels. It's a game of action and strategy. The more you play, the better is your skills. Then you can strategize your action against your enemies' weakness (you can observe their pattern during fighting). I bought the NG Black yesterday and I had skipped my dinner already !!! I guess my message is if you are new to this game, don't be discouraged at the beginning, give it a try a few more minutes...you will definitely enjoy it later.

Ultimate action game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: September 28, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Coincidentally, my favorite game until now was Shinobi on PS2. This, however, definately tops it. The graphics sound and game play are among the best ever on the current console generation.

Difficulty is debatable. It's by far NOT an easy game. But it took me 4 months to beat Shinobi and here I am, half way through NGB in a week. (Normal difficulty)

I'm surprised to hear people complaining about restarting the level if you die (or was it like this in the previous version of NG?), as I felt that the developers were rather generous with save points throughout the game.

I'm new to XBOX, but this is the best game I've played so far, by a long shot.

Thinking Man's Action Game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: October 06, 2005
Author: Amazon User

In the vein of Devil May Cry 3 comes Ninja Gaiden Black. As difficult as DMC 3 may come at you sometimes, it pales in comparison to Ninja Gaiden Black. (Bear in mind that I never completed the original Ninja Gaiden on XBox on Normal, having been stopped at the military installation. However, I am progressing on Normal in Ninja Gaiden Black and have made it further (the Caverns) so far.) Ninja Gaiden is a thinking man's action game through and through. One must find the enemies' weaknesses and exploit them with some reflexes and an active brain. Given that you have ample weapons, magic, shurikens and projectiles, one can whittle away at your enemies. The graphics are spectacular as they were before. And the controls are better this time around with much more fluidity on Ryu Hyubasa's (the main character) part.

Ironically though, despite what people are saying the enemies are harder this time around, I find them easier (at least on Normal) than the previous installment.

Overall, this is a great game, but for a casual gamer, like me, this game will teach you persistence and patience. This game is not intended for the weak of heart or patience.

Unlabored Flawlessness.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: October 09, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Often called the "greatest action game ever," and not without reason, "Ninja Gaiden" on XBOX took all the classic action/platform standards of the 3rd-person 3D hack-and-slash and raised them to the nth level of perfection - and then raised the difficulty to near-ridiculous. The result was an incredibly beautiful game for the elite...lol. Unless you either had skills or were prepared to earn them, you were likely to get no further than the infamous Level 5 Incendiary Shuriken-hurling Black Ninjas.

Well guess what - now "Ninja Gaiden Black" is here, the last-minute XBOX remix that includes all the stuff that the developers weren't able to work in for the original release date, which was subsequently issued in "Hurricane Packs" on XBOX Live. Foremost among the immediately noticable improvements is the ability to toggle your right-thumbstick cam between the (basically stupid and useless) 1st-person frozen mode of the original game, and the more typical and much more handy 3rd-person free-rotating cam that lets you look all around Ryu as you move. When you're negotiating timed light-pathways with giant swinging pendulums flying at you, or lining up a series of tricky jumps in a cave, it's nice to be able to see where you're going. Another change from the original within the main game is the fact that you now get the Lunar in Hyabusa Villiage the first time around, which is pretty decent considering that the next comparable weapon you'd normally get would be the Dabilahro many Scarabs later.

But what will make a lot of people happy is that there are now 5 levels of difficulty, so if you get killed enough times to demonstrate that you can't handle yourself, you'll have the degrading option of playing as "Ninja Dog," which is easier but still by no means a cake-walk. On the other hand, if you're totally nuts or some kind of video game idiot savant, you can play as Master Ninja, and if you beat the game on that setting Tecmo should really have to pay for your carpal tunnel surgery and/or electro-shock. Personally I beat the game on the default setting and I feel like I deserve a damn cookie.

If you're willing to stick it out, it's more than worth it. I'll play a hard game if it's challenging as opposed to merely irritating (nothing is worse than when they try to stretch a short game by making it unforgivably difficult). "Ninja Gaiden" is a hard game, but it truly rewards acquired skill. Ryu's basic attacks with the Dragon Sword can be fairly devastating, but the combos with all the other kinds of weapons, not to mention the "NinPo" (Magic) attacks, all of which are upgradable, allow for a great deal of subtlety in the hands of a sophisticated video game dork, and you'll need to figure at least some of them out just to proceed. The upshot is that once you do, you'll feel like a real badass.

Not only that, but you've never seen a game that looks quite this consistently incredible. Every texture in every level is as perfect as the XBOX can deliver. It's so smooth and seamless that I almost feel like I'm previewing an early 360 game. The level design rehashes a lot of cliches, including "Fire" and "Ice" Caves, Tomb Raider-style sham-Egyptian temples, and the inevitable colossal Gothic Church with stained glass window - but when they do it better than it's ever been done, I'm not mad at 'em. As for enemies, the people who complain about the Ninjas might as well quit there, because the non-humans that follow aren't as nice, from the flesh-eating zombie giants to the floating spinal cord-scorpions with sickles to the dragons and worms and giant beetles and worst of all, those freaking parasitic flying ghost fish. The designs are original and well-executed, particularly the bosses (by the way, there are often 3 or 4 bosses in a level). If you're going to get killed a dozen times in a row, it might as well be at the hands of an awe-inspiring enemy in a jaw-dropping environment.

"Black" also includes 50 "all-new Missions," which are basically supplementary battles that take place in unique mini-levels. There are also various other unlockables including outfits and an emulation of the original arcade "Ninja Gaiden."

If you already have "Ninja Gaiden" and you've downloaded the Hurricane Packs etc, there's probably not much reason to buy "Black" even though it's got such a low sticker price, unless you're a truly avid fan. But this game has a lot of avid fans, myself included, so I went ahead and picked it up. If you don't have either yet, this is obviously the one to get, even this close to the advent of 360.

If you have the old one, consider before buying this !

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 5 / 34
Date: October 10, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Shortly : whatever features this game might have, you need to finish the whole game AGAIN to unlock them, since this game does not recognize the saved games from the old ninja gaiden.

Whomever gave it 5 stars rated this game like the previous one didn't exist ! From a stand-alone point, this game is probably a little bit better than the previous one, since Ryu has one more weapon and also there are some unlockables if you finish the game on normal.

But you might think twice before buying it, especially if you are a casual gamer and you don't want to play the old ninja gaiden again.

Once more, team ninja is giving the customers a hard time for no reason.

Frustrating as Hell!!

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 9 / 16
Date: October 17, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I forgot my password so I'm using this for now. I bought this game because I heard how difficult it was and because of the somewhat fair price. Now, I finished the original version on hard difficulty and just finished NG Black (Story mode) on hard as well. Yes! someone who beat this game! I spent way too many hours doing this though, and would not want to repeat it again. New to the game are the mission modes with new bosses/Ninja Gaiden arcade and easy-extreme difficulty settings . Other reviewers are not kidding, missions are insanely hard! You are given a set number of items and must survive an onslaught of minions or fight 2 boss characters at the same time!! I have only 2 missions left and don't think I'll beat them. There should be a difficulty setting for missions right off instead of forcing you to play on ultra hard to start off. The problem is every boss has an attack that if it hits you will kill you almost instantly, if not drain half your health. This sucks the fun factor right out if it's this unfair. Also new in this game are the pain in the a** powerful minions that are now around every corner and fighting alongside every boss character making you target them instead a lot of the time! One good thing is that now save points are closer to these boss fights. Another addition to the game are several encounters with a clone version of yourself that will use cheap juggles/Ninpo to kill you in one combo!! Just wait until you fight 2 of these at the same time in mission mode! Damn near impossible!! So several costumes as well as the Dark Dragon sword and Lunar staff are available/unlocked but I wish you could have played as some of the other characters in the game also. So unless you are a glutton for punishment or a ninja master you may want to think twice about getting this one!

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