Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 (PlayStation 3)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 4.0 stars Excellent
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 8.5 (4.0 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Kevin VanOrd
• Reviewed on: 09/30/2009
• Released on: 09/29/2009
• Originally published on GameSpot: Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 (PlayStation 3) Review

Chopping up fiends in the Ninja Gaiden series is inherently satisfying; chopping up fiends with a friend is even better. That's the idea behind Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, the enhanced release of the original Xbox 360 action game on the PlayStation 3. Mind you, not every addition in this new version is an important one. Was anyone truly begging for the ability to jiggle the female leads' enormous breasts using the Sixaxis motion functionality? (Or at least, anyone in his right mind?) But pointless new mechanics aside, Sigma 2 adds three new excellent single-player levels to the campaign featuring three different heroines, each of which is terrific fun to control. Even better, you can join another player online in a substantial number of cooperative arenas, where you'll find double the flash and double the entertainment. This version of Ninja Gaiden II is notably better, and it offers enough extra content that even those who have already played and enjoyed the initial release should consider adding it to their game libraries.

6230467Fewer flying limbs doesn't make decapitating ninjas with Momiji any less fun.>None

If you aren't familiar with Ninja Gaiden II, you can check out GameSpot's review of the Xbox 360 game here. Most of that game's delights and idiosyncrasies hold true in Sigma 2--incredibly satisfying finishing moves, difficult (and rewarding) boss fights, and a camera that might send you into occasional fits. If you played that game, don't expect to find every frustration and foible addressed. The camera oddities are on full display during a level featuring returning heroine Rachel (the buxom beauty from Ninja Gaiden Sigma), and while the visuals have been improved, many environments still look sterile, as if a sanitation crew has buffed everything clean and removed all superfluous objects. Yet while certain fundamentals have gone untouched, others have received clear attention. The liberal sprinkling of cherry blossoms and greater color saturation in the more idyllic locales make these areas look more vibrant, and the new cutscenes are great and mesh well with the existing ones. Some players may also find the diminished gore and less gruesome de-limbing to be noteworthy changes, though the action is so loud and lively that the limited bloodletting has little if any effect on the satisfaction of battle. Overall, this version clearly looks better, though it isn't devoid of quirks, such as occasional but noticeable screen tearing.

The other additions are far more pronounced. The aforementioned Rachel is joined by two other heroines, and each member of the trio has an entire level dedicated to her. These levels aren't noteworthy on their own; all three occur in Ninja Gaiden's typically disinfected environments, throw hordes of meanies at you, and conclude with surprisingly easy battles against big, blustery bosses. Yet while the levels are otherwise standard for the series, the characters are a total blast to play. Ayane, a character familiar to both Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive fans, is fast and agile. You'll use her dual blades to slice up giant winged demons while the butterfly bow on the back of her outfit flutters about. Momiji, protector of the Hyabusa children, isn't quite as agile as Ayane, but using her naginata to impale Black Spider members is pure pleasure. And then there's Rachel, whose figure is so impossibly curvaceous that it is a wonder she can stand upright, let alone wield her heavy hammer with such aplomb. She attacks more slowly than the other two women--more slowly than Ryu, the game's main protagonist, in fact--but while her moves are more deliberate, they pack a hearty punch. These three short levels occur within the main campaign and provide an excellent change of pace, because these characters play so differently from Ryu. And you can revisit each of the game's 17 levels in Chapter Challenge mode, which will score you based on your performance and hold your tail-kicking prowess up for all to see via online leaderboards.

These three lovely ladies aren't the only characters offering gifts: Ryu's levels have been tweaked as well. You'll encounter new fiends and new bosses, such as the first level's twice-encountered monstrosity. They're mostly great additions, though even in the context of the usually tough Ninja Gaiden challenge, a fight against a famous looming landmark is more unfair than you'd want it to be. On the other hand, Ninja Gaiden II's lesser bosses have been jettisoned or improved (remember that cheap explosion at the end of the armadillo fight? Gone!), and there are fewer enemies onscreen at any given time, though the enemies themselves seem better at dodging and countering. A few other additions enhance playability: improved aiming makes the bow easier to use, and if you're unsure where to go, you can hold R1 to get pointed in the right direction. Additionally, Ninja Gaiden II's frustrating projectile barrages have been minimized, which is a noteworthy change.

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