Kotaku
Team Ninja's stab at bad-ass ninja action on the Nintendo DS has arrived, with Ryu Hayabusa and the demon ninja hordes he must defeat looking tinier than ever in Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword. The game is almost entirely controlled by simple stylus motions, using techniques that may already be familiar to DS gamers who have played The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. While the scope may be smaller, the team at Tecmo doesn't appear to have skimped on the production values.
The question is, however, can the white knuckle action of Team Ninja's Ninja Gaiden work on a handheld? We'll tell you what we loved and hated in the review.
Loved
Everything's under control: Controlling Ryu with the stylus works like a charm. Slide it for sword slashes, tap it for throwing shuriken and firing arrows, go nuts for Ultimate Technique action. The only button pressing you'll do is for blocking attacks. The d-pad tends to work best, but you can use any button you choose. Hayabusa does what you want, when you want (most of the time).
So pretty: Thanks to some expertly pre-rendered backgrounds, Dragon Sword may be one of the best looking games on the DS. It's obviously not as graphically resplendent as the console versions, but its not as hard on the eyes as other console-to-portable translations.
Sane save points: Team Ninja was nice enough to pack levels with save points that regenerate your health and ninpo. Dying is far less common than in the Xbox and PlayStation 3 versions of Ninja Gaiden, but when you do bite the dust, you'll do little in the way of retread.
Story? What Story? The game may lean toward brief, but part of the reason is that there's very little storytelling fat tacked on. Dragon Sword keeps the pace moving at a pretty good clip, with hand drawn cut scenes reminding you why you're killing scores of lesser ninja, fiends, and demon dogs.
Stellar sound: Familiar soundtrack notes and sound effects ring true, even through the DS speakers. Headphones are recommended, though.
Hated
Weak difficulty: Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword is intentionally easier than its console counterparts and Head Ninja mode is certainly more challenging, but boss fights border on dull. You'll revisit a handful of familiar fights, but you'll probably breeze right through them on your first or second try.
Endless hordes: While the boss fights aren't as traditionally challenging, you'll often face a hefty dose of fiends and ninja that take more patience than skill to dispatch. Respawning bad guys in certain rooms may just make you want to find the exit rather than slash slash slash.
Spikes: Those damn spikes... Ugh.
It may not have the visual flair of Ninja Gaiden Sigma or Ninja Gaiden II, but Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword is a solid addition to the series, if only for what Team Ninja has been able to accomplish with stylus control. It's not the bloody, busty ninja norm, but it's still a hell of a little action game. Its faults are minor, though some may balk at the shorter experience—it took me just over six hours to beat—and the good definitely outweighs the bad.
If you're a die hard Ninja Gaiden fan, don't miss it. For on-the-go gamers who typically stick to slower paced Nintendo DS fare like RPGs or adventure titles, definitely check it out, if only for the technical accomplishments. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Oh, and you may be a bit more animated playing your DS than your comfortable with in public but the path of the virtual ninja isn't for the easily embarrassed.
Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword was developed by Team Ninja, published by Tecmo and released on March 25 on Nintendo DS. Retails for $34.99. Played to completion on Normal difficulty for review.
Comments
Ive got a trip coming up in May...I will probably pick it up just before then.
What what what?
So... this game is good? Thats something I didn't expect. Now I'll have to go check it out.
Greatest review title ever!
The game did look interesting, but I'd like to see how it plays.
I am loving this game. So stellar. I agree with the weak sauce difficulty though. Fans of the Xbox/PS3 version will be breezing through normal.
Apparently a hard mode unlocks after the first playthrough, so I have hope that that provides more intense action for people like me.
@Komrade_Kayce:
Are you kidding? Everyone has been praising the hell out of this game before it even came out.
I bought a DS Lite once I heard this game was out. I've spent a couple hours on it already and I'm having a blast. Be nice if Team Ninja decides to make this a DS series and come up with another in a year or two.
Great review, Michael I heart you for this! I HEART YOU MICHAEL
I'm kind of digging the lower difficulty of Dragon Sword. The punishing learning curve of the Xbox version made me skip it despite the awesome graphics and gameplay. This game is much more enjoyable just for the fact that I'm not dying every five seconds.
@Tull:
Not to be rude, but I disagree, Team Ninja needs to put out the other games they have announced. They announced a couple of non Ninja Gaiden games over a year ago, and then went totally dark on anything but the Ninja Gaiden stuff.
I would love to see them put out both, but given a choice I would take a new IP over a sequel any day.
@Darth Navster: I think they went a bit too far in lowering the difficulty, but that's clearly a personal preference. Consider it mostly a warning to NG fans who were expecting more masochism.
I'm heading to NYC for a few days at the end of this week, think I might pop into a Gamestop and pick this up.
Question for Americans: Which high street store am I likely to get the best price for this? Would Walmart be cheaper? Dunno which stores I'll be around but I'd like to pick it up for as cheap as possible obviously. Mind you, anything is going to be cheaper than the $60 it'll cost here in the UK on release...
@excel_excel: SMILEY EMOTICON!
Apparently to get the traditional hard as fuck Ninja Gaiden experience, you need to play it on the harder difficulty you unlock after beating the game the first once.
@Rubix42:
Then you'll be happy to hear about this. Team Ninja has a new IP called Project Progressive. Not much is known about it other than that it'll use the same combat engine Ninja Gaiden uses. I want it already.
@Kazzahdrane: It will most likely be $34.99 across the board, but Target, WalMart and Toys R Us will probably be your best bet for finding it in stock. I would check the weekly ads online for each, just in case someone's running a deal.
@Rubix42: I'm all for new IP. From what I could tell the time from announcement of this game last year to release was quite short. Plus, one has to factor in that this was the first time they were working with the DS. With Phoenix Wright and other series on the DS coming out less than a year from the previous release I think TN could figure out a way to continue the series on the DS and still release both NG, DOA and new IP.
picking up mine tomorrow, I pre-ordered but had classes last night and tonight. Damn EB with their closing before 11...drive them slaves!!!
@Michael McWhertor:
No deals to be had on this one. Pretty much $35 everywhere right now. Believe me, I've checked because I have a really difficult time paying $35 for a DS game.
That article headline make me want to quit work right now to go buy a DS and that game! That should have been the title of the game.
"Tap that Assassin" = Win
Good deal, thanks for the review! I was planning on picking this up later (I already got my katana stylus). Six hours isn't very long, but I'm actually ok with that length for a handheld. I'm not a huge fan of respawning enemies, though ... so, I'll probably race through those rooms, too :D
Yes I can't believe people are surprised that this game is good. Team Ninja rarely puts out crap and if you have been keeping up with its progress you'd know.
Awesome review title.
And I agree with the review based on the demo I played.
@jayntampa: I think I just happened to burn through it quicker than others may. I didn't spend any time unlocking the prizes and sped through as quickly as I could to make sure the review was ready.
I picked this up last night, and its a really fun game.
best part of the game is when your on the bus, and you realize you need to "MINI SPOILER" yell to wake up the Muramasa
Aww yeah baby... back that assassin up.
You can unlock a harder difficulty when you beat the Normal mode... it is actually pretty hard. I think there is a third unlockable difficulty as well. So the 6 hour length is pretty good because you play through it a lot.
@Tull:
That's funny, this was actually the game that put the DS over the top for me. Sure there were a ton of other games I missed (can't go wrong with Ninty 1st parties most of the time). But this sealed my recently purchased DS deal, now though I'm catching up on all the games I missed!
I must say DS is really heavy with RPGS and RTS games, not that I mind, but dang!
@FunKrusher: Now that I can't use the "I don't own a DS" excuse I will have to see how the Warhammer 40k squad game for the DS looks like and maybe even give those Phoenix Wright titles a try.
This game is really, really fun. Most of the good stuff from NG with a little less bone-crushing challenge for those of us who aren't uber-skilled ;)
@DaiMacculate: That's good to hear ... it'll be nice to play a game without a stream of expletives flowing from my mouth. For some reason, I have less patience for handheld games having too high a level of difficulty.
So when I heard Itagaki say that controls on NG:DS were going to put everyone else to shame, I figured that was his ego talking. But my impression from every review I've read is that he was basically right? This, to me, is utterly mindblowing. If Team Ninja can nail touchscreen controls on their first try, what the hell is everyone else doing?
When did six hours become short for a portable game? >.>;
Kotaku reviews are awesome! I want to pick up this game so bad.
@shimage: I remember how people started laughing and calling the leather-jacketed one as crazy, or at the very least talking out of his ass about his games being the best, but his team does seem to pull off what he brags about.
I'm about half through and have to say this review is spot-on with what I've played so far. I am elated to see such fare hit the DS, though. I almost wish everyone would buy a copy.
Yeah, like they did for Ninja Gaiden 2, there should be a casual and hardcore difficultly to start off with...
They should really bring a Ninja Gaiden to the Wii. No waggle, but more No More Heroes-esque slashing action.
They took out the ta-tas?
Though I do agree with all of the downsides, it should be mentioned that these are mere trifles compared to the amount of pure, liquid awesome the managed to cram into the cartridge.
@eastx:
The ta-tas are less prominent, although Ishtaros and Nicchae are waving their nipple-less boobs in your face. Hell, Ishtaros has a thong that's made of entirely out of a tattoo. Also, Momiji shows some cleavage. Now I'm wondering if she'll be in the next DoA or DoAX.
Ah, thanks for that. Team Ninja girls never have nipples since DOA 2 though, do they?
@KM91: Ninja Gaiden + Suplexes?
@Mricci424: Talking into the mic isn't necessary. A quick, sharp breath will also do the trick.
Really lovin' this game, despite a hit to difficulty. I actually think it's still quite hard going for UTs and Karma... or maybe I just haven't gotten the new mechanics down yet. Touch screen controls are definitely sex, anyway.
Got it today and just damn... it is bloody brillant. There are so many times at the start of an area that you just want to bad guys to not come so you can admire the amazing hand drawn backgrounds.
Plus controls are great as well, only wish there was a little more variety in the moves, as far as I can tell, there is only a small set of moves you can do, which has already started to feel a little stale.
@Mricci424: If it's anything like other DS games that tell you to "yell," then blowing into the mic should work just fine. Perfect in public.
Ninja Gaiden DS is a stellar addition to the DS library, and kicks Assassin's Creed DS out of the water in so many ways.
Ive been waiting for this game since i played the demo dl from gamestop like 2 months ago....FINALLY got it, and it doesnt disappoint. Its shortcomings are trifles i assure all who havent bought this title yet. Its length and difficulty are optimum for on the go, and if you have the chance to plug it in to a stereo system like those subwoofer chairs--do it, its like your first time all over again...
Comment on this post
Reply by EmailLogin with your username and password below. Or comment on this post via email.
Forgot your username or password? New User?