{"id":205440,"date":"2021-03-01T20:30:43","date_gmt":"2021-03-01T20:30:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gamerant.com\/ninja-gaiden-games-consoles\/"},"modified":"2021-03-01T20:30:43","modified_gmt":"2021-03-01T20:30:43","slug":"every-ninja-gaiden-game-the-consoles-they-can-be-played-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/2021\/03\/01\/every-ninja-gaiden-game-the-consoles-they-can-be-played-on\/","title":{"rendered":"Every Ninja Gaiden Game (& The Consoles They Can Be Played On)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In a Nintendo Direct held during February 2021, Koei Tecmo revealed the\u00a0Ninja Gaiden<\/a>: Master Collection<\/em>. Announced for PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One, this package will include remastered versions of\u00a0Ninja Gaiden Sigma<\/em>,\u00a0Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2<\/em>, and\u00a0Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge<\/em><\/a>. Due to the PS5 and Xbox Series X\/S’s backward compatibility, this trilogy will also run on Microsoft and Sony’s most recent systems.<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0The 10 Best Martial Artists In Video Game History<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

This announcement follows more than half a decade of non-activity for the iconic license,<\/a> a franchise that has existed in some form since 1988. While most people are presumably familiar with Team Ninja’s modern range of games,\u00a0Ninja Gaiden<\/em>‘s resume is far more expansive (and confusing) than just those titles. In preparation for the\u00a0Master Collection<\/em>, let’s take a look at all the\u00a0Ninja Gaiden\u00a0<\/em>games and on which systems they can be played.<\/p>\n

14 <\/span>Ninja Gaiden (1988) \u2013 Arcade, Computer Systems, Xbox, Wii, Switch, PS4<\/h2>\n
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Like so many ’80s games, Ninja Gaiden<\/em> made its debut in arcades, albeit it took on a substantially different form from the one that would define the license on consoles. This release is a side-scrolling beat-’em-up\u00a0and can practically be viewed as a completely separate entity\u00a0to\u00a0the rest of the franchise.<\/p>\n

While a competent game for its time,\u00a0Ninja Gaiden\u00a0<\/em>does fall short of the beat-’em-up genre’s greatest releases<\/a>. That said, it is still decent and has been ported to numerous systems over the years.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer:\u00a0<\/strong>Mobile games and crossovers will not be considered.<\/p>\n

13 <\/span>Ninja Gaiden (1988) \u2013 NES, TurboGrafx-16, SNES, Wii, 3DS, Wii U, NES Classic, Switch<\/h2>\n
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A stoic ninja named Ryu Hayabusa, a world-threatening plot featuring demons, and controller-smashing difficulty; yes, this is\u00a0Ninja Gaiden<\/em>. Marking the proper start to the license’s legacy,\u00a0Ninja Gaiden\u00a0<\/em>is a cinematic platformer that places a heavy emphasis on combat and story. While the latter is pretty ridiculous,\u00a0Ninja Gaiden<\/em>‘s earnest tone and effective presentation manage to sell the plot well. While prone to instigating bouts of frustration, the gameplay is rewarding and tight.<\/p>\n

Ninja<\/em> Gaiden<\/em>‘s blueprint\u00a0<\/em>would be improved upon in subsequent releases, but this is still a classic NES title.<\/p>\n

12 <\/span>Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos (1990) \u2013 NES, SNES, MS-DOS, Amiga, Wii, 3DS, Wii U<\/h2>\n
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Ultimately,\u00a0Ninja Gaiden II\u00a0<\/em>delivers more of the same, but it refines the formula just enough to surpass its predecessor. With a few new moves at his disposal and\u00a0seven\u00a0acts with multiple stages to go through, Ryu is put through the wringer once again.<\/p>\n

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The sequel is just as difficult as the original\u00a0Ninja Gaiden<\/em>, but it also controls as well as the first game. By combining these two,\u00a0The Dark Sword of Chaos\u00a0<\/em>creates a loop where failure acts as an infinite incentive to pursue victory\u00a0even more ferociously.<\/p>\n

11 <\/span>Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom (1991) \u2013 NES, SNES, Atari Lynx, Wii, 3DS, Wii U<\/h2>\n
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While not the most controversial third entry in the franchise,\u00a0Ninja Gaiden III\u00a0<\/em>does struggle to reach the same heights as the previous two games. By this point,\u00a0Ninja Gaiden\u00a0<\/em>had become\u00a0synonymous with excruciatingly tough games, a reputation that\u00a0The Ancient Ship of Doom\u00a0<\/em>tries\u00a0too hard to uphold.<\/p>\n

Ninja Gaiden III\u00a0<\/em>still plays well and looks great, but its level design is a bit messy. The North American version was also pointlessly made more difficult, a stunt that only served to lessen the game’s impact.<\/p>\n

10 <\/span>Ninja Gaiden (1991) \u2013 Game Gear<\/h2>\n
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Despite what its simple name might imply, this\u00a0Ninja Gaiden\u00a0<\/em>is not a port of the 1988 original game but an entirely new release designed specifically for Sega’s Game Gear. As far as portable entries in the series are concerned,\u00a0Ninja Gaiden\u00a0<\/em>serves as\u00a0a respectable attempt at recreating the magic of the home console titles.<\/p>\n

While a worthy addition to the Game Gear’s catalog,\u00a0Ninja Gaiden\u00a0<\/em>is still a minor release in the license’s history.<\/p>\n

9 <\/span>Ninja Gaiden Shadow (1991) \u2013 Game Boy<\/h2>\n
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The Game Boy\u00a0got its own\u00a0Ninja Gaiden\u00a0<\/em>game, albeit\u00a0Shadow\u00a0<\/em>is\u00a0generally believed to be based on 1990’s\u00a0Shadow of the Ninja<\/em>. Regardless of its origin,\u00a0when viewed on its own,\u00a0Ninja Gaiden Shadow\u00a0<\/em>does not do much to impress.<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a010 Things You Didn’t Know About The Nintendo Game Boy<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

An early Game Boy release, Shadow\u00a0<\/em>provides some entertainment as it delivers a barebones shinobi-themed adventure. The portable system has plenty of games that are superior to this throwaway release, and there is very little reason to revisit this title in the 21st century.<\/p>\n

8 <\/span>Ninja Gaiden (1992) \u2013 Master System<\/h2>\n
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Adding to the confusion is another release called\u00a0Ninja Gaiden<\/em> that has nothing to do with the NES or Game Gear titles. Created for the Master System,\u00a0Ninja Gaiden\u00a0<\/em>swaps out a few moves, weapons, and abilities but is largely reminiscent of the NES games.<\/p>\n

With this package, Sega fans got an above-average Ninja Gaiden\u00a0<\/em>experience, one that succeeds in being\u00a0an adequate but not extraordinary alternative to the superior Nintendo releases. A beat-’em-up Ninja Gaiden\u00a0<\/em>game was also planned for the Genesis but it was ultimately canceled.<\/p>\n

7 <\/span>Ninja Gaiden (2004) \u2013 Xbox; Black (2005) \u2013 Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X\/S<\/h2>\n
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With the exception of\u00a0Ninja Gaiden X\u00a0<\/em>coming out for mobile devices in Japan, Tecmo’s property\u00a0<\/em>made its full comeback with 2004’s\u00a0Ninja Gaiden<\/em>. Originally released on the Xbox, the game was then revamped as 2005’s\u00a0Ninja Gaiden Black<\/em>, a game that can be played on all Xbox systems.<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0The 10 Original Xbox Hidden Gems Everyone Missed<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Generally considered to be the best\u00a0Ninja Gaiden\u00a0<\/em>game ever,\u00a0Black\u00a0<\/em>stands alongside\u00a0Devil May Cry\u00a0<\/em>as the two most important\u00a0third-person hack and slash releases ever. Team Ninja delivered a perfect action game; one that offers complex combat, challenging but fair enemies, great visuals, and fantastic sound design. Even after more than 15 years,\u00a0Ninja Gaiden Black\u00a0<\/em>still plays like a dream.<\/p>\n

6 <\/span>Ninja Gaiden Sigma (2007) \u2013 PS3; Sigma Plus (2012) \u2013 PS Vita<\/h2>\n
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PlayStation 3 owners got their hands on\u00a0Ninja Gaiden<\/em>\u00a0Sigma<\/em>, a remake of\u00a0Black<\/em>. This version\u00a0adds Rachel as a playable character and tweaks the level so the game is squarely focused on combat, removing most of the puzzle elements. Its visuals are also far more vibrant than the original\u00a0and also benefit from being created for an HD console.<\/p>\n

While not quite as\u00a0great as Black<\/em>, Ninja Gaiden Sigma\u00a0<\/em>is still a must-own for action fans that prefer Sony’s consoles.\u00a0Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus\u00a0<\/em>suffers from the limitations of being on a portable system that cannot match the PS3 version’s 60 FPS. It is the worst way to experience this game.<\/p>\n

5 <\/span>Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword (2008) \u2013 DS<\/h2>\n
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Dragon Sword\u00a0<\/em>is arguably the best portable\u00a0Ninja Gaiden\u00a0<\/em>title, which is not saying too much. Developed by Team Ninja, this DS release does attempt to stick to the 3D presentation of the modern console games, an admirable feat considering\u00a0Dragon Sword\u00a0<\/em>could have easily reverted back to the side-scrolling style\u00a0of the NES trilogy.<\/p>\n

Dragon Sword\u00a0<\/em>makes good use of the hardware’s stylus and controls quite well, although this does come at the cost of a short and rather easy\u00a0campaign. While far from a\u00a0masterpiece,\u00a0Dragon Sword\u00a0<\/em>is solid.<\/p>\n

4 <\/span>Ninja Gaiden II (2008) \u2013 Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X\/S<\/h2>\n
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Ninja Gaiden II\u00a0<\/em>faced\u00a0an almost impossible battle as it sought to recapture the magic of its predecessor.\u00a0The game’s biggest selling point\u00a0was\u00a0its expanded dismemberment system that brought\u00a0cartoonish levels of gore to the series,\u00a0and this element combines well with the sequel’s faster gameplay. Even though it does come with quite a few changes, at its core,\u00a0this sequel is not far removed from\u00a0the previous game.<\/p>\n

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While Ninja Gaiden II\u00a0<\/em>suffers from some balancing issues and a short campaign,\u00a0the sequel still hits plenty of high points.<\/p>\n

3 <\/span>Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 (2009) \u2013 PS3; Sigma 2 Plus (2012) \u2013 PS Vita<\/h2>\n
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The more infamous of the two\u00a0Sigma\u00a0<\/em>games, 2009’s release greatly reduces the gore, neutering the visual feedback of\u00a0Ninja Gaiden II<\/em>‘s dismemberment system. It is not the only change brought to the plate either, as\u00a0Sigma 2\u00a0<\/em>features three other playable characters \u2013 Rachel, Ayane, and Momiji \u2013 all of whom starred prominently in the game’s advertisement<\/a>. None of the three stick around for long enough to leave much of an impact on the gameplay other than to derail the campaign’s momentum.<\/p>\n

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2\u00a0<\/em>is a worse game than the Xbox 360 version, but it is also considerably better than\u00a0Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus<\/em>.<\/p>\n

2 <\/span>Ninja Gaiden 3 (2012) \u2013 Xbox 360, PS3; Razor’s Edge (2012) \u2013 Wii U, Xbox 360, PS3<\/h2>\n
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Ninja Gaiden 3<\/em> basically killed any of the franchise’s lingering momentum. In this sequel, Team Ninja tried to cater to a more casual audience by simplifying the combat. This did not work. Simultaneously, Team Ninja sought to satisfy die-hard fans by presenting an overly edgy tone that uses gore and blood as a crutch.\u00a0This also did not work.\u00a0Ninja Gaiden 3\u00a0<\/em>is awful.<\/p>\n

Razor’s Edge\u00a0<\/em>fixes a few of the vanilla game’s flaws by reintegrating elements from previous games, reducing some of\u00a0Ninja Gaiden 3<\/em>‘s try-hard attempts at being provocative, and increasing the difficulty.\u00a0Razor’s Edge\u00a0<\/em>is mediocre.<\/p>\n

1 <\/span>Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z (2014) \u2013 PS3, Xbox 360, Windows<\/h2>\n
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As the final nail in the license’s coffin (at the time),\u00a0Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z\u00a0<\/em>showed up with a new art style, a different protagonist, and, naturally, zombies. Overstuffed with terrible attempts at humor and a camera that seems to exist only to eradicate any of the combat’s potential,\u00a0Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z\u00a0<\/em>is a\u00a0boring mess that is unlikely to\u00a0please anybody.<\/p>\n

Its spin-off status makes\u00a0Yaiba\u00a0<\/em>somewhat more digestible than\u00a0Ninja Gaiden 3<\/em>, but it is far worse than\u00a0Razor’s Edge<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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The Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection will grace consoles in 2021, but Tecmo Koei’s franchise includes a lot more games than just those three.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":290,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"title":"Every Ninja Gaiden Game (& The Consoles They Can Be Played On) - ITTeacherITFreelance.hk","description":"The Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection will grace consoles in 2021, but Tecmo Koei's franchise includes a lot more games than just those three."},"footnotes":""},"categories":[607],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/205440"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/290"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=205440"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/205440\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":205441,"href":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/205440\/revisions\/205441"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=205440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=205440"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=205440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}