Review: Ninja Gaiden Sigma (PlayStation 3. Team Ninja, Tecmo)

<~ Ryu is pretty damn agile, able to perform acrobatics that put the foppish Prince Of Persia to shame. Ryu's far cooler too.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma is an extensive rejig of the Xbox classic featuring a raft of new features bringing Ryu Hayabusa back-flipping into the current generation. Essentially a remake of a remake, Sigma may sound like money for old rope but actually represents the perfect opportunity for non-Xbox owning gamers out there to sample the delights of arguably the greatest game to ever feature a ninja. Most obvious of these enhancements is a slick visual revamp, meaning that Sigma is one of the most aesthetically pleasing games on PS3. Also new to this version is the ability to play as the improbably endowed Rachel who only featured as a non-playable periphery character in the original games. Her chapters peppered throughout the game, whilst enjoyable in their own right, succeed in interrupting the game’s flow with their relatively sluggish fight sequences. After lithely rolling and flipping around as Ryu, playing as Rachel with her giant warhammer comes as kind of a drag. However, from a male perspective these sections are certainly easy on the eye and therefore forgivable.

We love Rachel, for obvious reasons. ~>

Thankfully, the rest of the game has retained its intense gameplay and intuitive control system, meaning that doling out lethal, ninja justice is as satisfying as ever. Of course, Ninja Gaiden wouldn’t be Ninja Gaiden without being harder than diamonds and on this front Sigma remains tooth grindingly challenging, without ever being unfair. So unashamedly old school and relentlessly tough as it is, you’ll refuse to give in. After dying three consecutive times you’re presented with the proposition of abandoning the Way Of The Ninja and continuing the game in easy or ‘Ninja Dog’ mode. If you’re anything like us, you’ll see this offer as both insulting and patronising choosing to stick with the current difficulty setting believing that you have the capacity to gradually improve and evolve into a gaming god. Either that or you’ll spin the disc into the nearest bin. There’ll be tears, broken pads and strong, sexual swearing, but in the end it’s worth it. Gaiden possesses that distinct quality, what we call the ‘one-more-go’ factor. Giver of the tough love as it is, you’ll still go back for more, like some sort of gaming sadist. Take the latter part of stage 6 for example. You’re still relatively new to the game, there are twenty stages in total, so you’re not that far in. Saving at the levels last save point you’re instantly assaulted by three enemies throwing explosive kunai. Once dispatched you come to an open area where soldiers jump you. This is the easiest bit and you can even go back and save if you like. Six ninjas, two machine-gunning bikers with sidecars and three fire-breathing demons later and you’re ready to give up. Thankfully a cut scene begins and you relax, safe in the knowledge that it doesn’t matter that you’ve expended every health-replenishing spirit elixir from your inventory. Then you’re faced with the end of level boss because sometimes Ninja Gaiden likes to kick you while you’re down. If this sounds a bit much, then maybe Sigma isn’t the game for you.
The high difficulty level creates an illusion of extended longevity as most of the hours you put in playing the game are made up of dying and retrying, unless unlike us you’re unnaturally gifted at frenetic hack and slash. However, there is a wide range of challenges making for a substantial wedge of game for your money that longevity is definitely not an issue. You’ll be playing Gaiden for the best part of a year, that is assuming that you’re a normal, well adjusted gamer (unlike us, sun-fearing, gaming vampires).
Fundamentally, Gaiden’s innate playability is all down to the flawlessly implemented control scheme, which allows you to effortlessly execute an array of dazzling combos whilst looking obscenely cool. However, all of this amounts to nothing if you don’t immediately learn to block and evade, skills that veteran players will tell you are key to survival, as a few gouges from even early enemies will kill Ryu dead.
Sigma is an awesome remake of an already accomplished game, but if you currently own Ninja Gaiden Black or the original, it probably isn’t worth you parting with your cash once again, even if Sigma is undoubtedly the definitive iteration.
Ninpo: 8/10