Ninja Gaiden

Ninja Gaiden
Logo of the series
Original title	忍者 外 伝
transcription	Ninja Gaiden
developer	Tecmo
Publisher	Tecmo
First title	Ninja Gaiden (1988)
Last title	Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z (2014)
Platform (s)	Amiga , Arcade , Atari ST , MS-DOS , Game Gear , Atari Lynx , Master System , Mega Drive , NDS , NES , PC Engine , PlayChoice-10 , PlayStation , PS3 , PlayStation Vita , SNES , Wii , Xbox , Xbox 360
Genre (s)	Beat 'em up

Ninja Gaiden ( Japanese: 忍者 外 伝 , German: Ninja side story ) is a video game series by the Japanese game developer Tecmo . In 1988, the arcade game Ninja Ryūkenden ( 忍者 龍 剣 伝 ; known in Europe and Australia as Shadow Warriors ) was first released in Japan and is the only game in the series that is a beat 'em up . However, the arcade game was less successful than the actual series, which appeared in particular for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and belongs to the action game genre .

A total of three Ninja Gaiden games have been released for the NES system worldwide . In 1995 a game collection was released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System . In 2004, the Japanese development team busy Team Ninja the Ninja Gaiden series again and created an action game that was praised by many critics. Furthermore, several updates and an expansion under the title Ninja Gaiden Black were released . In 2007 the action game Ninja Gaiden Sigma was released for the PlayStation 3 .

General

Gameplay

The two Ninja Gaiden generations differ greatly in terms of the task at hand. In the original Ninja Gaiden series, the player controls the character through a level and fights the opponents present. The first episodes of the Ninja Gaiden series are side-scrollers . The character is moved through the level from left to right. At the end of a level, a boss often has to be defeated before the next level can be reached. In contrast to the normal opponents in the course of the game, the final bosses can only be defeated with a certain approach.

Ninja Gaiden, released in 2004 for the Xbox , expanded the gameplay of its predecessors with new areas of responsibility. By confirming the respective buttons, the game character must make certain jumps or climb ledges. Furthermore, some parts of the game can only be passed successfully with the right timing. That is why the new generation of the Ninja Gaiden series is assigned to the genre of action adventure . The adventure part in the game, however, was deliberately kept low, as the developers wanted to emphasize the action passages more. The new generation of ninja gaiden games are presented in 3D graphics .

The combat system

The protagonist's attack techniques are limited in the first three games in the Ninja Gaiden series. The protagonist can defeat the opponent with melee weapons such as the sword and collect power-ups that are distributed in the levels and give the player a special ability or heal him. Furthermore, the player can shoot at an enemy from a distance with ranged weapons such as throwing stars ( shuriken ), but they do less damage than melee weapons.

In the Xbox game of the same name, some new movement maneuvers and attack techniques have been added. The protagonist can walk along walls and reach certain places or overcome abysses. If the protagonist runs vertically up a wall, he can start an attack on the opponent while turning. Furthermore, there are some passages in the Xbox game that the protagonist can only reach by swimming. After the fight, the defeated opponents always leave behind a certain amount of energy, the so-called fluid . There are three different types of fluid that are released in different amounts. The yellow fluid is the unofficial currency in the game and can be spent on equipment and items. The blue fluid improves the health of the protagonist and the red fluid strengthens the Ki indicator (Ki = mental strength of the protagonist ).

The protagonist

A ninja

The Japanese ninja Ryu Hayabusa ( Japanese: リ ュ ウ ・ ハ ヤ ブ サ Ryū Hayabusa ) is the protagonist of the Ninja Gaiden series, which was designed by Tecmo for their first Ninja Gaiden game. After the success of the arcade version, the character was retained in the later games. In the first three games in the series, the story of Ryu Hayabusa is presented in drawn short sequences. In the Xbox game of the same name, the plot is expanded by a few aspects. The developers have focused more on the personality of Ryu Hayabusa.

Ryu Hayabusa is said to be a descendant of the dragon dynasty and a member of the Hayabusa clan. The Hayabusa clan has lived in a small Japanese village for several generations. When his father Joe Hayabusa leaves the village for an indefinite period, Ryu is entrusted with the ancient dragon sword. With this sword Ryu Hayabusa can defeat opponents and demons. In the course of the Ninja Gaiden series, Ryu meets numerous characters who support him in the fight against the evil forces.

The protagonist Ryu Hayabusa has also been a playable character in the beat 'em-up series Dead or Alive since 1996 . In this series, the playable characters are provided with personal data. According to this, Ryu Hayabusa is a 23-year-old general store owner who takes part in the tournament because Hayate (see the character section in Dead or Alive ) has disappeared. Furthermore, Ryu should be 1.79 meters tall and weigh 78 kg.

Similar games

The original game Ninja Gaiden from 1988 was influenced by the rising ninja popularity of the late 1980s. In 1987 Shinobi by Sega and The Last Ninja appeared as an arcade game in Japanese gambling halls. These two games offer a similar gameplay to Ninja Gaiden. In the games mentioned, the player controls the character through a level and fights the opponents spread across the level. Furthermore, you can use attack weapons like Shuriken in each of these games. In 1996, the first part of the popular Tenchu series appeared under the title Tenchu: Stealth Assassins in Germany. This ninja game has added another aspect to the concept of the other ninja games. The player must secretly steer one of the two playable protagonists through areas and fulfill orders.

Games overview

• Ninja Gaiden (1988, arcade)
• Ninja Gaiden (1988, NES, PlayChoice-10, MS-DOS, PC Engine, Game Gear, Lynx, Master System, Virtual Console)
• Ninja Gaiden 2: The Dark Sword of Chaos (1990, NES, Amiga, MS-DOS, Virtual Console)
• Ninja Gaiden 3: The Acientship of Doom (1991, NES, Lynx, Virtual Console)
• Ninja Gaiden Shadow (1991, Gameboy, Atari ST, etc.)
• Ninja Gaiden (1991, Game Gear)
• Ninja Gaiden (1992, Master System)
• Ninja Gaiden (Beta) (1992, Mega Drive)
• Ninja Gaiden Trilogy (1995, SNES)
• Ninja Gaiden (2004, Xbox)
• Ninja Gaiden Black (2005, Xbox)
• Ninja Gaiden Sigma (2007, PlayStation 3)
• Ninja Gaiden 2 (2008, Xbox 360)
• Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword (2008, Nintendo DS)
• Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 (2009, PlayStation 3)
• Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus (2012, PlayStation Vita)
• Ninja Gaiden 3 (2012, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360)
• Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge (2013, Wii U, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360)
• Yaiba Ninja Gaiden Z (2014, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC)

Arcade versions

The arcade version of Ninja Gaiden has some differences from the console versions. In the arcade version, the player controls an unknown protagonist through various regions of the USA (e.g. San Francisco, New York City or Las Vegas). The gameplay can be compared to the Double Dragon beat 'em up series . The 32-bit Motorola 68000 processor was used as the main CPU for the arcade versions. The color palette consisted of 4096 colors. However, the PlayChoice 10 versions are identical to the corresponding NES versions.

NES trilogy

Ninja Gaiden

Ninja Gaiden
Studio	Tecmo
Erstveröffent- lichung	March 1989 December 9, 1988 August 15, 1991
platform	NES , PlayChoice-10 , MS-DOS , PC Engine , Game Gear , Lynx , Sega Master System , Virtual Console
genre	Side scrolling beat 'em up , action game
Game mode	Single player
control	Gamepad , keyboard , mouse (PC)
medium	Cartridge , floppy disks
language	English

In 1989, the action game Ninja Gaiden (known in Europe under the game title Shadow Warriors ) appeared in the USA for numerous consoles ( Game Gear , Sega Master System ). In September 1988 Tecmo released the game under the game title Ninja Ryukenden ( Japanese:忍者 龍 剣 伝 Ninja Ryūkenden) in Japan. Ninja Gaiden was later retained as the developers felt the term Gaiden would be easier to pronounce outside of Japan.

Tecmo wanted to release the game under the game title Ninja Dragon in the USA. However, this idea was discarded because the arcade game Bad Dudes vs. Dragon Ninja had a similar title. Some game elements such as the intro or boss opponents ( Bloody Malth ) were taken over in the NES versions.

In the NES version, the player takes on the role of the protagonist Ryu Hayabusa . The ninja Joe Hayabusa is injured in an argument with an opponent. He leaves his son Ryu Hayabusa with a letter and the ancient dragon sword. Ryu then has to travel to the USA and meet the archaeologist Walter Smith there . At the end of the first act, Ryu meets the CIA agent Irene Lew , who helps him with a few levels. When Ryu defeats the final boss Jaquio and his demons, he holds his dying father in his hands. Thereupon he leaves the collapsing temple and stands with Irene on a summit.

In the upper half of the screen you will find several displays and bars. The ninja bar shows the protagonist's life indicator in line form. Each level has a certain time limit that should put the player under pressure. As soon as this timer display has expired, you have to start the respective level again. By defeating the opponent, the player receives points that can be viewed in the score display . As the game progresses, the player collects numerous power-ups that achieve a certain effect. In addition, the character Ryu can use so-called ninpos to cause magical attacks on the opponent. The plot of the game is presented in cut scenes .

In August 2001, the game was voted number 93 of the “ best video games of all time ” by the readers of the video game magazine Game Informer . The readers of the American video game site Joystiq voted the original game from 1989 the tenth place of the most popular NES games. The American magazine Nintendo Power published an article in December 2005 looking for the 200 best Nintendo games. The editors of this magazine have considered all of the existing Nintendo systems. In the vote, the first part of the Ninja Gaiden series was voted 89th. The British game magazine Mean Machines rated the game with 90%. Above all, the “ good animation ” and the “ atmosphere ” were praised. The recognized gaming portal IGN.com also rated the game with 90 out of a possible 100 points. The Wii version was tested, which can be downloaded for 500 Wii points (equivalent to € 5). In contrast to these positive reactions, there were also critics who described the game as a “ dull-stupid dozen flogging ” because of the “ lack of variety ” : “ But the dull-stupid dozen flogging is about as tense as a visit to the tax office. Even small subtleties such as the clever extra system and small dexterity (ninja shimmy over an abyss) are no longer of much use. Die-hard fans of Far Eastern fighting games are sure to get their money's worth. "

Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos

Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos
Studio	Tecmo
Erstveröffent- lichung	May 1990 April 6, 1990 October 27, 1994
platform	NES , Amiga , MS-DOS , Virtual Console
genre	Side scrolling beat 'em up , action game
Game mode	Single player
control	Gamepad , keyboard
medium	Cartridge , floppy disks
language	English

Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos was released for the NES and PC in 1990. The game was published under the game title " Ninja Ryukenden 2: Ankoku no Jashin Ken " ( Japanese:忍者 龍 剣 伝 II) in Japan.

Tecmo improved the graphics engine and added some new effects to the game. The player has 13 different levels to choose from (e.g. The Road to Lahja ). The displays and bars in the upper half of the screen remained unchanged. The gameplay changed a bit compared to its predecessor. The main character can now fight the opponents with certain special attacks. Each of these five special attacks (including the Fire Dragon Balls ) is triggered by a key combination. The character can now climb up or down a wall by confirming the direction buttons. In addition, the player can split the main character Ryu into three body halves by picking up the orange items (also known as " split clones "). The clone follows the character to the end of a level and copies the movement sequences. The clones can be very useful for the character in the fight against bosses, as they are immune to attacks.

The game continues the storyline of the predecessor. During a stormy night, the player meets Ashtar , Jaquio's client. A year later, Ryu is attacked by an unknown man. After being passed out by the clones' many attacks, he finds himself at a train station. Ryu learns that CIA agent Irene Lew was kidnapped by the monster Ashtar. He goes to the place " Tower of Lahja " and decides to save his girlfriend and destroy the dragon sword.

The sequel was rated “Excellent” by the editor-in-chief of the game magazine EGM ( Electronic Gaming Monthly ) . The editor particularly praises the high number of levels and the exciting gameplay: " Although some power-ups are missing, the game is great from start to finish ."

Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom

Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom
Studio	Tecmo
Erstveröffent- lichung	August 1991 June 21, 1991
platform	NES , Lynx , Virtual Console
genre	Side scrolling beat 'em up , action game
Game mode	Single player
control	Gamepad
medium	Plug-in module
language	English

The last part of the NES trilogy appeared in 1991 under the game title Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom in the USA. In Japan, the action game was published under the game title " Ninja Ryukenden 3: Yomi no Hakobune " ( Japanese:忍者 龍 剣 伝 III). In the same year a port for the handheld Atari Lynx appeared , which was identical to the original version.

The game principle was retained and supplemented with some innovations. In some level sections the player can steer his character in the vertical direction (from bottom to top). This innovation was criticized by many buyers because it should make the levels look a bit confusing.

The level of difficulty has been increased compared to its predecessor. Players can choose from a limited number of Continues available. The enemy types react more aggressively and more intelligently to the character. The Japanese version of Ninja Gaiden III offers the player a “ password feature ” in addition to further continues and a decimated number of opponents in the levels . After each passed level, the player receives a password . This password can be entered in a menu item so that the player can reach the desired level.

The plot begins with a pursuit of the agent Irene Lew and an unknown ninja who pretends to be Ryu. During this argument, Irene falls down a peak and dies. Ryu then finds out that he is responsible for Irene's death. In an old factory, he meets strange creatures that seem like humans. In the control room he is discovered by an unknown person who explains to him that he should go to the “ Castle Rock Fortress ” location . Meanwhile, a picture of Foster appears in another room, who explains to him that no one has yet managed to leave this place.

The editors of the magazine “ Electronic Gaming Monthly ” gave the game a “good” test result. Above all, they praised the graphics and the acoustics of the game. The level of difficulty was seen as a point of criticism: “ I particularly like the new power-ups and the fresh levels. It's hard with only three continues. "

Ninja Gaiden: Shadow

Ninja Gaiden: Shadow was released in 1991 for the Game Boy (in Europe as " Shadow Warriors ") and various home computers (including Atari ST ). Initially it was intended as a port of the NES title " Shadow of the Ninja ". Tecmo secured the rights from the Japanese developer Natsume and supplemented the existing game with the well-known characters and functions from the Ninja Gaiden series.

Garuda is responsible for the fear and chaos of humanity in metropolitan New York City . Sixteen-year-old ninja Ryu Hayabusa has to fight his way through a total of six levels and defeat Garuda. In this beat 'em up, the player fights against numerous opponents who attack him alone or in groups. The player can only perform the usual “ kick ”, “ hit ” and “ jump ” actions in the game. At the end of each level section there is always a so-called " highscore list " which shows the player how many opponents he has defeated in a certain period of time.

The game features have been reduced compared to the NES versions. The protagonist can only perform one special attack ( fire wheel ) and has a reduced number of life units. Shadow Warriors has been called a " solid action game " by most of the big-name magazines . The German game magazine Amiga Joker published the following test result in 1990: “ What remains is a solid screen fight that highlights the highlights of the genre such as B. "Double Dragon II" will probably not run out of rank. But if you take into account the old gamer wisdom of “testing before buying”, you can't really go wrong. "

Ninja Gaiden Trilogy

The Ninja Gaiden Trilogy was released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1995 . This collection contains the first three NES games in the Ninja Gaiden series. The graphic quality and the gameplay were only slightly changed compared to the original versions. The gameplay changes include the added password function and improved cutscenes. Many editors were " disappointed " with this collection , as it only contained the already well-known Ninja Gaiden games. An editor of Electronic Gaming Monthly wrote the following verdict: “ Okay, the classic NES game from Ninja Gaiden brought some fun back, but I really wish they had changed the game rather than ported it. "

Ninja Gaiden for Sega consoles

The Japanese game developer Sega developed three independent versions for their consoles with the official license from Tecmo . Ninja Gaiden for the Sega Game Gear from 1991 is playfully similar to the NES versions, but offers completely different levels. Ninja Gaiden for the Sega Master System from 1992 also largely corresponds to the NES trilogy in terms of play, but offers improved graphics and a new storyline. There is a very rare Sega Mega Drive version (1992) in Japan , which is playfully based on the arcade original, but offers completely different graphics and levels.

New generation of ninja gaiden

Ninja Gaiden

Ninja Gaiden (Xbox), Ninja Gaiden Black (Xbox), Ninja Gaiden Sigma (PS3)
Studio	Team ninja
Publisher	Tecmo
Erstveröffent- lichung	Ninja Gaiden   March 2, 2004 March 11, 2004 May 14, 2004 Ninja Gaiden Black September 20, 2005 September 29, 2005 October 21, 2005 Ninja Gaiden Sigma June 14, 2007 July 3, 2007                 July 6, 2007
platform	Xbox , PlayStation 3
genre	Action adventure
Game mode	Single player , multiplayer
control	Xbox controller, DualShock3
medium	DVD-ROM , Blu-ray Disc
language	English voice output, German screen texts
Age rating	USK PEGI

Ninja Gaiden was released exclusively for Xbox on May 3, 2004 . This is not a remake of the original, but an independent action game. The gameplay has remained the same compared to the NES episodes. The player controls the protagonist Ryu Hayabusa through 16 different levels and fights different types of opponents or bosses. The Japanese developer Tomonobu Itagaki was involved in the development of the game.

In 1999 the game under the project title "Next Generation Ninja Gaiden Project" for the Sega NAOMI - System announced. The game was postponed several times in the development phase and developed for different consoles ( Sega Dreamcast , PlayStation 2 ). In 2001 Tecmo announced that the game would be released exclusively for Xbox. Tecmo was solely responsible for sales for this part of the series, with Japanese developer Team Ninja taking over development for the first time .

The 24 different bosses (including the skeletal dinosaur ) can only be defeated with a certain tactic. They usually appear at the end of a level and are presented by a cut scene. In the course of the game, the character learns new attack skills ( moves ) and receives numerous items. The life and mana bar in the left half of the screen can be enhanced by using a "divine symbol". At the end of each chapter, the so-called " karma display " is always displayed. In this display the player receives information about the number of defeated opponents and the duration of the chapter.

During the course of the game, the player receives several scrolls (e.g. the art of the ice storm), which are listed in the option point "Ninpo". As soon as the player uses one of these scrolls, it creates a magical attack on the enemy. During the game, the player will find “ scarabs ” in different places , which can be exchanged at the dealer Muramasa . In addition, the developers have integrated the first three NES episodes into the main game. In the " Master Ninja Tournament " the player can compete against other players via Xbox Live . This mode is only accessible to the player after the story mode has been played through for the first time.

The main plot of this game is set a few years before the events of the original title ( Ninja Gaiden from 1989 ). One day the village of Hayabusa is attacked and destroyed by the Vigur Empire , an imperialist nation. The leader of this culture located on the West Asian continent is The Emperor . A demon named Doku reports to him, who also led the attack on the ninja village. Ryu Hayabusa wants to take revenge for the death of his friends and bring back the " Dark Dragon Sword ". The sword was cut from the fangs of a "black dragon" ago and has been guarded by the Hayabusa clan for generations. An old legend says that this sword can absorb people's hatred and transmit it to the owner. Ryu follows the attackers as a stowaway in an airship across the state border and crashes the vehicle directly above Tairon , the capital of the Vigurian Empire. Here he fights his way up through many stations via documentary to the Vigurian emperor, whom he defeats in a final battle.

The action game was a huge commercial success for game developer Tecmo. Buyers and game critics have mostly praised the game. Henry Ernst, an editor of the German game magazine GamePro , describes this game as a " frustrating and demanding action cracker ".

“ A better action game is unlikely to be released for Xbox anytime soon. "

- Henry Ernst (GamePro editor)

The American website “ GameSpot.com ” gave the game a “9.4” out of 10 possible points and called it “ one of the best action adventure games of all time ”. The camera work and the high level of difficulty, however, were often used as points of criticism. In the following months two updates appeared (see Ninja Gaiden Black ) and an extended version of Ninja Gaiden.

Ninja Gaiden Black

Ninja Gaiden Black was released on October 21, 2005 exclusively for Xbox. This expansion contains the two Hurricane updates of the original version as well as some other innovations. The first update, entitled " Hurricane Pack Volume 1 ", was available for free on Xbox Live . The difficulty level of the original version has been increased due to a higher number of opponents. This change has been criticized by buyers because the original game already had a demanding level of difficulty. The developers have listened to the criticism from buyers and readers and implemented an innovation. The player can now switch to " Free Camera " mode with the right analog stick and change the camera work.

In addition, the " Hurricane Pack 1 ", as well as Ninja Gaiden Black , contain new costumes, weapons (including a staff weapon ) and items. The rendering sequences have been changed slightly and the opponent's intelligence has been expanded. The second update was published under the title " Hurricane Pack Volume 2 " on the Xbox Live network. This update offers the player an additional campaign that can be completed in a period of 30 to 40 minutes.

In addition to the two Hurricane versions, the Ninja Gaiden Black update has two new levels of difficulty and a mission mode. The first level of difficulty can be selected under the name “Ninja Dog Mode” and is intended to help beginners with the operation. The so-called “Master Ninja” level of difficulty is aimed at experienced players. In "mission mode" the player has to complete 50 smaller tasks. After completing 40 mission objectives, the player receives a new level called "Eternal Legend".

The game has received positive reviews from critics and gamers alike. The US online magazine GameSpy called Ninja Gaiden Black a “ brand new game ” and praised the improved camera work. The US gaming portal IGN.com gave the game an “ Outstanding ” test rating and voted it seventh among the “ 25 best Xbox games of all time ”. The German video game magazine GamePro gave the game the golden “GamePro Award” ( receives a game with an overall rating of 85% or more) and gave the following test result: “ Bock-heavy action adventure with a great combat system ”.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma

Ninja Gaiden Sigma is the implementation of the Xbox title Ninja Gaiden Black for PlayStation 3 . The title was released in Japan on June 14, 2007 , followed by North America and Europe on July 3 and 6 of the same year.

Compared to the Xbox version, the PlayStation version has been expanded to include three additional chapters and other types of opponents. In addition to Ryu Hayabusa, another character can be played: In some level sections, the demon hunter Rachel can be controlled. The German version of the game received the USK rating "18+" despite cuts .

Ninja Gaiden 2

After the two remakes Ninja Gaiden Black and Ninja Gaiden Sigma , Tecmo worked on a sequel to Ninja Gaiden , which was released exclusively for the Xbox 360 . The action mode sends the protagonist through locations in Tokyo, Venice, Moscow, New York, Brazil and on Mount Fuji. The game has four levels of difficulty. Technologically speaking, Ninja Gaiden 2 is based on an engine that was "developed from the ground up for the Xbox 360". The European release date for the game was set for June 6, 2008. On April 22, 2008, the game was denied approval by the USK due to the high level of violence. Microsoft therefore decided not to publish the game in Germany.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2

Like its predecessor, Sigma 2 is also an expanded implementation of the Xbox 360 version for PlayStation 3. The title was initially released on September 29, 2009 in North America . The releases in Japan and Europe followed on October 1st and 2nd.

Compared to the version on Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3 variant has three additional playable characters available, including Ayane from the Dead or Alive series. In addition to minor changes in the course of the game, new opponents and bosses have been integrated and an online cooperation mode has been added. Unlike the Xbox 360 version, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 received approval from the USK in Germany . This is due to the fact that the level of violence in the PlayStation 3 implementation was greatly reduced (worldwide).

Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword

Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword was released for the Nintendo DS . The executive developer Tomonobu Itagaki has confirmed in a survey that the plot will take place six months after the events of Ninja Gaiden . The protagonist is steered in the respective direction with the stylus pen of the Nintendo DS. A mission map is displayed on the second LC screen, which should help the player to orientate himself in the game. The game was released in the US on March 25, 2008. The EU release was on June 26, 2008. A demo is also available for download on the Nintendo Channel via the Nintendo Wii .

Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge

Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge was developed by Tecmo's development department Team Ninja. The game originally appeared in Europe on January 11, 2013 exclusively for the Nintendo Wii U , but the income was far too low, whereupon Tecmo decided to release the game in April 2013 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 as well. In Germany, the game was never released due to its too violent content. The main role in the game is the master ninja Ryu Hayabusa, already known from Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive . The game deals with the human side of Ryu Hayabusa when he is attacked by a curse that affects the entire course of the game.

literature

• Ninja Gaiden: Prima's Official Strategy Guide , written by Prima Temp Authors and Eric Mylonas, March 2004, Prima Games Verlag, ISBN 0-7615-4416-X
• Ninja Gaiden Black: Prima Official Game Guide , written by M. Van Stone, September 13, 2005, Prima Games Verlag, ISBN 0-7615-5211-1

Web links

Commons : Ninja Gaiden  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Arcade

• Ninja Gaiden in the Killer List of Videogames (English)
• Ninja Gaiden in the arcade-history.com database

Ninja Gaiden series

• Ninja Gaiden series at MobyGames (English)
• Further information on the Ninja Gaiden series ( Memento from January 1, 2006 in the Internet Archive )

reviews

• Ninja Gaiden Sigma on demonews
• Ninja Gaiden 2 on consolero
• Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword on consolero
• Ninja Gaiden series on metacritic

Sectional reports

• Ninja Gaiden Sigma - comparison between: censored version ↔ US version on Schnittberichte.com
• Ninja Gaiden 2 - Comparison between: Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 ↔ Ninja Gaiden 2 on Schnittberichte.com

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Snow, Blake: Top 10 Most Popular Games for the NES . Joystiq . June 18, 2006. Archived from the original on September 18, 2010. Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved August 10, 2006. 
2. ↑ Nintendo Power , Vol. 198, p. 74 December 2005.
3. ^ Mean Machines , July Issue, 1991.
4. ↑ Test report of the Wii version ( memento of the original from September 18, 2010 on WebCite ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , IGN, published May 14, 2007. 
5. ^ Power Play , August 1991 edition.
6. ↑ Test report on 1up.com ( Memento of the original from September 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. published in the July issue of EGM, 1990, English original: Although some power-ups are missing, the game is great from beginning to end! 
7. ↑ Test report on 1up.com ( Memento of the original from September 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. published May 9, 2004. 
8. ↑ Test report on 1up.com ( Memento of the original from January 25, 2005 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. with considerations about the actual developer [last accessed October 3, 2006] 
9. ↑ Amiga Joker, published October 1990, p. 61.
10. ↑ Test report on 1up.com ( Memento of the original from September 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. published May 9, 2004. 
11. ↑ GamePro issue 6/2004; read in the test for Ninja Gaiden
12. ↑ Test report on Gamespot.com ( memento from September 29, 2007 in the Internet Archive ), quoted by Greg Kasavin , published on February 26, 2004
13. ^ Test verdict on Ninja Gaiden Black , GameSpy.com, published September 20, 2005.
14. ↑ Test report on Gamepro.de quote from Henry Ernst, published on October 21, 2005.
15. ↑ GamePro 7/07 , pp. 62–64, published June 6, 2007.
16. ↑ Interview with the developer Yosuke Hayashi
17. ↑ News in the German online magazine 4Players.de from September 12, 2007
18. ↑ News in the Austrian games magazine NEXTGEN.at from April 3, 2008  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
19. ↑ Official test database of the entertainment software self-control  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
20. ↑ News at Schnittberichte.com from May 13, 2008
21. ↑ Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Dated in Japan IGN.com (accessed September 27, 2009)
22. ↑ Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 hitting UK in October ( Memento from July 11, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Gamerzines.com (English; accessed September 27, 2009)
23. ↑ Information on Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword , Gamezone.de