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[entremet]

I popped in NGB in my 360 just to have some fun with it. It's probably one of my favorite action games ever.

I remember when I first played it and it came out of nowhere. I knew the DOA team worked on it, but I was skeptical. But then the reviews started hitting and I had to play it.

The first stage hits you like a ton of bricks. Never seen anything like since the 16 bits days in terms fierce difficulty so quickly. But just not giving up, learning the enemy movements and how to block and evade became so satisfying.

I later picked up Ninja Gaiden Black and attempted to beat the Master Ninja mode, never did. But it just made the first game better and added more polish and added the awesome mission mode.

It's sad that Itagaki left Tecmo. NG3 was such a far cry from the original game. And while NG2 was good, even great, it seemed like it needed more time in the oven and was clearly rushed.

Still, to this day, it seems no character action game has matched the frenetic pace of NGB. Bayonetta was a great addition to the action genre, but it still did not best NGB in my opinion.

As an aside, I'm not too keen on the 360s Xbox emulation. Just feels off. Kind of regret getting rid of the OG Xbox as it ran perfectly there.

Discuss your impressions of Itagaki's Ninja Gaiden games.

 

[ss_lemonade]

I still remember watching the 60 fps trailer in one of those OXM magazines for the og version. Blew my mind how good it looked

 

[Dany]

Black also has fantastic and memorable music.

 

[pr0cs]

As an aside, I'm not too keen on the 360s Xbox emulation. Just feels off. Kind of regret getting rid of the OG Xbox as it ran perfectly there.

It's not great, but it's better than what we have now with the 'new' systems.

 

[Skilotonn]

Nothing will ever top it or Ninja Gaiden II on 360 in my eyes. The first one was so far ahead of its time, and nothing else is even in its league.

It had amazing graphics, an amazing fighting engine, and it was a challenge - at most you'd get 2 out of 3 for any other game.

This game is on my Mount Rushmore of gaming.

 

[Hesemonni]

Nothing will ever top it or Ninja Gaiden II on 360 in my eyes. The first one was so far ahead of its time, and nothing else is even in its league.

It had amazing graphics, an amazing fighting engine, and it was a challenge - at most you'd get 2 out of 3 for any other game.

This game is on my Mount Rushmore of gaming.

It was cheap, it's engine was lagging and the the game felt alround rushed. Your opinion is wrong. Sorry

 

[Ninja Dom]

I was already well prepared after first completing OG Ninja Gaiden on the OG Xbox. Normal and Hard difficulty. Fucking loved it!!

The only thing was I never had Internet hooked up to my Xbox so I could never get the Hurricane Pack downloads. It also meant I couldn't take part in the Master Ninja Tournaments back then (2004).

Then they announced Black. Hurricane packs included, Master Ninja difficulty, Ninja Dog difficulty for my lame ass friends to try and get into. And hectic Ryu vs Ryu battles.

Fucking beautiful!!! Haven't played it since I got rid of my OG Xbox back in around 2010. Instead now I have Sigma on PS3 and Sigma + on Vita.

 

[Ninja Dom]

It was cheap, it's engine was lagging and the the game felt alround rushed. Your opinion is wrong. Sorry

Without doubt, some of the most rewarding combat in that game, especially on Master Ninja. Yes, we're aware of the level design and rushed nature to the game (incendiary Shuriken torture) but the combat is first class.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

Black is great

NG2 is completely mediocre outside its battle system

NG3 is complete ass

 

[Dany]

I never played 3 even though I love the series.

:/

 

[entremet]

I was already well prepared after first completing OG Ninja Gaiden on the OG Xbox. Normal and Hard difficulty. Fucking loved it!!

The only thing was I never had Internet hooked up to my Xbox so I could never get the Hurricane Pack downloads. It also meant I couldn't take part in the Master Ninja Tournaments back then (2004).

Then they announced Black. Hurricane packs included, Master Ninja difficulty, Ninja Dog difficulty for my lame ass friends to try and get into. And hectic Ryu vs Ryu battles.

Fucking beautiful!!! Haven't played it since I got rid of my OG Xbox back in around 2010. Instead now I have Sigma on PS3 and Sigma + on Vita.

The Sigma games aren't the same. I hate the nerfed difficulties.

 

[NobleGundam]

Yes it is. Master Ninja on all the challenges.
So much yes.

 

[CrackPebbles]

Black is my favorite OG xbox game, hands down.

Sucks to hear that about the 360 emulation, I was planning on buying it since I haven't played in years..actually I still might buy it.

 

[gioGAF]

I couldn't agree more. Ninja Gaiden Black is one of my top all time games. I really wish the game had been ported in all its glory to the newer systems, but instead we get lame ports :-(

Here is what they should do, release an exact copy of Ninja Gaiden Black + 1080p60fps. They also need to add the "Intercept" technique as an unlockable when you complete the game on Master Ninja mode ;-)

 

[Screaming Meat]

Such a good game. I think I've bought it 3 times in total. One of those "perfect" games where everything clicks: gameplay, sound, visuals, level design...

But, yeah, fuck Alma.

 

[Dany]

Did they ever sell black on the the 360 store?

http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/P...acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802544307d8?cid=search

I've lost the disc and this thread is making miss the game. It's only 10 bucks, why not lol

 

[entremet]

Did they ever sell black on the the 360 store?

Yeah. You can buy it as an Xbox original.

 

[CommandThrower]

I still have this game downloaded for 360, and it is a fantastic character action game. I haven't beaten it yet, but I will eventually. I left off at the boss that's an apparition of a previously fought boss. Getting back in the game will probably be pretty punishing at the point I'm at, but I'll tackle it in due time.

In any case, the game is still fantastic and holds up as an all time great character action game.

 

[Skilotonn]

It was cheap, it's engine was lagging and the the game felt alround rushed. Your opinion is wrong. Sorry

You should feel sorry for yourself, telling me that my opinion is wrong.

 

[Ninja Dom]

The Sigma games aren't the same. I hate the nerfed difficulties.

Yeah you're right, they definitely aren't the same. Lots more cherry blossom in the Sigma games and playable Rachel. But lacks the intensity that Black brought.

 

[bidguy]

It was cheap, it's engine was lagging and the the game felt alround rushed. Your opinion is wrong. Sorry

ng2 is fucking amazing if you can apperciate the combat system. IS spam is cheap but managable even on master ninja.

ngb is pretty easy on master ninja

 

[Dereck]

 

[CouchMaster]

I remember playing this, DMC3, MGS3 and RE4 within a few months of each other, it was the best gaming year of my life.

Also one of the coolest bossfight intros ever..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXmi-5LosMA

 

[Newboi]

Ninja Gaiden Black is one of my most replayed games of all time outside of RE4, and I personally consider it to be the single greatest action game ever created. The combat design in that game was polished to an absolute T with a level of precision that rivaled high-level fighting games.

Fighting your doppelgangers on Master Ninja is still one of the greatest gaming moments I've ever had. I was literally forced to push Ryu's abilities to their limit.

Playing through Master Ninja with the wooden sword is also a feat in an off it self (no not he unlabored flawlessness).

 

[GamingIsDead]

Though the combat was A+ but the camera was poor at times and some of the environments were kind of lame and not fun to navigate. At times the level design was just troll worthy and deliberately made just to piss you off, that keeps me from ever going back to it. I didn't like fighting the bosses all that much neither as it was just hit or miss detection whether or not you would land a hit or they would auto block a attack.

 

[PhatSaqs]

Still my favotite game in the last 10 years.

 

[dancingphlower]

No other action game has matched Ninja Gaiden Black's frenetic pace? Devil May Cry 3/4 beg to differ.

 

[HelenKeller:BlindDeafDTF]

I've always wanted to play this, but I don't really want an Xbox. How different is the experience of Sigma compared to this?

 

[jelly]

One of my all time favourites.

Surprised they've never tried to sell it over and over instead of the awful things they call a Ninja Gaiden game now.

 

[m23]

Oh the memories. Probably one of my top games on the OG Xbox. Itagaki needs to hurry with his new game.

 

[Grief.exe]

I still have the original OG Ninja Gaiden release, but don't have access to my Xbox anymore.

Hopefully the upcoming Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z release on PC is a sign that Tecmo is looking into the PC platform.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Black is beautiful

 

[Shinta]

This and NG2 are easily the best in my opinion.

Devil's Third can't come soon enough.

I've always wanted to play this, but I don't really want an Xbox. How different is the experience of Sigma compared to this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDAiYc_sy8A

That said, if you can only play Sigma, go for it. Still worth it.

 

[Ganondorfo]

Best action game of all time, there I said it and I will probably be quoted with a boxart of Bayonetta or DMC 3 and I will still say that N GB is the best action game of all time.

 

[gioGAF]

Though the combat was A+ but the camera was poor at times and some of the environments were kind of lame and not fun to navigate. At times the level design was just troll worthy and deliberately made just to piss you off, that keeps me from ever going back to it. I didn't like fighting the bosses all that much neither as it was just hit or miss detection whether or not you would land a hit or they would auto block a attack.

What are you even talking about? Hit or miss detection with bosses? Maybe you just needed more practice. You can spout off all the arbitrary/subjective stuff you like ("I didn't like the environments" or "I didn't like the camera"), but saying that hit detection or boss timing is off is just complete nonsense. Get your facts straight.

 

[Ninja Dom]

I've always wanted to play this, but I don't really want an Xbox. How different is the experience of Sigma compared to this?

Sigma games are very much the same game with more content. Extra playable character, couple of extra content, touched up graphics, slight enemy character location switches (I don't like how you fight far more soldiers in Tairon in Sigma, compared to fighting Ninja's in Black).

BUT, they lack a serious intensity. They seem somewhat easier than the same difficulty on Black or II. Less enemies are thrown at you, easier enemies are thrown at you at the same stages. In Black, simply encountering a gang of Brown Ninja's was seriously dangerous - could easily spell game over. But in Sigma these Ninja's are replaced with easier soldiers.

Epic staircase battle in II has you fight some 50+ Ninja's in one scene compared to fighting 20 of them in Sigma 2.

But without doubt, play the Sigma games and Razors Edge if you don't have the ability to play Black or II. Black and II are "purer". Sigma's are more "diluted".

 

[Shiina]

NGB is still the best this genre has to offer

 

[Draft]

Now that the Japanese are finding great success putting old crap on Steam, how about a NG:B port? My goodness, such a game deserves to be rescued from a lonely fate on old hardware that hardly anyone uses.

 

[Dragon_Rocks]

The only game which did the difficulty settings properly in my knowledge. Instead of just reducing your damage and increasing enemy damage/aggressiveness + enemy count for each higher difficulty setting, it had had brand new enemies, bosses and weapon placements for each tier of difficulty making each higher difficulty a new experience.

 

[therealPeterman]

I love Black. After reading this thread I'm popping it back in for the weekend. Vigoorian Flails ftw.

 

[Shinta]

Best action game of all time, there I said it and I will probably be quoted with a boxart of Bayonetta or DMC 3 and I will still say that N GB is the best action game of all time.

Lots of people agree with you, including me.

That said, I think the potential of the combat system in NG2 is light years ahead of NGB. It's just that NG2 didn't get polished for that additional year like NGB did.

Devil's Third must be pretty damn polished by now.

 

[-tetsuo-]

Top 10 game

 

[FlyingSaucer]

I'm not especially a fan of action games, and I loved NG Black. Truly a beautiful game.

 

[Ninja Dom]

Now that the Japanese are finding great success putting old crap on Steam, how about a NG:B port? My goodness, such a game deserves to be rescued from a lonely fate on old hardware that hardly anyone uses.

Definitely more of a possibility now that Team Ninja have been fucking about with PC a bit more. Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate Arcade Edition runs on PC based arcade hardware and Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z is getting a PC release.

 

[Shinta]

Definitely more of a possibility now that Team Ninja have been fucking about with PC a bit more. Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate Arcade Edition runs on PC based arcade hardware and Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z is getting a PC release.

I would only expect NG:S ported, not NG:B.

 

[Ninja Dom]

I would only expect NG:S ported, not NG:B.

Yeah you're probably right, Hayashi is proud of his Sigma games.

 

[Fhtagn]

Which is a better way to approach the game for the first time in 2014: Xbox NG:B played on a 360 or NG: Sigma on a PS3?

 

[ViewtifulJC]

I can't believe we're in 2014 and nobody seems to give a damn about proper Xbox emulation. Lot of interesting japanese games like NGB, JSRF, Gunvalkerie, Panzer Dragoon Orta, etc just left to fade away into obscurity. Steel Battalion too, but that might be a bit harder, you kinda missed the boat on that one.

 

[FACE]

I would only expect NG:S ported, not NG:B.

Gross.

 

[Uzny]

Forever in my top 3.