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Ninja Gaiden Black still the best action game

Yeah, since Sigma is pretty much an upgraded version of Black it was pretty fucking fun. Hopefully Team Ninja can go back to it's roots.

This is a good question for me to ask, I'm definitely not as deep into the NG franchise as other action franchises. So I have to ask, how good is Sigma compared to Black? Would you recommend picking up one over the other?
 
Even Razor's Edge? I read good things about it.

Razor's Edge is not absolute shit. And even some of the revamped mechanics are really good. But it is sadly outclassed by other games in the genre. I played it to completion, and enjoy it,even go back to it here and there. But MGR, and other more recent games are much better.
 
Wait does God Hand count in this thread? Because it wins. Obviously.

I usually don't. God Hand, much like Viewtiful Joe the First, stands in separate and awesome classes all of their own.

It's too bad that we'll likely never get games quite like them ever again.
 
This is a good question for me to ask, I'm definitely not as deep into the NG franchise as other action franchises. So I have to ask, how good is Sigma compared to Black? Would you recommend picking up one over the other?

It's pretty much the same game with better graphics and more content.
 
This is a good question for me to ask, I'm definitely not as deep into the NG franchise as other action franchises. So I have to ask, how good is Sigma compared to Black? Would you recommend picking up one over the other?

sigma is like black except with stuff added to make it worse
literally everything added to sigma was a negative between bad new enemies and terrible rachel sections
NGB is still the definitive NG1 experience

Edit: It has "better graphics" but most of the improvements come from running at HD rather than new assets, it still largely looks like an XBOX game (although NGB was like the best looking XBOX game). Also it has more loading, including MID AREA LOADING SCREENS in the main town - horrible.
 
i havent played it but i assume people who say good things about razors edge are probably the same people who say ng sigma 2 improved upon NG2

aka wrong people

Some people like games that look, run, and play better. Yes, get the Sigma games if you can, so freaking good.
 
I don't mind DMC3's music because it's not so annoying and intrusive as DMC4 or DmC's music. It's lower volume and isn't so distracting. Plus DMC3 has pretty awesome boss themes that aren't nu-metal at all.

By the way - How well does disc-based NGB run an Xbox 360?
Disc plays fine. Team Ninja intro and some cut scenes are glitched. GoD version is superior.

Edith: Black runs at 60fps without any drops, how is sigma running better? Also AI is broken in sigma. Sigma 2 is just plain bad. So much areas without any enemy encounters where in vanilla you gotta sweat already. The lowered amount of enemies was balanced through more hp. But due to the new core mechanics in ng2 it was pointless compared to black, where it made sense.
 
Some people like games that look, run, and play better. Yes, get the Sigma games if you can, so freaking good.

ng sigma 2 runs bad and has significantly less enemies
worst of both worlds!

my first time playing through sigma 2 I went through normal and mentor without dying at all and master ninja is super lazy with one hit kill grabs (yet still piss easy). between that and ninja gaiden 3 it seems like hayashi has a huge hard on for high damage grabs for some reason.

Edit: The only reason the sigma games are still great games is because the core games still shine through all the horrible shit that was done to them. Ninja Gaiden 3 is what happens when the Sigma team is left to their own devices.
 
This is a good question for me to ask, I'm definitely not as deep into the NG franchise as other action franchises. So I have to ask, how good is Sigma compared to Black? Would you recommend picking up one over the other?

Black is the superior title because of the: lack luster addition of Rachel, the removal of many puzzles and too much streamlining, and uninteresting addditional enemies. These are the big issues.

To me the ticy tac issues are: no theater mode to view the FMVs, say what you want about Team Ninja they made some amazing cutscenes, loading times far more often and time wise than the xbox, Doku Chapter 2 fight breaks the original story.
 
Some people like games that look, run, and play better. Yes, get the Sigma games if you can, so freaking good.

And some people don't like when the pacing of the game goes to shit due to irrelevant content additions. At least sigma 1 was like that, that's why I never bothered with Z2.
 
I don't get why Sigma 2 gets so much shit. To me it made NG2 playable.

Sure I loved the gore in NG2 but it made game struggle in terms of framerate, Sigma 2 is steady 60fps and it almost never dips. It took out the worm fight which was complete bullshit, I don't think It dumbed down the difficulty more like it was balanced to make it fun the IS ninja spam got fucking annoying In NG2. The only bad thing are the rachel/momiji/ayane levels, which feel like artificially padding game length.

Sure it's nowhere near Black (then again what action game is) but I enjoyed it massively.
 
Ninja Gaiden games have a larger move set than DMC games. People just abuse the bread and butter moves which every action game have.

I think it's more like the majority of them are red herrings that the game doesn't seem to be designed around the use of

While DMC's design philosophy has always been "play how you want" and getting out of the game what you put in.

The different weapons in NGB are like different tools with a different purpose. The different weapons in DMC3 and different styles are almost entirely different characters suited to different playstyles for different people. I think there's way more freedom of play in DMC.

and then there's Bayonetta which through the implementation of dodge offset finally made an action game where completing long strings was not only viable, but encouraged through the scoring system. So not only did the developers make using those strings viable, but they designed their game around their use. (while NGB just....has them)

I think there's decent dialogue to be had comparing the encounter design of the 3 games. but I don't think NG fans really have a leg to stand on arguing about moveset quality. NG has alot of filler strings that no player is ever going to use because there's no incentive to do so in the game. Especially as difficulty goes up.


Too bad about that shitty Space Harrier stage you have to play through to get to Jeanne

every Jeanne fight is locked inside of a stage.

It probably takes less time to clear space harrier than the stages to get to any of her other fights

I'll never understand this complaint

every Jeanne fight is the same anyways
 
As a pretty big fan of Bayonetta/DMC/MGR/God Hand, I REALLY have to try that game.

I know that Black>Sigma (Plus), but is the difference big enough to make it worth unboxing my OG Xbox and track a copy of the game, or will I have a comparable experience on the PS3/Vita versions?
 
I give sigma a pass solely on the fact that 1) it helped the wait for DMC4, 2) cutscenes and loading notwithstanding, it was in glorious HD and 60 fps
 
Imo in order of best to worst (or most to least enjoyable):
1) Black
2) DMC3:SE = Bayonetta
3) DMC1 = NGΣ
4) DMC4 = NGΣ2
5) NG2
6) NGΣ+
7) NG3:RE = NGΣ2+
8) NG3
9) DMC2.

Haven't played Rising, the GoW series, or DmC yet.
EDIT: I should say that the only games I consider to be mediocre or worse are below number 6. Just because NG2 is number 5 doesn't make it horrible.
 
Ninja Gaiden Sigma for me is still the best all out Action game this gen. Sad that it's just a port but the whole over-haul of the game makes it perfection.

For last gen I'd put Black just one notch below DMC3.
 
every Jeanne fight is locked inside of a stage.

It probably takes less time to clear space harrier than the stages to get to any of her other fights

I'll never understand this complaint

every Jeanne fight is the same anyways

It's pretty simple, Retro. The other stages are good, the Space Harrier stage is not. And that Jeanne fight is similar to the other ones, but the final one is the most complex and the most interesting.

But I know you never understand that complaint. You a one man Platinum Games defense force, no complaint is valid to you.
 
having played ng sigma, all the dmcs, all the gows i'd have to say ninja gaidens combat is by far the best out of them all.

however i've never completed it, weird huh? i've completed all the other games...
 
No I understand that.

What I don't understand is how overblown it is of a complaint on here. To the point where every time the game is mentioned in any thread hyperbolic statements are made describing it as ruining the entire product for them.

It's like people are more interested in reiterating the same tired talking points and patting each other on the back for it than making any substantive and original criticism of their own about the game.

That's what I don't understand, and what frustrates me to no end when talking about Bayonetta on here. It's like that's the only thing people remember about the game

And that Jeanne fight is similar to the other ones, but the final one is the most complex and the most interesting.

Well she has a few more moves

but the basic strategy for fighting her is the same in every encounter.

Balder/Rodin are the only good boss fights in the game.

but for the most part the bosses are the weakest aspect of Bayonetta. Even the Jeanne fights
 
Imo in order of best to worst (or most to least enjoyable):
1) Black
2) DMC3:SE = Bayonetta
3) DMC1 = NGΣ
4) DMC4 = NGΣ2
5) NG2
6) NGΣ+
7) NG3:RE = NGΣ2+
8) NG3
9) DMC2..

Good man. Good man. I like the way you list.
 
I just want to know when we're going to get another wall run-enabled action game. MGR:R showed it in the previews, but it was axed...will Bayonetta 2 or MGR:R 2 you think? Or what NG4?
 
Imo in order of best to worst (or most to least enjoyable):
1) Black
2) DMC3:SE = Bayonetta
3) DMC1 = NGΣ
4) DMC4 = NGΣ2
5) NG2
6) NGΣ+
7) NG3:RE = NGΣ2+
8) NG3
9) DMC2.

Haven't played Rising, the GoW series, or DmC yet.
EDIT: I should say that the only games I consider to be mediocre or worse are below number 6. Just because NG2 is number 5 doesn't make it horrible.

I could get behind this list. Rising would probably be around DMC1 for me.
 
Agreed, NGB is the absolute best. I still play it, it is nearly perfection. I think the God of War series is also, and DMC is also pretty solid. I've yet to beat all the DMCs, however.
 
You mean a game that dumbed down the difficulty and removed "all over my face" combat to cater the casuals, is the best Ninja Gaiden game?

You don't play Ninja Gaiden games much, do you.

didn't remove the difficulty. if you think reducing off screen projectiles is removing difficulty, you must have some warped priorities. they removed slowdown and unnecessary water combat and added so much more. one of the best additions to a game for this generation. there is so much new content, it's insane. it's NG2 complete edition. i'm happy it happened.

fantastic game.
 
While i dislike, the game for not having as much content and not having as good level design as 3, i love dmc4's combat the most.

Behold one of the greatest action game-play mechanics of all time


Devil_Bringer_2.png



Effective, empowering , bad-ass, functional.



I like ninja guiden too, but damn this arm is amazing.
 
NGB is the best. Not only is the combat great, but it's the overall game design which really makes the game. Great encounter design, varied stages, lots of variety in enemy setups, great bosses of varying sizes and concepts. It's just such a packed game, with pretty much every element polished and fun for players of all skill levels. Great weapons too.

There have been a number of great action games since then, sure, but NGB remains THE best.

iW0PF5tHeONeU.gif
 
What is amazing to me is how Itagaki's vision for a sequel to such an amazing game that was NGB, actually delivers and improves on so many things that were already good. And yes I'm saying vision and not execution, we all know unfortunately NGII was not properly finished.

I wish Itagaki and his team had the chance to make NGII Black, with the frame rate and balance of NGB and NGII's vastly more versatile combat. That could have been THE action title of this generation.
 
As a pretty big fan of Bayonetta/DMC/MGR/God Hand, I REALLY have to try that game.

I know that Black>Sigma (Plus), but is the difference big enough to make it worth unboxing my OG Xbox and track a copy of the game, or will I have a comparable experience on the PS3/Vita versions?

Personally, if you're not terribly picky about extra content being added, Sigma/plus at their core are still based on the mechanics of NGB. You just have to play through some extra Rachel stages, and some parts are easier.
 
What is amazing to me is how Itagaki's vision for a sequel to such an amazing game that was NGB, actually delivers and improves on so many things that were already good. And yes I'm saying vision and not execution, we all know unfortunately NGII was not properly finished.

I wish Itagaki and his team had the chance to make NGII Black, with the frame rate and balance of NGB and NGII's vastly more versatile combat. That could have been THE action title of this generation.
Agreed. Sigma 2 is utter shit. Fixed some stuff, but was inferior in most parts. Hell even the loading switching weapons and opening chest are in sigma2. Which was fixed in vanilla through installing on HDD. And sigma2 has a mandatory install. What happened here?
 
I like how everyone accredits Itagaki for NGB, when the project lead for that game was actually Yousuke Hayashi.

To give an analogy to what's the difference between the project lead and director of a game, look at SkullGirls. Mike Z is the project lead while Alex Ahad was the director for the game, and the game design choices were all handled by Mke Z. Just something I'm throwing out there.
 
I like how everyone accredits Itagaki for NGB, when the project lead for that game was actually Yousuke Hayashi.

To give an analogy to what's the difference between the project lead and director of a game, look at SkullGirls. Mike Z is the project lead while Alex Ahad was the director for the game, and the game design choices were all handled by Mke Z. Just something I'm throwing out there.

Yeah...that's because he wasn't.

Directors:
Tomonobu Itagaki
Hiroaki Matsui
Yasuo Egawa (graphics)
Makoto Hosoi (sound)
Yuki Naruse (motion)

Producers:
Tomonobu Itagaki

Designers:
Masanori Sato,
Noriaki Kazama,
Katsunori Ehara (planners)
Kenichiro Nakajo (scenery)
Yoshiki Horiuchi (characters)

Project Lead:
Takeshi Kawaguchi



Hayashi was lead and director for the Sigma versions and Ninja Shitfest 3, respectively.

And also, even though Itagaki is "only a producer" as you put it, the entire vision of the game was his. A vision which he communicated very well with his team. And it makes sense too. After he left, roughly 80% of the talent left with him to form his new studio. That speaks volumes to the amount of influence he had.
 
I've been wondering lately whether or not NGB has held up over the years. I pretty much skipped most of NG2 as well as NG3 so I have no idea if NGB's utter perfection of the genre is simply nostalgia talking or if I'd still love it today.

One way to find out I suppose...
 
This opinion is spreading like wildfire.

Yeah I'm surprised by both how popular Ninja Gaiden is on here and how many people seem to be throwing DMC3 under the bus as of late.

I'd take Bayonetta over Ninja Gaiden any day of the week.

Same.

and right now I think that's a good place to be. Being a Bayonetta fan is looking alot better than being a Ninja Gaiden fan for the foreseeable future.
 
You mean the camera system that there's nothing wrong with?

Yeah, exactly. The greatest misconception that gained traction ever is that NG has a bad camera. I heard the same for NG2.

You can invert it horizontally, vertically or both. You can change the speed it pans or tilts. You can hit a button to instantly center it behind Ryu. You can go first person to look around.

What else should they add that would make the camera good for people? You have complete control over it at all times.

The only other option would be to have a static camera that's out far away like God of War or something, and that sounds pretty awful for this series. The reality is that the camera is perfectly fine. People just suck at controlling it. It would be better if people just admitted that. It's a difficult game. No one would make fun of you for it.
 
I like how everyone accredits Itagaki for NGB, when the project lead for that game was actually Yousuke Hayashi.

To give an analogy to what's the difference between the project lead and director of a game, look at SkullGirls. Mike Z is the project lead while Alex Ahad was the director for the game, and the game design choices were all handled by Mke Z. Just something I'm throwing out there.
images
 
Yeah...that's because he wasn't.

Directors:
Tomonobu Itagaki
Hiroaki Matsui
Yasuo Egawa (graphics)
Makoto Hosoi (sound)
Yuki Naruse (motion)

Producers:
Tomonobu Itagaki

Designers:
Masanori Sato,
Noriaki Kazama,
Katsunori Ehara (planners)
Kenichiro Nakajo (scenery)
Yoshiki Horiuchi (characters)

Project Lead:
Takeshi Kawaguchi



Hayashi was lead and director for the Sigma versions and Ninja Shitfest 3, respectively.
Hayashi was combat and AI programmer if I remember correctly.
 
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