| Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 | |
|---|---|
 North American PS3 cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Team Ninja |
| Publisher(s) | Tecmo Koei |
| Director(s) | Yosuke Hayashi |
| Producer(s) | Yosuke Hayashi |
| Programmer(s) | Yasunori Sakuda Masanao Kimura Takanori Goshima |
| Artist(s) | Masahiro Nose Hirohisa Kaneko Mariko Hirokane |
| Composer(s) | Hiroyuki Akiyama Ryo Koike Takumi Saito |
| Series | Ninja Gaiden |
| Engine | Hybrid Engine[5] |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | PlayStation 3
|
| Genre(s) | Action-adventure,hack and slash |
| Mode(s) | Single-player,multiplayer |
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, stylized asNinja Gaiden Σ2, is a 2009action-adventure game developed byTeam Ninja and published byTecmo Koei for thePlayStation 3. It is a port of the 2008Xbox 360 video gameNinja Gaiden II. It includes the entirety of the original story mode as well as various changes to the game's design, along with updated textures and a720p resolution. The game changesNinja Gaiden II in a similar, but not identical way to howNinja Gaiden Sigma changed the originalNinja Gaiden. A port for thePlayStation Vita, titledNinja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus (Ninja Gaiden Σ2+), was released in 2013.[6]
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 was released for theMicrosoft Windows,Nintendo Switch,PlayStation 4, andXbox One as part of theNinja Gaiden: Master Collection on June 10, 2021.[7] AnUnreal Engine 5 remaster that blends more aspects from the original game withSigma 2, titledNinja Gaiden 2 Black, was announced and released forPlayStation 5, Windows andXbox Series X/S on January 23, 2025.[8]
In comparison to the original version ofNinja Gaiden II, the game features new large-scale bosses, an onlineco-operative gameplay mode with three new playable characters (Ayane,Momiji,Rachel) and thePlayStation Network Trophy support.[9][10][11] Unlike the first game, theSixaxis motion sensing of the PlayStation 3 controller was not used for "charging" the Ninpo magic, but instead utilized as a secret way to jiggle the breasts of female characters.[12]
WhileSigma 2 has additional content not in the originalNinja Gaiden II, a large amount of content was also removed from the game, or altered, such as a drastically reduced enemy count within gameplay. With Team Mission mode, where two players can play at once in cooperative gameplay, the second character will be CPU-controller partner if there is no human partner or the player isoffline. In Story mode, Karma Scoring is removed and now only done in Chapter Challenge. Tests of Valor were also removed, scattering the rewards across Ryu's chapters.
In the gameplay control system, the action button changed from RB/R1 to circle, circle is now also theshuriken button. Other ranged weapons were separated to the R2 button. This allowed both the Bow/Cannon to be equipped at the same time as the shuriken. The player cannot unequip the bow or cannon. Thus, the two weapons bulk up Ryu's appearance even though they do not appear in cutscenes. Keys were completely removed. Doors simply pop open now. Now (R1) tells the player where to go. Projectile spam was greatly reduced fromNGII. Healing items were increased and are the only thing one can buy. Most chests now contain yellow, blue, or red essence. Players no longer can hold onto Life of the Gods, Lives of Thousand Gods, or Spirit of the Devil; instead, they are automatically consumed upon pickup.
Changes were made to Ryu's weapons. Enma's Fang, a greatsword, was added as a new melee weapon. The Incendiary Shuriken were removed for two reasons, opening paths and their power due to the removal of the ammo count, and is instead Ayane's main projectile weapon. The Fiend's Bane Bow, now with unlimited ammo, had its Ultimate Technique removed. The Howling Cannon, a heavy cannon with a slow projectile speed, served as a replacement. Additional removed weapons include the Windmill Shuriken and the Harpoon Gatling Gun. The Weapon Upgrade system was also altered to restrict upgrades, allowing only one upgrade at a time per shop. In addition, weapons can only be upgraded at shops where a blue flame is lit; items can be bought in both types of the shop.
Enemies' health was raised to compensate fewer enemies appearing on screen. Five new bosses were added, replacing two old boss encounters. There is one new boss for each alternate character's chapter (including returning bosses fromNinja Gaiden: Dragon Sword and the 2004Ninja Gaiden), a Dragon to replace the doubleQuetzalcoatl fight (though Quetzalcoatl can still be fought alone as inNinja Gaiden II), and two giant statues: a giantBuddha Statue and aStatue of Liberty animated by Alexei. The Tunnel Worm was omitted, causing Ryu to fall through a tunnel leading from dark night to bright day. Most flying enemies were removed due to infinite ammo.
Finally, almost all the gore has been removed in the PlayStation 3 version. Purple mist now bursts from enemies, along with reduced blood splashes. Dismembered body parts no longer stay on the ground, but vanish. Additionally, cinematics have been altered to remove dismemberment, dissection and blood effects. In the Japanese version ofSigma 2 the player can only decapitate monsters and non-humans; even the pause menu andgame over screens are colored blue instead of red to reflect this change.
TheSigma 2 Plus version for thePlayStation Vita, however, restored all the gore with the exception of the Japanese version. Its exclusive features are Ninja Race and Tag Missions.[13]
The game's plot is based on that inNinja Gaiden II. Exclusive to theSigma version of the game are three new chapters starring three alternate playable characters: Ayane (akunoichi from the Mugen Tenshin ninja clan, a friendly clan who helps Ryu, originally from theDead or Alive series), Momiji (a female member of the Hayabusa clan who uses anaginata and was introduced inNinja Gaiden: Dragon Sword) and Rachel (a Fiend hunter from the Holy Vigoor Empire who is in possession of the "Fiend's Blood" curse and first appeared in the 2004'sNinja Gaiden).
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Though Team Ninja developed the title, the series' creatorTomonobu Itagaki did not design it, as he left Team Ninja after completingNinja Gaiden II. Yosuke Hayashi, director ofNinja Gaiden Sigma, produced and directedNGS2.[14] Hayashi as the new director of Team Ninja had the game ported from its originalXbox 360 engine to the engine used to createNinja Gaiden Sigma. The game's native resolution became720p, compared to the original 585p in the originalXbox 360 version, with an increased use ofbloom lighting effect.[15]Eurogamer commented that the game "has the visual edge, not just thanks to its massively increased resolution but also through the accomplished use of the RSX'spixel shaders."[16]
As a trade off for increased resolution, the amount of on-screen action has been reduced in the PS3 version to keep the game running at an acceptable speed.Eurogamer pointed out that there are fewer enemies spawned at one time in the PS3 version of the game, and the developers "blatantly remove polygons in theSigma edition in order to maintain frame-rate."[16] Also of note is the reduction of bloodshed and gore-related violence than the Xbox 360 version.[17] Sprays of blood have been replaced by purple mist, and dead enemies and severed limbs will vanish from the battlefield "almost instantly" after killing an enemy.[15] Hayashi had many textures replaced to vastly improve the visual appeal of each environment, but left most character textures unchanged.
Those who purchased the Collector's Edition ofNinja Gaiden Sigma 2 were treated to a comic version of the prologue, titledThe Vampire War, and the original soundtrack. The Collector's Edition was limited toGameStop in North America andHMV for the UK. Pre-ordering either edition at GameStop warranted a code for a specialSigma 2 costume, mildly resembling Joe Hayabusa's own outfit, which that costume along with others can be purchased from thePlayStation Store.[18]
| Ninja Gaiden 2 Black | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Team Ninja |
| Publisher(s) | Koei Tecmo |
| Director(s) | Shuhei Sato |
| Programmer(s) |
|
| Engine | Unreal Engine 5 |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | January 23, 2025 |
| Genre(s) | Action-adventure,hack and slash |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Following the reveal ofNinja Gaiden 4 during theXbox Developer Direct on January 23, 2025, Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo announced that anUnreal Engine 5 remaster, titledNinja Gaiden 2 Black will launch later that day forPlayStation 5,Windows,Xbox Series X/S andXbox Game Pass. Calling it "a definitive version" ofNinja Gaiden II in the vein of the originalNinja Gaiden Black, Yasuda explained that the idea came from feedback following the release ofMaster Collection, as many fans wanted to experience something closer to the original Xbox 360 game.[19]
The game is updated port of the Sigma version. Shuhei Sato, claimed to replicate the feel of the originalNinja Gaiden II by incorporating its upgrade system and restoring its level of blood and dismemberment. The enemy count was also increased, though not to the extent of the Xbox 360 version.[20] As the remaster was built usingSigma 2 code, it retains most of its changes and additions, such as playableAyane, Rachel and Momiji, revised enemy placement, costumes, Tag Missions, and the Black Dragon boss, but removes the Great Buddha and Statue of Liberty bosses, as well as the "Ninja Race" mode.[21] The "Test of Valor" challenges, Mission ModeDLC and the Giant Death Worm boss fight that were removed inSigma 2 are still absent inNinja Gaiden 2 Black.[21] TheNew Game Plus mode was also absent on launch but was added in a post-launch update.[22]
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | PS3: 83/100[23] Vita: 66/100[24] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Destructoid | 7.5/10[28] (Plus) 5.5/10[29] |
| Eurogamer | 8/10[33] |
| Game Informer | 8.5/10[32] |
| GameRevolution | (Plus)  [34] |
| GamesRadar+ |  [30] |
| IGN | 8.4/10[25] (Plus) 6/10[26] |
| Push Square | [27] |
| VideoGamer.com | 9/10[31] |
Ninja Gaiden Σ 2 has an overallMetacritic rating of 83/100.[23] The game received an 8.4 fromIGN and an 8.5 fromGame Informer.[35][36] In 2012,ScrewAttack included it on their 2012 list oftop ten "games that make you want to bone".[37]
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | (PC) 81/100[38][a] (PS5) 81/100[39][b] (XSX) 82/100[40][c] |
| OpenCritic | 100% Recommend[41][d] |
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black also received "generally favorable" reviews on Metacritic,[40] while 100% of critics recommended the game onOpenCritic.[41] They liked the game's visual upgrade, while noting somewhat dated controls and animations due to being an enhanced remaster rather than a full remake. They felt it was a great starting point for beginners, as well as a fitting release to supplement the upcomingNinja Gaiden 4. Some lamented that it still lacked elements from the original release, though it was considered to be an overall improvement fromSigma 2.[42][43][44][45]
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