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 Ninja
Gaiden Black is such a damn good game that it's easy
to overlook the violent aspect of it. Make no mistake,
this is an incredibly violent game but once you begin
playing it you are so engrossed in your task that
it doesn't really register exactly what you're doing.
While onlookers may be horrified by the onscreen brutality,
to you it's just another day at the office.
Before
you work yourself up into a frothing frenzy, you might
want to know that Ninja Gaiden Black is not a sequel
but a reissue with some new content. This isn't just
rehash, it's an incredibly thoughtful repackaging
that changes certain aspects of the gameplay and comes
out with something that seems new and fresh. It also
has five difficulty settings to aid the most feeble
beginner or challenge the most hardcore of digital
warriors. Your score, or karma, will be posted on
the net for the whole world to see. It's based on
how fast you clear a room and the techniques that
you employ to do it.
Ninja
Gaiden Black is a very open game. There are some new
scripted events and button mashing still makes up
most of the gameplay but there is tons of room for
improvising. Not only will you still fights crowds
of enemies, you will be confronted by smaller gangs
and even teams of bosses. It's your decision to take
these enemies on and earn more power-ups and essences
or avoid them and take your chances with the hordes.
Also
included in this collection are the two downloadable
Hurricane expansion packs, the arcade version of the
original Ninja Gaiden, new missions and a total of
50 arena battles, most of them new. There are some
new red ninjas that throw fireballs but the rest of
the enemies have all been recycled.
 Few
games can compare to the relentless action of Ninja
Gaiden. There might be an awful lot of button mashing
but the gameplay is so much more diversified than
just hacking and slashing. The Ninjas in this game
don't always sneak around in the shadows. They jump
right into the fracas like modern-day superheroes.
Once you acquire the touch, you will feel invincible.
Working the controls becomes second nature after much
practice, and much practice is what is required if
you're going to get anywhere in this game. There are
many different modes and unlockables but you'll have
to unlock them in sequence which requires you to gain
considerable skills before you can move on. Owners
of the original game will be able to unlock some features
automatically if they have saved any data from that
game.
Beginners
rejoice. It's now easier than ever to enjoy the ninja
adventure with a special aid that is triggered automatically
after the game senses that you're a lousy player.
Lose your life three times in the first level and
you'll activate the Ninja Dog difficulty mode in which
Ayane comes to your aid to help and belittle you.
It's a lesson in humiliation to be sure as you must
beg for her help like a dog. When you do get it you'll
receive tips and power-ups that will give you more
abilities, almost like a cheat code. The downside
is that you'll have to wear a pink armband to remind
yourself of your sad abilities.
Hardcore
ninjas are sure to take an ass kicking in one of the
most challenging modes I think I've ever played. The
Ninja Master difficulty mode is incredibly tough.
I don't think I have enough time left in my life to
devote to such a challenge. As if the game isn't already
loaded with enough features, mastering all of the
difficulty levels could take an idiot like me years.
Excellent replay value for the conscientious or the
anal retentive that has to unlock and complete everything.
Like
any crowd battling game there are going to be camera
issues. I don't see how you can get around that and
still have an open style of gameplay. The camera is
better than in the original game but it still manages
to confuse you at certain conjunctions.
 Graphically
the game is excellent. Not only can't I find anything
technical to complain about but I just loved looking
at the images on the screen. The characters have a
full, 3D look to them and move very smoothly. This
is Xbox processing at its finest. While we may already
be familiar with most of the environments they still
retain depth and detail and a level of interactivity
that brings them from the background to the forefront.
The sound effects come out loud and clear and the
ambient music perfectly reflects the emotions of the
cutscenes.
No
one ever said that being a ninja was easy, but I can
tell you for certain that being a ninja has never
been this much fun. Don't wait, get your mitts on
this game immediately.
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Ninja's
have been around since Shinobi, but I guess if you're
being historically accurate, they've actually been
around since feudal Japan. But they were more fun
in Shinobi....One of the most famous ninja's of all,
Ryu Hyabusa, who was actually the name of a wrestler
in Nintendo Wrestling back on the NES, has technically
been around for close to twenty years already, if
you count the wrestling title. He's appeared in Ninja
Gaiden the arcade game, the NES ports, the Dead or
Alive series and of course the Ninja Gaiden game.
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