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Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword; NDS
Topic Started: Mar 28 2008, 01:02 PM (345 Views)
eomund

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Well the game is finally out. There was a lot of anticipation with this game and had a lot to live up to.

The game once again revolves around the Hyabusa clan this time with the main focus being on the legend of the swords that the clan protects. The game keeps up with all of it's predicessors by having a simple, yet compelling storyline to keep your interest.


The first thing you'll notice about this game is how it's played. You play it vertically like a book, similar to the Brain Age games. The left screen works solely as a map while all of your movements are done on the touch screen. In fact the only things the buttons do are blocking and pausing the game.

Game makers must be getting a hand at this control scheme 'cause they really succeded with this one. It's not only natural feeling, but fun. There are times when you'll be in a swarm of enemies that it sort of feels like the old school button mashers, but if you slow down and think about the direction of the swipes it's really not.
The game also has a series of mini games to use certain moves like your ninpo. And for once in history, they don't feel like a last minute afterthought.
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ninpo


2 games were slotted to come out this year that stated they would push the DS to it's graphical capabilities. Assassins Creed and this. This game succeedes where Assassins Creed failed. The game looks absolutely brilliant, yet runs continually fast and has no noticeable frame rate slowdown.

One of the main reasons this game looks so great was the large amount of pre rendered scenery, done much in the same fashion of the original Resident Evil games. I really don't have a problem with this, because it allowed them to focus on the look of the characters instead of trying to render every insignificant shrub.
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The game also has a great deal of cutscenes for telling the story as well. These are all done with 2D sprite animation which also looks beautiful.
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The sounds are probably one of the weakest parts of the game. Not that I'm saying it's bad, it's just not as strong as other elements of the game. The story is told through text (in classic nintendo style), with the only words being spoken are generally grunts, shouts and a rare word or two at the start of conversations. Both the sword slashing and music are on the generic side too. It's not terrible, but it could've been better.

All in all there are really only two things I really had a problem with, and they're somewhat connected. If you're fighting near the edge of your current screen, there's a really bad tendecy to go into the next screen. That would be rather minor, but certain screens respawn every enemy, evertime you re-enter it. So if you stumble out of the screen right after clearing it of all the baddies, you can expect to have to fight them all over again. The game could also use some sort of an objectives list to tell you what you need to do sometimes.

But that's all I have to really complain about.

One thing this game suprisingly has is a good amount of replayability. You not only get rewarded with a harder mode after you beat the game, it doesn't get tiring to do it multiple times.


This is a great game for the DS. If this is your first Ninja Gaiden experience, or if you've been with the series since it's debute, it's worth getting. It not only has some of the tightest controls and best graphics seen on the DS, the game is polished and tight as well. With only a few gripes, there's not much to dislike about the game.

Scoring:
Gameplay: A+ - Honestly some of the best feeling controls I've felt on the DS yet.
Graphics: A - Not only solid and smooth, but don't bog the system down either.
Sound: B- - Not bad, but not great. Doesn't quite live up to it's previous games.
Replayability: B+ - Has some more fun to offer, even after completing it.
Polish: A - One of the most polished games to come out, for any system. Everything fits together as it should.
Story: A - Not the most complicated, but still complelling.

Overall: A- - Easily one of the best games on the DS. Not perfect in every way, but darn near close.


P.S. If you pre-ordered the game you could've gotten a cool little dragon sword stylus:
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Adam

I really love this game i have played demos, read previews and reviews. I have played it at my cousins and loved it so i would give it a 9/10!! I love the music i don't know why you think it isn't very good. The reason i didn't give it ten out of ten is that would mean it is perfect and no game is perfect. No matter how perfect a game is it will always have one main fact all games are beaten and they end.
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Itachi the strongest of the uchiha Clan, fear him and his ultimate power!!...Mind Crush!

My number one catchphrase: Banzai!!

Dr. Octagonapus...Bleh heh heh heh heh bleck... blaaaaa!!

Like a windstorm at a kindergarten picnic...It is I...The pleaser of crowds...The Master of Dimensions...I am Adam!!
Screw the rules...I have money!
Adam has spoken!! Deal with it!!
Shoop da whoop!
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megaman1998
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Nice review, Eomund. I'd have to agree, a fair A-.
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Credit for the awesome KH sig goes to RunawayRed! :D
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DJtheDJ
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I'm getting it. This is good news to read.Since I'm getting it (supposed to get it yesterday) but nope its not out yet so I'm still waiting
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DJtheDJ
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good news. I got it. It's awesome. I'm at chapter four already. It really is the best game ever,too bad more games weren't this succesful.


Good by Tenchu DS
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Messina

Nice stylus xD.
I never really thought about getting into the Ninja Gaiden series. I might try it out thanks :)
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DJtheDJ
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^ Get it!
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eomund

I really recommend this game to everyone. It's really fun (just beat Normal Mode last night).

I can understand why people might dissagree with me on the sound factor, but I just feel it sounds too generic. For a game series that's always had steller music, it wasn't up to it's original luster IMO.

Also other reviewers talk about the games ease. I'll admit, it's not a whole lot of trial and error, but still great. And the 'Head Ninja' mode you unlock is quite a bit more difficult.
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WARIOFART

Great review, It makes me wanna buy it even more!
I make movies
You watch movies
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Click here to feed me a Rare Candy!
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TriforceMan
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Triumphant Return!
Hmm. I've been itching to get a new DS game. Maybe I'll get this when I'm through with Mass Effect.
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Adam

i like how this game is only rated teen because my parents even though I'm fourteen(I just turned to 14 a few days ago). They don't like me playing mature games.
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Itachi the strongest of the uchiha Clan, fear him and his ultimate power!!...Mind Crush!

My number one catchphrase: Banzai!!

Dr. Octagonapus...Bleh heh heh heh heh bleck... blaaaaa!!

Like a windstorm at a kindergarten picnic...It is I...The pleaser of crowds...The Master of Dimensions...I am Adam!!
Screw the rules...I have money!
Adam has spoken!! Deal with it!!
Shoop da whoop!
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Dan
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Maybe that can be the DS game your parent's will get you. If that's the case, I'm coming to your house and playing it xD
My new signature will be up when the new forum is up.
Same with my avatar.
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Adam

it might be plus I have $60 dollars of my own to buy another game or maybe two more games. It might be this but it might be Rondo of swords that game looks pretty good and it reminds me of Fire Emblem!
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Itachi the strongest of the uchiha Clan, fear him and his ultimate power!!...Mind Crush!

My number one catchphrase: Banzai!!

Dr. Octagonapus...Bleh heh heh heh heh bleck... blaaaaa!!

Like a windstorm at a kindergarten picnic...It is I...The pleaser of crowds...The Master of Dimensions...I am Adam!!
Screw the rules...I have money!
Adam has spoken!! Deal with it!!
Shoop da whoop!
Posted Image
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eomund

Ya it's rated teen 'cause there's no realistic blood, and for the most part, your vanquishing demons, not people.

It really is a good game though.
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