Striking from the shadows...
Mainline Entry 01 - Ninja Gaiden
Formats: Arcade, Lynx
Mainline Entry 02 - Ninja Gaiden
Formats: NES
A walk along beat em up, the arcade original and the NES version released the same year but are separate games with only passing similarities. The game had two ninja's travelling through the streets of five US cities as they battled waves of enemies and smashed up objects in the streets. Also know as Shadow Warriors, the home version more specifically focused on Ryu Hayabusa as he set out to avenge the death of his father. Working through 20 levels Ryu, the story focused approach won the home version plaudits and is primarily the version responsible for the legacy that followed.
Mainline Entry 03 - Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos
Formats: NES, Super NES and Amiga
Two years later saw the release of the direct sequel. Taking place a year on from the previous game, the sequel continued in a similar vein with some added moves and was again well received, it helping to cement a reputation for the series hard difficulties.
Mainline Entry 04 - Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom
Formats: NES, Super NES, Lynx
Taking place between the first and second game and took on a more sci-fi look in an attempt to make the experience seem fresh. The game was most notable for how the western version was more difficult than the Japanese version rather than the inverse.
Spin Off Entry 01 - Ninja Gaiden
Formats: Game Gear
Spin Off Entry 02 - Ninja Gaiden Shadows
Formats: Game Boy
Spin Off Entry 03 - Ninja Gaiden
Formats:Master System
Mainline Entry 05 - Ninja Gaiden
Formats:Xbox, Playstation 3 and Playstation Vita
A reboot of the series, the new version retained the difficulty of the past games but translated the entire experience into a 3D action game that took advantage of the host systems power. Team Ninja focused hard on appealing to western audiences which worked well for them as the Xbox and the game weren't popular in that territory. Across 16 chapters, the game offered a wide range of moves and weapons to dispatch enemies with and the precise yet brutal action proved a huge hit with fans and critics leading to one of the Xbox's most acclaimed titles. It received several reworks with each release.
Spin Off Entry 04 - Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword
Formats: Nintendo DS
Mainline Entry 06 - Ninja Gaiden II
Formats:Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Playstation Vita
A new combat system for the sequel introduced dismemberment moves for Ryu, these severed limbs affecting the attack abilities of your enemies. Action was delivered in a similar manner to the previous game which meant fans were quick to take to it but it did receive some criticism for how little it advanced over the previous game.
Mainline Entry 07 - Ninja Gaiden III: Razor's Edge
Formats: Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii U
A change in staffing met the third and final mainline entry and with that came another attempt to try and set the game apart from its predecessors. A slow motion move showing bone cutting was added along with some new and altered moves for Ryu. Aimed to be a simpler, streamlined affair this ended up hurting the games received reactions with criticism going towards technical issues and how this simpler approach dated the experience.
Spin Off Entry 05 - Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z
Formats: Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and PC
This spin off closed out the franchise, this cel shaded hack and slash entry mixed in a score multiplier and paved an awkward path for the series, pleasing neither casual fans or those honed on the main series most recent entries. Between the poor response of this title and the weak reaction to NG3, the series has remained shelved ever since.
Share your thoughts and memories of Ninja Gaiden
Mainline Entry 01 - Ninja Gaiden
Formats: Arcade, Lynx
Mainline Entry 02 - Ninja Gaiden
Formats: NES
A walk along beat em up, the arcade original and the NES version released the same year but are separate games with only passing similarities. The game had two ninja's travelling through the streets of five US cities as they battled waves of enemies and smashed up objects in the streets. Also know as Shadow Warriors, the home version more specifically focused on Ryu Hayabusa as he set out to avenge the death of his father. Working through 20 levels Ryu, the story focused approach won the home version plaudits and is primarily the version responsible for the legacy that followed.
Mainline Entry 03 - Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos
Formats: NES, Super NES and Amiga
Two years later saw the release of the direct sequel. Taking place a year on from the previous game, the sequel continued in a similar vein with some added moves and was again well received, it helping to cement a reputation for the series hard difficulties.
Mainline Entry 04 - Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom
Formats: NES, Super NES, Lynx
Taking place between the first and second game and took on a more sci-fi look in an attempt to make the experience seem fresh. The game was most notable for how the western version was more difficult than the Japanese version rather than the inverse.
Spin Off Entry 01 - Ninja Gaiden
Formats: Game Gear
Spin Off Entry 02 - Ninja Gaiden Shadows
Formats: Game Boy
Spin Off Entry 03 - Ninja Gaiden
Formats:Master System
Mainline Entry 05 - Ninja Gaiden
Formats:Xbox, Playstation 3 and Playstation Vita
A reboot of the series, the new version retained the difficulty of the past games but translated the entire experience into a 3D action game that took advantage of the host systems power. Team Ninja focused hard on appealing to western audiences which worked well for them as the Xbox and the game weren't popular in that territory. Across 16 chapters, the game offered a wide range of moves and weapons to dispatch enemies with and the precise yet brutal action proved a huge hit with fans and critics leading to one of the Xbox's most acclaimed titles. It received several reworks with each release.
Spin Off Entry 04 - Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword
Formats: Nintendo DS
Mainline Entry 06 - Ninja Gaiden II
Formats:Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Playstation Vita
A new combat system for the sequel introduced dismemberment moves for Ryu, these severed limbs affecting the attack abilities of your enemies. Action was delivered in a similar manner to the previous game which meant fans were quick to take to it but it did receive some criticism for how little it advanced over the previous game.
Mainline Entry 07 - Ninja Gaiden III: Razor's Edge
Formats: Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii U
A change in staffing met the third and final mainline entry and with that came another attempt to try and set the game apart from its predecessors. A slow motion move showing bone cutting was added along with some new and altered moves for Ryu. Aimed to be a simpler, streamlined affair this ended up hurting the games received reactions with criticism going towards technical issues and how this simpler approach dated the experience.
Spin Off Entry 05 - Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z
Formats: Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and PC
This spin off closed out the franchise, this cel shaded hack and slash entry mixed in a score multiplier and paved an awkward path for the series, pleasing neither casual fans or those honed on the main series most recent entries. Between the poor response of this title and the weak reaction to NG3, the series has remained shelved ever since.
Share your thoughts and memories of Ninja Gaiden
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