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[Jeff-DSA]

Ninja Gaiden Black is undoubtedly one of the finest action games ever created. Sure, it has some downfalls, such as screwy platforming elements and some cheap attacks, but for the most part it's pure action gaming goodness. I've been playing it again on my 360 (it's not that badly supported) and I realized that this game plays, looks, and feels better than 90% of what is currently being considered "next-gen."

The game is a true example of what a developer can achieve if they are willing to take some pride in their work and take the time necessary to fully take advantage of a system's hardware. I really can't wait to see how Ninja Gaiden 2 turns out, I just wish they'd put crap like DOAX 2 on the backburner for a while to get NG2 out first.

Does everybody remember how when the initial screenshots were released that many people were claiming that the screens were doctored or not real-time? I couldn't believe how beautiful the game was the first time I fired it up (original Ninja Gaiden, and later Black) on my Xbox. I was even more surprised to see how well it held a high framerate.

For anybody that's been hesitant to give this game a go on the 360, it's fully playable and still really fun. During this release drought, and boy is it going to be a long one, there isn't really anything better to play if you haven't experienced this game. Summer is a great time to tackle your backlog or revisit old favorites, make sure to include Ninja Gaiden Black in your lists.

 

[neptunes]

I just beat the original(not black) a few days ago, and I really liked it.

I heard the original plays better than black on the 360. (that's what I used anyway)

 

[StoOgE]

too bad its hardly playable on a 360

But yes, one of the greatest games of all time. Cant wait for the 360 version. In fact, they should stop making DOAX2 and make more Ninja Gaiden.

 

[Jeff-DSA]

too bad its hardly playable on a 360

I think it plays fine. There was the hiccup here and there, but it's definitely not unplayable.

 

[ratcliffja]

I came for the black love fest, but I'll stay for the Ninja Gaiden.

 

[Stinkles]

I blazed through this in about an hour and a half.


Too easy and short.

Spoiler

It gave me a rectal Hemorrhage and brains blew out of my nose like badly-inhaled soda.

 

[DeathbyVolcano]

Fun game. Hard game. Got bored with it after I beat it, haven't really touched it since.

 

[Blimblim]

too bad its hardly playable on a 360

It's very much playable on 360. Except for the cutscenes it's almost perfect.

 

[Gorey]

Just fired this up again on the 360- yesterday. It plays just fine. This time I'm going to actually try and USE lunar instead of abusing the big 'ol wooden blade.

 

[NME]

So, is it that much better than Ninja Gaiden White that I should run out and pick it up?

I haven't beaten the first one. I have only made it to

Spoiler

Jell-o mold 2

and upon my first death, never really gave it another go. But then it took me over a year to finally sit down and put forth the effort to kill the

Spoiler

three dinosaurs

in order to face

Spoiler

jell-o man 1

. Weaksauce, I am.

 

[goldenpp72]

It runs fine on the 360 now (after the patch) sans the CG stuff.

Probably my fav game of all time too

 

[BlizzyAzz]

NGB aka masochist finest!

 

[ZeoVGM]

It's very much playable on 360. Except for the cutscenes it's almost perfect.

ninja gaiden BLACK? it definitely is not almost perfect. unless something has changed in the 2 months

 

[Jeff-DSA]

ninja gaiden BLACK? it definitely is not almost perfect. unless something has changed in the 2 months

Check again. After the latest update it's been improved a ton.

 

[Mrbob]

too bad its hardly playable on a 360

.

You've said this a couple times, and I don't understand your complaint. I've gone through nearly the whole game of Black again with the latest update and there is nary a slowdown at all. Just some cut scene problems.

 

[Apharmd Battler]

Definately my one of my top 5 XBox games, and in my personal list of top 10 games of all time. This game brought back the euphoria of the golden 16bit "action age". I too hate it that Itagaki is spending resources on DOAX2...but this is the engine he'll probably use for NG2, so let him learn all he can about the XBox360 hardware. I can't wait to see what he can do with a Ninja Gaiden sequel with some experience with the hardware. I PREY next E3 we get a taste.

 

[D.Cowboys]

The last update which contained the game Black, there were some tweaks to Ninja Gaiden Black which makes it run better than it initially did on 360.

I started a new game on 360 and have had no problems with slowdown yet. I just finished beating Alma today.

 

[Mrbob]

I'm fine with NG2 coming out in Spring 2008 (which is when I think it'll be released), because it means Team Ninja should know all the ins and outs of the 360 hardware by then and give us something spectacular.

 

[Barnolde]

NG Black made the game tolerable. Ninja Gaiden was awful. Still, just a mediocre game

 

[Gorey]

This game brought back the euphoria of the golden 16bit "action age".

Well said, that's how I feel about it exactly.

 

[Gribbix]

I didn't have an Xbox when NG was originally released so I scooped up NGB when it was released. Oddly, I reallly didn't like it at first. I found myself bored with it after the third or fourth chapter and I shelved the game for a few months. I eventually came back to the game on a whim a few months later and it just clicked with me. After completing it, I immediately played through on Hard mode and once I finished Hard, I continued onto Very Hard mode. NGB, DMC3, and Metroid Prime are the only games from this generation where I immediately played through again on a harder difficulty. Here's hoping that NG2 is as engrossing as NGB was.

 

[professor_t]

It gave me a rectal Hemorrhage and brains blew out of my nose like badly-inhaled soda.

You probably should get that looked at.

I never had too many problems with the difficulty, but somewhere there are several hundred thousand broken controllers with "Ninja Gaiden" written all over them.

Hell, not too long ago I saw a post from someone who was still trying to learn the Izuna Drop, and he had owned the game for over a month.

That's when you know you need to hang it up and take on a less taxing hobby, such as stamp collecting or downloading Paris Hilton videos.

 

[G-Fex]

**** that insane difficult game. NO!

 

[Vrolokus]

I can't fully express my love for NG and NGB... they are, as far as I'm concerned, the best action games so far.

And a lot of developers would be happy if they could get their PS3 and 360 games to look as good as this ol' Xbox title. The visuals are amazing.

 

[Skilotonn]

The only game I dare to give a perfect score... it's a masterpiece... it's my favourite action game of all time's extra badass expansion - the best example of fan service I've ever seen...

Made for the fans that didn't have Xbox Live to get the free downloadable content, and soooooooo worth it still to people like me that played the first like a million times and had XBL... 70% new content, when all people expected was a tiny patch for the camera (not even needed to me), and the Master Ninja Tournaments...

Team Ninja, I salute you... my favourite Japanese devs out there...

They brought us next-gen a whole gen early...

 

[Francias Castiglione]

NGB runs perfectly for me on the 360. I even went out and bought it again after borrowing it from a friend.

Such an awesome game, can't wait for the sequel. Unless Itagaki has a mental and screws it up.

 

[Core407]

I'll have to pick up Black soon I think.

 

[Tsubaki]

NGB is totally awesome in every way. After finishing, bumping up the difficulty only makes it better. <3 <3 <3

 

[MMaRsu]

I just bought Ninja Gaiden today, to play on my 360 ( which im going 2 buy next week ). Can't find NGB for a reasonable price anywhere, and this was 13 euro's new.

But honestly its the best game on Xbox

 

[WHOAguitarninja]

Aside from one very minor graphical glitch and CG running at half framerate, the game actually plays BETTER on 360 than on xbox. I played it on Xbox at my friend's place the other day and there were slight hiccups all over the place that simply arent there on the 360. Not to mention the 360 controller is better.

 

[theREBELins]

Damn you Ninja Gaiden. I will beat you one day, preferably before your sequel comes out.

 

[Deleted member 284]

I got a copy of NG and enjoying it on my 360. Whats the difference between the original and Black?

 

[Symytry]

I have to agree with what has been said. The game is fantastic through and through.

 

[demi]

I certainly hope the title edit was meant to be clever

 

[theREBELins]

Racists

 

[jarosh]

i thought this thread was about phoenixdark

 

[Jeff-DSA]

I certainly hope the title edit was meant to be clever

Oooh baby, that's hot stuff.

 

[Goreomedy]

Talk about a cocktease of a thread title!

::sulks::

 

[Musashi Wins!]

Talk about a cocktease of a thread title!

::sulks::

i thought we were going to get to troll fans of that shitty fps game

 

[MMaRsu]

i thought we were going to get to troll fans of that shitty fps game

Let's make a thread about it!

 

[Zonar]

the thread's "new" title is in bad taste.

 

[MMaRsu]

the thread's "new" title is in bad taste.

qft

 

[StoOgE]

I'll try it again tonight, but on the original it started getting pretty slugish in parts of the city (with the dragon statue) and when you went into the catacombs. After beating Alma and the tanks and whatnot show up it became unplayable. I'll try it again if you say its playing better, but after the last update that made it more playable it still wasnt very good.

 

[Kabuki Waq]

it still amazes me that it got C- at Gaming Age. Did we ever figure out who wrote the review?

 

[Musashi Wins!]

it still amazes me that it got C- at Gaming Age. Did we ever figure out who wrote the review?

I don't know, but they didn't write all that well.

 

[demi]

it still amazes me that it got C- at Gaming Age. Did we ever figure out who wrote the review?

I thought eXxy did?

 

[DIrtyWeasel]

too bad its hardly playable on a 360

But yes, one of the greatest games of all time. Cant wait for the 360 version. In fact, they should stop making DOAX2 and make more Ninja Gaiden.

I agree. I wish Team Ninja would just stop with all DOA titles and develop Ninja Gaiden only.

 

[iceDragon7]

BAH! Damn game, I was halfway through the game when my file became corrupted on the 360. =/