Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is the PS3 version of Ninja Gaiden II for the Xbox 360 with a few aces up its sleeve: it has a suite of additional content like a co-op Team Missions mode that is both online and offline compatible. You also have the ability to play as Momiji, Ayane, and Rachel throughout the game with new chapters that have been added just so you can take a walk in their sexy shoes. PS3 owners who've been waiting for their shot at some sweet ninja action have a lot to look forward to.

No One Knows...

I'll be honest and say that the story takes a serious back seat to the action in Sigma 2. In a nutshell, the Dragon Lineage defeats dirty blood suckers and are entrusted with defending a relic called the Dragon Statue from the Black Spider Clan. It's not exactly the stuff of legend, but it works as a backdrop to the ninja shenanigans. Seriously though, you shouldn't go into Sigma 2 expecting to be emotionally moved; you should expect instead to have your mind blown with action. Sigma 2 delivers that in spades, but just be prepared to have your ass handed to you repeatedly. Playing on the Warrior difficulty brought back memories of previous bouts with Ninja Gaiden's sob inducing difficulty; I hit the wall at the end of Chapter 5 when it took me about thirty tries to beat the Tengu bosses as Dragon Sword's Momiji.

I also didn't like the decision to eliminate blood from the game; it's an M-rated title, not some E For Everyone kiddie game, so why do the enemies spray purple gas when I rip them apart limb for limb with my sword? That was a serious let-down; I want to be properly rewarded for my ninja skills, not patted on the head and given a warm glass of milk.

Where a Ninja Goes

The action mirrors the Xbox 360 version, Ninja Gaiden II. You can button mash until your fingers bleed or you can take the time to master each weapon you pick up along the way via the move list. Either way, you're going to need a set strategy to cut down the enemies crowding your screen or you'll meet your purple gas end abruptly. One thing to watch out for is enemies with missing limbs. I can't tell you how many times a desperate limbless enemy looking to take me out by any means necessary nailed me by surprise. Oh, and the camera still offers up some problems, especially in cramped quarters; I had one fight where a column blocked my view the entire time.

Overall, I feel that if you have already mastered Ninja Gaiden II there is no real point in purchasing Sigma 2 -- unless, of course, you have friends who also own a PS3. If that's the case, then it's worth the hard earned cash simply for the fast paced co-op mode. As a ninja connoisseur I can easily say this game is one of the top ninja based titles on the market with the exception of the grand daddy of all ninja games: Ninja Blade.