Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection

The Master Collection is just about as barebones as you can get, yet can still be recommended due to the inclusion of two of the best games ever made. Like most players, I was excited when the collection was first announced because I thought it would be a full blown remake or, at the very least, a remaster. Still, I had hours of fun replaying the first two entries, and would wholeheartedly recommend this collection to anybody that has not played the games before or does not own another means of playing them.

There’s no better way to see the Dragon Ninja Ryu Hayabusa in action than with the Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection. Those that can deal with the odd loading stutter can experience some of the finest hack-and-slash combat on the market today.

A much-needed re-release of Team Ninja's trio of Ninja Gaiden titles, though the third game is a step below the other two games, and the remastering effort a touch on the conservative side, it's a proper joy to be able to play the first two Ninja Gaiden games once again on contemporary hardware; camera issues with the first game notwithstanding. Bolstered by a neat amount of extras and the seemingly ageless and satisfying combat that's as good now in 2021 as it was before, the king of high-octane, hyperviolent ninja action has returned.

Ninja Gaiden Master Collection offers three games of varying greatness in one set. It's not quite the all inclusive package one would hope for and the enhancements are limited but seeing each game back to back really shows the strength of each and highlights the fact that the controls and combat were always top notch.

The Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection on PS4 Pro and PS5 offers great value with its budget price, runs brilliantly, and is well worth your time if you can stomach some visual inconsistencies and camera issues.

Years after the release of the first Ninja Gaiden game, it's core gameplay mechanisms and level design still seem fresh and satisfying. The Master Collection puts together Sigma, Sigma 2 and Razor's Edge games in a thrilling Hack and Slash package that the fans of the genre just can't miss. Ryu Hayabusa is back; fast as a lightning bolt and sharp as a dagger.

Team Ninja have succeeded in bringing back Ryu in 2021 and while it doesn’t offer anything new, this collection is a lean mean fighting machine and with the inclusion of 4K graphics running at 60 frames per second, revisiting Ninja Gaiden is a blast from the past with a modern twist and while the first game feels a little dated, this collection excels with the later two games.

Even after 15 years from the publication of the first Ninja Gaiden it is easy to appreciate its majesty and all the nuances of the combat system proposed by Itagak.

The Ninja Gaiden trilogy returns to modern platforms in a 4K collection that includes most of the DLCs released over the years. This is an excellent opportunity to rediscover an action classic.

The slight graphical improvements and the addition of a few modes, weapons and characters provide a plausible excuse to pick up Team Ninja's vigorous games, neglecting the multiplayer of the past. The base of the problems is not found in the texture and resolution update, but in the origin of this trilogy, with the negative points of the Sigma versions making themselves felt in some moments. However, there are several moments in which we experience memorable challenges and a frenzy of blows that make us stick to the screen, just like what happened 10 years ago, reanimating a series that seemed forgotten, in the hands of a new generation of players.

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is an honest package, which manages to combine a decent job of graphical modernization with a fairly popular price. Even if on the first Ninja Gaiden weighs the weight of age, remains perhaps the best chapter of the whole package, and even today, one of the best action ever. Bloody and spectacular, the second chapter does not match the excellent design of the predecessor, preferring a more classic pace.The kitsch atmosphere and the unsuccessful design of some bosses deny the title its excellence, proving, however, a worthy heir to the first episode. Razor's Edge, on the other hand, proves to be an artificial and poorly blended work, being unbalanced in difficulty and dull in level design.

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection gives new players a chance to experience three wonderfully crafted action games with solid 60fps and 4K resolution.

Koei Tecmo could have used this opportunity to further strengthen the weak link beyond what it already did, but the first two games still stand so tall that it justifies the preservation altogether.

The Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is a nice little walk down memory lane for any returning fans of the franchise and a challenging yet fun experience for newer ones. It takes everything that made the original editions of the games enjoyable, polishes them to perfection, and wraps them up in one nicely affordable package. Although the main stories may be a bit on the short side, the collection still offers plenty to keep you occupied with all the extra play modes at your disposal. I can't stress how good all three games look. So with that said, if this timeless, high-speed, ninja action series is one you enjoy, be sure to pick up the standard or deluxe edition.

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is the best way to play through Ryu's blood-soaked, over-the-top adventures. New trophies, lots of content, and a modest visual upgrade make this a must-have package for hardcore Ninja Gaiden fans.

Ninja Gaiden Master Collection is a nice, chunky package full of satisfying and very difficult gameplay that the new generation of gamers ought to know. While the remaster brings 4K60 gameplay, it's hard to deny that some corners were cut, and that a lot more could have been done in terms of revamping this classic.

Ninja Gaiden is awesome and this Master Collection includes a trilogy of intense action games that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. However, the fact that the featured games are basically ports with no extra content is kind of disappointing.

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is a double-edged Dragon Sword. On one hand, it's hard to overlook the omission of both Black titles. On the other hand, the Sigma duology and Razor's Edge make for a compelling, if at times uneven, action trilogy. What the first Sigma loses from puzzles, platforming, and exploration, it makes up for with streamlined set pieces that highlight combat above all else. Sigma 2 lacks almost all the style that defined Ninja Gaiden II, but it's undeniably a smoother experience that challenges a different set of skills than its predecessor. Razor's Edge is the clear weak link of the bunch on a design level, but the mechanics are incredibly fun to experiment with. It may not be the ideal compilation for hardcore franchise fans, but Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is a great entrypoint for new fans and a solid trilogy in its own right.

Neither masterful or definitive, this is an awkward trilogy of at least two great action games, only one of which is really worth bothering with here. [Issue#3, p.150]

A nostalgic trip to the past with lots of ups and downs. It has a brilliant and addictive gameplay, but also some obsolete mechanics along with many technical issues.

Technically sound port of two great ninja action games, who visibly aged, but mechanically are still appealing. But don’t expect any bonus content – and the third game in the collection never was really good.

The Ninja Gaiden Master Collection is a great value for only $39.99. Three frenetic adventures that represent some of the best action games from console generations of the past are bundled, ensuring a lot of content for almost half the price of some AAA games. While the games stand on their own as fun and entertaining, the collection is rather barebones, and the exclusion of co-op or other multiplayer modes is felt throughout. Still, fans of the series, or those looking to become fans, can hardly go wrong with the purchase of this collection.

Ninja Gaiden became an instant cult classic from the moment it was launched, thanks to its gameplay and “git gud” attitude. The level of difficulty was high back then and it is even more so nowadays. I appreciate the thought of dusting it off and presenting it to the current generation of gamers, but this series would have deserved more attention and love. With more effort and care it could have achieved the quality level Nioh can brag with, and prove to us again why gamers fell in love with ninjas. As it stands now, even with the Day1 patch released, the Master Collection is lacking on every front. The games are still enjoyable, but there is nothing masterful in this collection, the publisher being content releasing a mere port instead of a remaster or alas, a remake.

Like a blast from the past, Ryu Hayabusha and the Ninja Gaiden trilogy appears like a storm in this Souls era. Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection looks very good, but not so great as it could've been. And the choice / not choice of remaster the Sygma versions is not what we wanted -It'd be great to have the option between playing the originals from Xbox and the Sygma versions. But nonetheless, we have pure ninja slice-and-dice action, so intense and hard that it puts your skills to the test. Oldie but true goodie indeed!

I loved my time with the collection, getting to know Ryu and the world of Ninja Gaiden. Reviewing the games at face value is impossible knowing that the game is simply a port to modern consoles and whilst the varied ways to now play these three fantastic games should be celebrated, their age shows dramatically at times and the collection is a missed opportunity to revitalise the series, it appears as a cash-grab rather than a celebration of what made these games fantastic. Newcomers, I recommend playing these games, but if you have a PS3 lying around, I'd play these games on that and save yourself £30.

Despite the remasters changing nothing, and being based on the inferior versions of the original games, the innate quality of Ninja Gaiden 1 and 2 shines through in this surprisingly enjoyable compilation.

Hayabusa is back with a correct remaster that could have been so much better, but at least allows us to enjoy this great series once again on modern hardware.

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection consists of two great and one really average games. Visually it's hard not to notice how old they are, even in 4K. It would be great if the developers took their time to update some of the textures and models, but even still, the gameplay remains the king. If great high speed action is something you can enjoy, and you can live with outdated graphics, then consider picking this collection up.

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is a decent remaster. It is undoubtedly a trilogy that made history, for the good with the first two chapters and for the worse with the third.

While little has been done to make these games truly shine on new, more powerful formats, they’re all still highly enjoyable action games – Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 in particular. It’s just a shame that Ryu Hayabusa hasn’t been shown a little more love.

If you have never touched the Ninja Gaiden saga, but you like the experiences raised, or if you are a big fan of the license of Koei Tecmo, this Master Collection is for you! Despite the years, the trilogy remains an excellent vintage made up of two wonderful experiences and a spectacular third title. However, keep in mind that this new compilation brings nothing new other than the addition of the sacrosanct 4K / 60fps on PlayStation 4 Pro, PlayStation 5, Xbox One X and Xbox Series X and S. Three excellent games therefore, which are unfortunately grouped together in a compilation which is satisfied with the minimum union. Now that you are warned, it is up to you to decide whether or not to take out the katana or not to pour out gallons and gallons of hemoglobin.

The Ninja Gaiden Master Collection is a barebones port of two of the greatest action games ever made and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge. The fact that these are the Sigma versions, and that Team Ninja has done nothing to iron out the weaker moments of these games, drags this collection down, but it's still a good way to play Ninja Gaiden on modern hardware.

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection brings a trio of Ryu Hayabusa's adventures to modern systems, and that in itself is worth celebrating. The quality of the individual games does vary a fair bit, though, with Sigma 2 the best of the bunch. However, bringing them together is highly skill-based combat that rewards real mastery, and it remains pretty unique among modern action titles. While not without their flaws, there's still plenty to love about these PS3-era slash-'em-ups

Featuring two very good games and one fairly mediocre game in one package, Ninja Gaiden Master Collection is well worth trying out, whether you missed out in the past or just want to slash up some enemies as Ryu Hayabusa all over again.

Ninja Gaiden: The Master Collection is a fascinatingly violent time capsule that shows off the best and the worst of Koei Tecmo's fan favourite shinobi. It's as barebones a collection as can be, packing all three games together with a sprinkling of DLC, but it's still a fine showcase of brutal difficulty and white-knuckle thrill power that is inimitable by anything else on the market. Just don't expect anything more than that.

Although Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection does a good job improving the gameplay in general terms thanks to the combination of 60 FPS and 4K/1080p, it lacks significant changes regarding the controls. Unfortunately, the collection does not shine as bright as it could had it been improved at a higher degree, especially when these past few years have seen the successful launch of many great hack n' slash games.

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is an enjoyable look at two and a half great games, but not in their best forms. It has much of the DLC and extra bits thrown in, but nothing new that makes this collection worthwhile, except to new fans.

The best way to play Ninja Gaiden today, although it falls short of appeal beyond the joy of bringing the Hayabusa formula back to 4K 60 FPS on supported platforms.

It’s too rusty for new players, too shallow and incomplete for veterans. Ninja Gaiden will have to transform itself significantly in order to attract a new generation of fighters.

Ninja Gaiden Master Collection is an accurate representation of a uniquely exciting series that never quite found the perfect balance. There’s plenty of content here and on top form its combat remains supremely sharp. But the first game deserves a more extensive remaster these days, and the second is poorly represented by its weakest version. Not quite a master collection, then, but still a pretty good one.

The Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is an enigma. It represents the easiest way of allowing a new generation of gamers to experience a revered series, but it also happens to consist of one amazing game in Ninja Gaiden Sigma, an okay offering in Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, and an absolute abomination that is Razor’s Edge. Depending on your appetite for punishment, it might just be worth getting the collection just to experience the first two games, while the third is better off being missed.

Ninja Gaiden Collection provides three very good games, but too bad we only have lazy ports here. It's almost the same games as the PS360 versions, and kind of expensive, too.