Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection

The Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is a solid package. The three games included in this collection are all enjoyable action games and well worth your time. While there are some issues with this release, such as the absence of all the online modes and the locking of bonus content behind the deluxe edition, they ultimately detract from the core single player experience at the heart of the package. If you are a fan of action games, especially ones where you get to play as a ninja, and you have yet to try the modern Ninja Gaiden games out, you should pick up this bundle right away.

It can be really annoying on the more challenging difficulty levels to have the framerate and resolution flopping all over the place. I’m still going to give this a thumbs-up, but if you are sensitive to framerate and/or resolution inconsistency, you should probably stick with the original versions.

Despite those technical shortcomings and the lacklustre experience that is Ninja Gaiden 3, Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is an impressive collection that shows why this series is so lauded. From the ambitions of Ninja Gaiden Sigma to the way Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 refined those ideas to near-perfection, these are some of the best action games you’ll play—and they hold up surprisingly well today. I guess I like Ninja Gaiden now.

It may not be flawless, but it is still amazing just how good this trilogy stands despite the test of time. A compilation of Sigma and Razor's Edge games, you could call this a definitive collection of sorts when it comes to the 3D Ninja Gaiden titles. And even though the Switch version sacrifices resolution in order to achieve a perfect frame rate, it is such a joy to be able to take these games on the go.

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is a compilation that includes three magnificent action titles with frenetic and addictive gameplay, which despite eliminating some of the features present in the original titles in the Sigma versions, are still as challenging and recommended as in the past.

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is a solid pack with two good games and one OK game with little in the way of polish or improvements. It's not hard to negatively compare it to something like Mass Effect: Legendary Edition in terms of content and quality, but that doesn't change the value of the games within. If you like challenge and struggle or enjoy feeling like the coolest ninja on the block, Ninja Gaiden is a franchise well worth checking out. Just be careful not to throw your Switch across the room when you die for the gazillionth time.

The three games found in the Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection are great, especially the original (the other two are more of the same). They all look, sound, and play as well or better than any other versions that have been released. If you enjoy third-person action games, the Ninja Gaiden Sigma Trilogy still holds up today. And the original should be required playing, as it is one of the original Xbox’s finest exclusives. However, buyers beware that these are only the Sigma versions of the modern Ninja Gaiden Trilogy. I don’t want to judge this collection for what I wish it contained (it already has three great games with tons of content), but by calling it a “Master Collection,” the game loses a couple of points due to false advertising.

Ninja Gaiden Master Collection is the best choice if you want no-stop action with the right amount of difficulty, plenty of cool moves and a lot of characters.

Ninja Gaiden Master Collection offers three titles across three generations of the series. All three are fun, challenging and addictive, but will surely be too tough for some. [Issue #4, p.63]

These three games are very much a product of their time, but underneath their flaws lies some of the best ninja action ever put in a video game. No matter how you slice it, (or what you slice it with) Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is an extraordinary value. [Issue #54 – September 2021, p. 19]

In terms of performance, Master Collection is at its best docked, but Nintendo’s version of the compilation has unmistakably had the most sacrifices made to get it running. That said, Master Collection plays fine despite the hardware shortcomings, running far more smoothly after a couple of updates post-launch. If you’ve never experienced these games, or if it’s been a while since you’ve played them, definitely consider giving Master Collection a download.

A competent collection of ports that does the bare minimum to bring the series to modern systems. The games themselves are still fantastic action classics but it’s a shame all versions couldn’t be included.

The games in the Ninja Gaiden Master Collection still hold up, but the remaster falters on bringing new quality of life features and fixing some of the trilogy's more glaring issues.

The Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection offers three intense, challenging, and mostly thrilling Ryu Hayabusa games for the price of one. Three may be one too many, but this is still a good deal for those seeking visceral, violent, video-game action.

While the Ninja Gaiden Master Collection isn’t perfect on Switch, it’s nail-biting, Ninja fun that is definitely worth revisiting.

The Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection definitely proves that there is still a place in the modern-day for Ryu Hayabusa. Just don’t go expecting a Halo: The Master Chief Collection-style package full of version comparisons and celebrations of Team Ninja’s mascot. Just think of it more like a scattered Super Mario 3D All-Stars type deal with far less effort involved.

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection offers three high-adrenaline action games that are still splendid today. This is the only, partial redemption for a collection incapable of convincing, lazy in implementation and technically inconsistent, especially on Switch.

The Master Collection provides the best way to try the Ninja Gaiden trilogy. However, there is a fluctuation in quality between the different installments and they still present some inconvenient design decisions.

As rough as Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is in places — and it’s very, very rough — it makes up for that by also being a whole lot of fun. I leave it up to you to decide exactly how much poor performance you’re willing to put up with to play a very enjoyable trilogy — because in this case, you’ve got to be willing to put up with quite a bit.

Ninja Gaiden Master Collection consists of three great action titles in a collection made with the bare minimum of effort. For a historical series like Ninja Gaiden, it is a shame that we haven’t received a product that is worthy of the legacy that these titles have built.

The Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection on Nintendo Switch is good value with three games and a lot of DLC and modes included, but the variable image quality and performance across the games on Nintendo Switch leaves a lot to be desired.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 1 & 2 rock and are arguably better games for their age that are best experienced with a Pro controller or even a beefier platform, just ignore Razor’s Edge.

Bare minimum ports with performance issues they may be, but Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is a most welcome release that hopefully fuels the flame for a fourth in the 3D series. The lack of polish or any real noteworthy adjustments or additional content, as well as the third game losing its way following the first two great entries, put a dampener on the package, but there is still good value for money here that fans of challenging games will do well to check out.

The Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is a no-holds barred, hack and slash experience that offers fun and challenge in equal measure. It isn’t perfect, but it really doesn’t need to be. Just enjoy it for what it is, as it was intended.

Despite lacking the fanfare you might expect for a celebration of a beloved franchise, The Master Collection does finally allow more players to experience these distinctly unique action titles. Be sure to play in docked mode for the best performance and ideally grab yourself a pro-controller to better handle a superb core combat experience. Ninja Gaiden might have aged in a few ways, but its mastery of the blade remains undeniable.

Overall, Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is fairly whelming and often aggravating. For those looking to replay one or all of these titles, it may be better to buy the original titles on their own, simply because the quality of the Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection experience doesn't match its price tag, while those who don't mind the cost will find only a serviceable group of titles in a series that had produced much better.

Ninja Gaiden Master Collection definitely has an appeal, and the excellent conversion job behind Ninja Gaiden Sigma creates high expectations for what comes next. Unfortunately the conversions of Sigma 2 and Razor's Edge fall way below expectations, with an appalling performance and erratic screen resolution, which makes the games often appear worse than they should be. On top of that, no improvements were done on Razor's Edge original formula and despite the additional content, this compilation feels like a botched effort whose only asset is the very good work done on the first game of the trilogy.