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.