Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection

The grandmaster of difficult action games is back. The Ninja Gaiden Master Collection pulls no punches, nor does it change or cater to modern sensibilities. It’s as classic as it was in 2004, with some crow’s feet doing little to tarnish it. It’s still absolutely nails, but if you’re a fan, you can’t go wrong with Ninja Gaiden Sigma 1 & 2. Oh, and the third game is in there too.

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection brings age but also wisdom to the table. Most gamers have heard of Ninja Gaiden either by reference or by playing one of the original games. This collection brings the games to players who have not experienced it before and with the addition of the Hero easy mode there is no reason to fear the gruesome challenge these games used to be if you just wanted to experience it. For fans of the series, while it has not been remastered it has been spruced up with the new framerate and plays very smoothly on a Series S and X. If you need to get your ninja on and enjoy a fast combat action game, then this collection could be for you.

The Ninja Gaiden Master Collection is a great collection of games and the only way a lot of players can even access these titles. The first and second game are still classics. The third is fine, but just doesn’t stand on the same shoulders as its predecessors. Also, that t-rex fight is still ridiculous. Still, it is nice to have all the games in one place. Don’t sleep on these games. They are still pillars of the character action genre and worth playing to this day.

If the ultimate goal of the game is to have fun by turning your brain off and brutally defeating your enemies in elegant yet deadly combinations for hours on end where the story doesn’t matter, then Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection.

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection brings back to the table 3 great classics of the character action genre. Some graphic issues and the lack of new additions and fixes makes it feels like the work in this adaptation has been the bare minimum. Also, there are big problems in the control of the third title, which makes a stain in the impeccable gameplay of the first two of them. All in all, this collection offers a great amount of content at a reduced price, making it hard not recommend it to any lover of action games.

Ninja Gaiden Master Collection includes Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge. The first two revolutionized the action genre a few years ago, but don't get your hopes up about anything else in this collection. Times have changed and these games were not adjusted, nor polished one bit. And while it might seem that this will please the most purist fans, this is not the case either, as the collection does not contain the first version of each installment.

Xbox owners certainly have viable means to experience these titles in other forms, but when it comes to convenience and accessibility, Ninja Gaiden Master Collection is a solid value proposition all the same.

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.

Although the Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection could have been much more, the three games included run better than ever and should still be satisfying enough for returning fans. The bloody and brutal gameplay is just as exhilarating and will keep you coming back for more, and the collection is a great way for newer audiences to learn about Ryu Hayabusa's history.