The Video Game Critic

Just downloaded Ninja Gaiden on the virtual console. Loved it! I forgot how awesome this game was!

Then I saw the rather tepid review by the Critic... a B-? Wha!?!

The game is probably worth a "B" just for inventing the cinematic cut scene.

-Rob

I HATE the fact that it invented the cut scene!  Most cut scenes are pointless, boring, poorly acted, and waste time.

That said, Ninja Gaiden is one of my favorite games of all time.  Just skip the cut scenes.

I'm not sure I agree with all of that.

Cutscenes were, in my view, one of the critical factors that mainstreamed the game industry, leading to the current three system market with many, many inexpensive, high quality games.

But more than that, they helped to mainstream the RPG, which was a mere niche genre before Final Fantasy VII. And of course one of the main factors in the popularity of that game was the cinematic presentation. A presentation style which began largely with Ninja Gaiden.

Obviously, there have been games that have abused the formula. Final Fantasy VIII, Metal Gear Solid III, and the Xenosaga games are recent examples. We all understand and get that too many cutscenes and not enough gameplay is bad. But I think it has become a groupthing, kneejerk thing to bang on cinematic cutscenes. They are, in fact, largely useful.

-Rob

It does have that incredibly annoying way of climing, though, where you need to push A-backwards-forward a dozen times every time you want to scale a wall, and if you mess up once, you either die or have to repeat most of the climbing.

Still, yeah, I agree that Dave rated the entire series way too love. Especially the second game is excellent, and one of the best games for the system.

I remember being amazed by the ninja duel at the beginning of the game. Its a great game, a bit on the hard side. I play the remake on pc-engine which is very good as well.

I got no problem with the Critic's score.  Sure the game is legendary, but everything he said in the review is true.  After re-reading the review I felt the grade matched the text really well.  Ninja Gaiden is one of those games that will score really low or really high...depending on how hard/cheap the reviewer thought it was. 

On a side note...I have been playing the hell out of the Ninja Gaiden Sigma demo for the PS3.  I didn't think that a remake of game that I already own would draw me back in, but damn I'm hooked.  I think my prefrence to the Playstation controller has something to do with it.  Anyways the game looks terrific...one of the best I've ever laid eyes on.  The fun factor is through the roof and the difficulty starts off fair.  It will probably be a day one purchase for me.

What are your thoughts on the sequels (2 and 3) for Ninja Gaiden on the NES?

Also, does anyone own the trilogy pack for the SNES?

I've heard the trilogy pack is an abomination.

The NES A and B buttons are mapped to the SNES A and B buttons. Horrible, horrible idea.