Ninja Gaiden
Ninja Gaiden, développé et édité par Tecmo avec le concours de Nintendo, est sorti le 1er octobre 1988 sur Arcade et Wii. Ce titre mêlant arcade et hack 'n' slash propose une aventure ninja où le joueur incarne Ryu et progresse à travers un complot aux États-Unis, l'histoire se dévoilant par un système d'affichage cinématique propre au studio. La presse a salué la qualité de son gameplay centré sur le combat, Thunderbolt écrivant que l'élément qui élève le jeu au-dessus des autres du genre est son gameplay de combat éblouissant, tandis que DarkStation a souligné la précision des détails rendant les défauts quasi inexistants. Certains joueurs sur Metacritic expriment un attachement durable au titre, le qualifiant même de plus grand jeu jamais créé, bien que l'un d'eux cite plutôt le reboot Xbox comme un chef-d'œuvre dépassant Devil May Cry sur plusieurs points. L'ensemble affiche une note moyenne de 78,82.
Médias
Avis des critiques et joueurs
Critiques de la Presse (Metacritic)
« From start to finish, the main element that propels Ninja Gaiden above all others in the action genre is the dazzling combat-based gameplay. »
« There has been such precise and accurate detail placed on this game that it would be near impossible to point out any faults. »
« Ninja Gaiden epitomizes all that is beautiful in gaming, an experience that is at once difficult, though never in a cheap way, and artistically crafted. »
« The jaw-dropping graphics help. As do the weapons, power-ups and the scope of the game (15-plus levels, 40-50 hours of play to complete). But it's the fighting that really won us over. »
« The character models and environments are drop dead gorgeous. This is one of the prettiest games to ever grace a console, on par with some of the high end PC games out there. »
« This game is cooler than ice cream stored in a fridge on Pluto. It look cools, it plays cool, it sounds cool. »
« The majority of folks will clock in for a 20-plus-hour thrill ride. Few games are this good, for so long, and still keep you coming back for more. Ninja Gaiden is truly outstanding. »
« The sense of accomplishment is strong with this one, as if the frenetic gameplay, incredible bosses, and awe-inspiring graphics aren't enough already. »
Avis des Joueurs (Metacritic)
« Greatest game EVER made. Hands down. Still play this regularly and that’ll never stop being true. »
« The Xbox reboot of "Ninja Gaiden" is an action/adventure masterpiece. It's comparable to "Devil May Cry", but also surpasses it in many ways. Developer Team Ninja had previously made the "Dead or Alive" fighting games. They brought the same combat complexity and challenge to this title. Every enemy is a force to be reckoned with. There are also plenty of puzzles and platforming similar to "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time". This is one of the best action games from 2004. I would rate it with a 9.4 out of 10. »
« This Xbox action masterpiece is like a ninja version of "Devil May Cry". It's arguably better than DMC due to superb level design and engrossing combat. A prequel to the NES games, "Ninja Gaiden" has the epic scope of a Zelda title. It has expansive levels filled with intense fights, puzzles and platforming. The game also gives you the feeling of being Bruce Lee. Combat is fast, tough and strategic. You'll need to polish your fight skills if you want to beat this very challenging game. Hardcore action fans will savor every minute of it. I would rate it with a 9.4 out of 10. »
« Glorious return of a mythical game. Great design, varied levels and a unique atmosphere. Superb graphics and a high difficulty that makes it not suitable for beginners. »
« "Ninja Gaiden" for the original Xbox is a great action game in the tradition of "Devil May Cry". Developed by Team Ninja and released in 2004, it's a punishingly difficult action-adventure. According to director Tomonobu Itagaki, this reboot is set in the "Dead or Alive" universe and serves as a prequel to the NES titles. Being a fan of "God of War" and "Onimusha", I ended up buying an Xbox console just to play this and I didn't regret it. This is a masterpiece that ranks up with the best action titles ever made. It certainly is the best one made for the original Xbox. Unfortunately, the sequels did not live up to its level of excellence. In addition, the rebooted franchise never became as popular as its competition. Regardless, this first installment of the "new" Ninja Gaiden is a must-play. It surpasses the first "God of War" and "Devil May Cry" games in terms of map design, weapon selection and combat. I would rate it with a 9.4 out of 10. »
« + playability + extreme difficulty + creative final bosses + art and design - Storyline - Sometimes ridiculously hard »
« Otherwise solid game is actually **** because of the ****ty camera, You will find yourself constantly fighting cameras lunatic behaviour and attempt to make it look the way your enemies are, instead of concentrating on enemies. Totally ruins the experience. »
« Ninja Gaiden as an action adventure game with the primary focus on fast-paced, and rather violent, combat. To be honest I can't really recall anything about the game's plot but its largely irrelevant anyway as it takes a distant second place to the superb gameplay. These days it of course looks a little dated compared to modern titles but, even more than a decade after its release, it offers some of the most satisfying combat in the genre. The legendary level of difficulty might well put some people off but once you get the hang of things you'll find a genuinely great game. »
