Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Dated And Detailed For Japan

@keo7: Why wait for hard mode when you can just select it in the better game?

Sorry, hard mode in Sigma doesn't bring back whole missing sections of the game.

@SG79: Rachel was pretty much the highlight of Sigma for me. Just using someone with a new move list was pretty refreshing. I really liked her roll over/decapitate move, and her ability to swing from the ceiling in the church level (which should have been used alot more). I was hoping she had a second weapon, like that sword she wears on her hip.

The missions were a bit standard. Just felt like it was nothing but mini-survival battles where you fight off a ton of smaller enemies then advance. I didn't mind that since it gave you time to really try out her move list, and I think that was the point. And that takes me back to Sigma 2 and my excitement for 3 new characters.

But yeah, the bosses in 2 were a joke comparatively. The only ones that felt like a real boss fight that was based off of skill was Genshin who reminded me of the Murai fights and Elizebet in her true form who was just pure awesomeness. Zedonius was decent too. But, Godomus, Volf, Dagra Dai, the chapter 9 worm, that railcar-worm from chapter 2 and especially Alexei were pretty cheap as they had multiple attacks that as far as I know, there was no way to evade. It became less of a skilled fight and more of a rapid damage/healing contest.

In contrast, I think every boss fight in Ninja Gaiden Black was possible to be played flawlessly if you fully mastered it: the bone dragon, the fire dragon, the worms, the ice demon, the flying overlord of the hell dimension, the first tentacle boss, and Alma. The only ones that seemed to be impossible to play through without damage were Alma in her 2nd form and the first form of the Vigoor Emperor which was a bit silly but neat.

Ninja Gaiden 2 advanced the standard combat against normal enemies dramatically, but Ninja Gaiden Black had the best boss fights without a doubt.

Shinta

@Shinta:

I actually used the Lunar with the water dragon too, but case in point, using nothing but bows and ninpo on the dragons. You got a ton of great weapons with move lists that put most fighting games to shame, and yet, you're forced to do that.

Agreed on Sigma, but that didn't bother me as much as Rachel's buzz kill missions. She wasn't terrible but her missions were aside from the Gamov fight.

If the dismal framerate is addressed in said version, I might consider a rental.

@Shinta: Honestly, when I think it over, the weakest thing about Ninja Gaiden 2 was the bosses. I hated fighting all of the evil gods too. It was pretty much impossible to fully master their patterns and actually dodge all of their attacks. Over and over, it was just a contest of doing damage as fast as possible and having enough healing items.

Shinta

@SG79: That's pretty crazy lol, I've never heard of an invincibility glitch. I obviously don't have any problem with Sigma 2 fixing glitches, and I have to say that in all my time playing the game, I never really encountered any at all.

Sigma 1 really bothered me by deleting material. The platforming part was one of my favorite parts of that game, just a tiny little section where you get to work on mastering your wall running, and it wasn't all that hard. They didn't make the flame timer on it longer, they just totally deleted it. I don't see any reason to do anything like that.

I can admit that chapter 9 was the most painful chapter in Ninja Gaiden history. I also wasn't fond of the extended sequences relying on the harpoon gatling gun because they were extremely boring.

I don't see any reason to change the two dragons. They were fun and actually one of the better boss fights. If you used a level 3 darkness Ninpo it took off 70% or more of their health. Rarely, you can even hit them both with one shot. I know they're adding the fight with the dragon that vamp-lady (forgotten the names, been awhile) was riding which is neat.

I guess taking out the dual armadillos is slightly excusable only because it's essentially a repeat boss fight.

And yeah, I'm not happy about using the bow exclusively on the water dragon. I thought that and the worm were the worst bosses in the game ... and that piece of shit from chapter 2 also. We'll see I guess, they have some room to improve it if they are smart about it. The bow made perfect sense on the flying dual dragons though, and they managed to create a really interesting boss for the finale that relied on the bow alot (the second to last boss).

@WarlordPayne: Can you officially be an enemy ninja and NOT ambush?

Shinta

@shatteredsoul: Milk was a bad choice!

@Deuce: Ninja Gaiden 1 had cheap shot ambushes from around corners or through doorways and projectiles thrown from off screen. If NG2 is even worse with that it's pretty impressive.

WarlordPayne

@GunFlame: Like someone said,a quick distraction.enough time for a ninja to give a killing strike!

@xyzl:

I noticed this as well, and it threw me off for a bit.

I personally think I like her Sigma 1 look better.

That outfit, though ... (and I thought Rachel and Sonia were underdressed)

@Shinta:

He happens to be waaaaay off because there is a lot assumptions being made by him and you. You usually bitch about the lack of excessive blood, but to claim that a ton is going to be cut out is absurd. And what we've seen so far is from POTA, so that difficulty is at the very least tweaked.

At least we can maybe agree that NGB is still the best in the modern series. Even the changes in Sigma 2 won't change that because that game, and even Sigma (sands the missing puzzles) were carefully made.

Chapter 9 in NGII was downright terrible; from the worms to the final shooting gallery fight with the two dragons (not dinosaurs). If they're tweaked, and at least one of them is changed, it's for the better. The two armadillos are replaced by a fight with Marbus for another example. There is a new tengu boss that Momiji at least faces (possible connection to DOA since the music is remixed from DOA2 and 4). I actually loathed the fact that some fights forced you to use the least developed weapon in the game (the bow) alongside ninpos.

Designs issues aside, the game was a pot full of bugs that's seemingly never ending. Here's a few samplers:

+ Watch video

The guy has a few other vids where enemies simply stand there like statues. And of course, there is this:

+ Watch video

If and ONLY IF, all those are addressed, I'll be happy. If not, then we're sadly ending up with two incomplete versions of the same game.

@-Xehanort: But the reverse never happens. I guess I'm going back to play Devil May Cry or something.

81$....

@zPhreak: I can't believe that you guys still compare NG:Simga to NG: Black. Everyone know NG: Black is hard but if you really really want hard mode why don't you beat all the missions in mission mode on NG:Sigma with highest difficulty?

I have seen none have upload their complete playthrough of NG:Sigma mission mode on youtube. So can't you be the one to upload it? Just saying.

Ayana is going to kick some serious ass in this game.

@madrigal77: This has already been answered. Basically the guy in charge thinks that an add-on for an old game like this would not be popular for xbox360 and it wouldnt be worth the money and the time.

Kinda like how gears of war pc was better than xbox360 and it was the similar reason why epic never released the extra chapters for dlc.

DAS

@cowondinosaur: NG:Sigma was a horrid watered down experience compared with NG:Black.

Why isn't this available as DLC for 360?

madrigal77

@xyzl: it was nice to finally see a change in her design. now its back to the same old doa2 face. do not want

@Jinsenken: The obliteration moves are all there still, but all limbs instantly disappear besides the torso.

Shinta

@Clave: The way this new guy is running the team, it's certainly a possibility. I'm just shocked that Sonia isn't playable considering she's the main girl in Ninja Gaiden 2, and uses a rocket launcher, which they've added to the game.

Shinta

@Daniel Pizarro Sánchez: Bet he won't why? He happens to be right. Sigma 1 cut out entire sections of the game to make it easier, and Ninja Gaiden Black was perfectly balanced except for maybe, the very first bossfight against Murai. They cut out that entire sequence in the fire level that was nothing but PLATFORMING.

I'm expecting them to add alot to Sigma 2, a whole lot, but they are going to cut out a ton. I'm sure the worm boss is gone. I'm sure the jungle level in general will be almost unrecognizable, and the incendiary shuriken enemies will be gone or severely toned down. I think I already read that the bossfight against the two flying dinosaurs was changed, even though that was one of the easiest in the game. I would be shocked if the final boss doesn't have huge street signs directing you to hit him in a specific spot.

It doesn't really matter too much to me considering I've already beaten the other one over 10x and really just want to dive into the new content. But people playing it for the first time, will get a less challenging port, for sure.

Shinta

@AXATAX: ....thanks for stopping by

I'd still rather wanted more for Kasumi to be in instead of Ayane

@GunFlame: It would be better for mobility, but worse for protection.

For a ninja such as this, it would probably be worth it.

Of course, there are problems with a breast slipping out. But, I don't really know the structure involved with this top. :/

Alas, it doesn't really matter. In the end, gamer's are playing as an awesome ninja girl with a fantastic body and very little clothing. Despite the minority, that seems to be what the majority wants.

-Xehanort

@Jinsenken: Blood has been there, only not to the ridiculous amount seen on xbox360. We will have to wait to see what's been cut or not tho

DAS

@tim rogers: hahaha interesting...

wazzzup16

@NoHoldsBarred: There's a difference between "deliberately challenging" and "broken." NG2 had none of the cleverness or cohesion that NG1's level design did, and the combat encounters were less engaging. Rather, they were simply more frenetic, because the game tossed more of them at you at a time (not to mention the occasional cheap-shot ambush as you round a corner or go through a doorway). If a better camera makes the game easier in and of itself, then that's an indication that the original was pretty broken.

I don't know about you, but I don't relish getting nailed with explosive projectiles from offscreen enemies. I played through NG2 to completion, but it simply was not as good as the original.

@NoHoldsBarred: I think you need to read the article one more time, then play some of the first Sigma and then come back and try to repeat what you said with a straight face. I bet you won´t.

Daniel Pizarro Sánchez

@MDX: Itagaki is way overrated.

Daniel Pizarro Sánchez

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know why momiji pants' have holes? and it seems she wears nothing underneath it...

DAS

@xyzl: You should've shown two images side by side, coz i cant remember what ayane looks like back in zigma 1.

Btw, just out of curiosity, does anyone know why momiji's pants have massive holes around her hip... and it looks like she wears nothing underneath it O_O...

DAS

@Xiandel: yea, he seems pretty useless if you ask me. The metroid project seems to be getting people excited despite having nothing to do with him.

@N●Gage Croal: yeah, i know!

i'm pretty great, huh??

I loved the 360 version and I'm trying to decide if this is worth picking up again for the co-op and the extra characters.

It wasn't broken, it was made deliberately challenging. So PS3 owners are going to get a dumbed down port and that is kind of sad because it was an extremely rewarding game and an awesome feeling when you took down the bosses or even made it to the checkpoints following really tough stretches.

NoHoldsBarred

@MDX:
Considering every remake of Itagaki's recent games has been better than the original and NG2 was not "revolutionary" (it was, at best, Ninja Gaiden 1.5) as Itagaki spouted for the entire development time, I have no faith in your claim.

cowondinosaur

@GunFlame: See, that's where the glue comes in handy

@milford:

That was the first thing I thought when I saw that picture.

I'm still wondering how they're gonna work with the execution move mechanics. Will they be removed entirely?

Jinsenken

2 new characters and better camera? I may actually have to pick this up. I only rented it on the 360 and wasn't all that impressed.

BulletEddy

@Michael Forsberg: I'm not entirely sure I'd classify anything in Japan as being "normal."

Should mention they changed Ayane's face back to DOA mode.
[www.facebook.com]

xyzl

That is not appropriate battle wear.

@GunFlame: It would probably distract the enemy. Unless that enemy happens to be a non-lesbian female, but what are the odds of that happening in a video game?

Narishma

If you pay full price for a new game in Japan you're a sucker. Stay away from the big box stores (Bic, Yodoyabashi and the like) and preorder a game a few weeks before it comes out from a smaller local shop.

Pretty much every smaller shop I've ever been in always runs decent discounts for purchasing new games this way. You'll find that you can get a new game over here for a much more reasonable 5~6000 yen.

T-Mac

Damn Tecmo making me buy the game again. But I'm just a man, how cam I resist big guns?

Devil_Dan

@MDX:

mehh.. I'm wibble wobble on that, DOA has never reached the same quality found in DOA2:Hardcore and that was ages ago. Itagaki isn't the mastermind people think, (just a perve) and that the part I respect :D

Xiandel

@Shiro_Shishi: How about if a boob slips out mid backflip?

Anyone know if the main Story Mode will be online?? Or will there just be specific co-op missions??

Yowza57

@milford: Similar to our situation in Australia, most games RRP for around $95US (at the moment, our dollar bounces around like a bitch)

Then again, places like JB Hifi retail games at $79 on release for the first week, which, depending on how the moons of Jupiter being in retrograde and the alignment of atleast 17 celestial bodies effect our exchange rate, can be down to around $40US.

crsdfr

@The Droog: "Practices" even. My Kingdom for an Edit button. Or proof reading lessons.

@tim rogers: Is that anecdote at the end true? Rather, the reply about communism? (I have no doubt he said the comment about women like that.)

Japanese business practces are a very interesting beast.

I don't know if it's wise to launch this game into the holiday season in the West which an October Japan release date is pointing to.

El-Suave

@Michael Forsberg: Here in Germany most stores sell new titles for 65-70 EUR, which is about $100.

Online stores usually sell them a bit cheaper. Many people also import games from the UK, where, for some reason, they often cost 20-30 EUR less.

milford

@GunFlame:

Really? I think it would make for better mobility.

Protection on the other hand...not so much

@Xiandel: expect worse games too.

MDX

@tim rogers:

I suspected something like this to be the reason for the rather low sales numbers in Japan. Sad really. Marketing and pricing should be left to people that got their position in virtue of adaptation to changing climates and business skill.

Wahrheit

@tim rogers: Here in Finland a game can also cost up to about a 105 dollars (75 euros).

Kasuli

@tim rogers:
Holy...

@Michael Forsberg:

Yes. Historically speaking, new release video games cost less on average in the US than pretty much any other country.

@Michael Forsberg: Unfortunately, yes. However, it seems that price drops often come quick and sometimes turn into bargains.

Is that actual blood I see there?

milford

@Polysics_2004: The whole microsoft blowjob thing was from Itagaki, exect multiplat from now.

Xiandel

I'll buy it for Ayane.

Xiandel, BSc (smug)

Xiandel

@GunFlame:

Ahh but pervy Japanese will love it

@Michael Forsberg: yes, very, very, very normal, unfortunately.

for comparison's sake, literally every game square-enix releases for home consoles these days (star ocean 4, last remnant, infinite undiscovery, final fantasy xii) is between 8,900 and 9,800 yen.

that's, like, $100 for a game.

metal gear solid 4 was also 8,900.

basically, the idea is, if the company believes that someone will buy the game, they jack the price up.

also, a high price = "maker confidence" in the game. it lets the public know that the maker / developer / publisher believes the product is "worthy" of a high price tag.

even when it isn't. and the developer knows it isn't.

what happens is, games are released for exorbitant prices, and then only the true psycho-die-hard fans buy them, race through them, and then run to a used game shop, where they trade it in for as much cash as possible.

this results in literally hundreds of copies of new-ish games crowding the used shelves within days of their release.

in an effort to get consumers to "hold on" to games "a little bit longer", so that the people "waiting on a used copy" will give in and buy a new copy already, japanese game developers have incorporated the following quality control measures:

1. experience points
2. level grinding
3. optional side quests
4. items that don't do anything
5. unlockable costumes

. . . in closing, this shit has been going on since around 1988.

if you ever find yourself sitting in on a board meeting at a major japanese games publishing company, don't dare suggest "lower game prices" as a way to "attract more customers" and "salvage flagging revenues", because those old men will not give in. as far as they're concerned, getting $100 off one person is exponentially more honorable than getting $50 off of twenty people.

a liver-spotted septuagenarian japanese game-businessman once put it to me this way: "which would you be more proud of -- having had sex with one bikini model, or having had sex with a hundred filthy homeless women?"

my reply was "this isn't about pride; this isn't about me; it's about the people."

his reply to my reply was "what are you, a fucking communist?"

the end!

Im all for sexy game women and Tecmo 'physics...' but come on, a ninja only wearing a bra, that just not practical.

@Michael Forsberg: Yeah, it is expensive for games over there and pretty much everything else. Oh, apart from some food at noodle bars, you can get a good deal there...but thats about it...oh oh and trains...(but not cabs *grumble grumble*)

@Michael Forsberg:

Crazy, but yes.

I wonder if Tecmo will try (and fail) to make everyone think the next Gaiden will be 360 exclusive.
It'd be nice if they'd just not make a broken game in the beginning and make it multi-plat.

Polysics_2004

@Michael Forsberg: Yes, and people here complain about a game costing too much!

@Michael Forsberg:

Oh, and in before "No, they have yen in Japan lulz"

Michael Forsberg

Needs more boob jokes in the article. Not enough for my liking.

... Stay classy San Diego :)

AXATAX

81 dollars in Japan. Is that normal?

Michael Forsberg