NINJA GAIDEN Σ [NINJA GAIDEN: Master Collection] Review Summary

Outstanding combat system: The combat is noted for being fast, satisfying, and entertaining. It is praised for its depth, dynamics, and fluidity, making it a standout feature of the game.

Highly praised gameplay experience: The game is frequently described as excellent, enjoyable, and worth the price. Reviewers highlight its addictive and unique nature, recommending it despite its challenges.

Top-tier action game: The game is considered one of the best action games ever made. It is recommended for action game lovers and holds up well over time.

Engaging and enjoyable story: The story is described as enjoyable, with surprising twists and rich details. It is considered good enough to keep players engaged from start to finish.

Fast and dynamic gameplay: The gameplay is noted for being fast, slick, and fun. It pioneers high-speed action and demands good reflexes from players.

Unimpressive boss battles: The boss fights are noted as unimpressive, easily beaten, and sometimes confusing or frustrating due to poor design and mechanics.

Problematic camera angles: The camera angles are often poor and can be uncomfortable, making some fights and platforming sections difficult and frustrating.

High and imbalanced difficulty: The game's difficulty is noted as being very high and sometimes imbalanced, which may deter many players and cause frustration.

Clunky and unresponsive controls: The controls are described as clunky, difficult, and sometimes unresponsive, particularly during acrobatic sections and platforming.

No autosave or checkpoint system: The game lacks an autosave feature and has a flawed manual save system, which can be frustrating for players as there are no checkpoints to save progress.

High difficulty and replayability: The game offers a high difficulty level with multiple settings, each introducing new enemies and challenges. This creates a high skill ceiling and increases replayability.

Fast and satisfying combat: The combat is fast-paced, technical, and visceral, with a focus on combos and precise timing. It is fluid, dynamic, and a major strength of the game.

Deep hack & slash mechanics: The game is a hack-and-slash with a variety of weapons and combos. It features a deep combat system typical of the genre.

Various game versions and modes: The game has different versions and modes, each offering unique gameplay experiences and mechanics.

Variety in weapons and combos: The game offers a wide variety of weapons, combos, and combat styles, allowing for diverse strategies and gameplay.

Game runs smoothly: The game is reported to run very well on various systems, including modern hardware and even low-end setups. Players experience a solid 60 FPS with no bugs or crashes.

Lack of graphic settings: Players have noted the absence of essential graphic settings such as display options, fullscreen settings, and resolution adjustments. This limits the customization and optimization of the game.

Poor PC port: The PC port of the game has several issues, including problems with resolution settings and low-resolution textures. Performance issues are also noted.

4K and high FPS support: The game supports 4K resolution and high frame rates, including 120 FPS, providing a good experience for players with high-end systems.

Good graphics quality: Players have noted that the game looks decent and has good graphics, with some mentioning graphical upgrades.

Highly recommended for action game fans: The game is frequently recommended for fans of intense action, deep combat systems, and challenging gameplay. It is particularly praised by enthusiasts of series like Devil May Cry and Bayonetta.

Highly recommended despite flaws: The game is highly recommended for its combat system and overall experience, even though it has some flaws. Players find it to be one of the best action games ever made.

Use the Ninja Gaiden Sigma Black mod: Many players recommend using the Ninja Gaiden Sigma Black mod for an enhanced gameplay experience. This mod is suggested to improve various aspects of the game.

Recommended for fans of specific genres: The game is recommended for fans of specific genres like Souls games, classic slashers, and old-school action games. It caters to a niche audience.

Recommended for challenge seekers: The game is recommended for those who enjoy a challenge and can tolerate high difficulty. It is suggested for players familiar with challenging games.

Community fair range: $15.00 - $25.00.

Game completion: 50.0h.

Story completion: 15.0h.

Endgame: 100.0h.

The game has a steep learning curve and initial friction, but becomes significantly more enjoyable and rewarding once players overcome the early challenges and understand the mechanics.

Reported time to anchor: 1h.

Friction: Steep learning curve; Dated and awkward camera; Tedious platforming; Repetitive combat encounters.

Newcomer Explorer: Learning and adapting to the game's mechanics and difficulty. Motivation: Exploring a new challenging game series. Stance: sale.

Challenge Seeker: Mastering high skill ceilings and overcoming difficult gameplay. Motivation: Seeking a challenging and rewarding gaming experience. Stance: sale.

Mod Enthusiast: Utilizing mods and community enhancements to improve the game. Motivation: Enhancing and customizing the gameplay experience. Stance: deep sale.

Steam Deck: The Steam Deck experience for this game is marred by significant issues with controller support, display and audio settings, and general gameplay accessibility. Users frequently report bugs and lack of functionality in controller support, despite advertisements claiming full support. Display options are limited, and audio issues, particularly with cutscenes, require specific workarounds. Additionally, poor camera controls and lack of vibration feedback further detract from the overall experience.

Controller required for gameplay: The game can only be played using a controller, which may limit accessibility for players who prefer keyboard and mouse.