NINJA GAIDEN Σ

About

"NINJA GAIDEN: Master Collection Deluxe Edition" is a compilation of three games in the Ninja Gaiden series: Ninja Gaiden Σ, Ninja Gaiden Σ2, and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge. The Deluxe Edition also includes a digital art book and soundtrack. Some online multiplayer features and game modes are not available in certain titles. The game can be played in fullscreen mode.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 986 reviews

graphics34 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The core gameplay of Ninja Gaiden remains thrilling and challenging, with fast-paced combat that requires precision and strategy.
The character designs, especially Ryu Hayabusa, are impressive and reflect a deep respect for the source material.
The game offers a satisfying sense of progression and mastery as players learn from their mistakes and improve their skills.

The port is considered lazy, lacking basic graphical options and keyboard/mouse support, which frustrates many players.
The camera angles can be problematic, often obstructing the player's view and making combat more difficult.
Some players find the difficulty to be artificially inflated due to poor design choices, such as respawning enemies and frustrating boss mechanics.

graphics
162 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
73%
6%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the visuals have been enhanced from the original 2004 version, they still show signs of aging and lack a distinct art style. Some appreciate the nostalgic charm and clean look, while others criticize the limited graphical options and performance issues, particularly in the PC port. Overall, the graphics are considered serviceable but not groundbreaking, with many players expressing a desire for a more comprehensive graphical overhaul.
- “The upgraded visuals bring the dark atmosphere to life, while the soundtrack enhances the action.”
- “The graphics still hold up pretty well and the action feels mostly smooth but with a slight bit of jank here and there.”
- “The graphics and animations still look amazing.”
- “The graphics are outdated and the cut scenes are muddy and not as nice as they could look.”
- “You cannot adjust any graphics settings at all, and the only way to change resolution is to set it in Steam's launch options section under the game's properties.”
- “We have some basic expectations of PC ports, things like the ability to change your resolution in-game or offering more than three resolution options along with the ability to tweak your graphical settings, but prepare to have even your most basic of expectations crushed by this so-called master collection as it fails to offer even those basic options.”
story
130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
70%
9%
The story in the Ninja Gaiden series is generally viewed as simplistic and often nonsensical, with many players noting that it serves primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a focal point. While some appreciate the classic revenge narrative and the inclusion of cutscenes that add character depth, others criticize the plot for being poorly executed and forgettable. Overall, players agree that the gameplay is the main draw, and the story is not a significant reason to engage with the game.
- “The engaging story follows Ryu on his quest for revenge, with added cutscenes providing depth to the characters.”
- “The story is simple but sweet and definitely worth playing through.”
- “The story for the game was good, had a lot of cool and badass moments.”
- “The story is pure nonsense.”
- “The story is utterly forgettable and dumb, but the aesthetics are cool, and when the combat works it is brilliant.”
- “The story is nothing special and poorly told.”
gameplay
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
66%
3%
The gameplay of the Ninja Gaiden series is characterized by its challenging and fast-paced combat, requiring players to master intricate mechanics and enemy patterns for success. While the core mechanics remain engaging, some players note issues such as outdated design elements, clunky controls, and frustrating camera angles that can detract from the experience. Overall, the series is praised for its rewarding gameplay and extensive combat options, though it may not appeal to those seeking a more casual gaming experience.
- “The core gameplay of Ninja Gaiden remains as thrilling and challenging as ever.”
- “Ninja Gaiden Sigma has fantastic gameplay and absolutely phenomenal combat.”
- “The gameplay is solid, if a little dated due to the release period, but that doesn't stop you from progressing.”
- “It's unforgiving and punishing to the player with many outdated mechanics that make it near unplayable for a first-time player.”
- “Ryu feels sluggish and unresponsive, the menu is an absolute mess to deal with (who decided a button combo was a smart way to quit the game?), the bow mechanics are pretty bad (they weren't great in the original, but somehow they made them worse) and a handful of the in-game items have had effects removed (save totem no longer heals, life upgrades no longer heal, etc).”
- “Gameplay is slow, with laggy inputs and clunky animations... I feel like I'm experiencing Ninja Gaiden in the worst way possible... please don't give your money to these greedy publishers unless they fix their issues.”
music
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
63%
7%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the original soundtrack for its energy and ability to enhance the atmosphere, while others criticize the changes made to certain tracks, particularly in key moments like the final boss fight. Some players express disappointment over the quieter sound levels and the awkward transitions between new and original music. Despite these issues, the overall sentiment highlights a strong appreciation for the nostalgic and memorable tracks, with some users opting for mods to restore the original music experience.
- “The upgraded visuals bring the dark atmosphere to life, while the soundtrack enhances the action.”
- “The music is excellent at the very least; it really captures the mood quite well, along with a decent presentation and a strong art direction.”
- “Every single track from the series is there, including the one music from Ninja Gaiden where you get the hurricane packs, and they all sound great.”
- “And I forgot to mention the strange changes made to the music across the game; I hope whoever decided to alter the track selections for chapter 3 was fired.”
- “For whatever reason, they changed the music in a lot of sections.”
- “The newer soundtracks in the game don't have the energy that the original soundtracks had.”
optimization
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
54%
10%
Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews. While some players report smooth performance and stable frame rates, others have experienced issues such as stuttering, low-resolution assets, and a lack of graphical settings typical for PC games. The port is generally considered acceptable for casual play, but it may not meet the expectations of those seeking advanced performance options or high-end graphics.
- “The games are very well optimized and run perfectly fine without any level of issues (none that I have encountered so far, which is more than I can say for other games like Assassin's Creed that have bugs and glitches and have advanced settings options).”
- “Constant 60 fps, no stuttering, etc. Note that I’m playing at 1080p and that users playing at 4k have to take an extra step to disable Windows DPI scaling, but otherwise, the port itself is actually far better than others I’ve seen in terms of how it runs.”
- “It also allows for the ability to use more than just DirectX 11, with DirectX 12 providing substantial CPU scheduling optimizations over DirectX 11, and Vulkan allowing for better performance potential even compared to DirectX 12.”
- “Optimization is so trash.”
- “As a consequence, assets are low res, performance is poor and art direction is notably different.”
- “The game is infested with bugs which ruin the performance and make it run below 60fps and stutter on a 3090.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
Overall, the game offers significant replayability through new content such as additional bosses, challenges, and playable characters, alongside various difficulty levels and customization options. Players can enjoy a long campaign with numerous extras, enhancing the experience and encouraging multiple playthroughs. However, some users noted that certain design choices may detract from the overall replay value for specific players.
- “New content, including bosses and challenges, adds replayability.”
- “Love the new costumes; I think they add a lot of replay value with the trials and harder difficulties to improve and conquer even the hardest of challenges.”
- “I'm sorry I bought this... I'm glad I got to play through them all once, but the annoyance of these things severely crushes the replay value that this game will hold for me forever.”
- “Overall, I love this game for its replayability, scaled difficulty, and how you can eventually dance as Ryu.”
- “✅ Hayabusa has lots of weapons in his arsenal, each with their own particularity and gameplay style, which adds a lot of flavor and replayability.”
grinding
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
9%
82%
Reviews on grinding in the game are mixed, with some players appreciating the interconnected levels and backtracking for yellow essence, while others find the experience tedious and frustrating. Many criticize the reliance on RNG for healing items and upgrades, leading to repetitive grinding that detracts from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a significant drawback, often making the gameplay feel artificially difficult and monotonous.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The game is just terribly dull and tedious in too many points.”
- “For every fun combat, platforming, and backtracking section, you have 3 tedious fights, terrible bosses, and backtracking deliberately made to waste your time.”
- “If you die (a lot), you need to look at the long tedious game over screen, and wait for an annoying loading screen to continue playing.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
Overall, the stability of the game is generally praised, with most users reporting smooth performance and minimal glitches. While a few minor issues have been noted, they do not significantly detract from the gameplay experience, and many players find the port well-optimized and free of major bugs or crashes. Users express confidence that any existing glitches could be resolved through patches or modding in the future.
- “However, it's the only version on Steam, and the port looks great and runs great, so I had absolutely no problem with this.”
- “It's just a port from the console version, but it runs great with no slowdowns so far. It has little to no PC settings, but it hasn't stopped my enjoyment of the game.”
- “There are a couple of annoying glitches I've found.”
- “Once said glitches are fixed, either by devs or the modding community, I'll hop back here and change my review to a positive one with my full thoughts on it.”
- “But beware that it might be possible to bind a button to more than one action, but I did not try out if something strange, funny, or buggy situation will be triggered or if it is even allowed.”
monetization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
89%
The monetization of this re-released game has been widely criticized as a cash grab, with reviewers expressing disappointment over its perceived lack of effort and quality. Many feel that the port is bare-bones and low-quality, suggesting that it was rushed to market without proper development, leading to a sense of being ripped off. Overall, players recommend waiting for a sale rather than purchasing it at full price.
- “Quick cash grab?”
- “Bare bones, janky, low effort, cash grab port.”
- “It seems like they just made this game for a quick cash grab and do not put any thought or much work into it which made me feel like I am getting ripped off.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its absurdity and self-awareness, with players finding amusement in the exaggerated movements of characters and the serious tone juxtaposed with a poorly executed story. The chaotic and violent gameplay adds to the hilarity, making the overall experience both entertaining and ridiculous. However, there are hints of potential bugs that could lead to unexpected comedic moments, though these remain untested by some players.
- “Once you get it, it's fast, fluid, hilariously violent.”
- “It's so ridiculous that it's hilarious because they just move like jello when nothing is even happening.”
- “Ninja Gaiden takes its story and world very seriously, which is hilarious because it is so bad.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional response to the game's mechanics, feeling frustrated and humiliated by its challenging controls and design choices. The sense of being bullied during combat detracts from immersion, leading to feelings of disappointment and a perception of the game as a cash grab rather than a thoughtfully crafted experience. Overall, the emotional impact is largely negative, with players feeling overwhelmed and dissatisfied.
- “Sure, enemies hit harder in the more recent Team Ninja games, but this game made me feel like I was being bullied, pushed around, and humiliated before dying.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its upgraded visuals and immersive soundtrack, which together create a compelling dark ambiance reminiscent of classic titles like Devil May Cry 1. Many players appreciate the artistic direction, character design, and overall atmosphere, although some express disappointment with the lack of enhancements in certain re-releases.
- “The upgraded visuals bring the dark atmosphere to life, while the soundtrack enhances the action.”
- “My favorite quality of this game is the atmosphere.”
- “For years I've wanted to play another game that had equal parts good combat and amazing atmosphere like DMC1, and this game definitely fits the bill for me.”
- “At the very least, they could have made efforts to restore NG2’s original enemy count, gore, and overall atmosphere; however, they just released up-res versions of Sigma 1+2 and Razor’s Edge that somehow manage to omit even the bare minimum options that you would expect from a PC release.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
Reviewers praise the character development for its exemplary designs and artistic direction, highlighting the unique storyboard work and environmental elements that enhance the overall experience. The attention to detail in character design is particularly noted as a standout feature.
- “Team Ninja has done an exemplary job with the character designs.”
- “The artistic direction is outstanding, with a captivating atmosphere, character design, and soundtrack.”
- “The storyboard work for the sequel and the unique environmental elements, including character design, are truly impressive.”