bit-tech Shopping: Tecmo Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword (DS)

Rating: 8

Time with product: 2 Weeks

Strengths: good use of stylus controls, graphics

Weaknesses: buy a screen protector, audio is so-so

Summary: The first thing that comes at you is how you play this title. First, you play the DS ?sideways? and most of the controls are stylus based. The stylus based controls work very well, similar to how Zelda used only stylus control. It?s much more intuitive on how to get Ryu to act (slash, throw, jump) so it?s an easy transition to use the stylus if you tend to be button oriented. The graphics are very good and the audio is not good, not bad, just ok. Game play is a good old hack and slash and the first time through is fairly easy when compared to it?s console bretheren I?ve heard. If you need the challenge, you?ll unlock the difficult mode once you go through the game the first time. I?m only probably about halfway through and it?s fairly straightforward so far, not overly difficult.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1 Week

Strengths: Great controls. Good graphics for the DS. Lots of action.

Weaknesses: Shallow story.

Summary: Dragon Sword is a great game that you'll pick up and play to the end. It's got plenty of action that plays out well with the dual screens of the ds. You'll swing your stylus like the flicks of a sword. However, the downside is that this is a short game. You can easily beat it in one full day of playing. For that reason, this game may be better as a rental. But it's definitely worth playing.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 3

Strengths: (1) Stylus control is fun and unique (2) Great graphics and presentation

Weaknesses: (1) Stylus control makes the game seem a bit easy since it simplifies the controls and makes timing less crucial (2) The story is not interesting and reuses bosses from the XBOX game

Summary: Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword is a good action game for the DS and offers a unique action experience using the touchscreen controls. The novelty of the controls impresses and offers an array of actions that can be executed quite simply. The controls may seem too simplistic after a while, though, as the game is pretty liberal about accepting the timing of your touchscreen input. The Ninja Gaiden series is well known for its difficultly and demand for timed blocks and button presses, however, this game is much easier than the console versions because of the control. The story is not very interesting and attempts to justify reusing the boss character designs from the console versions. The levels, also, are not very memorable due to the nature of hub-world aspect. Overall, Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword is good enough to warrant a purchase for those who are looking for a more mature and action-oriented game on the DS. The combat, control and graphics are very well done and the only thing that keeps this game from greatness is the uninspired levels and story.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 3

Strengths: Graphics, Ninja Gaiden action, gameplay

Weaknesses: Difficult controls, short game

Summary: Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword is an excellent action 3D game that pushes the envelope offered by the hardware lean Nintendo DS platform. It is an action/adventure game in which you play ninja Ryu Hayabusa against the empire. Graphics is amazing and sound effects are great. This game is difficult, partly intentional and partly due to the controls. Despite this, the game is about 7 hours long. It's rather short.It is jawdropping that the Team Ninja has managed to develop this gem on the DS platform. I highly recommend it!

Rating: 10

Time with product: 2 Months

Strengths: Fantastic production values, good controls

Weaknesses: Short

Summary: Ninja Gaiden is a stunning achievement on the DS. While the backgrounds are prerendered (good or bad, depending on who you talk to), they are beautiful with great 3D models. The stylus controls are fantastic, very responsive. Cutscenes throw back to the original NES Ninja Gaidens.What Team Ninja was able to put together on the DS with this game is nothing short of amazing. However, it came at a price - while far from unsatisfying, the 6-8 hour gameplay is disappointingly short. But ripe for replay!