Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection Review

• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One (Reviewed), PC
• Developer:  Team Ninja
• Publisher: KOEI TECMO
• Release Date: June 10th, 2021

If you were to write a textbook on how to perfectly reboot a franchise, the first chapter of that book would be 2004’s Ninja Gaiden on Xbox. Taking the series from its side-scrolling roots on the 8 and 16-bit console generation to a frenetic, fast-paced 3D hack n’ slash was a rousing success, spawning multiple iterations, sequels, and spin-offs. Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo have celebrated the legacy of the core trilogy of games with Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection, and while there hasn’t been much in the way of enhancements to these three titles, the Master Collection proves that Ninja Gaiden games are still an insane ride, even all these years later.

Before we get a little too ahead of ourselves and dive into this collection, let’s break down what exactly you’re buying if you decide to pick up the Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection. For the first game in the series the port that is included is Ninja Gaiden Sigma, the revamped version of the first entry in the rebooted franchise that was released on PlayStation 3, three years after the original Xbox version and two years after Ninja Gaiden Black. For Ninja Gaiden 2, the Sigma version has been included once again, which was yet another upgraded release for PlayStation hardware. For the final game in the collection (sorry Dragon Sword and Yaiba) you will be playing Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge, once a WiiU exclusive before being brought to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 a year after its release. These three titles come packaged with most of the DLC and previously released game modes, however all the online multiplayer functionality is not available in this collection.

For the uninitiated to the Ninja Gaiden trilogy, the three games follow the story of Ryu Hayabusa, a ninja of the renowned Hayabusa clan. The plots of these three titles pretty much revolve around Ryu travelling the world and cutting down anything and anyone who gets in his way of revenge on the attackers of Hayabusa Village. The stories of the Ninja Gaiden Trilogy become more and more ridiculous as the series goes on, with Ryu battling anything from giant metallic serpents in a subway, a man in power armor on top of a blimp, and even a somehow alive version of the Statue of Liberty. Most likely you won’t be playing these games for their story, but what will really get you hooked is the combat.

The most influential part of the modern Ninja Gaiden Trilogy, and something you can really tell influenced the gaming industry as you play through these games once again is the combat. Beginning with the first game, you can really tell Team Ninja came into their own with Ninja Gaiden, and their style evolved into what you would see in their more recent offerings such as Nioh and Nioh 2. Every combat scenario is a deadly chess match, as you block, dodge, and wait for your opening to strike. There is a heavy emphasis on combo attacks, and everything feels like it’s happening at a million miles a minute. The combat is easily at its best in the second game, as the ability to cut off limbs was introduced. This provides an extra layer of satisfaction and battle tactic, as you can pick apart your foes one by one as they come at you in overwhelming swarms.

One major gripe with the franchise’s combat has been, and still is, the camera, especially in the tight areas the games love to force you to fight in. Throughout all three games there are several encounters where you feel like you’re fighting in a phonebooth, and one wrong step can cause the fixed camera to shift to a different viewpoint and screw up your momentum.

From a visuals standpoint, the Ninja Gaiden games have always been some of the prettiest games of their time, so it should be no surprise that the graphics still hold up to this day. The character models are particularly stunning, even if some of the over-sexualized design choices haven’t aged well. The soundtracks for all three titles are also excellent and adrenaline-pumping, perfectly pairing with the high intensity action of Ryu Hayabusa cutting down his foes.

Since the Master Collection is meant to be a celebration of the Ninja Gaiden legacy, it would have been nice to see some TLC added to each game, as well as some extra content. Often with big collections such as this you would see libraries of concept art or behind the scenes footage to commemorate a series’ heritage, but unfortunately, you’ll see none of that, unless of course you purchase the Digital Deluxe version which includes a 70-page art book and massive soundtrack collection.

While it’s certainly lacking in bonus content and major visual upgrades, the Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is still a great package for players looking to either get into the series for the first time or return for another playthrough. With game preservation being a hot button issue in the gaming industry as of late, it’s nice to see these games playable on modern consoles with most of their DLC intact.

An Xbox One review code for Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection was provided by KOEI TECMO. The review was conducted using an Xbox Series X console.