Uncover all the mysteries of Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword as you fight enemy ninjas and battle various fiends while taking on the role of Master Ninja, Ryu Hayabusa, in an all new storyline for the Nintendo DS. Innovative DS Stylus Functionality: Smoothly maneuver and fight through levels with the intuitive operaton of the DS stylus. Hold the DS with one hand like a book to assist in the operation of the stylus which allows players to view a wider range of scenes. Cast Ninpo (Ninja Magic) by Letter Input Using the DS Stylus, draw various letters to quickly execute numerous types of Ninnpo. Experience Team NINJA’s first original (6-hour) action game for the Nintendo DS set for release in America on March 25th, 2008.
Does this portable Gaiden live up to its ninja heritage? Find out in this Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword video review:
To quote the video review: “Since its rebirth on the Xbox, Ninja Gaiden has forged a reputation for fast action, tight control, and big, burly boss battles. Amazingly, Team Ninja has managed to forge much the same thing with Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword for the DS. By not settling for anything less, this portable Gaiden largely lives up to its ninja heritage.
Dragon Sword takes place six months after the events of the Xbox rebirth of the series. The story centers on the legendary dragon sword and the awakening of an ancient evil. The story delivers what you’d expect, and sets the stage for big fights with big demons, but it feels a bit compressed. There’s definitely something major going on, but it feels as if a full story arc was squeezed into a standard length comic book. But even if it’s not epic, it’s definitely suitable for a tight, action-driven adventure.
Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword proves to have a sharp edge with good tech and smooth pacing. It also manages to turn the stylus into an effective ninja weapon, making it play like no other game on Nintendo’s little dual screen. It may be on the short side, but there are unlockable difficulty settings for those who thirst for a real challenge. If you want ninja action, you don’t have to be a fan of the series to appreciate the unique approach of Dragon Sword.”
Story — 7.6
Design — 8.5
Gameplay — 9.2
Presentation — 8.7
Overall — 8.8