Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3736 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: UBI Soft
• Released on: 2008-06-27
• Platform: Nintendo DS

Amazon.co.uk

"NINJA GAIDEN Dragon Sword" is NINJA GAIDEN first original action game for the Nintendo DS.

Taking the epic storyline of the famous series to new heights, "NINJA GAIDEN Dragon Sword" takes full advantage of the capabilities of the DS stylus with intuitive touch-screen controls, innovative and easily accessible combat systems, and vertical usage of the Nintendo DS dual screens.

In the game, you embody Master Ninja RYU HAYABUSA in an all new storyline for the Nintendo DS. You will experience an authentic Ninja action where you will have to uncover new scenarios about the Dragon Sword mysteries, fight enemy ninjas and battle various monsters.

Customer Reviews

Underated DS classic
For someone who has not played Ninja Gaiden since his 2D games this was a refreshing change, to keep within the DS hardware limits the levels are Pre-rendered scenes while the characters and any Interactive objects are 3D models, to my knowledge in terms of the games viewpoint this plays like the more modern 3D Ninja Gaiden games.

The combat can be challenging to the point of unfair at times but that's just how Ninja Gaiden games play. You navigate areas, find keys,spells,pull switches, dodge traps and flip jump to climb up vast pits all while kicking demon butts and bosses along the way. Which brings us nicely to the touch screen controls, although veteran gamers in particular will be baffled by the touch screen only controls at first they have been designed in such a way that you never feel like your attacks are totally random.

You hold the pen on the part of the screen you want Ryu to move towards, tap it to shoot or hold down block to do a rolling dodge and in combat you literally slide the pen across the screen in sword like slash motions to do different attacks or slash upwards to go into a jump which has yet another new set of moves. The combat can be repetitive at times but how much that bothers you will depend on how much the combat appeals to you, personally I feel the combat alone in this game is one of the most revolutionary things to come from the DS

P.S. you may need some kind of touch screen protection with this game because it single handedly killed my generation 1 DS's touch screen, but this was more down to how old my DS was then the game itself.

Short but very very sweet
Anyone who wasn't excited when this was first announced could easily be forgiven. After all so many high profile 3D console games get watered down and diluted into lame 2D platformers when ported to handheld.

Dragon Sword however is far more ambitious than that. Trying to create a 3D standalone title to one of the most intense Xbox and 360 hack and slash IPs on to the DS is no mean feat, fortunately for us, Team Ninja has succeeded. In fact I could even argue that this DS series spin off surpasses Ninja Gaiden 2 for sheer enjoyment and playability.

Translating the button and analogue stick movements to just the stylus and one button to block/dodge is a brave move, however they've done it and boy it works really well. The intuitive system allows the player within minutes to grasp the basics of jumping, slashing, darting across the screen and doing all the things that ninja's do best with ease. Dragon Sword's combat is extremely enjoyable and thankfully even the difficulty has been dialled down to a more acceptable, yet still satisfyingly challenging level (seriously, the console versions were sadistically hard.)

The graphics are stunning for the DS and without doubt some of the best seen on the console. With great music and sound to accompany it this really is one of the tastiest aural feasts on the handheld.

What stops me from giving this full marks is that unfortunately the game really is short. With about 8-10 hours worth of game-play it really is quite hard not to feel somewhat short changed. The inclusion of a hard mode and a few collectables don't really do that much to extend the longevity. However, this is still a great game and I'd rather have a short but high quality gaming experience than a long drawn out average one.

Softcore Ninja Gaiden. But still Ninja Gaiden
Great game. I love Ninja Gaiden to death and so i bought this. Tomonobu was still behind it so i couldn't lose...

It's a softcore version of Ninja Gaiden. There is no gore or anything that could remotely be adult content. Tomonobu said he made it for his daughter and it shows. The illustrations (magnificent artwork. i'd buy the artbook), the music, the difficulty level and the controls. Looks made for a child gamer.

The controls need pointing out: you don't control Ryu with the D-pad and jump/strike with the A/B buttons. You point to where you wanna go go and if you wanna strike, you slide the stylus quickly directing it to where you wanna strike amd you use any of the buttons to defend. It works and it's fun. This criativity is to be applauded. It's taking advantage of the hardware to bring something new. Of course, if you're old-school, you'd still like the option to control with the d-pad and buttons. But this is fine, too.

The graphics are pre-rendered 2D. Remember FF7? You got it. Except for the bosses. There you get a limited 3D. The in-game graphics are great, the animation (so close to the xbox versions) is silky smooth (Team Ninja doesn't stray from its style) and the cut scenes are tremendously beautiful. Very cool.

The sound is Practically imported from the console versions. Some new themes (title screen/hayabusa village...) but the rest is directly imported from NG and NG2.

The replay value is taken care of. You can unlock one difficulty level (head ninja) and collect the pieces of wood that unlock bonuses in the main menu.

TO SUM UP:
A watered down version of Ninja Gaiden, specially in the difficulty and the adult tone. It's like a Ninja Gaiden directed to children BUT not at all a careless game. You'll notice, however the technical limitations. The game for the XBOX and PS3 was a graphical and technical marvel. In the respect, The DS version would have to lose a lot, although nothing in the DS looks as good as this.

I'll say this without doing it any favors, it's still as fun and well made as it's "parents", the XBOX/PS3 versions. I'd give it a 93%.