Ninja Gaiden (Nintendo, 1989)

I have very fond memories of Ninja Gaiden. I got it while I was in 6th grade and, since I didn't have many games at the time, I played the crap out of it. Everything about Ninja Gaiden made it an enjoyable experience from the smooth gameplay to the well-scripted cut scenes.

Back when I first saw screen shots of Ninja Gaiden in a game magazine, I thought the graphics look messy. It wasn't until I actually played it, I saw for myself that the graphics are quite good. They are very detailed, which explains why a small and grainy screenshot in a magazine wouldn't do them justice. I thought the music was some of the best on the NES. It had a techno-rock beat to it, which is appropriate since Ninja Gaiden came out in 1989, but also set the pace for this fast paced game.

Of all the Ninja Gaidens on the NES, I thought the control in the this one was the best. It was more discreet and made hitting enemies and jumping from platform to platform more accurate compared to the later games. Ninja Gaiden is infamous for its unforgiving difficulty. The game goes from a tolerable challenge for most of the game to blood-boiling rage frustration on the last level. I spent a vast majority of my time playing Ninja Gaiden on the last level. This will make casual players not stick with it and only the most devoted players will percerver.

I was quite proud of myself when I finally beat Ninja Gaiden. It helped me develop my game playing style for later games that proved to be just as difficult. One thing about all Ninja Gaidens ever release is that they require skill to make it through them. It is very satisfying when you finally develop the skill and can play through the game effortlessly.

Ninja Gaiden is considered to be one of the best NES games of all time, and for good reason. Like most of the classic NES games, the gameplay is tough as nails, and you'll have to come back a great many times if you ever plan to beat it.

However, what really makes this game stand out aside from the killer gameplay, is that it gave you the most authentic Ninja experience of any game from the 8-bit era. The game is a fast paced hack n' slash romp with some of the most acrobatic gameplay ever to grace an 8-bit system.

If you want the fastest, most brutal Ninja action available on the NES, or you just want a darned good action game, you owe to yourself to pick up this game.

A simply excellent game. It possesses wonderful controls for an 8-bit game and pleasing graphics and character design. It follows a swift but not overwhelming pace as you can perfect your jump-slices to dash through levels of varying difficulty. It fortunately allows infinite continues across the six acts; however, if you were to die on the final boss you go back to the beginning of the act (eww, his second for is hard so this can get really annoying). The game has great sound (you'll love the slash of the katana) and well made cutscenes (the ending is one of the most memorable on the NES- an enjoyably politically incorrect womanizing line). Also has vibrant color art on label making it overall worthy to be called one of the greatest NES games made.

Hard (but then again, what good NES game wasn't? haha), short, and fun. The music's nice, the graphics are impressive for an NES game, and the story is nice, albeit a little standard and straightforward for the NES. The bosses and levels are varied enough to keep you playing until the end, or at least until you throw down your controller in aggravation at how cruelly difficult this game gets (but don't give up!). Definitely recommended to fans of the later Ninja Gaiden games or those nostalgic gamers seeking a fun, fast-paced action game for the good ol' NES.

Ninja Gaiden is one of the best action games on the NES. In Ninja Gaiden you control Ryu throughout several difficult levels. Throughout each level you can collect power-ups such as ninja stars and fireballs which help enormously throughout the levels. The levels are all different and are very fun and fast paced. Generally, the bosses are challenging, although some of them are quite easy. The last few levels are blisteringly hard while the first few are not that difficult.

I would highly recommend this fast paced action game to any NES owner; a great game, and the best in the series.

Pros:
- Fast paced action
- Power-ups
- Fun levels

Cons:
- Can be very difficult
- Enemies re-spawn too quickly