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Ninja Gaiden Black
Universal acclaim
Based on 32 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 73 votes
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Game Info
Publisher: Tecmo
Developer: Team Ninja
Genre(s): Action
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
Release Date: September 20, 2005
Summary
Boasting new difficulty levels including "Ninja Dog" level and "Master Ninja" level, the new Mission Mode with a massive number of new action-packed missions to complete, and colossal amounts of special bonus features including content from both Hurricane Packs 1 and 2, the new Ninja Gaiden: BLACK is the game for all action lovers from casual to hardcore. Karma scores can be uploaded to the online leader boards via Xbox Live. Increased Levels of Difficulty: Five levels of difficulty for all kinds of gamers including "Ninja Dog" to "Very Difficult Master Ninja". Play in Story mode or Mission Mode with a massive number of missions to complete, including traditional enemy battles, time challenges, boss battles and more. [Tecmo]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: Ninja Gaiden
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
Also On The Web: GameSpot Hands-On Team Xbox Preview
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
1UP
If it were simply the original Ninja Gaiden with just some mission modes tacked on, it would still be worth full price. But chiming in at around $30 with new missions, new difficulty settings, new cinemas and new costumes to unlock -- on top of the already-awesome, original game -- it's practically a steal. Uncompromising and unabridged, Ninja Gaiden Black shows you how reissues could and should be done.
Read Full Review >GamePro
While most of Ninja Gaiden: Black is the same as before, the little additions that have been added make a world of difference, especially for those hardcore gamers looking for more punishment. And if all that content isn't enough, you even get the old school arcade Ninja Gaiden, too.
Read Full Review >GameSpy
It's amazing that Team Ninja was actually able to take one of the best games ever to hit the Xbox (or any console) and make it better in nearly every way.
Read Full Review >Into Liquid Sky
Everything the original was but better. In fact, Ninja Gaiden Black proves to be one of the best action titles of this generation.
Read Full Review >DarkStation
The hard-as-nails Ninja Gaiden is back, with improved camera system, a new mission mode and bonus game. At a budget price, you'd be crazy not let own this gem.
Read Full Review >ZTGameDomain
For the price you simply will not find a better deal this year. Even if you beat the first game to death including both Hurricane Packs, NGB is still worth owning.
Read Full Review >Digital Entertainment News
The new content alone more than makes it a worthy purchase even for those who have played the original release. A year on, Ninja Gaiden is still an extraordinary game. Game of the Year? Insulting. Game of the Generation.
Read Full Review >Game Over Online
It will go down in gaming history as a classic that defined its generation.
Read Full Review >BonusStage
This is probably the best thirty bucks you’ll spend on a game this year in terms of bang for your gaming buck.
Read Full Review >Game Chronicles
It’s not very often I can recommend a game with virtually no reservation, but Ninja Gaiden Black is one of those few titles that everyone with an Xbox should at least play and probably own.
Read Full Review >VGPub
Ninja Gaiden Black may very well be the pinnacle of video gaming this generation.
Read Full Review >GameZone
The quick reaction time that Ryu has when you press a button is simply amazing and truly feels like you are playing with a ninja.
Read Full Review >TeamXbox
Fifty segment Mission Mode, four difficulties, and a complete arcade ROM equal marathon game sessions in Ninja Gaiden BLACK.
Read Full Review >Worth Playing
One of the greatest action games in recent memory. Upon further examination, it may be one of the best of all time.
Read Full Review >Xbox Solution
This has to be one of the slickest, brutal, most breath taking games I have ever played! Frustration factor can be high when you start the game, but once you stop button mashing and start using the combo system as it was meant to be the game becomes very rewarding.
Read Full Review >Play Magazine
It is arguably without peer, the ultimate game for the audience open to its madness. [Oct 2005, p.56]
Game Informer
Even if you already have a copy of the original game in your library, Black is an absolute necessity. [Oct 2005, p.140]
Xbox Evolved
On the enemies, you can see individual scales shining perfectly in each light source, see through their translucent wings, and be dazzled by their massive energy attacks.
Read Full Review >IGN
I don't think I can possibly convey how much of an adrenaline pumping experience the new Mission Mode is with mere words. It has to be experienced. The missions are unadulterated action and if that's all there were to the game, I'd still recommend it.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
But this new installment seems bent on achieving nothing less than perfection by using last year's game as a starting point and fine-tuning its few issues, while also adding lots of new options and content, such as a lengthy series of stand-alone missions that emphasize the game's unbelievably intense, brutal, lighting-fast combat.
Read Full Review >Armchair Empire
Prepare to be challenged like you’ve never been challenged before to complete an action-adventure game. If you make it through Ninja Gaiden Black, be proud, because it definitely is one of the hardest games to complete that you’ll ever play.
Read Full Review >My Gamer
An incredible game, but there are other, cheaper options that are available to cash-strapped gamers.
Read Full Review >Extreme Gamer
Just beware that you have to run through the game to unlock the new mission modes, but if you're a big fan, you will probably welcome the idea.
Read Full Review >Computer and Video Games
If we were stuck on a desert island with a TV, an Xbox and a generator, Ninja Gaiden Black is the only game we'd need. It really is that good! [Official UK XBox Magazine]
Read Full Review >GamerFeed
It's also a lot more difficult than its predecessor, so if you didn't feel challenged enough by the prequel, this version promises to bludgeon the hell out of you.
Read Full Review >Official Xbox Magazine
Black does what the original did best, and hits the elevator button and ascends to an even higher level. [Nov 2005, p.134]
Cheat Code Central
No one ever said that being a ninja was easy, but I can tell you for certain that being a ninja has never been this much fun. Don't wait, get your mitts on this game immediately.
Read Full Review >Yahoo! Games
The action is superb, with silky smooth combos, lots of movement options, and intuitive control. The graphics are still tops on the market. The quest is fulfilling and varied.
Read Full Review >Stuff
Making Ninja Gaiden harder is like ordering waffles fixed with broken glass, with a helping of broken glass on the side. It's downright tasty at times, but you better have a taste for it before scarfing it down.
Read Full Review >Game Revolution
Kudos to Tecmo and Team Ninja for adding some great enhancements to an already great game. We just wish they would have released it like this in the first place.
Read Full Review >eToychest
The most notable addition over the first outing is the aforementioned Mission Mode, though since it does not become available until completing the game once, many players are likely to throw in the towl long before even seeing this new content. Some might call it a feature, but it seems more like punishment.
Read Full Review >NTSC-uk
On the technical side of things, Ninja Gaiden Black has a problem that wasn’t present in the original release. The game is prone to bouts of slowdown at impromptu moments and these aren’t particularly hectic instances either.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 73 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Boba F. gave it a10:
The best part of this game is that even after you've mastered one difficulty, the next difficulty up will hand your ass to you on a silver platter. This is one of the few games since the golden era of 8 and 16 bit consoles where the developers expect you to die multiple times while trying to beat a boss. And because they're so hard, it makes it all the better when you finally master your technique and jump out of your chair after you take them down on the 5th try or so. Any difficulty above normal includes a bunch of new enemies from the hurricane packs for you to fight (they also join in on boss fights on these difficulties), and all the easy or exploitable bosses were redesigned to lay the smackdown on you this time around. Remember how easy the second version of Alma was? Yeah, not so much now. In my opinion, she's now the hardest boss in the game. Additionally, you get to fight a computer-controlled Ryu with all your moves (including ninpo), more health than you, and upgraded weapons. In short, if you haven't beat 90% of the other games you've played with minimal deaths and without really even feeling that challenged, Ninja Gaiden Black may not be the game for you. The odds could not be more stacked against you in this game. But the thing is, the best of the gaming community will find themselves equipped with more than enough weapons and moves to carve their way through the endless lines of enemies that can kill a slow and unskillful player in seconds flat. Possibly m favorite game ever.
David S. gave it a10:
How come 9 out of 10 people think this is such a great game????? How come nearly all gaming websites gave this game great ratings???? How come the bad reviews are all the same???? " It's too hard" i'll tell you why because NGB is a true gamers game not pokemon or mario bros thats why. Quit crying because you suck at this game and get some skill. NGB is my favorite game of all time and is a true gamers game and NG2 will be the same.
Dan A. gave it a10:
As far as Action games go, this is top dog next to God of War.
V. K. gave it a10:
Unbelievably smooth game play and great graphics.
Dig V. gave it an8:
Do not play Ninja Gaiden Black if you can't handle its difficulty.Quit whining. This game isn't for Sally and Suzy. Kozars like you can go play Ratchet and Clank with all the little tykes.I like the fact that the first two red ninjas can send Ryu back to hell on the most difficult first board I've ever played in the history of my 20 years of gaming. We need more Master Ninja difficulty settings in all our games.
L B gave it a10:
Lets face it, games have been lowering the complexity bar for a while now. And thusly, there are way too many people who don't know how to beat a game with out a cheat, or need that camera just perfect, or whatever special circumstances they come up with. But what I love about ninja gaiden black is that is the most difficult game I have played. Ever. Its pretty, sure. Sound Design, great. But I call me crazy, I like a challenge. Cant see whats going on off screen, adapt and overcome or die. Its that simplicity that I enjoy and the game is a puzzle in itself. Combat is repetitive? How when there are so many ways to kill something? And if its too hard for you, well, go play halo. Thats something you could do with your eyes closed. In short, all developer of action games should look to Ninja Gaiden as a model. Dont coddle your customers, challenge them.
Mark J. gave it a10:
I. Caliban you are an idiot, people who like ninja gaiden are good at it and have beaten it on very hard and want more of a challenge so they added master ninja, if you suck at the game (like I did for a while) put black on ninja dog mode and this game is not just for challenge being a ninja is really fun, flying around doing flips you just feel cool. If you suck at the game get over it and stop complaining.
