Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword

THE BAD:
- Lack of weapons
- Relatively short
- Leaderboards ineffective

SUMMARY:
Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword attempts to do a great deal of things. With a deep combat system, gorgeous graphics, and the right amount of difficulty, it's hard to pass this game up.

NG:DS takes place six months after the events of the Xbox and PS3 Ninja Gaidens, as such, the story works to make sense of those happenings. For those who never played those games, Dragon Sword picks up by explaining the major details. Since the main character, Ryu Hayabusa, is a Master Ninja, the story starts off with a tutorial mission as Momiji, his apprentice.

As you work your way through the game, the second chapter, as with the rest of the game, pits you as Hayabusa in his attempts to track down and rescue Momiji who is captured fairly quickly. You'll face off against many familiar faces (if you've played console versions) along with quite a few new foes. The story isn't the main part as the combat engine is focused heavily on the control scheme.

To play the game, one must hold their DS sideways like a book, with options for both left and right-handed users. The top screen is where the map and other miscellaneous information is stored, while the action occurs on the touch screen. The DS buttons, including the D-pad, are all mapped as the blocking button. Essentially, the stylus is your friend, and it loves you. The controls work quite well. Just point to move Ryu in the right direction, slash over an enemy (up to three times, though strikes are gained as you level your sword up) to attack, tap an enemy repeatedly to throw shuriken, and jumping is made easy with simply sliding your stylus up (double jumping is simply repeating the process).

Initially, Ryu starts with one special move and no ninpo (ninja magic). By attacking the enemy, you can then slash upward in the middle of a combo to launch them in the air. Quickly thrusting the stylus upward allows Ryu to launch himself into the air and pile drive the enemy into the ground with the Izuna Drop. As you progress ninpo, in the form of fireballs, lightning, ice, tornadoes, and other magic, make themselves useful. By tapping a Sanskrit character next to Ryu's health bar, a screen shows up allowing you to trace the image. In doing so, a powerful attack is launched, usually controllable by Ryu. Drag the fireball towards enemies to incinerate them, zap them with lightning, or rain meteors on their heads. In total there are seven unlockable ninpo for Ryu to use throughout the game.

Alternatively, upon acquiring the scrolls, Ryu learns how to counter-attack and use the Flock of Swallows. Initially, Ryu can jump in the air and slash through an enemy, known as the Flying Swallow, with Flock of Swallows, Ryu can do this three times before ever touching the ground. Counter-attacking is, essentially, the hardest thing to do in the game. Once an enemy attacks while your blocking, slash them. The timing is incredibly hard to pull off, but has a nice effect to it.

Outside of the obtainable abilities, Ryu is capable of rolling while blocking. Simple tap an area while blocking and Ryu will roll in that direction. Alternatively, enemies drop essence, the in-game recovery item(blue), currency(yellow), and ninpo/ki energy(red). Scribbling on the touch screen allows Ryu to charge up an ultimate attack, the process quickened by absorbing essence.

The puzzles, though simple, are often too simple. Blowing into the mic is often required to get past certain obstacles, and ninpo will often become a necessity to get to the next path.

The enemies in the game range from enemy Black Spider Ninjas, to werewolves, catfiends, and giant ogres. Bosses, in their wondrous 3D glory, are the only enemies you face in an actual 3D arena. Bosses range from Spirit Samurai to eternal Dragons and giant spider-men, each one capable of giving you a rough time if you don't know what you're doing.

The majority of the game sees Ryu and his enemies running through the game in full 3D on 2D backgrounds. It gives off a nice effect and each background is stunning to look at, a nice way to conserve data on the DS.

Throughout the game you only have the Dragon Sword, along with your shuriken and obtainable Bow and Arrows (later receiving explosive arrows). The unlockables come in the form of wooden planks which you obtain by killing Sea Sparrows. After fighting a battle, stay in the area in case one is near, if you hear it, you can blow into the mic. Once it attacks, hit it once and grab what it leaves behind. Upon completing the game, these wooden pieces become unlockables which cater to things from biographies to artwork and diaries.

The lack of weapons is a downer, as well as the cheated leaderboards thanks to action replay, but you'll find enough in this game to forgive those things. You'll start with Normal, easy enough to finish in five hours. Three other modes, including two more difficult ones, are unlocked upon beating the difficulty before it, with the third being able to play as Momiji throughout the whole game.

Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword is a treat for Ninja Gaiden fans and DS owners alike. With a taste of Ninja Gaiden II with it's sneak-peak at enemies and bosses and it's regenerating health system, Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword does not disappoint.