Ninja Gaiden

THE BAD:
Subpar graphics & sound. Difficulty level is too high.

SUMMARY:
The game that launched both an enduring franchise and gaming icon, Ninja Gaiden first introduced ninja-style action to video game consoles. The story revolves around super-ninja Ryu Hayabusa (who lives on through new Ninja Gaiden titles and also appears in the "Dead Or Alive" fighting game series), who hacked & slashed through the mean streets of the big city on his way to a showdown with a powerful evil who is terrorizing the city and also holding a friend of his hostage.
The graphics are really good during the cinema-style cutscenes that help tell the story between stages, but in actual gameplay itself the graphics are nowhere near as good. There aren't any flicker/slowdown issues but the graphics and backgrounds suffer from a general lack of detail. Sound is a mixed bag too-the music is not that good for the most part, but sound effects are commendable between the sword-slashing sounds and the sounds made by fireballs and other weapons, which are rather authentic. Controls are responsive but it takes a lot of practice ot master some of the more complex moves needed to get through the game, like wall jumps and hanging onto ledges. Also requring practice is how to attack during jumps and these more specialized moves. The gameplay is fast with few breaks, and also surprisingly difficult from the start. If you really like a challenge you'll feel right at home, but those easily frustrated will quickly be turned off by constantly being unable to proceed easily.
If the high difficulty level and generally subpar graphics don't bother you too much, this is a challenging and rewarding gaming experience. If this looks too hard for you, then you might want to try the sequel instead, as it's just a little bit easier.