Ninja Gaiden 3

Ninja Gaiden gets a bit of an overhaul in this last title of the trilogy. The graphics loose that psuedo-3D look and are now represented in full 2D (much like the Mega Man games). And the organic theme of the previous games has been completely dropped in this one for plenty of robotic enemies and mechanical stages. The anime cut-scenes are also back and are just as good if not a little better than Ninja Gaiden 2's cinemas. Overall the game has more polished and futuristic feel which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Again the gameplay remains tried and true, but with a few minor adjustments. The knock-back is a lot less noticable and doesn't affect you when in the air. And enemies for the most part don't reappear once you return to an area. There's even a cool upgrade that can be found for your katana. Ryu even learned a few more tricks such as the ability to climb using overhead bars or ropes. All in all it's not terribly difficult like the previous games, but the more refined gameplay still makes for an enjoyable experience. The game also makes for one heck of an ending to the Ninja Gaiden trilogy. Go ahead and complete the series if you can still find this fun title.

Overall 8.0