Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection Reviews
The Ninja Gaiden Master Collection is a great value for only $39.99. Three frenetic adventures that represent some of the best action games from console generations of the past are bundled, ensuring a lot of content for almost half the price of some AAA games. While the games stand on their own as fun and entertaining, the collection is rather barebones, and the exclusion of co-op or other multiplayer modes is felt throughout. Still, fans of the series, or those looking to become fans, can hardly go wrong with the purchase of this collection.
Overall, Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is fairly whelming and often aggravating. For those looking to replay one or all of these titles, it may be better to buy the original titles on their own, simply because the quality of the Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection experience doesn't match its price tag, while those who don't mind the cost will find only a serviceable group of titles in a series that had produced much better.
Even 15 years after the release of the first Ninja Gaiden it is easy to appreciate its majesty and all the nuances of the combat system proposed by Itagaki: it takes a few minutes to "regroup" again how to parry a shot, activate a devastating combo or decapitate an enemy and be conquered by the tight pace of play. It takes very little for a newb to appreciate the superb qualities of a combat system and gameplay that still manage to keep up with the best exponents of the action category. Because Ninja Gaiden also means secrets, areas to explore and puzzles to solve. Overall, the gameplay and level design of the two Sigmas also make a sniff in 2021, while the weaker of the three is confirmed to be the usual Razor's Edge.
Review in Italian | Read full review
In this analysis I wanted to summarize my opinion after having played this compilation and the original games. If you are a fan of the saga you can surely enjoy the complete trilogy again in its most complete versions. If it's the first time you've been introduced to Ninja Gaiden I definitely think you'll enjoy this universe and three great action games and with some good doses of gore and violence.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Ninja Gaiden Collection provides three very good games, but too bad we only have lazy ports here. It's almost the same games as the PS360 versions, and kind of expensive, too...
Review in French | Read full review
Ninja Gaiden is an amazing, trailblazing series that set new action game standards, but this collection offers nothing new for longtime fans. In fact, this bare-bones port lacks the original games' multiplayer modes.
Ninja Gaiden: The Master Collection is a fascinatingly violent time capsule that shows off the best and the worst of Koei Tecmo's fan favourite shinobi. It's as barebones a collection as can be, packing all three games together with a sprinkling of DLC, but it's still a fine showcase of brutal difficulty and white-knuckle thrill power that is inimitable by anything else on the market. Just don't expect anything more than that.
Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection gets off to a promising start on Switch with a decent port of Ninja Gaiden Sigma that performs well in both docked and handheld modes. However, as soon as you boot up parts two and three it's all downhill, with dynamic resolution resulting in a pixelated mess in places as the frame rate consistently struggles to keep up with the action. All we needed here was a solid, no-frills port and this collection would have been an instant recommendation. As things stand, it's a disappointing experience that needs patching ASAP and should be the last version you opt for if you've got the choice to play elsewhere.
The Master Collection is about as barebones as you can get for a compilation release. Still, if this is maybe an indication that the door to a whole new NG adventure is forthcoming, one that embraces the design of the first two, then that’s great news. Anyway — speculation aside — if you’re looking to relive these games or want to get into the franchise for the first time, this is very good way to do it.
Ninja Gaiden Master Collection is a nice, chunky package full of satisfying and very difficult gameplay that the new generation of gamers ought to know. While the remaster brings 4K60 gameplay, it's hard to deny that some corners were cut, and that a lot more could have been done in terms of revamping this classic.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Ninja Gaiden Master Collection is simply three individual games on the console of your choice. If you're expecting extras here, you're not going to get them. Still, it shouldn't deter a gamer looking for an amazing action experience. The first game is PACKED with enough action to provide for one hell of an amazing gaming experience. While the second game falls short of the first, it is still a phenomenal title that deserves to be experienced. There is no Ninja Gaiden 3… even if something called that downloads with the other two games. If you dare, try at your own risk.
The Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection offers three intense, challenging, and mostly thrilling Ryu Hayabusa games for the price of one. Three may be one too many, but this is still a good deal for those seeking visceral, violent, video-game action.
While the Ninja Gaiden Master Collection isn’t perfect on Switch, it’s nail-biting, Ninja fun that is definitely worth revisiting.
The dormant juggernaut of video game heritage that is Ninja Gaiden makes its way onto modern hardware with this adrenaline-fueled collection featuring three critically acclaimed titles from the series. Ryu Hayabusa is back, but is the collection a celebration of what made these games fantastic, or just another cash-grab?
Team Ninja have succeeded in bringing back Ryu in 2021 and while it doesn't offer anything new, this collection is a lean mean fighting machine and with the inclusion of 4K graphics running at 60 frames per second, revisiting Ninja Gaiden is a blast from the past with a modern twist and while the first game feels a little dated, this collection excels with the later two games.
The Ninja Gaiden Master Collection is a barebones port of two of the greatest action games ever made and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge. The fact that these are the Sigma versions, and that Team Ninja has done nothing to iron out the weaker moments of these games, drags this collection down, but it's still a good way to play Ninja Gaiden on modern hardware.
If you are a fan of action games, have enjoyed the challenge of Souls games and wished Sekiro was a bit more action-oriented, Ninja Gaiden Master Collection is probably the place you should be looking for your next fix.
Ninja Gaiden Master Collection is the best choice if you want no-stop action with the right amount of difficulty, plenty of cool moves and a lot of characters.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The first and second Ninja Gaiden games are absolutely worth playing through and look great, whilst the third is slightly less recommendable.
The Ninja Gaiden franchise has been sorely missed.