Tomonubo Itagaki talks more smack than Wesley Snipes in White Men Can't Jump but he's got the skills to actually back up his boastful claims. His DOA series is quite enjoyable and the last Ninja Gaiden is a maddeningly intense blood bath. While he's supposedly working on the official sequel for a next-gen console of his choosing (I suppose), Itagaki's not quite finished with the original Xbox game. Thus, we now have Ninja Gaiden Black, a scrumptious special edition of last year's epic adventure that's been jam packed full of delicious goodies. Swords zip through the air, bodies crumple to the floor, blood fills the streets, and I died. I died a lot.

I died a hell of a lot, actually. Not that that was a surprise since I met my end numerous times in the regular edition of Ninja Gaiden, but Black is a new breed. It's about as tough as a piece of beef jerky that's been left out in the desert sun. Even on the easiest setting it has bite, and let's not even get into Master Ninja, where Ryu can be cut down in just a few hits. I appreciate the challenge, but let this be a warning to you if you're planning to proudly march through the entire game on these easier modes. This game will have none of your bloated arrogance and will immediately squash you flat.

The primary reason to buy this game is the included bonus content. The primary quest is about the same, but what makes it sweeter is the inclusion of both Hurricane Packs, so Ryu will have access to all of those weapons as well as face off against the terrifying creatures that populate Black's demented innards. It's really cool having all of that on a single disk, especially since the 360 threatens to banish my dusty old console back into the box from whence it sprang.

In addition to that good stuff, there's also the Ninja Gaiden Arcade game that you'll have to unlock. It's certainly a nice bonus goodie but the game's not exactly all that fun to play. Not only are the bosses super cheap but the controls aren't too responsive. Even for the sake of nostalgia, this game's really annoying. However, I covet all bonus content, so I'll take it.

Just like the previous game, Black is a true beauty. The remarkable detail on the character models and even some of the environments are among the greatest the Xbox has ever seen, and when coupled with a speedy frame rate the game is undeniably attractive. I just wish I could say the same thing about its camera, which at times is the reason why I get my butt kicked.

For all its majesty, Ninja Gaiden Black isn't necessarily a must buy. If you loved the original and lust for an all in one encompassing disk then you decided to purchase this title long ago, but if you're a casual fan who's already downloaded the Hurricane Packs and you're in search of a brand new experience you won't find it here. It's merely a great game that's been made even greater, and there's certainly nothing wrong with that.

Our Final ScoreExcellent

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