Ninja Gaiden II won't be out for the Xbox 360 for a couple of months, but Team Ninja has something for you to play while you wait. Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword is a fitting addition to the series, following the same hardcore style as previous entries with plenty of ninja-themed slicing and dicing. It may not be as packed with action and strategy as earlier Ninja Gaidens, but its unique gameplay and presentation more than make up for that.

In the game, Ryu finds himself on a mission to collect strange dragon orbs while at the same time attempting to rescue a female compatriot. As expected, several enemies stand in his way, wielding weapons that range from sharp-fingered gloves to gigantic swords. Ryu's armed and ready, though. He returns with his majestic Dragon Sword in hand, along with a few shuriken throwing stars and plenty of athletic ability.

Ninjas + dragons = awesome.

The genius in Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword is provided by its control scheme. Rather than utilizing the basic D-pad and button set-up as previous Nintendo DS action games, Dragon Sword requires you to turn the system sideways and play almost entirely with the stylus. You perform jumps by quickly slashing upward on the screen, which also enables you to reach higher levels and work your way out of catacombs. You throw shuriken stars by tapping targets on the screen, hitting them with utmost accuracy. Obviously, the most fun comes from slashing opponents. You do this by sliding across them rapidly, performing multiple strikes, grapple moves and combos. This gameplay system shows superb input from Team Ninja, and both novices and hardcore players alike will have no trouble piecing together their favorite attacks.

Dragon Sword also pulls off a nice trick as far as graphics are concerned. Ryu and his fellow characters are rendered in full 3-D, but the backdrops are pre-existent and non-interactive. However, it's easy to navigate where to go on each stage, with clear, beautiful graphics throughout. There are boss segments that are entirely 3-D, but Team Ninja made a smart decision keeping the camera locked on them so Ryu can execute his attacks flawlessly. The cinematic images are breathtaking as well, spreading across both screens without any distortion. A rocking soundtrack and great sound effects back up the rest of the game nicely.

You'll also enjoy the Ninpo attacks. Acquired over the course of the game, Ryu can unleash one of these moves to help him clear the screen. You initiate them by tapping an icon on the corner of the screen and then quickly tracing a Japanese symbol to complete it. From there, you take control of the Ninpo itself by dragging the stylus over the on-screen targets. Itagaki and company made a smart move with these maneuvers, giving you direct control instead of letting the attack unfold on its own.

This game takes roughly seven to eight hours to beat, a bit shorter than expected considering that previous Ninja Gaiden games last somewhat longer. It does offer a few extras, however. New unlockable difficulty levels are available, in case you feel like abusing your DS screen even more. There's also the option to upload and compare your Karma scores through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Past that, though, there really isn't much else to do, outside of going back into the game and slashing up foes you beat earlier.

Still, this thrill ride definitely pays off. Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword is one of the better "hardcore" action games available for the Nintendo DS, with innovative gameplay, exquisite presentation and a couple of noteworthy bonus features. Team Ninja's gone 1-for-1 thus far with its 2008 Ninja Gaiden games, and we have a feeling things are only going to get better from here.

Related Links

Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword Game Guide

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Our Final ScoreGood

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