Ask me about my definitive NES collection, and chances are it would include not one, not two, but all three Ninja Gaiden games from Tecmo. First introduced on the home platform after the arcade game was such a hit, Ninja Gaiden took a different approach on the NES, turning from a beat-em-up into a platforming adventure. And with that, Tecmo put together a challenging and enjoyable game experience. The fun continued with Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos, and then Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom.

After that, we haven't really heard too much of good ol' Ryu Hayabusa. Yeah, there was the SNES package Ninja Gaiden Trilogy, and the countless Ninja Gaiden games for Lynx, Game Gear. the PC Engine, and the Sega Genesis (in Japan), but past that, Tecmo hasn't really revisited the roots of what Ninja Gaiden was all about. The series became just another forgotten classic... until, of course, Tecmo dropped some hints a little while back that Ninja Gaiden was being reborn, at long last, for the Xbox, in the wake of Dead or Alive mania.

Now, the game was supposed to be out some time ago, but countless delays hit the product quite a bit. At last, the final product has arrived, but has it been worth the wait? Is Ryu's return to action games as well received as it was upon his arrival on the NES so long ago? The answer is a resounding yes, although some may not be fully prepared for the new journey that Team NInja has laid ahead.

Ninja Gaiden is quite frankly awesome. It reminds us of what hardcore gaming is really all about, and digs deep into our senses as we rip from room to room, collecting items and slashing the living hell out of whatever moves in an attempt to prove your ninjahood and uphold the honor of your fallen clan. It isn't perfect, but what it has to offer shouldn't be ignored. You simply don't have a definitive Xbox collection without this Ninja in tow.

The story revolves around the Vigoor Empire as they have mercilessly slaughtered the remnants of your clan for the sake of a mysterious sword that can unleash unspeakable evil. This is explained in the game's opening cinemas, as you are introduced into the fold as a guardian of sorts, who seeks bloody revenge against this clan and all those within it, ready to stand in your way. Of course, the journey isn't easy; far from it. You'll face everything from traditional ninjas to bloodthirsty warlords to otherworldly monsters that are just itching to have themselves a dojo box lunch.

The main component that absolutely clicks about Ninja Gaiden would have to be its gameplay. You have a typical jump button which, combined with where you are in the environment, can also lead to wall running and movements that can result in fanciful dodging. You have two sword attacks and the ability to throw shurikens, and combos that you can find actually end up becoming countless, as you can chain together some absolutely vicious attacks if you choose to get into the rhythm. The L trigger acts as your guard button (which you WILL be using quite often), and the R trigger readjusts your camera (which, again, you WILL be using - more on that in a moment). The gameplay really comes together very smoothly, and while some may be lost in the more complex attacks and items that Ryu can possess, some will find it second nature and will be lopping off heads and leaving pools of blood with relative ease. There's no auto-aim system, but the controls are responsive enough to aim you where you want to go. Upgrading with new items, including a nifty bow and arrow set-up, is required, and comes in handy on your quest. There's also Ninpo (ninja magic) and dodge attacks that work well for you, and will most definitely come in handy throughout the game.

Ninja Gaiden is kinetic and exciting, although the backtracking aspects of it may annoy some. Stick with it, though, because once you get through with the training and puzzle components of the game, you'll be satisfied by the ass-kicking action. You'll find yourself mobbed by enemies and soon carving your way out of them, like a chainsaw cutting through firewood. Bosses get more challenging as you progress, even downright cheap near the game's finale, but there's always a technique to find that will move you ahead. At one point, I dug into the game for hours on end trying to beat the skeleton boss until at long last I finally defeated it; exasperated and trying to put my controller back together with duct tape, I kid you not.

The game has absolutely blazing graphics, moving briskly at 60 frames per second and with great detail. The enemies move with a smooth flow, the Japanese environments look fantastic (you've got to love the trees you see as you go from dojo to dojo), and even little effects, like the waviness onscreen as you enter water or the sparks that fly from swords as they clash. If there's one thing I'd fix in this department, it would probably be the game's camera system. Most of the time, it works, but then it does an annoying angle switch in a crucial fight that can be downright frustrating. In addition, timing yourself for jumps takes practice, as you can sometimes barely see the gaps ahead of you, which means climbing out of a pit (if you survive) and trying again. The game has beautifully designed levels, but could have used a slightly better camera interface to get a good look around. Not a horrible flaw, but a flaw nonetheless.

Ninja Gaiden's sound is very much in check, with only one minor quibble. The music is dead-on, changing with the environments and providing an epic soundtrack when necessary. Sound effects seem somewhat spread out over the course of the game and not overflowing with diversity, but they still work. As for the voicework... well, the English dub isn't the best. I fully admit that. However, kudos to Team Ninja for including the ability to play Japanese tracks with English subtitles. It's a good option to have, and I've grown accustomed to it for some time- I can't watch Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon with English dubs; just can't.

The game's challenge level isn't for everyone. I remember getting insanely mad just trying to take on the first boss, your dojo master. Just when you think you have a technique down for blocking and attacking, he grabs you and seeps away your energy. Fortunately, you snag enough items during your quest to help you out and keep you going. There are sparse save spots, but they do come in handy.

You'll want to continue working on the game, though, because there are extras aplenty. There's a very hard difficulty level to unlock, new outfits to discover and download via Xbox Live, ninja grades to earn (the game takes 20 hours just to beat on the first try, and that's with meager grades), and a master ninja tournament to compete online with, where you match your skills against other ninja wannabes on the Xbox Live network. If that's not enough, Team Ninja has skillfully hidden the three NES NInja Gaiden games for your playing pleasure. They aren't impossible to find, but work is definitely required.

As an old school gamer, I find it curious how many old game licenses are coming back around for another try. It's equally curious to see how many nearly capture the fun of their originator. Ninja Gaiden is one of those titles, a game that grows on you and rewards you for your toil and frustration with the kind of elevated gameplay and extras that Team Ninja wants you to appreciate. To take the easy way out is cheating you of the experience, which might explain why the game lacks an easy mode. If you're a rookie, you'll definitely want to take this effort slow and get everything down. Otherwise, if you've spent hours digging into the NES classics like I have, getting the right timing, finding the best items, and absolutely obliterating all sorts of evil in your path, then Ninja Gaiden is a great rush that only Team Ninja can deliver. They truly love us.