A questionable and rather lacking update to the classic Ninja Gaiden. While adding very little, this game removes successive play, intercept, and nerfs a whole lot of tactics. You're basically paying for the same game, minus some of it's best features. The mission mode, although challenging, can't hold a candle to the story campaign. The best I could find in Black were a few improved weapons, the Lunar and the Kitetsu.… Expand

A totally awesome action. Not for whimps or casual gamers. Packs in about 30 hrs (that is 22 hrs more than the overly easy God of War). Unfortunately it suffers from slowdown and sports a "dull" look on the Xbox 360. Hopefully Tecmo will up-date their emulator.

How come 9 out of 10 people think this is such a great game????? How come nearly all gaming websites gave this game great ratings???? How come the bad reviews are all the same???? " It's too hard" i'll tell you why because NGB is a true gamers game not pokemon or mario bros thats why. Quit crying because you suck at this game and get some skill. NGB is my favorite game of all time and is a true gamers game and NG2 will be the same.… Expand

This game is completely pointless. If the only point of a game is the fact that it is challenging - who cares? I played for about an hour and a half over 3 sessions and I feel absolutely no desire whatsoever to play again (the 3rd session I forced myself to play just to give it one more chance). What a disapointment. Time for ebay. What a waste of time and money!

Great game, especially if you have never played the original like me. At $30US it

Wonderfull game. Must see or in this case play to be belived. I agree with Jay and Tom wholeheartedly in its appeal stemming from its difficulty. Alex hits the nail on the head as well. Amatuer gamers beware.

JJC giving it a 2 shows 1 you havent put forth the time to realize possibly contender for best action game of this generation if not all time. And 2 although everyone gets pwned at a game at some point or another as a beginner you gave up that easily and took the easy way out. 10 all the way one of the greatest games of our time. Team Ninja thumbs up cant wait for Ninja Gaiden 2.

Caliban u moron, if u've even bothered to actually PLAY the game, you would realize that Itagaki (the lead developer) deliberately included the new Ninja Dog difficulty to cater to those who found the original game too demanding in difficulty. I, personally, never found the original too hard to finish (I've beaten it on the hardest difficulty setting, so have thousands of other players), so there's proof right there that the game can be finished. Anyway, you shouldn't be judging a game solely on its difficulty level. Your entire "review", so to speak, didnt even touch on what truly matters in a game, the GAMEPLAY. All I read was incessant bitching about difficulty, which proves how much of an inept n00b you are. so plz, caliban do us all a favour and go back to playing solitaire or something else that's more suited to your "skills" (or lack thereof).… Expand

Simply breathtaking. The graphics and gameplay have been tweaked to perfection. It is still hard although on normal mode the bosses I struggled on the original Gaiden only took 2 goes at most to get through, most I've beaten first go. When you get to the dead guys, break out your Lunar and prepare to be grinning ;o)

Best game i have ever played its hardcore baddass game.

This is better than dvil may cry, gd of war and prinse of persia. This is the original stuff ryu hayabusa existed already in Nintendo consoles and now he will get his sweet revenge in Ninja Gaiden Black in Xbox, (and Ninja Gaiden 2 in Xbox 360.) With amazing graphics, surround dound madness, detailed environment and characters and brilliant story. The graphics is awesome and 100 times great than other adventure games, man i love the glorious graphic effects. With lightning speed gameplay you will wish you would that you want tobe the ninja in the game. So for those who havent played this, this is one of the most challenging, a rare treatfor video gamers. If you have Xbox buy it. If you dont have, buy or borrow an Xbox and buy the game. Ninja Gaiden black is a treasure.… Expand

I. Caliban you are an idiot, people who like ninja gaiden are good at it and have beaten it on very hard and want more of a challenge so they added master ninja, if you suck at the game (like I did for a while) put black on ninja dog mode and this game is not just for challenge being a ninja is really fun, flying around doing flips you just feel cool. If you suck at the game get over it and stop complaining.… Expand

Unbelievably smooth game play and great graphics.

This game is freak'n sweet! The first one was kind of a challenge, but it's one is in a league of it's own, i think that if you hate this game then your an amatuer gamer!

First off this game is like no other i have played. The first boss fight took me 4 trys to beat its the first game where i was challenged 45m into it. NGB is graphicly astounding it looks better than most next-gen trailers the colision detection is not that great but it must be hard for tecmo to design a cape that sways in the wind but dosn't disapire into solid objects. NGB bar none. I can't spel pleese escuse.… Expand

Well, I really don't know where to start! I mean, i only borrowed the first NG, but NGB is much better. The gameplay is awesome, the graphics detailed to every minute pixel, and the stroy is just awesome. The sounds, the gameplay, and the difficulty gives this game excellent replay value! For someone who likes martial arts, and some good storylines, this is a MUST!

It's not a bad game, just overrated. The popular praises of "..oh it's so pretty" and "..oh it's so difficult" do not merit perfect 10's. The gameplay is repetitive at best and the story is boring and predictable to say the least. Plus, what the hell's the deal the S&M costumes and why does Ryu look as though he's been taking steroids? I thought he was a ninja, not a linebacker for NY Giants. I really hope Tecmo hands this franchise over to another developer to return it to it's former frantic-paced, platform glory.… Expand

Excellent game. although very hard, it's a very addicting and fun game. the weapons are still awsome. graphics are unbelieveble.The cinematics were outstanding. one of the best games ever.

"It's too hard now!" "It's too easy now!" "They're just trying to get more money!" Ahh, I can see the reader reviews now, and it almost turns my stomach. People, learn to judge a game on its MERITS - not on its difficulty or whether or not it's a "cash in". The fact of matter is, Ninja Gaiden Black is awesome. It was awesome last year, it's awesome this year, and probably no matter when it comes out, it will be awesome. The enhancements in this new version are subtle but welcome, making a great game even better. The mission mode is incredible - if you're committed enough to unlock it - while the main game remains its charmingly abrasive old self, with incredibly intense combat, ace controls, and a few surprises for the faithful. Stop complaining. Suck it up. Get the game. Be the ninja.… Expand

Ninja Gaiden Black is a great purchase for gamers who missed out on the original Xbox version of Ninja Gaiden, which many critics hailed as an instant-classic and one of the greatest action games of all time. The game is popular for its aggressive enemy A.I. and unrelenting, fast-paced action sequences. Definitely not for the weak-hearted gamers out there.

Ninja Gaiden, already one of the best XBox games around, provides fodder for Tecmo to expand even further and come up with one of the best expansion/remakes of all time! The additional content is spectacular, and with the reasonable price its a must-have for people new to the game, and even most of the Ninja Gaiden veterans out there. (Plus there's an easier difficulty for all you quitters out there!)… Expand

Absolutely perfect. Any slight imperfections with the original, like the camera angles are fixed, in addition to a slew of additional mini-missions, weapons and outfits. Also, to those complaining of them making this version even more difficult than the original, there is now an easy setting to play in. So that shouldn't really be a complaint. Those who thought the first one was too hard gets an easier difficulty setting and those who beat the first one now can play it with more of a challenge.… Expand

Yes Caliban you are the only wimp that can't take the difficulty, that why Team Ninja made the easy Ninja Dog mode just for people like you, who whine with you panties around your ankles.

A really solid outing. I never played the original, just heard good things, so I don't know how this one compares. This game isn't THAT difficult. I have it on the easiest setting (Ninja Dog) and its fine. Normal is pretty hard, but where's the challenge in walking through a game? Once I'm not a jackass at the game I'll bump it up to Normal, and hopefully to harder difficulties once I get really good. Like Resident Evil 4 and the original Devil May Cry, its hard, but not unbeatable or to the point where I feel a part is impossible. My problems are with manipulating the camera (why does moving the right thumbstick left make the camera go right, or to first person mode half the time?), the sound really isn't so great and I'll never understand why Japanese people always have Ninjas running around on airships, fighting tanks and fighting in a world that's like 2097. Oh well, I guess its to make Ryu look like a total bad @$$ that he can waste tanks and stuff with Shrukiens. Don't get me wrong, it's a ton of fun, it's just not perfect (10/10). Great pick up, though, especially for $30.… Expand

I tend to with caliban. making the game harder and having nearly all the extra content only accessible after beating it on hard (or so i have read), is somewhat cruel. it's good for hardcore fans, but not really for the majority of people. i bet most people out there would find the easy setting challenging. sometimes the puzzles in this game are painful; mostly in a tedious way, but occasionally in a wtf do i do now way. of course the game does have awesome graphics and great combat. it's definately worth owning.… Expand

Fine, if you have set aside 80 hours to complete the game and don't mind going over the same bit over and over and over and over and over again because the game is so UNFORGIVING. Good graphics though ;)

Great graphic does not necessarily mean that it is a great game. The original game is already terribly difficult enough and this one is even worse. It is anything spetacular or difficult to make a "DIFFICULT" game??? Give me a break. I'd rather save my life and $$$.

A fantastic game that is a must own for the x-box. Everything about the game is great. It's the ultimate action adventure game.