Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus

The difficulty is unrelenting. [May 2013, p.76]

It may not be more than the sum of its parts, but it’s still a fun action adventure and definitely a worthy sequel to Ninja Gaiden Sigma. Just don’t expect to be blown away by the sometimes convoluted story.

This is a solid effort at porting Ninja Gaiden 2 – one of the best hack and slash titles of this generation – to a handheld. Unfortunately, it still has the poor camera and occasionally sloppy level design of the original, problems that are further compounded by the Vita’s small screen.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2+ is an excellent game that makes the transition to the Vita quite well.

Performance aside, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus is a razor-sharp sequel that delivers over-the-top cut scenes, special moves and pulverizing attacks. Final verdict: A quality on-the-go beat-em-up that should find its way into your Vita library.

Recommended if you don't have any other platform to enjoy the game on. It's a great action title, but the additions won't justify a second or third purchase if you already have this title.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus is a great port that Mixes depth original combat system from Ninja Gaiden 2 and variety of content from Sigma 2. Good and challenging new modes, but with some engine issues for another version of one of the best hack and slash in this last decade.

About as good as Ninja Gaiden Sigma is going to get.

Ryu Hayabusa is back in PlayStation Vita, wielding his legendary Dragon sword to unleash a ninja-action storm on our 5" screens. This game is a good option for those who like action games, although some technical shortcomings can hinder the experience, and the difference between this and the PS3 version is very narrow.

For a good hack-and-slash experience on the Vita, and for fans of the Ninja Gaiden franchise, Sigma 2 Plus is an enjoyable game. If you can ignore problems like the camera, and invisible walls, you will have fun mowing down ninjas, monsters, and freaky giant bosses.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus is not the game for whom has already played the counterpart on PS3 or XboX 360. With that said, the last portable instalment of the series is a good action game for everyone.

Despite the occasional slowdown and sometimes unpolished presentation, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus is a fine, fast, and furious choice on the road. Just be on the lookout for other ninjas. They be everywhere.

If you can’t get past the flaws Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus is rife with, you may find your ninja combat needs satisfied by another title with similar gameplay and a more polished and thought out presentation. That title is Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Yes, that title, at times, is more Ninja Gaiden than this one or even the putrid offering that was Ninja Gaiden 3.

Sure it has its flaws, and yes, it’s a port of a port, but it was still an enjoyable experience. It made me feel badass, even on the easiest difficulty.

Despite its flaws, Ninja Gaiden Sigma II Plus is a solid hack-'n-slash title and worth a place in anyone's PS Vita collection.

Frame-rate aside, Sigma 2 Plus is still one of the PlayStation Vita’s more recommendable titles. The story is nonsensical and there are a couple of minor issues orbiting the game’s presentation but it still plays well, and features a fair amount of content both in and out of the single player campaign. With that said, fans of the series should approach Plus with caution, unless they are desperate for their Ninja Gaiden fix whilst on the go.

Even with the Vita’s meager library, you could do far better, and in a sea of choices, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus drowns itself with above-average gameplay, unnecessary additions, and technical issues. It’s not a bad game – just superfluous.

It's hard not to be pissed off when a game this good gets a porting this bad. Buy it only if you don't have any other platform to play it on.

Compared to the PS3 version of the video game, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus falls short with the graphical and framerate downgrades and a dearth of online features. It's also difficult to give credit to a game that's been revised over and over again for the last five years. Then again, it's still one of the best action titles for the handheld and it broadens the range of software available on a platform that sorely needs it. Besides, having more ninjas on your side is never a bad idea.

The new re-release for Ninja Gaiden’s second entry in the modern-era series brings a few new modes/levels, gameplay adjustments and some fancy new costumes for the game’s female characters. Smells and tastes good... but not enough for the seasoned fans.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus is a disappointing port of a great game, since it suffers from frequent frame rate issues and a lowered difficulty level that vilifies the whole experience.

Hayabusa needs some time to sharpen his blade before he returns. [May 2013, p.84]

At its core, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus isn't a bad action game. The action is still very combo-heavy and less tolerant of simple button-mashing tactics. The story is decent enough for those who can tolerate the typical plots of action-heavy anime, and there is a decent amount of gameplay to be had.

A good game, but poorly converted. [Issue#230, p.74]

If you’re looking for Vita Ninja Gaiden then pick up the first Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus. It’s a much more solid purchase.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus is precisely what we can call an opportunist adaptation. The game carries technical deficiencies that can quickly spoil your gaming experience, above all for such a great license. Bringing Ninja Gaiden with you anywhere is quite classy but that doesn't really make it worth your money, especially if you played the console version.

At moments it can be wildly entertaining, but those moments come bundled with a terrible camera, uneven level design, and combat that tends to cheat you as often as it challenges you.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus is a sub-par port of a game that was impressive when it launched, but has since been overshadowed.

On top of the technical issues, there's barely anything new that's been added here to justify another purchase. It's a shame, because I really enjoyed the original Ninja Gaiden 2 and Sigma 2.

A weak port of a reasonable port of a good game. Compared to the original, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus is just too flawed to recommend.

Sigma 2 Plus might still satisfy die-hard fans, but its best moments come at a price. The game’s uneven combat, frustrating camera and shoddy performance make it a task of perseverance over entertainment. [May 2013, p75]

After the departure of Tomonobu Itagaki, Team Ninja seems to be victim of a curse: like a reverse Mida's touch, everything that Yosuke Hayashi comes in contact with suddenly turns to mediocre. Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus unfortunately follows the same trend: instead of a portable rendition of an astonishing action game, here you'll find a questionable porting that, despite the interesting extras, is definitely not comparable to the original.

An extremely poor port of what had been the highlight of the franchise up till now, with nothing added but plenty taken away.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus does not warrant the ‘Plus’ moniker. The game adds nothing to incentivize a second or third purchase. If you have never played it, and your only experience with the franchise is on the Vita, I can see taking the plunge.

I'd say that if you really love the game, and aren't too particular about the framerate, then this is worth picking up. And for those of you new to the game, or series even, looking for something new to play on the Vita, you could definitely do worse.

Ultimately, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus is a case study that just because a game can be ported to a handheld doesn’t mean it necessarily should, especially if it suffers from downgraded visuals, spotty framerate and imprecise controls. Newbie players who never played the console versions may end up less frustrated out of ignorance, but a game that originally relied on tight controls and smooth gameplay should not have to endure such drawbacks just for the sake of going portable. It may earn points as a novelty to have the game on the go, but the cost of portability is too much of a disservice for a great action game optimized for consoles.