So I just got done with Ninja Gaiden Sigma on Switch and goddamn, is that shit janky AF.
This is a game I've played three times previously on release:
Ninja Gaiden (Xbox)
Ninja Gaiden Black (Xbox)
Ninja Gaiden SIgma (PS3)
I OWNED Sigma on Vita but honestly, who can play such a game on that small screen? I sold it.
This game is clearly a product of its time:
A controllable camera that you can't control half the time
Shitty platforming (It's fucking Ninja Gaiden!)
Cheaply programmed A.I.
Back in the days of the original Xbox, one could put up with this kind of game. It was a landmark title at the time but it absolutely has not aged well.
The combat is still great. But in this game, there's WAY too much backtracking, exploring, underwater swimming (typical garbage game design for that era) and horrible area design.
This game's weaknesses are why I preferred 2 and 3: Razor's Edge. Got right down to the good shit-the fighting. There are a bunch of ninja missions and rush challenges but there is no way in hell I am ever playing this game again.
Taisoooo
You are one of the few people I’ve run into who, like myself, have stated that they prefer the mechanics and overall gameplay loop of Ninja Gaiden II.
Of course, I absolutely love Ninja Gaiden/Ninja Gaiden Black and I’ve beaten every named release of all of the 3D Ninja Gaiden titles on Master/Ultimate Ninja and lost count of the number of my playthroughs of NG, NGB, NDS, Sigma, NGII, Sigma II, Sigma+, Sigma II+, NG3, NG3RE, and now this Master Collection release…but I always have to admit that Ninja Gaiden II (2008) is the one that keeps me coming back the most.
After almost two decades of all the re-releases and rebalancing, I completely agree with Itagaki’s old stated assessment that he wasn’t completely satisfied with his work on Ninja Gaiden/Ninja Gaiden Black and wanted to concentrate more on the combat and pacing of the game.
Many profess Ninja Gaiden Black as a total package, but even that release was neutered from the original Hurricane Pack 1 & 2 expansions. The intercept mechanic was absolutely awesome (and game breaking) but was removed so what remains in Black is primarily OTG combos and OL UT spam for noobies (especially since essence requirement was waived so starting these chains is ridiculously easy).
I get that Ninja Gaiden Black offers more exploration and a more fleshed out experience compared to the more streamlined (read: linear) sequels and iterations that followed, but I don’t personally play the 3D Ninja Gaiden series to explore; I play them for the combat.