Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword
A stylus-driven Ninja Gaiden adventure for the Nintendo DS.
Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword is a 2008 action-adventure game from Team Ninja, published by Tecmo and Ubisoft for the Nintendo DS. It is the series' first portable title from Team Ninja and their first game on a Nintendo system. Set between the first two main entries, the story follows Ryu Hayabusa as he searches for the kidnapped kunoichi Momiji, uncovering secrets tied to the Dark Dragonstones and the Dragon Lineage.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Team Ninja
- Publisher
- Tecmo (WW); Ubisoft (EU)
- Designer
- Tomonobu Itagaki
- Director
- Yosuke Hayashi
- Artist
- Yutaka Saito
- Composer
- Hiroyuki Akiyama
- Series
- Ninja Gaiden
- Platforms
- Nintendo DS
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
The game relies heavily on the stylus, similar to The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Tapping the screen makes Ryu use his selected projectile; tapping and holding makes him run to a location. Drawing a horizontal or vertical line on an enemy performs a corresponding sword slash, and sliding up makes him jump. Ninpo magic is activated by tapping an icon and tracing a Sanskrit letter outline. Blocking is done by pressing any button or the directional pad, and evasive rolls are performed by entering a blocking stance and tapping the stylus. Ryu can perform the Izuna Drop and absorb essences from slain enemies to unleash Ultimate Techniques by sliding the stylus back and forth. A playable demo was available from the DS Download Station Volume 7 and previously from the Wii's Nintendo Channel.
Plot
Six months after the Dark Dragon Blade Incident, Ryu Hayabusa has rebuilt the Hayabusa Village. After training with the kunoichi Momiji, she is kidnapped by the Black Spider Ninja Clan on orders from their leader Obaba, who seeks the Eye of the Dragon for the Fiend Ishtaros. Searching for Momiji, Ryu is transported to the monastery in Tairon, where he fights Fiends and finds a Dark Dragonstone. Master swordsmith Muramasa explains that eight such stones contain the will of a Dark Dragon; gathering them would unleash a power greater than the Dark Dragon Blade. Ryu sets out to find the remaining stones. After obtaining seven, he reaches the Black Spider hideout, defeats a transformed Obaba, and the stones open a portal to the Underworld. At the Gates of Hell, Ishtaros holds Momiji hostage, steals the seven stones, and reveals the eighth in her crown. The spirit of Kureha appears, draws out Momiji's spirit, and together they release the Eye of the Dragon, fusing it with the Dragon Sword to create the True Dragon Sword. Ryu defeats Ishtaros, but her twin sister Nicchae takes Ishtaros's body and the stones deeper into Hell to resurrect the Holy Vigoor Emperor.
Development
Series director Tomonobu Itagaki chose the Nintendo DS for its originality, which he considered the most important aspect of a handheld platform, and to create a personal challenge. He also noted that his children wanted one of his titles on the platform. Itagaki aimed to make a game playable by all gamers, as his other titles had traditionally targeted men over 18 and Westerners. Originally, characters traced for ninpo were kanji, but were changed to the more culture-neutral Sanskrit for non-Japanese audiences. Graphic violence common in the prequel series was removed to achieve a lower ESRB rating. The English localization was overseen by Team Ninja member Andrew Szymanski in collaboration with AltJapan Co., Ltd.
Reception
The game received favorable reviews on Metacritic. Critics praised the visuals and intuitive controls, but commonly noted its short length of six to seven hours and lack of difficulty compared to earlier Ninja Gaiden titles. Famitsu gave it a score of 30 out of 40. GamePro called it an amazing adventure almost at the level of The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. GameZone rated it 8.5 out of 10, calling it a must-own masterpiece. GameDaily gave it eight out of ten, calling it a handheld game that cuts deep. GamesRadar+ gave it four stars out of five, describing it as a short ride that rattles the senses and challenges reflexes, with no equal on DS. Edge gave it seven out of ten, calling it Team Ninja's finest, most intelligent game since Ninja Gaiden Black. X-Play gave it three stars out of five, saying it leaves dissatisfaction with Ninja Gaiden vets, being short and never fully firing on all cylinders. IGN named it the best Nintendo DS action game of 2008 and awarded it for best graphics technology; it was also nominated for best Nintendo DS game and best original score. GameSpot awarded it Best Use of Control Scheme in their 2008 Special Achievements awards and nominated it for Nintendo DS Game of the Year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword?
Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword was directed by Yosuke Hayashi.
Who composed the music for Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword?
The music for Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword was composed by Hiroyuki Akiyama.
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