What is Ninja Gaiden Master Collection? Full Series Breakdown

If you’re a fan of breakneck speed and flashy moves, you will have an absolute blast with the Ninja Gaiden Master Collection. This collection lets fans and newcomers alike experience the classic game on modern consoles and add it to a library of classic games from a bygone era of action games. But, before we get into the collection, let’s take a step back and have a look at what Ninja Gaiden is, where the series comes from, and whether or not these remastered games are worth your time.

What Is Ninja Gaiden?

Ninja Gaiden is a series of action video games developed by Tecmo featuring the ninja Ryu Hayabusa. It’s a series that’s been around since 1988, beginning on arcade cabinets and the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It stars Ryu Hayabusa, a member of the Dragon Clan, and is set around him as well as the “Lohanian” descendants of the sister’s second of the Golden scarabs.

Ninja Gaiden is known for its:

• Challenging difficulty
• Fast, fluid combat
• Stylized violence
• Cinematic storytelling

Over time, Ninja Gaiden has evolved from 8-bit sidescrolling into a full-blown 3D action experience, especially with its reboot on the Xbox in 2004.

Ninja Gaiden Series Breakdown

The Ninja Gaiden series includes numerous titles, spin-offs, and remakes. Here’s a breakdown of the mainline 3D games included in the Master Collection:

1. Ninja Gaiden Sigma (2007)

Originally an Xbox game, the 2004 Ninja Gaiden gets a PS3 remake with new content, better controls, and smoother graphics (this was inspired by my first nomination, The Last of Us, because I vectored the horse onto it rather than let my hand cramps heal. It features:

• 19 missions
• 10+ weapons such as the Dragon Sword and the Crescent Staff
• Monstrous enemies and challenging boss fights
• Playable character: Rachel – own story sections as well

Sigma trims back the content from the Xbox version, but it has better balance and looks nicer.

2. Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 (2009)

Built on 2008’s Ninja Gaiden II for Xbox 360, Sigma 2 glazes over the action with that coat of new, more polished gameplay. It features:

• 3 Playable Characters: Ryu, Ayane, and Momiji
• 17 chapters
• Online co-op in the original (not present in the Master Collection)
• Added boss fights and improved AI

While it’s not as bloody as the original Ninja Gaiden II, Sigma 2 is more consistent and more user-friendly.

3. Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge (2012)

The game was released in response to the critical fans of the original Ninja Gaiden 3, who felt that the game did not offer enough depth. Razor’s Edge adds back:

• Beheading and cutting off limbs
• Upgrade system
• 4 characters to choose from: Ryu, Ayane, Kasumi, and Momiji
• Weapons: Twin katanas, claws, scythe, and more

Less loved than the first two, but Razor’s Edge is a pretty good step up from the original Ninja Gaiden 3.

Ninja Gaiden Master Collection Overview

Released on June 10, 2021, the Ninja Gaiden Master Collection is a bundle of the three Sigma titles mentioned above. It’s available on:

• PC (Steam)
• PlayStation 4
• Xbox One
• Nintendo Switch

Key Features:

• 60 FPS support (on most systems)
• 1080p resolution, upscaled visuals
• DLC costumes and characters included
• Single-player only (multiplayer features removed)

The Master Collection aims to preserve the legacy of the franchise for modern systems, offering over 40 hours of gameplay across the three games.

Ninja Gaiden Collection Explained

Now that the Ninja Gaiden Master Collection announcement has been released, there is a lot to get excited about, but also a reason to be disappointed in what isn’t included or what you should be unaware of going in.

What’s Included:

• All 3 three games’ full story modes (Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Sigma 2, and Ninja Gaiden Razor’s Edge)
• Every DLC outfit and character
• Boss Rush modes and challenge missions

What’s Not Included:

• Ninja Gaiden Black, or the original Xbox version of Ninja Gaiden
• Online multiplayer modes
• Blood in Sigma 2 (not as much as in Ninja Gaiden 2)

Quality and convenience over the traditional way of making it. The gameplay is still sharp, but some fans long for the gritty realism of the previous iterations.

Performance and Graphics

On PC and current-gen consoles, the Master Collection runs well. Here are some performance benchmarks:

While the visuals aren’t a full remaster, the upscale is clean and consistent.

Ninja Gaiden Master Collection Review

So, just how good is the Ninja Gaiden Master Collection? The bottom line is, it’s a decent package with reservations. Its seamless fighting style, engine, and action gave this series its shining moment in gaming, and fans could also ‘play as’ multiple characters who each use vastly different weapons. 

It’s also been ported to its modern incarnation on PC (Steam), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, exposing the game to a wide audience of players. And you get three top-tier games for the price. But it is not without its weaknesses. The collection ditches multiplayer modes, has older graphics that haven’t been totally remastered, and includes some cut content, like the less violent blood in Ninja Gaiden II. 

Critical reception-wise, the Metacritic is mixed but still okay: 73/100 for PC, 71/100 for PS4, and 69/100 for Switch. The game currently boasts more than 5,000 user reviews on Steam and bears a “Mostly Positive” rating. Fans mostly seem to be pleased with the old-school and snappy combat mechanics, but mixed sentiments are still shared when it comes to the lack of modern additions.

Who Should Play the Ninja Gaiden Master Collection?

If you enjoy difficult games like Dark Souls, Devil May Cry, 1 action-adventure game with some of the deepest combat mechanics in any game. Retro, action-packed Japanese games. Then this is the book for you. It’s an excellent jumping-on point for newbies who missed the originals and a nostalgic trip for longtime fans.

Conclusion 

The Ninja Gaiden Master Collection overview highlights just how far action gaming has come since the early 2000s. The visuals may seem a little dated, and the multiplayer modes are missing, but everything else, tight combat, epic boss fights, and punishing difficulty, is every bit as potent now as it was then.

Whether you’re asking: what is Ninja Gaiden, want a comprehensive Ninja Gaiden series recap, or if you’re on the hunt for a good Ninja Gaiden Master Collection review, this collection has plenty of hours of cool and compelling action. But don’t get too comfortable because in the world of ninjas, the only easy part is you!