Rather than an update of the original game that came out last year we will be treated to a complete reworking, quite a lot of promises were made during the presentation and after a play, most of them are spot on.

 

 

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 will have the same basic storyline as the Xbox 360 version with you controlling Ryu but with loads of new twists and baddies to take down. The camera and framerate has been completely reworked with the action being a lot more fluid and centered, allowing you to concentrate on the action rather than which way the camera will flip. To beef up the gameplay there are now three female playable characters, each of which will have a separate storyline that blends into the story of Ryu. Of the three I was only able to play as the pink bowed killer Ayane and newcomer Momiji. Each character played just as fast as Ryu but required different techniques to master.

 

The gameplay is as frantic as ever with baddies coming from all angles, offering their limbs for clipping, a little was said about the lack of blood but its still pretty violent since you are lopping peoples arms and legs off. Sadly my gaming skills deserted me, leaving me playing the game like a dying swan, the occasional flashy special move impressing some but then getting stamped on by a group of lowly ninja henchmen and then inevitable death.

 

Head hanging low and stuffed with mini pizza's I watched the other more adept players taking the game to town. Apart from those cursed henchmen ninja there are some mystical looking baddies and some wicked demons who are waiting to munch on your soul, plus lush environments like markets, sewers and rivers to battle around.

 

 

Mentioned at the show but not playable is the co-op mode and whilst not very open in a description it seems more likely to be arena action based on the main games levels rather than drop in action during solo play.

 

Heatwave and bad gaming skills aside the new characters and hugely improved game engine will be enough to tempt even owners of the original for another go.

 

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 will be the first of many great Temco/Koei titles in the near future, with others to follow such as Undead Knights (PSP), Warriors: Legends of Troy (PS3 / Xbox 360) and Trinity: Souls of Zill O’ll (PS3) and of course Quantum Theory.  

If the titles mentioned above are as impressive as what we seen on Friday then we can't wait to test them out.