Ninja Gaiden
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About the Game
Ninja Gaiden is a single-player action-adventure hack-and-slash game. The story centers on Ryu Hayabusa, a master ninja of the Dragon Clan, whose village is attacked by the Vigoor Empire. During the raid, the Dark Dragon Blade, a cursed and immensely powerful artifact, is stolen, and many of Ryu’s kin are slaughtered. Armed with the ancestral Dragon Sword, Ryu vows to seek vengeance, recover the stolen relic, and confront the dark forces manipulating events from the shadows.
Story & Setting
His journey takes him across the empire, through cities, fortresses, and otherworldly realms, as he faces both human enemies and demonic creatures.
Gameplay & Core Systems
Combat is fast-paced and built around fluid, combo-driven melee systems combined with ranged weapons and magical techniques. Ryu can wield a variety of melee arms beyond the Dragon Sword, including nunchaku, war hammers, and other specialized blades, each with unique move sets and upgrade paths. Projectile weapons such as shuriken and bows provide ranged options, and Ninpo magic techniques allow him to unleash powerful elemental attacks like the Art of the Inferno, Ice Storm, and Inazuma. Players can chain together combos, cancel into evasive moves, and execute Ultimate Techniques that charge power for devastating finishers. Movement is highly dynamic and designed to emphasize agility.
Standout Features
- Ryu can run along walls, perform aerial combos, vault over enemies, and even dash across water surfaces in combat situations.
- Ninpo: Progression is tied to collecting essence, the energy released by defeated enemies, which can be spent at shops to purchase healing items, Ninpo scrolls, and enhancements.
- Weapons can be upgraded to expand their combo lists and damage potential.
- Exploration outside of combat is rewarded with hidden items, life upgrades, and optional challenges that deepen progression.
- Enemies strike with speed and coordination, and boss encounters demand quick reactions and efficient use of both weapons and magic.
- Environmental interaction is also integrated into battles, letting players use walls for attack chains or to quickly reposition.
- Online-enabled Master Ninja Tournaments allowed players to compete by uploading scores and times, comparing performance in combat trials.
- Time Attack and survival-based challenges offered additional modes beyond the core campaign.
Presentation & Atmosphere
Display support includes Progressive Scan (480p). Audio support includes Dolby Digital.
More game data: releases, identifiers & technical details
Regional release records and identifiers for Ninja Gaiden | Xbox.
Release and technical facts
| Fact | Value | Release / platform | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Published by | Tecmo, Inc. | Mexico | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Team Ninja | Mexico | MobyGames |
| Additional Development by | Polygon Magic, Inc. | Mexico | MobyGames |
| Distributed by | Microsoft S. de R.L. de C.V. | Mexico | MobyGames |
| Additional Graphics by | Visual Science Laboratory, Inc. | Mexico | MobyGames |
| Additional Graphics by | N-DESIGN Inc. | Mexico | MobyGames |
| Motion Capture by | Dynamo Pictures, Inc. | Mexico | MobyGames |
| Testing by | Sarugakucho, Inc. | Mexico | MobyGames |
| Published by | Tecmo, Inc. | United States, Canada | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Team Ninja | United States, Canada | MobyGames |
| Additional Development by | Polygon Magic, Inc. | United States, Canada | MobyGames |
| Additional Graphics by | Visual Science Laboratory, Inc. | United States, Canada | MobyGames |
| Additional Graphics by | N-DESIGN Inc. | United States, Canada | MobyGames |
| Motion Capture by | Dynamo Pictures, Inc. | United States, Canada | MobyGames |
| Testing by | Sarugakucho, Inc. | United States, Canada | MobyGames |
| Published by | Tecmo, Ltd. | Japan | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Team Ninja | Japan | MobyGames |
| Additional Development by | Polygon Magic, Inc. | Japan | MobyGames |
| Additional Graphics by | Visual Science Laboratory, Inc. | Japan | MobyGames |
| Additional Graphics by | N-DESIGN Inc. | Japan | MobyGames |
| Motion Capture by | Dynamo Pictures, Inc. | Japan | MobyGames |
| Testing by | Sarugakucho, Inc. | Japan | MobyGames |
| Published by | Microsoft Corporation | France | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Team Ninja | France | MobyGames |
| Additional Development by | Polygon Magic, Inc. | France | MobyGames |
| Publishing label | Microsoft Game Studios | France | MobyGames |
| Additional Graphics by | Visual Science Laboratory, Inc. | France | MobyGames |
| Additional Graphics by | N-DESIGN Inc. | France | MobyGames |
| Motion Capture by | Dynamo Pictures, Inc. | France | MobyGames |
| Testing by | Sarugakucho, Inc. | France | MobyGames |
| Published by | Microsoft Corporation | Germany | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Team Ninja | Germany | MobyGames |
| Additional Development by | Polygon Magic, Inc. | Germany | MobyGames |
| Publishing label | Microsoft Game Studios | Germany | MobyGames |
| Distributed by | NBG EDV Handels- und Verlags GmbH | Germany | MobyGames |
| Additional Graphics by | Visual Science Laboratory, Inc. | Germany | MobyGames |
| Additional Graphics by | N-DESIGN Inc. | Germany | MobyGames |
| Motion Capture by | Dynamo Pictures, Inc. | Germany | MobyGames |
| Testing by | Sarugakucho, Inc. | Germany | MobyGames |
| Published by | Microsoft Corporation | United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Team Ninja | United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| Additional Development by | Polygon Magic, Inc. | United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| Publishing label | Microsoft Game Studios | United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| Additional Graphics by | Visual Science Laboratory, Inc. | United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| Additional Graphics by | N-DESIGN Inc. | United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| Motion Capture by | Dynamo Pictures, Inc. | United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| Testing by | Sarugakucho, Inc. | United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| Published by | Microsoft Corporation | Germany; Classics release | MobyGames |
| Developed by | Team Ninja | Germany; Classics release | MobyGames |
| Additional Development by | Polygon Magic, Inc. | Germany; Classics release | MobyGames |
| Publishing label | Microsoft Game Studios | Germany; Classics release | MobyGames |
| Distributed by | NBG EDV Handels- und Verlags GmbH | Germany; Classics release | MobyGames |
| Additional Graphics by | Visual Science Laboratory, Inc. | Germany; Classics release | MobyGames |
| Additional Graphics by | N-DESIGN Inc. | Germany; Classics release | MobyGames |
| Motion Capture by | Dynamo Pictures, Inc. | Germany; Classics release | MobyGames |
| Testing by | Sarugakucho, Inc. | Germany; Classics release | MobyGames |
| Media Type | DVD-ROM | Xbox | MobyGames |
| Video Modes Supported | Progressive Scan (480p) | Xbox | MobyGames |
| Sound Capabilities | Dolby Digital | Xbox | MobyGames |
| Number of Offline Players | 1 Player | Xbox | MobyGames |
| Xbox/Windows Live | Content Download | Xbox | MobyGames |
| Xbox/Windows Live | Scoreboard/Leaderboard | Xbox | MobyGames |
| Miscellaneous Attributes | Memory Unit | Xbox | MobyGames |
| Miscellaneous Attributes | Xbox 360 Compatible | Xbox | MobyGames |
| Original game disc count | 1 | North America | MobyGames |
| Genre | Action & Adventure | North America | PriceCharting |
| Developer | Team Ninja | North America | PriceCharting |
| Disc count (PriceCharting) | 1 game disc | North America | PriceCharting |
| ESRB rating | Mature | North America | PriceCharting |
| Player count | 1 player | North America | PriceCharting |
| Publisher | Tecmo | North America | PriceCharting |
| Developer | Team Ninja | Japan | PriceCharting |
| Disc count (PriceCharting) | 1 game disc | Japan | PriceCharting |
| Genre | Action & Adventure | Japan | PriceCharting |
| Player count | 1 player | Japan | PriceCharting |
| Publisher | Tecmo | Japan | PriceCharting |
| Disc count (PriceCharting) | 1 game disc | PAL | PriceCharting |
| Genre | Action & Adventure | PAL | PriceCharting |
| Model number | #N12 00001 | PAL | PriceCharting |
| Player count | 1 player | PAL | PriceCharting |
| Publisher | Tecmo | PAL | PriceCharting |
Regional releases
| Release date | Region / edition | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2004-02-28 | Mexico | MobyGames |
| 2004-03-02 | United States, Canada | MobyGames |
| 2004-03-11 | Japan | MobyGames |
| 2004-05-07 | France | MobyGames |
| 2004-05-10 | Germany | MobyGames |
| 2004-05-12 | United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| 2005-03-10 | Germany; Classics release | MobyGames |
| 2004-03-11 | Japan | PriceCharting |
| 2004-05-14 | PAL | PriceCharting |
| 2004-03-02 | North America | PriceCharting |
| March 2, 2004 | North America | PriceCharting |
| March 11, 2004 | Japan | PriceCharting |
| May 14, 2004 | PAL | PriceCharting |
Catalog identifiers by release
| Identifier | Code | Region / edition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPC-A | 805529757509 | Mexico | MobyGames |
| UPC-A | 018946010304 | United States, Canada | MobyGames |
| ASIN | B00008KTNW | United States, Canada | MobyGames |
| eBay Product ID | 11194 | United States, Canada | MobyGames |
| EAN-13 | 4960677070064 | Japan | MobyGames |
| ASIN | B00006RT68 | Japan | MobyGames |
| eBay Product ID | 1446874328 | Japan | MobyGames |
| UPC-A | 805529264618 | France | MobyGames |
| UPC-A | 805529264649 | Germany | MobyGames |
| UPC-A | 805529264601 | United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| eBay Product ID | 11194 | United Kingdom | MobyGames |
| UPC-A | 805529950788 | Germany; Classics release | MobyGames |
| eBay Product ID | 1625590094 | Germany; Classics release | MobyGames |
| asin | B00008KTNW | North America | PriceCharting |
| epid | 11194 | North America | PriceCharting |
| upc | 018946010304 | North America | PriceCharting |
| upc | 805529757509 | North America | PriceCharting |
| asin | B00006RT68 | Japan | PriceCharting |
| upc | 4960677070064 | Japan | PriceCharting |
| upc | 805529264601 | PAL | PriceCharting |
| ean | 4960677070064 | Japan | PriceCharting |
| asin | B00006RT68 | Japan | PriceCharting |
| model | #N12 00001 | PAL | PriceCharting |
| ean | 805529264601 | PAL | PriceCharting |
| ean | 805529842205 | PAL | PriceCharting |
Data by MobyGames.com · Catalog data: PriceCharting