Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2: Less Gore, More Gameplay Content

You can't really say the Ninja Gaiden franchise is exclusive to the Xbox 360; although they had to wait a while, Sony owners finally did get the best version of the first entry in the form of Ninja Gaiden Sigma.

Well, it's happening again with Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, the PlayStation 3 version of last year's Ninja Gaiden II. However, despite all the additions and extra content, there's one feature that has actually been lessened, and action fans may not like it: according to a recent GamesRadar preview, Sigma 2 will cut back on the blood and gore. They said you will "notice a distinct drop in the amount of blood spilled during fights" and "beheadings now feature a blue magical glow in place of the claret shoulder fountain of before." Why did they do this? Game director Yosuke Hayashi explains:

"Each game has its own concept and with Ninja Gaiden 2, the focus was on extreme violence. But with Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, we really questioned whether violence is a necessity for a game, so we decided to move away from that trend. So the violence 'approach' is not the way we approached the development of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2. Being able to unlock higher levels of gore would be out of kilter with the concept of the game."

Okay, we can buy that. And it's all the more acceptable when we realize we're getting a vastly updated version: we'll receive co-op, new playable characters, and all new gameplay courtesy of fresh side missions. This will all add to the longevity of the title, and let's not forget that Tecmo is good at delivering the T&A; they certainly aren't cutting back on the "bounce factor." Rachel is more top-heavy than ever in her tight-fitting leather, and Ayane is a little out of control in her flimsy ninja costume. So perhaps the question is, do you want the blood or the "bounce?"

Well, anyway, we say a bunch of extra content supersedes any cosmetic alterations.

Related Game(s): Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2

7/1/2009 Ben Dutka

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Comments (Beta)

G-WiZ199
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 11:11:06 AM
Reply

Ehh...I think they should give us the option to choose cuz seriously...cutting people in half with very little blood splatter...seems kinda weak.

5 up, 1 down

ADAM WEST
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 11:17:23 AM
Reply

Well Ninja Gaiden 2 on the 360 ran at 585p. Sigma 2 will run at 1080p, plus there is online co-op, new weapons, battles, locations, etc, etc. Less gore doesn't matter at all. I played through Black & Sigma, and I'm really looking forward to Sigma 2.

Last edited by ADAM WEST on 7/1/2009 11:18:01 AM

1 up, 1 down

TheHighlander
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 4:53:33 PM

The more I read about this game, the more I am looking forward to it...

2 up, 2 down

TheRiceman
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 11:27:24 AM
Reply

I'm just glad they are giving us more content but like G-WiZ199 said the blood should be optional.

1 up, 0 down

godsman
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 11:27:34 AM
Reply

I think this is great. One reason I don't like Ninja Gaiden is because there are too much unnecessary violence. Temco are not just simply porting the xbox version over to the PS3, they are actually changing and adding new features to it. Although they took out some blood, but it takes extra effort and consideration for them to do so, not just copy and pasting. This is something that we should encourage and applaud to all developers porting games.

2 up, 6 down

HeXeN
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 12:31:06 PM

"One reason I don't like Ninja Gaiden is because there is too much unnecessary violence"

I take it that God Of War III is not on your wish list.

2 up, 0 down

Arvis
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 2:25:04 PM

We're a rare breed yes, but we do exist. Not all of us dig violence for the sake of violence. ;)

-Arvis

5 up, 3 down

TheHighlander
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 5:40:36 PM

@godsman & Arvis

Indeed.

2 up, 3 down

cadpig
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 11:31:00 AM
Reply

The option to choose would have been nice.

4 up, 1 down

Arvis
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 11:32:46 AM
Reply

Wow, I might actually play this game now. I hate gore.

-Arvis

8 up, 6 down

Arvis
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 2:07:47 PM

.......aaaaaaand I get thumbs down for that. I think the internet has made people more disgusting than in past generations.

-Arvis

5 up, 5 down

King James
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 2:47:01 PM

lol. Maybe you should've said you hate senseless gore.

1 up, 0 down

CH1N00K
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 2:56:19 PM

I have to agree with you Arvis. I'm all for pushing the envelope and such, but there is such a thing as too much blood. I'm still up in the air about whether I'll get God of War 3 or not for that reason. I was all over it until I heard about the zipper technology. I don't necessarily need to see guts spilling out onto the ground just in order to enjoy the game. I want to be able to play a game without fear of losing my lunch over a cut-scene.

But I know that some people can't wait to see blood and guts spilling all over the place and some of these games will sell just for that reason. Putting blood and guts in a game is the same as putting in scattered T&A. It's a way to get them off the shelf. If you make a game with both of them? You don't have to worry about a story line, people will still buy it.

3 up, 4 down

Arvis
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 3:17:17 PM

Honestly, what's the point? It doesn't make the game play better. It's shock value at it's basest, and it's just flat out disgusting. It defies a basic sense of humanity to ENJOY looking at depictions of bloody death and dismemberment.

Are the Uncharteds, Metal Gear Solids, and Final Fantasies of this world any less amazing for their lack of gore?

I mean, I'm no saint (former Resident Evil fanatic talking, here) but a step away from the trend of overt brutality in this generation of gaming is both welcome and refreshing. Without the "shock value" crutch to lean on, maybe developers can focus more on simply making a better video game.

-Arvis

4 up, 5 down

HeXeN
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 3:35:36 PM

In the defense of GOW, it has always been about pushing the envelope in terms of graphic nature and just pushing people's buttons in general.Each game has try to out do the last and GOW III continues this trend.

2 up, 0 down

TheHighlander
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 4:58:51 PM

@ Arvis

If the technology allowed, I'd shake your hand. Outstanding comments here. I completely agree.

@Ch1n00k

Regarding extreme gore/blood verses random T&A, which is more objectionable and why? I mean, is it worse to glorify and enjoy depictions of extreme violence and death, or is it worse to enjoy the T&A fluff such as the ladies of Soul Calibur, the DOA girls or Rachel?

Personally I think the violence is the more objectionable. Generally speaking I'll take depictions of things likely to lead to the creation of life over things likely to lead to the destruction of life, but that's just me...

Last edited by TheHighlander on 7/1/2009 5:02:14 PM

4 up, 3 down

Arvis
Thursday, July 02, 2009 @ 11:33:19 AM

@ Highlander: "depictions of things likely to lead to the creation of life"

HA HA! That was classic! :D

On the subject of sexiness in games: As a man, I admit I like boobies. However, a game like Soul Calibur 4... sometimes the sexiness is just too distracting. Not only that, but I don't like it when all the women's proportions are all a little too perfect. Perfect breasts, perfect flat tummies, perfect hips, perfect faces... I don't know, it's all so unrealistic to me.

I hate "women's television" because the men in it are all objectified and unrealistic. So... if I had no problem with video games that did the same thing to women, wouldn't that be a double standard?

-Arvis

0 up, 0 down

BigBoss4ever
Friday, July 03, 2009 @ 8:09:55 PM

good point.

0 up, 0 down

Andysw
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 11:47:54 AM
Reply

Is this just a port but with more features or a remake?

0 up, 0 down

bearbobby
Thursday, July 02, 2009 @ 11:02:36 AM

It's an enhanced version of the same game.

0 up, 0 down

Oxvial
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 12:20:02 PM
Reply

I don't get this..why the Ps3 version cant have the blood? I want to have blood on ridicolous proportions like kill bill!!!

4 up, 2 down

Kempy21
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 12:37:46 PM
Reply

its all about the bounce factor.

0 up, 0 down

Button Masher
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 1:04:42 PM
Reply

I agree with having the option. Maybe we can enter a "blood code" like Mortal Kombat on the SNES back in the day?!?!

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 1:50:56 PM
Reply

Well I don't play ridiculously hard games anymore so it's no issue with me, but taking gore out is pretty weak imo. Should have the option so kids can play the bloodless version and adults can watch the shoulder fountains. Of course, bounce trounces everything in games and life.

2 up, 1 down

King James
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 2:47:46 PM

So you not gonna try out Demon's Souls, World?

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 3:20:23 PM

That's a different story because it's an RPG, I'm willing to be beaten down for a good RPG experience.

0 up, 0 down

King James
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 2:50:08 PM
Reply

The blood in NG2 was kinda excessive. And the blood in NG Sigma 2 isn't nonexistent, so I'm cool with it. Besides, I'll take more bounce over more blood.

Unless its God of War...then I need both.

0 up, 2 down

RustEDalex
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 3:32:27 PM
Reply

Guess they did this to change the rated M game to ummm less rated M

1 up, 0 down

TheHighlander
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 4:57:43 PM

If there is less violence and more 'nounce' is that a bad thing? Really? I mean, Really? Sounds like a good thing to me.

As usual I'm left wondering why people have such a high tolerance for violence, gore, death and horror and such a low tolerance for sex and/or sexy. There seems to be an inordinate amount of upset over a reduction in gore and an equally odd amount of upset over Rachel's enhanced bounce. It seems that some would rather see less cleavage and more cleaving. What an odd set of priorities.

2 up, 3 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 6:09:25 PM

Can't we have both?

5 up, 0 down

Xbox_Killer
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 4:15:21 PM
Reply

I was gonna get this game, but if they're cutting out gore, then I'm not buying.

No Gore = No Buy

1 up, 2 down

Soultaker
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 4:18:22 PM

That shouldn't matter as much as gameplay that in my own opinion is poor judgment of a game.

0 up, 0 down

Xbox_Killer
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 4:50:33 PM

This game could be the best game ever, but I'm not getting it if they're cutting back on the gore.

No Gore = No Buy

2 up, 3 down

TheHighlander
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 4:54:59 PM

If gore is your thing, why not get a job at a slaughter-house? Seriously, no gore = no buy? That's worse than the trophy whores. I guess we can coin a new phrase and call those with this excessive desire for gore in games 'gore whores'.

So, are you really a gore whore?

3 up, 5 down

Xbox_Killer
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 7:20:40 PM

Gore whore I like that. It has a nice ring to it.

0 up, 0 down

tes37
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 5:19:39 PM
Reply

I'll take the less gore, more gameplay any day. The sight of blood just doesn't do anything for me, so I won't miss it.

0 up, 3 down

Kangasfwa
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 5:40:39 PM
Reply

I'll buy it if they finally fixed that f@#%&$g camera.

I've never been one for blood fountains anyway, so I appreciate the more stylized combat.

I've always found the "bounce" a little distracting though. ;)

Last edited by Kangasfwa on 7/1/2009 5:41:48 PM

0 up, 1 down

Qwarktast1c
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 6:23:29 PM
Reply

ummm its supposed to be a bloody game people!!!

its about ninjas!!! part of a ninja's work is being an assassin!! assassins kill. killing is violent. period.

2 up, 0 down

Karosso
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 6:24:07 PM
Reply

I don't mind either way but given a choice between gore and sex, I'll take sex every time.
Please supersize it and make it to go :-)

0 up, 1 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 6:39:37 PM
Reply

I've got a Rachel skin for Tina in DOA3 :P

Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 7/1/2009 6:41:40 PM

0 up, 0 down

G-WiZ199
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 8:23:53 PM
Reply

Its amazing the amount of people who would prefer more "bounce" over gore. I dont know how old you guys are, but Im 21 and the breasts of a video game character are not appealing...they stopped being appealing ever since I turned 14 lol. If your're really gonna drop $60 for more "bounce"...how bout you get 60 singles and spread them out wisely in a strip club.

0 up, 0 down

Soultaker
Thursday, July 02, 2009 @ 1:26:15 AM

I will take more playable characters over something as little as gore

0 up, 0 down

LowKey
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 11:29:17 PM
Reply

Actually, Thats cool with me, less is more eh?

0 up, 0 down

Ricochet
Thursday, July 02, 2009 @ 12:56:20 AM
Reply

At least give the "option" of adjusting the Gore mode. Anyways, loved the 1st sigma.

0 up, 0 down

bearbobby
Thursday, July 02, 2009 @ 11:19:46 AM
Reply

I guess I'd have to see a comparison between the original NG 2 and the retooled Sigma 2 to decide whether or not the reduction of "gore" is neccessary. If it fits the style of the game, like the blood fountains from Afro Samurai for instance, than they should leave it, but if its simply overkill I can understand them toning it down if it doesn't add anything to the experience.

As to the amount of "bounce" in Rachel and other characters in gaming *cough* (DOA series I'm laughing in your direction), is that neccessary? How about for those of us who don't find that anything but mildly amusing?

Would most of you be ok if the developers started making male characters to attract the female and gay men population? Would you be amused if Kratos had a huge package that bounced from side to side as he beheaded hydras? Would you marvel at the physics, or would you rather not see it?

0 up, 0 down

___________
Friday, July 03, 2009 @ 10:01:58 AM
Reply

of corse gore makes the game better.
why do you think people said holy sh** to GOW3?
because its completly over the top gore and violence.
its the best i cant get enough of it, devs are trying to make games more realistic.
well if i slice some ones head off i expect some red sauce to come out.
im dissapointed in sigma 2 i was hopeing for offline co-op.
is there ever going to be a game like Resistance fall of mans co-op?
some of us do see our friends you know, we dont only talk to them online.

0 up, 0 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, July 03, 2009 @ 10:17:44 AM

"why do you think people said holy sh** to GOW3?
because its completly over the top gore and violence."

Um...no. Really not the reason.

0 up, 0 down

___________
Saturday, July 04, 2009 @ 4:46:21 AM
Reply

than what is.
the only thing i like about god of war 3 is being able to rip off helios head.
or ripping out a trolls eye.
or ripping a harpie in half

0 up, 0 down

somethingrandom
Tuesday, July 07, 2009 @ 5:23:45 PM
Reply

Why is Tecmo so great at delivering my initials?!

BTW, my initials are most definitely NOT S&R.

Last edited by somethingrandom on 7/7/2009 5:25:01 PM

0 up, 0 down

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