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The hard-as-nails Ninja Gaiden is back, with improved camera system, a new mission mode and bonus game. At a budget price, you'd be crazy not let own this gem.
On the technical side of things, Ninja Gaiden Black has a problem that wasn't present in the original release. The game is prone to bouts of slowdown at impromptu moments and these aren't particularly hectic instances either.
100
If it were simply the original Ninja Gaiden with just some mission modes tacked on, it would still be worth full price. But chiming in at around $30 with new missions, new difficulty settings, new cinemas and new costumes to unlock -- on top of the already-awesome, original game -- it's practically a steal. Uncompromising and unabridged, Ninja Gaiden Black shows you how reissues could and should be done.
10
HungrigerHuGo
Top 5 of my favorite games of all time it is sack hard but when you have defeated a boss you feel invincible
6
Bhikin
Playing this game in 2025, I think the combat holds up pretty well but the level design absolutely does not. Some of the design is overly cruel and just unfun. Bosses are also extremely tough on normal mode, but they're all perfectly beatable if you try hard enough. Also, I came in expecting a very arcadey action experience, but I was surprised to learn that its mostly a survival game with a high emphasis on money and items. If you don't manage your inventory well, its quite easy to practically soft-lock yourself in multiple parts of the game which is pretty bad in my opinion. Some of the parkour is janky and the very end of the game is kind of annoying with a very specific common enemy. Anyway, its not bad at all for an early 3D game, sometimes the physics and polish really impressed me. Combat can be pretty satisfying. Visuals are also good. Controls are kind of weird but you get used to it.
9
Agent008
"Ninja Gaiden Black" is an upgraded version of the original 2004 game. It features an improved camera system, a new Mission Mode, bonus costumes, extra weapons, additional cutscenes and the original arcade game. There are also new difficulty levels. Overall, this is the definitive version of "Ninja Gaiden". It's even better than the PS3 version. I would rate it with a 9.4 out of 10.

Ninja Gaiden Black

Released On: 
Sep 20, 2005
Metascore
must-play
94
User score
Generally Favorable
8.6
My Score
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Metascore
97% Positive
31 Reviews
3% Mixed
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
100
Into Liquid Sky
Everything the original was but better. In fact, Ninja Gaiden Black proves to be one of the best action titles of this generation.
100
1UP
If it were simply the original Ninja Gaiden with just some mission modes tacked on, it would still be worth full price. But chiming in at around $30 with new missions, new difficulty settings, new cinemas and new costumes to unlock -- on top of the already-awesome, original game -- it's practically a steal. Uncompromising and unabridged, Ninja Gaiden Black shows you how reissues could and should be done.
User score
Generally Favorable
85% Positive
267 Ratings
9% Mixed
27 Ratings
7% Negative
21 Ratings
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
Feb 8, 2026
10
HungrigerHuGo
Top 5 of my favorite games of all time it is sack hard but when you have defeated a boss you feel invincible
Apr 10, 2025
10
ArcherOfSwabia
The ultimate action-game experience. At first, it beats you down, but eventually you get the hang of the controls, and you realize it has the best combat system in any game ever. The boss fights are brutal, but not in a bad way like in the Souls games, and taking the time to defeat them is very satisfying. Underrated soundtrack. Playing as Ryu Hayabusa makes you feel like a real ninja; there is no other game like it.
97
VGPub
Ninja Gaiden Black may very well be the pinnacle of video gaming this generation.
95
Play Magazine
It is arguably without peer, the ultimate game for the audience open to its madness. [Oct 2005, p.56]
90
GamerFeed
It's also a lot more difficult than its predecessor, so if you didn't feel challenged enough by the prequel, this version promises to bludgeon the hell out of you.
90
Cheat Code Central
No one ever said that being a ninja was easy, but I can tell you for certain that being a ninja has never been this much fun. Don't wait, get your mitts on this game immediately.
70
NTSC-uk
On the technical side of things, Ninja Gaiden Black has a problem that wasn't present in the original release. The game is prone to bouts of slowdown at impromptu moments and these aren't particularly hectic instances either.
See All 32 Critic Reviews
Jul 31, 2024
10
flexxgabrixl
de niño lo juguéen la xbox pero nunca lo pude pasar por lo difícil que era y lo dejé pero siempre me atrapo, lo retomé cuando ya había crecido y fue la mejor experiencia que tuve esto es lo más cercano a los souls de esa época, fue unos de los mejores juegos que haya jugado en mi vida
May 6, 2025
6
Bhikin
Playing this game in 2025, I think the combat holds up pretty well but the level design absolutely does not. Some of the design is overly cruel and just unfun. Bosses are also extremely tough on normal mode, but they're all perfectly beatable if you try hard enough. Also, I came in expecting a very arcadey action experience, but I was surprised to learn that its mostly a survival game with a high emphasis on money and items. If you don't manage your inventory well, its quite easy to practically soft-lock yourself in multiple parts of the game which is pretty bad in my opinion. Some of the parkour is janky and the very end of the game is kind of annoying with a very specific common enemy. Anyway, its not bad at all for an early 3D game, sometimes the physics and polish really impressed me. Combat can be pretty satisfying. Visuals are also good. Controls are kind of weird but you get used to it.
Aug 23, 2023
6
VLG
Too hard to really enjoy. Every enemy felt like a boss, and bosses were absolutely frustrating.
Feb 5, 2025
5
Phuz
It's OK. Difficulty on normal is just fine, so I don't get why people are moaning at it. The thing for me is the camera is pretty bad and it is hard to distinguish between yourself and the enemy sometimes. I often find myself thinking I am a different person on the screen. The enemies look too similar to you. There is some stutter, not lots but can't say that bothers me, for those of you who are a bit more anal about graphics, it might be an issue. The colour scheme all feels a bit dark and a bit neon. A bit Hollywood OTT looking. The combat is fun to an extent but so far I'm an hour in and I'm getting a bit bored already. It feels a bit like a linear Warriors game to me as in it looks nice, combat is nice, very hack and slash mash up some baddies but lacks a bit in that over all feel. It's one of those where on paper it is great and there isn't an awful lot to fault but at the same time it just isn't fun enough overall. It's like the parts are great on their own but the sum of those parts aren't exciting enough to make me want to keep playing. It doesn't really do it for me in the way some action JRPG's do. Ys Felghana is out this month, as usual on everything bar Xbox and it's a lot more fun hack and slash than what NG 2 Black is. I'm starting to feel like everything that releases on Xbox has a better alternative on PS, Switch, or Steam and that any releases I'm excited about don't come to Xbox. I'm starting to feel like I made a bad console choice. I've had it a long time now and nothing has blown me away on it.
Dec 28, 2024
0
QkRadioactiva
Juego muy patético con la peor cámara de la historia creada por retrasados mentales de la mente
See All 35 User Reviews
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SummaryIn Ninja Gaiden Black you can reprise the role of Ryu Hayabusa, ninja extraordinaire. This sequel to Ninja Gaiden supplies a new story and new missions, plus two more difficulty settings and cinematic cut scenes that provide background about the protagonist. Ninja Gaiden Black also incorporates the additional content from Hurricane Packs... Read More
Rated Mfor Mature
  • Xbox
Sep 20, 2005
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