Ninja Gaiden DS emerges March '08

Team Ninja's stylishly violent action adventure set to arrive on Nintendo's portable early next year.

Ninja Gaiden 2, the proper sequel to the notoriously difficult action game appearing on the original Xbox, could emerge from the shadows on the Xbox 360 as late as the end of 2008. However, its portable counterpart, Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword, will be stalking the Nintendo DS far sooner than that. Tecmo announced today that a pint-size Ryu Hayabusa will work his signature ninjitsu on the DS in March 2008.

Despite Dragon Sword being a portable game, developer Team Ninja is promising a fully featured Ninja Gaiden experience. The game offers a wide array of Hayabusa's lethal moves, including the master ninja's flashy Izuna Drop and Cicada Slash as well as Ninpo magic. The game will also heavily employ the DS's touch screen, with players being able to control Hayabusa by tapping and slashing with the system's stylus.

For more on what Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword has to offer, check out GameSpot's previous coverage. According to Tecmo marketing manager Yoh Watanabe, a demo for the game is currently available on the DS Download Station kiosks.

Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword has not yet been rated or priced.

72 Comments

  • CRaZYthaCoBRA

    Posted Jan 1, 2008 7:50 am PT

    I played the demo... from what little there is to it, the game is awesome. They only have a small level where you navigate Ryu up to a temple, fighting off a couple baddies along the way. Once inside the courtyard you fight several enemies in waves of 3 as they show-off some of the signature fighting moves and abilities... And finally they throw in a "boss" fight. The game requires you to hold the DS sideways, like "Brain Training" or "Room 215". The movement is controlled completely with the stylus, except for blocking, which is any of the DS' buttons. Ninja magic is used by touching the selected icon and then tracing the kanji symbol on the screen. If they make it long enough, it will be an awesome game !!! Can't wait !

  • CwlHeddwyn

    Posted Jan 1, 2008 7:39 am PT

    sounds cool

  • raze-boi

    Posted Jan 1, 2008 12:12 am PT

    This is a good news because I own DS, Wii and Xbox 360 but when is NG 2 coming out?

  • synapticflow

    Posted Dec 31, 2007 2:50 pm PT

    I don't know about that, but this game will be hot!

  • darkcharizard

    Posted Dec 31, 2007 4:57 am PT

    These graphics sooooooo beat psp ones!!

  • loyski29

    Posted Dec 30, 2007 8:55 pm PT

    awesome! can't wait, hack slash wit your stylus and wi-fi, i hope its single-card downloadable.

  • eternalemblem

    Posted Dec 30, 2007 8:35 pm PT

    great ninja gaiden for ds? this is going on wi-fi i can feel it

  • EA2Y731

    Posted Dec 29, 2007 4:52 pm PT

    That's kewl

  • goodemon

    Posted Dec 28, 2007 10:41 am PT

    Man this game looks cool. If the controls are as tight as they say, then this will definitely rock! Wish there was a PSP version...cause it would look WAYYY better

  • LosDaddie

    Posted Dec 28, 2007 8:51 am PT

    Probably yet another AAA game for the DS!

  • msudude211

    Posted Dec 27, 2007 4:48 pm PT

    I think it would have to be Mature.

  • livefantasy

    Posted Dec 26, 2007 10:06 pm PT

    is it going to be m for muture??????

  • bboygamer89

    Posted Dec 26, 2007 9:52 am PT

    i need to go to the DS download station and play this game i cant wait!!!

  • PyroX4414

    Posted Dec 24, 2007 12:24 pm PT

    Though I am excited, I hope that this will let players choose whether or not they want to use the touch screen. I sure don't.

  • Junior_AIN

    Posted Dec 24, 2007 5:21 am PT

    Man this game is gonna be so good!

  • imortiferus

    Posted Dec 23, 2007 9:09 pm PT

    This game will rock, I simply cannot wait for it and NG2 on 360, Thanks Tecmo!

  • pajamas

    Posted Dec 23, 2007 6:55 pm PT

    This is one of my favourite Xbox games, and now it has migrated (my gaming console) with me to DS. This is the game that I'll eagerly wait in 2008.

  • nate1222

    Posted Dec 23, 2007 6:40 pm PT

    @ burnttoastman06

    I agree. I've fallen back in love with Nintendo since DS and Wii. Hell, I think they're the ONLY console maker with their heads on straight right now. Some kid-friendly titles are cool (Meteos, Zelda PH, Mario). But as an adult gamer, sometimes I feel left out. I believe that this added to Nintendos problems during the GC era.

  • nate1222

    Posted Dec 23, 2007 6:33 pm PT

    I now own a DS (bought one for my B-Day Dec. 22nd). And Ninja Gaiden looks like a damn fine edition to my handheld library. Along with the sh-- load of GBA titles I own.

  • ss3zolo

    Posted Dec 23, 2007 6:23 pm PT

    Ninja gaiden PSP?

  • 123625

    Posted Dec 22, 2007 6:54 pm PT

    Nice!

  • peterles

    Posted Dec 22, 2007 6:31 am PT

    *note to gamespot editors* you should probably just give this game like a 9.0 without even playing it, or you might get fired.

  • Furan-San

    Posted Dec 21, 2007 6:33 pm PT

    I wanna play NOW damnit!!!!!!!!!!!! That and NGII!

  • peeweeshift

    Posted Dec 21, 2007 5:06 pm PT

    it has me hyped up. finally a portable action adventure game on ds. there arn't many oon psp either. the only ones i can think of is ratchet and mario 64 ds. although gow is coming soon

  • Captainintendo

    Posted Dec 21, 2007 4:26 pm PT

    looks good

  • Chief_Kuuni

    Posted Dec 21, 2007 3:02 pm PT

    nice

  • burnttoastman06

    Posted Dec 21, 2007 12:46 pm PT

    I'm excited that a game intended to reach older players is coming to the DS. With Nintendo, it always feels like a ton of little-kiddy crap floods their systems. Now, I'm not saying that all games with a younger audience in mind are bad - which they're not, many of them are really fun - but Nintendo needs to do some major quality control. With releases like Metroid Prime 3, Resident Evil, and (in March) this one, it feels nice to at least be acknowledged by Nintendo.

  • 02sfraser

    Posted Dec 21, 2007 12:06 pm PT

    I cant wait for this

  • lamprey263

    Posted Dec 21, 2007 11:03 am PT

    I think I just peed myself a little

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Dec 21, 2007 6:16 am PT

    NG: DS -Wow. It's going to sport 3D graphics. I'm stunned.

  • randomrings

    Posted Dec 21, 2007 6:14 am PT

    anybody seen the gameplay clips? This game looks awesomely put together. So awesomely that awesomely could be considered a word right now.

  • choas_theory

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 11:21 pm PT

    OMG!!! COME OUT EARLYER!!!

  • ThePlatinumKid

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 11:08 pm PT

    thers download stations in toys r' us

  • Agreb91

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 8:22 pm PT

    Awesome, can't wait to see more about it.

  • flipin_jackass

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 8:12 pm PT

    ooooh... I'm already turned on... this better give me the orgasm I've been yearning for in a DS game...

  • Aurey

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 6:33 pm PT

    Aww, there is not even a single download kiosk nearby. Why can't they just let me download the demo in the same way the PSP does?

  • jrabbit99

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 6:24 pm PT

    Sounds good. But sounds like it should be better in Wii

  • jetfoolkev

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 4:56 pm PT

    cant wait. its gonna b great!

  • magicaltrevor11

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 4:14 pm PT

    Where are download kiosks? Please message me the answer.

  • Nintendo_Man

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 4:03 pm PT

    I'll very surprised if GS doesn't give the game a 9.0

  • x-2tha-z

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 3:48 pm PT

    Looks like it's time for me to buy a DS.

  • 1337cole1337

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 3:15 pm PT

    sweet looks like it could go head to head with god of war on the psp

  • ZeraphLordS

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 3:14 pm PT

    The controls for the Demo were great! I can't imagine the Final version to be anything less. I can't wait!

  • Generic_Dude

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 3:03 pm PT

    Well, as usual I'm nervous about how the controls will be implemented, but to say that I won't buy a Ninja Gaiden game would be utter BS. This is great news.

  • enoslives7

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 2:57 pm PT

    sweet....Castlevania has been a huge hit on the DS, Ninja Gaiden will have a loyal following also.........I hope the DS gets more hard-core games instead of so much kiddie crap

  • LivingDeadNinja

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 2:08 pm PT

    Great, that's gonna be a must! I just fear this game will destroy my touch screen...

  • calvinx6

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 2:00 pm PT

    I want it now and this is going to be great Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword vs God of war psp.

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 1:56 pm PT

    Soon all touch screen shall be scratched!

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