Everything you need to know about this game you will find inside.
Many written reviews tend to add padding for length, but I'm going to tell you exactly what you need to know. This is, Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword.
The gameplay is fast and furious, and quite satisfying. The potentials for sword combos aren't exactly daunting, but they're deeper than most other action titles on the DS. It is possible to chain different attack combos together, which can throw off tougher enemies, making things all the more interesting.
The controls are great, and are as good as you would expect from this developer. The stylus controls work nearly perfectly. You will actually have think about the strokes you make.
The ninpo ended up being somewhat disappointing, simply because the most useful ninpo is the one you start with. I found myself using many of the other ninpos in a strictly puzzle-solving role. Only one other time did I use a ninpo separate from the original during a battle (to regain my health whilst in a boss battle). The the saving grace here is that the original ninpo is really, really awesome.
This is easily the least difficult Ninja Gaiden game, but it's welcome on a handheld. I found it perfect for the first run-through, which took me right about six hours. It unlocks a harder difficulty once beaten, and the enemies pack an upgraded punch. I'm on my way through the game a second time on said difficulty.
This second play-through highlights the game's value and replay potential. It's very similar to my experience with Gears of War. The single player campaign can be beaten a few times without losing the fun-factor. The increased difficulty only adds to the fun, because loading is quick and saves are frequent. Never will you be forced to play long portions all over again. Hurrah!
The sound is perfect. Nothing more to say about that.
The Mac Factor:Buy. The great action, combined with spectacular replay value makes for a winner in this single player title.
RSB