Its like playing DOA in just a bigger arena and not much more. Good fighter? Yea, good action game? not so much.
That's not to say the games physics are not great, and the game does not look good.
In fact the game uses a much simpler but more vibrant clear and colorful game engine. And it works. In fact I cant understand why more games this gen don't back off some for visual improvement, instead of over detailing everything, and having a big mess of frame problems, sync problems weird filters that look like junk. This game does not have those problems, and thus looks pretty good.
Outside of that its a deep fighter. But action games thees days have to have a little adventure to them. The problem I have with Ninja Gaiden is you just seem to go to a fight, and then to a fight, and then to a fight, in classic arcade 3D fighting style. I get a rope to cross and its a rare wow moment, that's far to rare. Theirs not much to press, and no one to talk too, or buildings to go into and see (yea I know its a action game but still.)
And for a Ninja game stealth plays no part in this. Nothing to hide behind either. This game really could of used some variety ways to attack a group like a Ninja. Instead you dont even see your enemy's till they see you. They pop out from hidden areas, (or from the sky?) when this should be the other way around. You should be able to stealth into action somehow. A few neck breaks on unaware enemy would of been cool. Or maybe a few drop down attacks off a building. Something!
Even a few stores would of helped to make it feel like their was more. In the last one you actually felt like you went into a shop to buy stuff. In this game a screen just comes up by a statue.
The Boss battles are better though. Taken right from some of the best games of past. But they can be a tad to hard. I know the old saying this is a game to master. But I got a regular life and other games to play, and dont have time to learn 30 billion moves over a weeks time. Not to say they should make it easy, just town it down and add in a easy setting. But it is beatable (not to say its not.) But the line between enjoyment and irritation sits in this game. The sense of accomplishment sets in with the sense of dread of having to do the same thing again on another chapter.
Outside the many fighting moves and great looks, that's about all this game does. Its a lot of action, but im not sure quite how this game is considered a great action game. When its more so a great fighter with bigger arena's.