Shippin' Out July 2-6: Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Vampire Rain

By Tor Thorsen, GameSpotPosted Jul 2, 2007 5:21 pm PT

PS3 revamp of Tecmo's classic joins all-new 360 adventure on the week's light summer release docket.

With Q3 2007 under way and E3 2007 eight days away, publishers appear to be turning off the game-shipment spigot. Though online retailers list more games--such as the perennial new release Chicken Shoot--as arriving in stores this week, less than a half-dozen titles have been definitely confirmed to ship out this week.

Easily the highest-profile game is Ninja Gaiden Sigma for the PlayStation 3. The Tecmo series' debut on a Sony platform features the content from the critically lauded Ninja Gaiden, originally released for the Xbox in 2004, and Ninja Gaiden Black, released in 2005. The game's graphics have been reworked from the ground up for Sigma, which also adds a number of refinements, such as gameplay tweaks, Sixaxis support, and a new playable character. Rated M for Mature, the game retails for $59.99.

Besides Missile Command's July 4 debut on Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox 360 owners have only one title to look forward to this week--Vampire Rain from Japanese developer Artoon (Blinx 2: Masters of Time & Space). The stealth action horror game drops a Sam Fisher-like operative into the middle of a Los Angeles that's been overrun by nocturnal undead bloodsuckers known as "Nightwalkers." Vampire Rain is rated M for Mature and retails for $59.99.

Besides a troika of Wii Virtual Console games, little else of note is shipping during this holiday-bisected week. Steel Horizon, Konami's naval strategy game, will surface on the PSP alongside two DS titles: Cookie & Cream and Platinum Sudoku. PC debuts include Seven Kingdoms: Conquest, Taito Legends 2, and the Marvel Trading Card Game.

This week's new releases are listed below (list taken from retailer information--actual dates may vary).

JULY 2, 2007
Chicken Shoot (WII)
Cookie & Cream (DS)
Dragon Spirit (WII)
Horsez (GBA)
Jewels of Cleopatra (PC)
Super Mario Bros. 2 (WII)
Steel Horizon (PSP)

JULY 3, 2007
Dead Reefs (PC)
Marvel Trading Card Game (PC)
Ninja Gaiden Sigma (PS3)
Platinum Sudoku (PC)
Vampire Rain (X360)
Vegas Casino High 5! (DS)

JULY 4, 2007--INDEPENDENCE DAY
Missile Command (X360)

JULY 5, 2007
Ride! Carnival Tycoon (PC)
Seven Kingdoms: Conquest (PC)
Taito Legends 2 (PC)

JULY 6, 2007
Terror Strike (PC)

50 Comments

  • basketcase0493

    Posted Jul 6, 2007 6:34 am PT

    the graphics looked horrible. I'm glad i bought a 360 because this is probably the only ok game on the ps3.

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Jul 5, 2007 8:01 pm PT

    Sigma is the only game worth buying

  • ta1snake

    Posted Jul 3, 2007 11:06 pm PT

    Listen!!!
    Vampire Rain= C.R.A.P

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Jul 3, 2007 6:19 pm PT

    If I had a PS3 I would probably pick up Sigma. But I don't have one yet...

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted Jul 3, 2007 4:58 pm PT

    Nothing of interest for me.

  • _NeoN

    Posted Jul 3, 2007 2:54 pm PT

    Ninja Gaiden stands out from the rest. Always wanted to play it but it's always been an XBox exclusive. Things are looking up.

    Then there's Vampire Rain, sounds wicked. Hope it gets ported too.

  • superox12000

    Posted Jul 3, 2007 2:08 pm PT

    got Ninja Gaiden Sigma today didnt know the Vampire Rain came out want to play that and well i just feel bad for the Wii owners another slow console so far

  • LivingDeadNinja

    Posted Jul 3, 2007 1:26 pm PT

    Got my Sigma Collector's and t-shirt in hand! This will be all and enough for the week. Sure i'll eventually download SMB2 at some point...

  • iliyun

    Posted Jul 3, 2007 12:49 pm PT

    nice but for this gamer whose finished gaiden original and then Black this is a bit too little and too late. for people who never played gaiden pick this game up.....PRONTO!

  • Bananna2

    Posted Jul 3, 2007 12:45 pm PT

    Nice, runs out to get Sigma

  • Agreb91

    Posted Jul 3, 2007 10:41 am PT

    Slow and boring weeks for games.

  • snipe2004

    Posted Jul 3, 2007 10:27 am PT

    gotta go get some of that ninja gaiden sigma goodness

  • willripyouanew1

    Posted Jul 3, 2007 9:52 am PT

    Booooring!

  • jcloverboy

    Posted Jul 3, 2007 9:33 am PT

    Vampire Rain looks horrible.

    I may rent Sigma - I never played Ninja Gaiden when I had it on Xbox...owned it just never got around to it.

  • DanC1989

    Posted Jul 3, 2007 8:42 am PT

    Yay, now bring it out over here too!

    Well, I suppose a week and a bit isn't too long to wait. (Sigma)

  • Nharia12

    Posted Jul 3, 2007 8:05 am PT

    At least with Vampire Rain and Sigma theres something to play during the summer game drought.

  • aznfool07

    Posted Jul 3, 2007 8:04 am PT

    I'm hyping Chicken Shoot.

  • hovan316

    Posted Jul 3, 2007 7:55 am PT

    I didn't play Ninja Gaiden cause I had sold my crappy Xbox when it came out...I missed that game. I'm buying Sigma today...going in about an hour. Future Shop has a special still on today.

  • luigismansion101

    Posted Jul 3, 2007 7:19 am PT

    Ninjiz, not everyone played NG or NGB. I didn't, because, by some miracle, I didn't buy an Xbox, probably because it SUCKED. Ninja Gaiden was one of the few reasons to buy an xbox along with halo 1 and 2, and I wasn't impressed by either of those because they brought nothing new to the table. I would say there are a lot of PS3 owners who didn't have an Xbox and haven't played NG and are gonna pick this up, I know I am.

Marvel Trading Card Game Quick Links

Summary | Reviews | News | Previews & Features | Images | Videos | Downloads | Answers | Hints & Cheats | Forum | Check Prices

Check Prices: $18.73 – 18.99

Circuit City $18.99 SHOP ›
Buy.com $18.73 SHOP ›
advertisement
Marvel Trading Card Game Boxshot Enlarge the boxshot
Marvel Trading Card Game

Game Stats

Full Game Details »Close
Also on

Games you may like…

Users who looked at content for this game also looked at these games.

See More Similar Games
advertisement