Ninja Gaiden 2004

Is it still worth playing?

Team Ninja's 2004 action adventure for the Xbox, a reboot of Ninja Gaiden, in which the master ninja Ryu Hayabusa goes after the sword stolen when his clan was attacked. You play in third person, with Ryu running along walls, jumping off them and running across water. His world is a set of regions connected through the city of Tairon, a hub. The fighting asks a lot. Enemies come in groups that demand blocking and evading, so careless play dies, and Ryu always attacks the nearest enemy, with no manual targeting, on controls that are tight and responsive. His weapons and abilities are upgraded along the way, and essence from defeated enemies restores health or buys items. Fights that punish careless play still make blocking and evading something you learn today.