ANNOUNCED: Ninja Gaiden II coming to PlayStation 3

by: Cyril - posted: 3/17/2009 5:02:00 AM

Today Tecmo (by way of Famitsu) confirmed that Ninja Gaiden II, a one-time Xbox 360 exclusive, would be making its way to the PlayStation 3 this fall.  In a move that will surprise nobody, this port is being called Ninja Gaiden Σ 2 and will be published by Tecmo.  I guess Microsoft better take those "Only On Xbox" stickers off the Ninja Gaiden II box, because there's finally another game in town.

Although the game will be developed by Team Ninja, observant gamers will remember that Tomonobu Itagaki left the company last year in a much-publicized and very open dust up with Tecmo.  Replacing Itagaki will be Yosuke Hayashi, who headed up the original Ninja Gaiden Σ on the PlayStation 3.

According to the original article, Ninja Gaiden Σ will be ugraded in a number of different ways, including gameplay tweaks and the addition of two extra playable characters (Ayane from the Dead or Alive series and Ryu Hayabusa from the original Ninja Gaiden).  Hopefully this new team will be able to make Ninja Gaiden II into the one thing people actually want, a sequel that truly improves on the original game's forumla.  I wish them the best of luck on that.