Ninja Ryuukenden(PC-Engine) Vs. Ninja Gaiden(NES)

[Magister]

What kills it for me with the PC-Engine version is the music.  It just sucks compared to the NES version.  And what the hell is up with the scrolling background?

[EmperorIng]

People may make up all sorts of excuses for PCE Ninja Gaiden, but at the end of the day it plays mechanically inferior to the ultra-tight NES original which makes it a cheap and worthless imitation. Enemies are lethargic and less aggressive, your attacks are slower, and you can no longer insta-kill some bosses with the jump-slash - which far from "fixing" the game forces good players to boringly plod out against early-game foes instead of ripping through the first couple of levels like a real ninja master. To say nothing of the shoddy hit-detection that makes the game feel off-kilter.

The laughably bad graphics (Ryu's head is at the same height as all doorknobs) and music are the cherries on top of a turd sundae.

[blueraven]

We had this discussion about 6 years ago, I forget the thread title, maybe Necro will remember it.

Anyway, Yes the Ninja Giaden Hu-Card does leave something to be desired and most of the complaints are in the sound realm and the lack of good scrolling - seen specifically at the beginning of game where the background is jarring along in a jagged fashion as you repeatedly slash at re-spawning enemies while trying not to fall into the abyss. It has some serious flaws compared to the NES version, and most people back when were really disappointed in it for the value... Even in 2010 it was one of the more expensive games and after shelling out $65-70 for the game when NG1 was still about $15 for the NES in some cases they just went and played the NES version.

Anyway, the chiptunes are "good" but kind of suck compared to the NES music, and are like a more minimalist version, which I assume is due to space limitation. 

A few other things, Ryu is really clunky. The control responses are not as precise as the NES version, and the speed at which he slashes his sword is significantly slowed down compared to the NES, which has caused folks who have memorized the playthrough or like to do TAS speedruns immensely frustrated because it DOES NOT APPLY HUMAIN. Also, you will inevitably take more hits as a result of this, and it makes Ryu respond more like Moon from Ninja Spirit (Who is the slowest platformer protagonist I can think of) and you will just incur a lot more damage. It makes the game harder as a result imo. f*ck. I want to play the NES version now.

So there you have it in a nutshell.

Oh the color palette is a lot brighter on the PCE version, and the sprites are bigger, but I don't think that constitutes for better gameplay. Nice looking game, not so fun to play. But still pretty badass.

[lukester]

I always preferred the pce version. I like the soundtrack more, the graphics are a lot better, and the birds don't do as much damage. I'm also actually hitting enemies with my sword, rather than a weird space in front.

The choppy scrolling doesn't bother me and it's only in half the levels or less. Didn't Ys 3 have choppy scrolling yet no one even complained about it.

I know I'm in the minority though.

And honestly, folks who never could beat the nes version should try the pce port. It's definitely a bit easier.

Another note. Unlike the nes version, you can walljump continuously up onto a pillar and get on top, instead of having to jump back and forth between walls to get on top. Try it!

[DragonmasterDan]

I was playing this yesterday and noticed the control also feels a little more slippery than the NES version. This is in addition to the inferior music and scrolling, with that said it's still an excellent game.

[DragonmasterDan]

Anyway, the chiptunes are "good" but kind of suck compared to the NES music, and are like a more minimalist version, which I assume is due to space limitation. 

Well, and the reason it's not using the NES music I'm guessing is due to rights. Perhaps Tecmo had licensed a composer to do the NES music rather than outright buying it (ala a lot of Yuzo Koshiro games where you'd have Streets of Rage compilations with different music) and when sub-licensing the game to Hudson decided not to spend the extra money for the original soundtrack.

[Black Tiger]

People may make up all sorts of excuses for PCE Ninja Gaiden, but at the end of the day it plays mechanically inferior to the ultra-tight NES original which makes it a cheap and worthless imitation. Enemies are lethargic and less aggressive, your attacks are slower, and you can no longer insta-kill some bosses with the jump-slash - which far from "fixing" the game forces good players to boringly plod out against early-game foes instead of ripping through the first couple of levels like a real ninja master. To say nothing of the shoddy hit-detection that makes the game feel off-kilter.

In the NES version, if you hit enemies with your sword, they take no damage and the hurt you instead. At least in Night Creaturrs, this isn't always the case.

The real problem isn't how good or bad that the PCE version may actually be, it's that Ninja Gaiden is one of too many "legendary" (Nintendo) games that its fans are incapable of taking seriously, due to being blinded by nostalgia. I've never heard the logical argument of "yeah, it's messed up, but I just like it for what it is". This post is a perfect example:

"The PCE version sux, cuz the game-breaking mechanics of the original no longer work. So instead of cheating, I actually have to play the stupid game!"

It would be one thing if people were only reverse engineering excuses for games based on "everyone knows it's an absolutly perfect legendary classic". But the PCE version of Ninja Gaiden is a good example of how irrationally people come up with any reason that a perceived rival game isn't the same as good. It's brings out the same kind of reasoning that console war fans use.

[Bonknuts]

I like that the PCE version fixes a lot of stuff, but it also feels like an off-sync clone (a really close one, though) rather than a port. SMB games ported to All-Stars *feel* like the originals, with upgrades. The PCE doesn't. It feels like an approximation. And that's in quite a few departments (including art style). If you don't have a fondness of the original, then I guess you won't notice these nuances and differences. It's why I'll keep going back to the NES game, over the PCE one.


 For the record, I also think Ninja Gaiden on the SMS is a fine game - just not a Ninja Gaiden in the classic sense. It's a skinned over shinobi GG port of.. something (feels more in common with those in its design). I also find that people who like the SMS game, also tend not be fans of the NES originals as well.

 But yeah, the music is big part of the NES series. It really does add something to the game. Without it, it feels less.. more meh.

[Punch]

What mapper does Ninja Gaiden uses on the nes? It might be a better idea to do a Bonknuts-style "port" of the game and optionally add a rip of the PCE version of the tileset on top of it, considering all the flaws of the PCE version.

PCE Ninja Gaiden, what a missed opportunity.

[DragonmasterDan]

In the NES version, if you hit enemies with your sword, they take no damage and the hurt you instead. At least in Night Creaturrs, this isn't always the case.

The real problem isn't how good or bad that the PCE version may actually be, it's that Ninja Gaiden is one of too many "legendary" (Nintendo) games that its fans are incapable of taking seriously, due to being blinded by nostalgia. I've never heard the logical argument of "yeah, it's messed up, but I just like it for what it is".

Yep, any game with constant enemy respawns from off-screen at high speeds clearly has major flaws. And Ninja Gaiden is a flawed game no matter which version you're looking at.

[Magister]

I can't make an unbiased review of these games.  I played all three of the NES games and loved them.  Still have them to this day.  I have the three SNES versions of the game as well, unlocked on my copy of Ninja Gaiden for the Xbox which I think suck just because of the change in music.  There is nothing I like about the PC-Engine version.  The music alone is just painful.  And the way Ryu looks in the cut scenes is just blah.  I'm sure it has to do with the fact of how much I like the NES ones.

[TheClash603]

Also PC-E version is much easier, I pretty much blew through it a few years ago my first attempt.  This was after the NES game kicked my ass for years.

[ParanoiaDragon]

Since I didn't have a super amount of exposure to the first Ninja Gaiden growing up, I actually prefer the music in the PCE version.  I've played that one far more over the years. 

[DragonmasterDan]

Also PC-E version is much easier, I pretty much blew through it a few years ago my first attempt.  This was after the NES game kicked my ass for years.

Yeah, it allows you to take a lot more damage than the NES version.

[Arkhan]

Neither is that good.  Ninja Gaiden 2 is better, lol.

The scrolling is probably the only thing in the PCE one that I hate.   I don't get how they even let that shit out the door like that.   It didn't even have to be like that.

The sprites also needed better shading on PCE.   They could have done a better job adding some contrast/shading to the enemies, and Ryu.

I actually prefer the PCE music for the most part.  I just wish Level 1's NES music was on the PCE.