Ninja Gaiden 3: The Ancient Ship of Doom
Reviewed by Peter Skerritt
Tecmo brings the Ninja Gaiden Trilogy to a close with this title, originally
released in 1991. Ryu faces some old and new enemies in this chapter of
Ninja Gaiden, and with two successful games under its belt, most gamers
would think that this game would be Ryu's shining moment. However, in
the eyes of this reviewer, this game's exceedingly high levels of challenge
and frustration kill this game (and a few controllers in the process).
Ryu's love interest, Irene Lew, has been eliminated by... Ryu? Yes, gamers,
it appears that Ryu has gone off the deep end and has shown Irene the
pearly gates. Of course, this is not the case! It's up to the Ninja Dragon to
find the truth and clear his name, eliminating anything in his way. There
are many mutants to battle in the lab that Irene was investigating, along
with some really mean bosses. Can Ryu solve the crime and defeat what
awaits him?
Graphics 96 out of 100
As with Ninja Gaiden 2, the graphics have taken another step forward.
With even more detail in the cinema and action screens, the game really
looks great! The game now has screens that automatically scroll upwards,
which is a first in the series. Color is used more widely here than in this
game than in its predecessors, and animations are good, such as watching
Ryu cling to bars while climbing.
The action screens are very good; there is little to no slowdown and little
flicker, even with everything that is going on around Ryu. As with the
previous titles, Tecmo paid a lot of attention to detail, and players can even
see the power-ups that are available before slashing them to attain them!
Music and Sound 80 out of 100
As with the first two games, Gaiden III is aurally sound (pun intended).
Unobtrusive music and decent sound effects complement this game, although
nothing really sticks out as outstanding. The sound nets an average grade.
Unfortunately for many gamers, the later music selections will never be
heard as the game simply gets too difficult, and, with limited continues,
only advanced or expert gamers will get close to the end.
Game Challenge 100 out of 100
Yep. This game is challenging. Too challenging, even. The players that I know
who have come remotely close to beating this game used the Game Genie to
assist. The game breaks Gaiden tradition and institutes limited continues... and
only 5 of them, at that! With no password system, that means if you use up
all 5 continues, that's the ball game. No picking up later where you left off.
Just a lot of what if questions... "What if I had made that jump?" or "What if
I had just a little more life?" still puzzle Gaiden gamers to this very day. If
you're looking for challenge, Gaiden III has it in spades.
Game Play-Fun 85 out of 100
The gameplay is pretty much the same as the first two games. Ryu seems
to float a little when he jumps, making for some adjustment time for
Gaiden veterans. The Ryu shadow power-ups are gone in this chapter of the
Ninja Dragon, which is really a shame. In its stead come an extended blade
and a vacuum wave that sends shockwaves above and below Ryu to eliminate
enemies in those proximities.
The level of fun in this game drops off as the player gets farther into the
game. Unforgiving jumps and enemies prevent novice or most intermediate
players from getting much past Act III. Challenge is one thing, but
impossibility is another. The fun gets overshadowed by frustration... (see below)
Frustration
The heightened difficulty factor of Gaiden III was welcomed by many players
who wished to be tested. However, like Global Thermonuclear War, there is
almost no way to win, at least without help. The limited continues only add
to the frustration of falling off of a ledge and missing a jump and meeting
an untimely demise. Why only 5 continues? Why was there no password
system? (Tecmo remedied this in the remake for Ninja Gaiden Trilogy for
Super NES later.) It is unfortunate that the frustration level of this game will
lead many gamers to shelve the game or simply not buy it. It completed a
cycle of life on the NES for Ryu and his adventures, and he deserved a better
send-off so that everyone had a chance to see the full story.
Replayability 50 out of 100
If a gamer was lucky enough to actually run the table and beat this game,
why go through it again? That's kind of like asking someone who had been
blindfolded and forced to walk through a minefield to do it again, if he lived.
I'm sure that other gamers will differ with my points on this game, but I
stand behind my thoughts. I only play this game on days that I feel lucky...
maybe next time the Boston Red Sox win a World Series, I'll throw it in.
Game Value 75 out of 100
I grade this on two points of view. From a collector's standpoint, this game
completes the trilogy and is a must-have. If players are looking for a
challenge, this game is definitely the game to have. On the other hand, if
you're looking for ways to spend your money and do not have the other two
Gaiden games, use it to get Gaiden I and II. For the price ($15 US) of this
game, a shrewd gamer could get the first two games which are, in some
ways, better.
Overall 75 out of 100
This review may seem harsh, and it is. This game was expected to end the
Ninja Gaiden Trilogy with a bang, but the only bang that most gamers will
get the bang of their heads against a wall or their controllers banging
against a hard surface before shattering. Sure, the game has high points,
such as graphics. In my opinion, however, the frustration level and extreme
difficulty send this game in front of the Contra firing squad. Ryu, we hardly
knew ye... did it have to end like this? Apparently Tecmo thought so.