Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Has Less Gore, More Girls

Team Ninja is cutting down on some on the over-the-top gore for their PS3 version of Ninja Gaiden 2, but in exchange for the blood, gamers will be getting more girls.

The first think you might notice about Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 on the PS3 might not be what it adds but what it lacks. In the original 360 version of the title, limb removals and decapitations were accompanied by massive showers of blood that would probably give Quentin Tarantino a run for his money. In Sigma 2, this is no more. Instead, when you cut an enemy's head off, all you get is a magical shower of blue energy.

What's the deal here? Are Team Ninja looking for a tamer rating from the ESRB? That can't be, because the game's just as violent - it's just that the gore's gone. "Each game has its own concept and with Ninja Gaiden 2, the focus was on extreme violence," producer Yosuke Hayashi said. "But with Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, we really questioned whether violence is a necessity for a game, so we decided to move away from that trend."

Violence not necessary in a game? I can't compute this statement. Please tell me there's a way to unlock a blood mode, right? "Being able to unlock higher levels of gore would be out of kilter with the concept of the game," Hayashi explained. Crap.

Sigma 2 sure has less blood than Ninja Gaiden 2, but it sure does have more of something else: girls. The game adds three playable characters to the game - Rachel from the original and its PS3 remake, Ayane of Dead or Alive fame, and Momiji from the DS-only Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword. On top of that you get online co-op, some difficulty tweaks (save points are apparently more conveniently located) and more. That enough make up for the lack of blood, you pack of savages?

[Via GamesRadar]

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For Ayane, that's a trade I'm willing to accept.

More tits, less gore.

Isn't that a Republican slogan?

Mr.Tea:

HardRockSamurai:
More tits, less gore.

Isn't that a Republican slogan?

It's actually the other way around; Republicans are the violent prudes while Liberals are the depraved pacifists.

It was actually a play on words (gore as in Al Gore.)

Just how many fanservice-y characters can they put in a single game? It's like the new version of peope in a telephone booth/voltswagon.

HardRockSamurai:

Mr.Tea:

HardRockSamurai:
More tits, less gore.

Isn't that a Republican slogan?

It's actually the other way around; Republicans are the violent prudes while Liberals are the depraved pacifists.

It was actually a play on words (gore as in Al Gore.)

There is no room for humor on these internets, Mr. Riflecat. Tke your silliness and be gone!.

Awww come on, less titties...I barely like my OWN titties man. Gimme teh bloodz and the hacky slashy weee, fountins of redness.

randommaster:
Just how many fanservice-y characters can they put in a single game? It's like the new version of peope in a telephone booth/voltswagon.

I'm assuming you've never played Dragon Sword because Momiji was wearing standard ninja attire pretty much the whole game, until she loses her mask and that is it. No fanservice from her, whatsoever.

And if I ever play this, I won't feel any need to access her difficulty level on the DS because it is almost down right impossible.

And wasn't a lot of the fun of Ninja Gaiden being able to make fountains of blood come out of their head stumps?

HardrockSamurai that was hilarious.

As for the game having less gore in exchange for more content?

That is a hard one. Obviously since this is a remake for a different console(cheers for expanding the base after contracts expire) the game will be more or less the same. The lack of gore as a form of self-censorship does concern me. Why does the gaming industry that can explore and create any sort of medium with only the extent of their imaginations decide to limit themselves. While we don't need the rooms filled with blood that require a drain in the center I think that developers need to be able to commit to their vision and follow through. Buckling just because a new dev team feels uncomfortable or because devs don't want parents complaining about being poor parents by getting their kids play a Ninja Gaiden game is being a morally weak person. Essentially they are letting themselves be bullied around.

As for the extra content, it could of been anything. Since it is some DOA girls and NG girls people will obviously like it because of the context and the many fan art and doujins that will be made. However it is still extra content that is meant to make people want to buy the game and this is where I feel is something that the video game industry has really stepped in a tar pit. The "sigma" series is nothing more than a movie version's "director's cut" where extra scenes are put in to make up for those awkward transitions in the movie or to cover any bases. Problem is that these contracts Microsoft and Sony and even Nintendo have made with developers have caused a lack of creativity in wanting to create a high quality product. Yes obviously from a selling point saying you get more than the other guy(trust me this works a lot more than you think) will get you the sale and that is what the "sigma" series is, a way for people to either buy the game again as a director's cut or get that person that bought the game that should of had the content created originally.

This is why I believe that games were better off with it's low budget format instead of trying to be like a movie studio. If there are so many ideas why not announce a sequel and include those ideas and build a fanbase instead of cashing in immediately with downloadable content. Yes I'm aware businesses have to announce their quarterly reports but aside from profits stock holders LOVE knowing the company they are investing in is still producing games that will expand the company.

Although I don't own a PS3 and do like the content mentioned I feel as if the video game industry is selling itself short and could benefit at longer term strategies instead of making profit from DLC.

EDIT:I really should be writing articles for this site shouldn't I?

Indigo_Dingo:
More reason for me to not buy this, and to burn down the house of everyone who does.

If you want gore, buy God of War III for your ultimate experience.

And why are they still calling this game "Only on Ps3" and "Only on 360"? Pretty sure you aren't all,owed to do that when the same game is on two consoles.

It's because each game is not the exact same game, I'm assuming. You won't be able to buy Ninja Gaiden 2 on the PS3, nor will you be able to buy Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 on the 360.

Keane Ng:

Please tell me there's a way to unlock a blood mode, right? "Being able to unlock higher levels of gore would be out of kilter with the concept of the game," Hayashi explained. Crap.

the concept of the game being "Titties All The Time."

amirite?

Not to complain, but why do women have to be in little skimpy bikini's that wouldn't actually fit them in real life? It's just distracting to me as a gamer, completely unrealistic, and if I wanted to look at hott, mostly naked women, I'd find a soft-core porn site.

EDIT: just to respond to certain people's complaints, I want to say that I know games aren't always incredibly realistic, but they have to hold a certain amount of realism for me to enjoy. Skimpy ladies in bikini's like that cross that threshold.

hopeneverdies:

randommaster:
Just how many fanservice-y characters can they put in a single game? It's like the new version of peope in a telephone booth/voltswagon.

I'm assuming you've never played Dragon Sword because Momiji was wearing standard ninja attire pretty much the whole game, until she loses her mask and that is it. No fanservice from her, whatsoever.

And if I ever play this, I won't feel any need to access her difficulty level on the DS because it is almost down right impossible.

And wasn't a lot of the fun of Ninja Gaiden being able to make fountains of blood come out of their head stumps?

But putting Ayane in there is just for the T&A. Also, since Momiji was on the DS NG, I wouldn't expect Nintendo to go for the fanservice route, but I predict a costume change for the PS3.

Why less gore more titties? Why not same gore more titties? Or MORE gore more titties? (admittedly that last one would be slighly difficult)

But on a serious note the pair of breasts with the woman attached that are already in the game are ridiculous enough, she claims she works for the CIA but looks as though she is just a prostitute with ideas beyond her station, the same with wassname from the first one why, if you fought demons, would you wear sod all. More women will not make this game better, sort out the last boss and you might go some way to fix it.

Mimsofthedawg:
Not to complain, but why do women have to be in little skimpy bikini's that wouldn't actually fit them in real life? It's just distracting to me as a gamer, completely unrealistic, and if I wanted to look at hott, mostly naked women, I'd find a soft-core porn site.

...are you sure you have been playing video games? Because I'm pretty sure that completely unrealistic is what I LIKE and EXPECT in a video game. A plumber fighting a turtle that represents satan over a princess from ruling a kingdom is pretty unrealistic. Or how about Fighting a legion of zombies with a handgun and then rocket launcher with no training, pretty unrealistic. Or how about the men from Powerthirst fighting an invading horde of bugs with body suits that offer no real protection.

Don't go being a hypocrite in a medium where having the unrealistic be the standard.

If you want realistic go step outside and go to a mall or bar.

Tenmar:

Mimsofthedawg:
Not to complain, but why do women have to be in little skimpy bikini's that wouldn't actually fit them in real life? It's just distracting to me as a gamer, completely unrealistic, and if I wanted to look at hott, mostly naked women, I'd find a soft-core porn site.

...are you sure you have been playing video games? Because I'm pretty sure that completely unrealistic is what I LIKE and EXPECT in a video game. A plumber fighting a turtle that represents satan over a princess from ruling a kingdom is pretty unrealistic. Or how about Fighting a legion of zombies with a handgun and then rocket launcher with no training, pretty unrealistic. Or how about the men from Powerthirst fighting an invading horde of bugs with body suits that offer no real protection.

Don't go being a hypocrite in a medium where having the unrealistic be the standard.

If you want realistic go step outside and go to a mall or bar.

The reasons you just stated are why I'm beginning to stop being a gamer. So I think you're right. I'm gonna go have a social life. Bye!

Mimsofthedawg:
Not to complain, but why do women have to be in little skimpy bikini's that wouldn't actually fit them in real life? It's just distracting to me as a gamer, completely unrealistic, and if I wanted to look at hott, mostly naked women, I'd find a soft-core porn site.

Well this way there's no way to get a virus.

Mimsofthedawg:

The reasons you just stated are why I'm beginning to stop being a gamer. So I think you're right. I'm gonna go have a social life. Bye!

Take care but just for the record and your DOB you got to experience when cool kids and jocks were playing games and nerds were no longer bullied for playing video games.

By that standard and allow me to raise my cane you were never a gamer and truly understood the nerd culture.

Mimsofthedawg:
Not to complain, but why do women have to be in little skimpy bikini's that wouldn't actually fit them in real life? It's just distracting to me as a gamer, completely unrealistic, and if I wanted to look at hott, mostly naked women, I'd find a soft-core porn site.

When was the last time you played a realistic ninja game? Seriously.

Why can't we have more of both? Lame.

Tenmar:

Mimsofthedawg:

The reasons you just stated are why I'm beginning to stop being a gamer. So I think you're right. I'm gonna go have a social life. Bye!

Take care but just for the record and your DOB you got to experience when cool kids and jocks were playing games and nerds were no longer bullied for playing video games.

By that standard and allow me to raise my cane you were never a gamer and truly understood the nerd culture.

Thanks, now that I have my daily dose of being trolled, I'm set! :D

Seriously, the stuff's better than caffeine.

So they took a look at Ninja Gaiden 2, a game entirely about killing people, and said to themselves, "I don't think violence is a necessity for this game."

That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

Indigo_Dingo:

Citrus Insanity:
So they took a look at Ninja Gaiden 2, a game entirely about killing people, and said to themselves, "I don't think violence is a necessity for this game."

That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

There's a difference between violence and gore.

I didn't say there wasn't. I was observing the quote from Hayashi: "But with Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, we really questioned whether violence is a necessity for a game, so we decided to move away from that trend."

Less Gore and more tits? Deal Breaker.

I kid, but I find it amusing that one thing must be sacrificed for another in this case, I really do.

Also Momoji? That can't be right, her bust size isn't FF like the rest of them and is fully clothed, maybe she's only playable in the first stage then gets killed off.

This does make me a bit worried for Metroid other M. I hope they don't do anything like that to it. I still think it will be great, as I do with ninja gaiden, it just isn't needed though.

Meh the gore in Ninja Gaiden 2 was a little too over the top for me I mean seriously there is a point when adding more blood spurting out does not a good game make. It is still a rock solid game and I would expect it to stay that way on the ps3 minus blood does not bother me at all.

I am not entertained by breasts in a video game.

The blood holds more appeal, but not by much.

I'm willing to make this trade.

Heavy_Moses:
Why less gore more titties? Why not same gore more titties? Or MORE gore more titties? (admittedly that last one would be slighly difficult)

But on a serious note the pair of breasts with the woman attached that are already in the game are ridiculous enough, she claims she works for the CIA but looks as though she is just a prostitute with ideas beyond her station, the same with wassname from the first one why, if you fought demons, would you wear sod all. More women will not make this game better, sort out the last boss and you might go some way to fix it.

In the world of videogames, armor works on reverse for females.

HardRockSamurai:
More tits, less gore.

Isn't that a Republican slogan?

And have you seen the tits on some of the republicans?
I haven't (sadly).

Said it once, twice a million times.... stop using women as a selling point!!!!