Topic: Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection

@Ryu_Niiyama, great so far, though I've only been playing the first one as of yet, which is the only one stated not to have any problems in the collection.

EDIT: I've played both docked and portable (in tabletop) so far. Usually just docked, but we had a power outage yesterday so I had to pull it out of the dock for the first time in months.

@Ryu_Niiyama I've tried out all three games (albeit only the first level of each) and the frame rate doesn't seem bad to me at all...but the resolution can drop pretty low, especially in handheld mode (particularly in 3 - it almost looks like a 3DS game at points).

1 looks and feels great to play. 2 and 3 look and feel a bit dated to me because of the aforementioned performance issues - not sure how this compares to the originals, however, as I didn't play them.

Edit: I think this video gives a good view of how things run in handheld mode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-4adR9DEgQ

@timleon @RR529 Thanks all!

Just finished up Chapter 10 in the first game, and it seems like the last couple of bosses were a huge step up in difficulty (I only managed to get through them by running my healing item supply dry).

Still slowly working my way through the first game. Just finished up Chapter 13, and after a few tries I managed to beat the boss without using any healing items, which was a first and felt pretty good.

Anyone else having trouble playing this with the standard switch controller? I don't know if it's the tiny buttons or what but I keep messing up my combos and getting murdered. I had no trouble playing these on PS3. I'm about ready to whip out my Zelda themed pro controller.

At the end of Chapter 6 in Ninja Gaiden Sigma, and already feel like this game is a masterpiece. Difficult to put into words but it just oozes everything I loved about game design during that era. Can't believe I've never given this game a proper shot until now.

That said, the difficulty is catching up to me. Not just the game getting more difficult - sometimes I'm dying in ridiculously stupid ways so it seems I'm losing my edge a little as well. I'm wondering - are there any major downsides to abandoning the way of the ninja and going for the easier options? Does it remove any key features / cheapen the experience in any way?

@timleon

It is more rewarding if you can handle the higher difficulties and there are unlockables to be had upon completing them. If you get good at the Izuna drop, countering and flying swallow moves the harder difficulties will be a cakewalk. Whenever you get into fights make sure you're always blocking and keep moving. Standing still for very long will get you killed. Use those combos. Button mashing is a death sentence. Alot of first timers make that mistake.

@Slowdive Might give it a go then...maybe on a different save. I'm keen to get through the game but at this pace that will never happen haha. I guess I can always replay on a harder difficulty once I've gut gud.

I haven't played my copy yet, but I wanted at the very least mention that the inner artwork inside the game case is top-tier.

The boss of Chapter 16 (first game) is absolutely infuriating. I can never seem to dodge that move where she scoops you up and absolutely wrecks you.

I've been managing to hold on to a decent array of restorative items (8 of the small potions, 4 of the big ones, & 2 revival talismans) and I want to try & get through it without using many of them as I've heard there's no way to obtain new restoratives in the final chapter & I know I'm getting close.

Thank goodness, I finally beat that Chapter 16 boss! I had to use most of my small potions, but that's fine by me.

Then I had trouble with those dragon knight things at the start of the next chapter, but I finally managed to beat them only using what little small potions I had left. There was a shop near after that though, so I'm finally stocked back up.

Just a heads up guys the Ninja gaiden master collection finally recieved it's first patch! I got prompted just a few minutes ago to update when i fired up the game. Maybe this will iron out some of the kinks with the framerate and such on the switch version. Not sure what else it might have done but thought i would let you all know. I'm gonna go check it out now.

Beat chapter 17 in the first game. Though I died a few times the boss wasn't as hard as the one from the last chapter.

What really ticked me off though was the fact that chapter 18 starts you out immediately surrounded by those darn ghost piranhas and they wasted no time in stun locking me and drained my health in a matter of seconds, so I had to beat the chapter 17 boss a second time :/

Luckily the second go around I was able to quickly equip the Vigoorian Flail before the piranhas attacked so I was able to work through them (and I did a bit better on the boss beforehand, winning only using two small potions).

@RR529
Those ghost fish are the worst! Vigorian flails seems to be the only weapon that kills them well. You get eaten alive in mere seconds if you're not careful.

@Zeldafan79, yeah, I hate those things (luckily, I've found that, at least if you have the Flails equipped, it seems you can break free of them if you button mash).

Just saved at the top of the tower, so I'm pretty sure I'm getting ready to face off against the chapter 18 boss.

@RR529
Honestly that fish maze is probably the hardest or at least most annoying part of the game. If you can survive that you've basically got it from then on.

This game is a masterpiece, a good lifesaving tip is to map your ninpo to your right click analog stick. I know a few situations with the ghost fish that furiously clicking on the stick saved my rear a few times!

Does anyone else feel like using ninpo or at least the full life potions is kinda cheating? I mean if you gotta resort to those doesn't that mean you suck?

@Zeldafan79 You can set up your own rules. I just know if Imma Die, Imma die knowing I did all I could. Hell, I'd use up all my Healing potions if it meant a shot for glory