When I originally reviewed Tecmo's genre-redefining action-adventure for Xbox (way back in EGM #178), I honestly gushed, 'I've never played a prettier game.' Well, times change.and modern games such as Gears of War and Lair clearly push the graphical envelope far beyond Team Ninja's stunning last-gen achievement. It's impressive, though, that the visuals in this remake can still hang tough on PlayStation 3-thanks to some expert nip/tuck artistry, Ryu Hayabusa's adventure looks sexier than ever.

It's a shame, then, that weird glitches (sync problems that make the screen 'tear' when the camera moves, odd bouts of loading, even in combat) make it feel a bit like a slapdash port. Luckily, the fantastically deep gameplay overshadows any visual hiccups. Returning vets will adore Ryu's new toys (eviscerating enemies with dual katanas feels particularly brutal), and busty Rachel's all-new levels deliver an obscenely violent change of pace.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is the “ultimate” Ninja Gaiden, featuring characters from the previous installments that have defined the franchise. It radiates a striking visual appeal in high resolution display, featuring character and environmental graphics whose quality exceeds the original Ninja Gaiden Sigma.

Wild guns reloaded switch. This then ends with a challenging boss battle, which are arguably some the game’s highlights.

Genuinely new content doesn't abound, but Sigma remains such an expansive, challenging, and wellpaced thrill ride that you won't care. Ditto on the graphics. Even with those strange visual miscues, Sigma looks significantly better than both Xbox installments. But it's the brilliant gameplay that keeps Ryu at the top of the action crowd.

The combat is extremely fast and fluid, and the formidable enemies force you to fight smarter. As far as the new stuff goes, though, I'm not impressed. The Rachel sections feel like an afterthought, and the pointless tilt controls (shaking the joypad to boost magic attacks) make me wonder why they bothered.