Where's the ninja love?!

Everyone's getting excited for big hitters like Mario Kart Wii, no doubt. Okami, for example, is being talked about incessantly, with fans hoping it will be more successful on Wii than PS2. But one game in particular is getting overlooked. A very "big-name" game.

Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword

To classic gamers, Ninja Gaiden will evoke memories both pleasant and not-so-pleasant. We all remember loving the music and thoughtful level design, but we also remember breaking a few controllers in frustration. Those early NES games were hard. Then came the series reimagining on Xbox, simply titled "Ninja Gaiden". It was the first one in 3D, and like many franchises before it, the jump to the third dimension was mostly unproblematic.

Then the PS3 got a sequel, along with a remake of the original Xbox title. What's next for good ol' Itagaki and Co.?

Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword. Think the DS is "underpowered"? Think again.

Check out some screenshots here.

Though it may not look impressive from screenshots, trust me; this thing looks like a Gamecube game. I've played the demo, and I was absolutely blown away. The production values were through the roof!

Now, what about the gameplay? Controls?

The game plays a little like Phantom Hourglass... stylus-only. Before that dissuades you, know this; I wasn't enamored with PH's control scheme, but Ninja Gaiden's is practically flawless. Especially during the battle sequences.

3, 4, 5 enemies coming at you, and you hack and slash with your sword with tons of ninja moves... it's really, really fun. It's like Streets of Rage or River City Ransom in 3D! From the demo I played, the only control issues I ran into were during the "quiet" moments, when there were no enemies on screen. It's sometimes a little tough to navigate Ryu.

But that's enough for now. We'll have a more detailed report for you soon though!