Ninja Gaiden Black [Xbox]

Remakes are always a tough buying decision. If you've already played the core game, why bother investing in what will no doubt be almost the same thing? And if you haven't played it yet, why not just go back to the original, since it's normally cheaper by that point? Ninja Gaiden Black makes the issue of "to buy or not to buy" even more complex, as it's not just remaking any old game, but one of the best titles in this console generation. On top of that, it's got loads of bonus content, but barely any of it is available right out of the starting gate. What's a gamer to do?

To ease your mind at the outset, know this: If it was in Ninja Gaiden, it's here in Black. This has the entire game within the disc, and of course a whole lot more. Those familiar with Ninja Gaiden may know it by another name: Freaking Hard. It made Halo look like Elmo, and Prince of Persia like Pretty Princess Pets Ponies.

Whichever side of the difficulty debate you're on, Ninja Gaiden Black has your back. The new Dog Ninja difficulty level (available after you die a few horrible deaths) gives Ryu 'roid rage, as he packs a much stronger punch to make the game more appealing to a more casual audience. On the other hand, Master Ninja is here (eventually) for the three of you that thought Very Hard was a cakewalk, but not including the 3,000 of you who lied about it just to enhance your frail egos.

A few new difficulty levels does not a remake make, so rest assured that there's a lot more here. Tecmo's online downloadable Hurricane Packs have been implemented in the game, acting as sort of patches to the original programming. Their results are subtle, but do enhance play -- especially in terms of making the camera system more manageable.

New weapons and other tweaks will only be taken as additions to those who know the game like the back of their hand, but are still welcome. The Lunar staff lets you live out all your Donatello fantasies, since the Ninja Turtle games have failed to deliver. Different costumes can also be chosen, there's an online ranking system, and the old-school arcade Ninja Gaiden (nothing like the NES games) can be unlocked.

Perhaps the biggest improvement is mission mode. Here, you have dozens of individual tasks to accomplish -- from defeating a boss with some of his buddies, to destroying tanks in a war-zone. Make no mistake, these are also really difficult to accomplish, but you'll spend a lot of hours trying. Still, something more along the lines of Metal Gear Solid 's Snake Tales mode -- with easier tasks and a thinly constructed plotline holding them all together -- may have been a better option. Yes, that's being picky, but after all, this is the bulk of what awaits those who already played through the original game.

Speaking of playing through, Tecmo makes a grievous error by requiring you to complete the game to gain access to the bulk of added content. When you buy a Special Edition DVD (which is what this amounts to), you don't need to watch the whole film just to get to the bonus features. Multiply that by about five, and that's how many hours before you'll get things like mission mode. People paid their money, Tecmo! Fulfill your end of the bargain without making consumers jump through more hoops.

That's enough grumbling, though. The bottom line is the action is superb, with silky smooth combos, lots of movement options, and intuitive control. The graphics are still tops on the market. The quest is fulfilling and varied.

This package is designed for two types of people: those who have been living under a rock (or possibly a fallen tree) since Ninja Gaiden 's release, and those who put the original game ahead of food, shelter, and romantic love. And at $30, it's the same as what you'd pay for a new copy of Ninja Gaiden (Colorless). If you consider yourself in one of the above-mentioned categories, pick up Ninja Gaiden Black immediately. Even those of us who don't fit the bill may join you while we wait for a true sequel.