The PS Vita version of 2007’s PlayStation 3 dice ‘em up Ninja Gaiden Sigma was satisfying evidence of just how comfortable a full, lightning-fast console action game can feel on a handheld. Duly, Team Ninja’s announcement last month that a sequel – Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus – is currently in development came as very welcome news.
PlayStation.Blog sat down for a quick chat with Team Ninja boss Yosuke Hayashi to find out what it has in store with its new Vita game, as well as mysterious new project Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z and recent release Dead or Alive 5.
PlayStation.Blog: It’s not been long since the release of Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus. Why are we seeing a sequel so soon?
Yosuke Hayashi, Team Ninja: We released Sigma Plus earlier this year and it actually did better than we expected, and there was a lot of fan demand for releasing a sequel. We were really happy with the results we got with the original, so that’s why we’re announcing Sigma 2 Plus.PSB: What new features are you adding over and above the PlayStation 3 original?
YH: PlayStation Vita is definitely an easy console to play games on. It’s very friendly for a Ninja Gaiden kind of game. We really learned that making the first Sigma Plus. With the sequel we’re looking to add in some really good additional hardcore elements – things that people who really know the game and loved Sigma 2 will get into and enjoy.PSB: What makes PS Vita a good fit for a high velocity action series like Ninja Gaiden?
YH: I don’t know if it’s a perfect fit, but it has the power and everything you need to play these kinds of games. You’re not always in an environment where you can play a full console game, but if you have a Vita you can have the same experience right there in the palm of your hand. It has the power to deliver an equivalent experience.PSB: You recently showed off a brief teaser trailer for Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z – your new collaboration with Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune. Is that something Sony customers can get excited about?
YH: You’ll have to wait a little bit longer for more information but I’m sure everybody will be able to have some fun with it!PSB: There are so many zombie games out there right now? Is there still room for new ideas and innovation in the genre?
YH: Absolutely, there are definitely new elements we can add to the zombie genre. It got to play like a Ninja Gaiden game – it’s got to be a good, solid action game. It’s not just an amateur zombie game. In addition, we’ll bring our own take on the genre – people will find that it’s something really new, but also something that sits comfortably inside the Ninja Gaiden world.PSB: During your Yaiba announcement you pledged that Team Ninja is striving to help Japanese developers catch up with the West. Do you think your fellow countrymen can reclaim their ‘90s glory days?
YH: Honestly I don’t think we can reclaim the glory days of the past. Team Ninja is still strong and has found ways to remain relevant and keep making games that play on the world stage. We can’t say for sure that Japan as a whole will be there with us, but we’ll be around for years to come.PSB: You just released Dead or Alive 5. It’s been a busy few years for the fighting genre. Why do you think DOA is still relevant?
YH: We don’t want to be put in the same space as other fighting games. The concept for Dead or Alive 5 has been ‘fighting entertainment’. We’re looking at a wider audience – offering a more accessible, more appealing fighting experience. Don’t just put us in with the rest of the fighters. You get a sense of fun and a sense of spectacle from Dead or Alive 5 that you’re not going to get from some of the other games that are out of there. That sets us apart and is something we want to push. Hopefully it will push the audience towards supporting the game.PSB: How are you going to support Dead or Alive 5 in the coming months?
YH: We’re definitely going to be supporting the title after launch. We have a lot of DLC lined up and the artists are still working hard creating costumes that we know the fans are going to love and want to get their hands on.
Heck yeah. Awesome. I love NG1, and have it on my Vita. I never got to play NG2, and I was hoping it would come to Vita so bad. Maybe this means they’ll even be able to do NG3 at some point.
Sweet, guys. Good read. Thanks for doing this. Will buy day 1.
The sooner they can get this on the Vita the better. I love the Ninja Gaiden games except for 3. I do hope they step their game up with the port for this sequel. Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus was kind of rough around the edges but still a great game. I guess it was rushed for launch.
I’m glad to hear it’s coming here, I’m one of those weirdos who’s never played these newer Ninja Gaiden games. I plan on getting the original on Vita some time soon, it’s good to have this to look forward to as well. Thanks!
Great news. Not new though
lol an interview about NGS2 and you only ask 3 questions out of 8 about the game
I bought your game Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus on the Vita, the first time I’ve ever played a Ninja Gaiden game, I loved every minute of it. I’m very excited to get Sigma Plus 2. Hopefully it comes quick! (just don’t make it this month… my wallet is already crying with all the games I have to buy in October for Vita).
Please make it a faithful port of the Xbox 360 version. I’d like all the dismemberment and vats of blood intact please!
I hope everything from Sigma 2 is in it, like the Co-op arena mode (forgot the name). and I hope it’s ad-hoc & Online for that mode, I’ve only played the NG2 demo on Xbox and Sigma 2 demo on PS3, and I love the Giant sword in the Sigma 2 demo, Glad it’s on vita next year :) I’m going to get it for sure
My most proud Platinum on PS3, after GT5.
So glad i didn’t buy the PS3 version, now i can use that money towards a portable version. I’m hoping for a custom soundtrack option this time.
I never played this one, now on VITA I’m more interested. For years I’m hoping for a HD remake of the originals Ninja Gaiden 1, 2 and 3 like “Bionic Commando Rearmed”
They need to stop trash talking Japanese developers. Especially when NG3 is the way it is…
Let developers make the games they want to make. Just because they don’t make games the way you think the should doesn’t mean the way they make them is worse than yours.
That kind of crap is immature and foolish. The industry needs different development philosophies to remain interesting.
I hope they’ll bring back blood in this one.
Great job completely ignoring DOA5 on the blog btw – 1st time Team Ninja’s flagship franchise has been on a PlayStation console since the early days of PS2, and not a single post :/
Anyway if anyone from TN is reading this, many thanks for putting up a digital copy of DOA5 on PSN, and I hope to see the original PS3 versions of Ninja Gaiden Sigma also getting the digital treatment :)
Will this have team mission like the ps3 version and can i play them by myself this time
I enjoy hard games and the first one on Vita was one of the more challenging things I’ve beaten in a while (and that was on normal lol). I’ll definitely be keeping my eye on this one
NGS2+ should have mostly additions and content from NG2 to make it an ultimate and complete NG game. They should include NG2 blood , seperate solo missions,no mixups. return of test of Valor, survival, Team survival and more but no IS spam. Also team missions and if they play alone its solo missions seperate mode.
If you want to please hardcore players and loyal followers, add following stuff: more team missions, add separate solo mission mode, no mixing, it was awful in NG3. Bring back TOV from NG2, solo and coop survival are needed, both separate from each other, blood from NG2, Ultimate ninja difficulty for story mode. Rebalance harder difficultys, but no IS spam. You have everything TN, just port it to vita. Do it right this time around. Fans have big expectations for NGS2+ release. Team missions need true online, no ad-hoc. Improve online code.It was rough in NGS2. Fix exploits, make legit leaderboards.
…………….So please tell me this is more than a port?
Japanese audio is a must on EU&US release.
Was hoping they would put up Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 on PSN for PS3. I’ve been wanting to play that game, but it is extremely difficult to find at retailers.
What Firelogic said.
I haven’t bought the first one,but with Ps Plus coming next month there will be a discount for sure coming long live Ps Plus!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So many trophy in Sigma Plus not yet earned~~!!! must get as many trophy as I can before Sigma 2 Plus come TT..TT ~~~
It would be great for the game to have at least a song from the original Ninja Gaiden for NES.
they definitely need to keep the JPN audio this time around.
if Sigma 1(they removed it on plus wtf) and Sigma 2 PS3 versions have them in all regions.
why remove them here??
let’s see what are the new content :P
also for DLC Dead Or Alive 5 characters:
Momiji, Rachael, Ein, Leon, and Irene Law/Sonia please :P
i want the boss characters to return just to play with it like in Dimensions.
Alpha-152, Gohyakumine Bankotsubo, Kasumi Alpha, Genra, Raidou
but more importantly Momiji and Rachael!!!!
^ Hell yeah! Momiji & Rachel should of been in DOA5 from the start!!
Please, please, please include the blood for the vita version. No stupid mist.