The following reviews are used to calculate the overall reception for this game. All applicable scores are converted to our simplified rating system based on the specifics offered by each publication or the tone of each review. You can read more about how we do this here.
March 19, 2008 - Excellent - While this game won't have quite the impact its console forbearer did, Dragon Sword remains a solid example of how to forge a modern action game for DS.
April 15, 2008 - Good - Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword is undoubtedly a solid, polished and innovative offering, but simply lacks enough substance and variety to make it an essential purchase.
April 2, 2008 - Good - Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword is one of the better "hardcore" action games available for the Nintendo DS, with innovative gameplay, exquisite presentation and a couple of noteworthy bonus features.
March 14, 2008 - Good - It may be watered down a bit, but Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword is still a spicy and savory mix of familiar combat and sweet stylus action, and it pulls you into its world of dastardly fiends and mysterious, shuriken-slinging martial artists.
March 12, 2008 - Good - Only the most dedicated players will want to go through the game again on its significantly more difficult mode. Even so, this is a great game and something that we're not used to seeing on the DS.
March 12, 2008 - Good - On DS, Dragon Sword has no equal, no fitting comparison, and for that we applaud Team Ninja. Only slight control issues and the general feeling of sameness after 13 levels of hacking keep it from soaring even higher.
March 12, 2008 - Good - Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword proves to have a sharp edge with good tech and smooth pacing. It also manages to turn the stylus into an effective ninja weapon, making it play like no other game on Nintendo's little dual screen.
March 7, 2008 - Good - Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword kicks a whole lot of butt on the Nintendo DS. Visually, the game's a stunner, and the action is intense and almost non-stop.
July 11, 2008 - Good - Although Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword isn't the spectacular action game we hoped it would be, it's still a highly polished, hugely enjoyable game.
March 17, 2008 - Mediocre - [Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword] is short, parts of it are sweet, but it never really gets firing on all cylinders, even though the hint of a promise for that level of intensity is present the whole time.
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