Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja have confirmed that Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection will feature the censored version of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2.
The original launch of Ninja Gaiden 2 on Xbox 360 in 2008 saw the game continue its tradition of over-the-top blood and dismemberment as players slice down humanoid and demonic foes. Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 on PlayStation 3 in 2009 featured new content, playable characters, and improved content; yet censored the blood in favor of purple smoke or energy, and dismemberment could only occur with non-human enemies.
You can find the comparison of the gameplay on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions here. Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus on PlayStation Vita (2013) would return the blood, along with future entries in the series.
Speaking to GamesRadar in 2009, director and producer Yosuke Hayashi explained that as the focus on each game’s concept, the reassessed violence with the Sigma version of 2.
“Each game has its own concept and with Ninja Gaiden 2, the focus was on extreme violence. But with Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, we really questioned whether violence is a necessity for a game, so we decided to move away from that trend. So the violence ‘approach’ is not the way we approached the development of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2. Being able to unlock higher levels of gore would be out of kilter with the concept of the game.”
Recently, CyberConnect2’s president claimed Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) have policies against depicting dismemberment or missing limbs for Japanese developers. It could be possible this policy was in place around 2008 to 2009 at least.
While Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is coming to multiple systems, the game’s official Twitter account confirmed to a use that Ninja Gaiden 2 would be based of the censored “Original Sigma 2,” and no option to uncensor it.
You can find the full rundown (via the official website) below.
Three intensely fast and furious ninja action games are now available in one package!
The “Ninja Gaiden” series is respected and beloved across the entire gaming world, and has sold 6.8 million units in total.
In this collection, the three titles from the series which are included are: NINJA GAIDEN Sigma (released in 2007), NINJA GAIDEN Sigma 2 (released in 2009), and NINJA GAIDEN 3: Razor’s Edge (released in 2012).
Become the ultimate ninja and defeat deadly enemies!Features
Enjoy 3 epic games from the NINJA GAIDEN series in this single collection.
The nostalgic yet timeless high-speed action unfolds on the latest hardware, so prepare for vigorous battles with fearsome opponents!Most of the previously downloadable contents are included!
Most of the previously released game modes and DLC costumes for each title are included in this thrilling collection. In addition to Ryu Hayabusa, each of the other characters will have a variety of costumes to choose from, allowing for action-packed battles in the outfit of your choice.Ayane, Rachel, Momiji, Kasumi playable!
Besides Ryu Hayabusa, the four iconic female characters; Ayane, Rachel, Momiji, Kasumi will be playable. Master your favorite characters in exciting battles.Note: The female characters will appear as they did in the original version of the games. In addition, playable characters and scenes (modes) will vary according to the game.
Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection launches June 10th on Windows PC (via Steam), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The game will only be getting a physical release on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in Asia.
Image: Team Ninja