Ep.79 – Modern Day Ninja: The Brutal Return of Ryu Hayabusa in Ninja Gaiden (2004)
Ninja Gaiden (2004)
A Trip Down Memory Card Lane · David Kassin and Robert Kassin
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Show Notes
In 2004, Ninja Gaiden returned on the Xbox as a modern reboot of Tecmo’s classic series. We look back at how Tomonobu Itagaki and Team Ninja, best known for Dead or Alive, spent five years reinventing Ryu Hayabusa for 3D action. The episode explores the game’s development journey from Sega arcade boards to Xbox exclusivity, its brutally fast combat engine, and the wide arsenal of weapons and magic. Our conversation highlights critic reviews that called it one of the best action games of its generation, as well as user reviews that ranged from total admiration to sheer frustration over its punishing difficulty and camera issues. We also touch on its legacy, sequels, and remastered collection. Join us as we slash, flip, and fight our way through Ninja Gaiden on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.