In my mind, Ninja Gaiden titles carry the mantle of being some of the most intense, difficult, and rewarding action games of recent times. I can recall playing through the older titles in my youth, floundering through them, yet never quite completing them. Fast forward to 2004, when Ninja Gaiden was released for the Xbox. I remember playing it at a friend’s house, and I was simply blown away by the visceral combat and slick action elements of the game. When I finally got an Xbox of my own, I played through Ninja Gaiden Black, cursing and struggling over a long period of time. It was a magnificent game, and set the bar for what an action game should be in my book.