Ninja Gaiden III (NES, 1991)
Graphics-7.5 Sound-7.5 Control-7.5 Challenge-8.5/7.5* Story-5
Level Design-7.5 Frustration-9/8* Fun-7.5/8* Originality-5
Overall Score-7/7.5*
*JP version
+
Somewhat better variation (moving platforms, vertical levels, autoscrolling segments)
Good bosses overall
Somewhat fewer respawning enemies
Somewhat improved control (smaller knockback, you can cling to the ceiling and flip yourself up onto platforms)
New weapons (still a bit unbalanced)
You can upgrade the range of your sword
Unlimited continues (JP only)
Password save
Fast paced
+/-
You're better off running past many later enemies
US version has much less forgiving checkpoints (sets you back to the first sub level after losing a life while JP version only does this after using a continue)
No ninja shadow clones (not much of a loss though)
US version is harder (enemies do more damage, no more unlimited continues)
-
Trial & error (cheap hits from enemies surrounding you or falling from the sealing (depends what special you have), the 6th boss)
Some tedious parts (vertical platforming, climbing in level 6, ice level)
Can't control jump height or turn around in mid-air
The robotic fliers (they respawn and can surround you very easily if you don't have any ammo for specials/the wrong special)
Somewhat worse graphics (no 2.5d backgrounds, generic sci-fi theme, cutscenes look a bit worse - especially Ryu)
The plot is a bit non-sensical with rather poor dialogue (involves cloning and "super-dimensions")
No difficulty options
Level themes don't seem to tie in well with the story
Jump control is slightly worse because the falling speed is slower
Power ups sometimes disappear when you move away from them and back
No "double layered" 2.5d level designs (though these were pretty annoying anyway because of the auto-grab on walls)
Pretty easy final bosses
Repeating music
Level Design-7.5 Frustration-9/8* Fun-7.5/8* Originality-5
Overall Score-7/7.5*
*JP version
+
Somewhat better variation (moving platforms, vertical levels, autoscrolling segments)
Good bosses overall
Somewhat fewer respawning enemies
Somewhat improved control (smaller knockback, you can cling to the ceiling and flip yourself up onto platforms)
New weapons (still a bit unbalanced)
You can upgrade the range of your sword
Unlimited continues (JP only)
Password save
Fast paced
+/-
You're better off running past many later enemies
US version has much less forgiving checkpoints (sets you back to the first sub level after losing a life while JP version only does this after using a continue)
No ninja shadow clones (not much of a loss though)
US version is harder (enemies do more damage, no more unlimited continues)
-
Trial & error (cheap hits from enemies surrounding you or falling from the sealing (depends what special you have), the 6th boss)
Some tedious parts (vertical platforming, climbing in level 6, ice level)
Can't control jump height or turn around in mid-air
The robotic fliers (they respawn and can surround you very easily if you don't have any ammo for specials/the wrong special)
Somewhat worse graphics (no 2.5d backgrounds, generic sci-fi theme, cutscenes look a bit worse - especially Ryu)
The plot is a bit non-sensical with rather poor dialogue (involves cloning and "super-dimensions")
No difficulty options
Level themes don't seem to tie in well with the story
Jump control is slightly worse because the falling speed is slower
Power ups sometimes disappear when you move away from them and back
No "double layered" 2.5d level designs (though these were pretty annoying anyway because of the auto-grab on walls)
Pretty easy final bosses
Repeating music