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Listen, it's scientific fact that as ninjas shed their clothes, they become better at executing their ninja duties. So, if you see us purchase the Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 costume pack, which was released on the PlayStation Store yesterday for $3.99, it's not because we're pervs or anything. It's because the skimpy outfits you see above were meticulously engineered to maximize our capacity for flipping out and killing people.

Also, we realize Ryu's new costume (which was previously handed out as a pre-order bonus) isn't more revealing than his standard duds. See, the above rule only applies to female ninjas. Hey, don't look at us like that. We didn't write the ninja rulebook, okay?

There are a few extremely obvious differences between Ninja Gaiden 2 and Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2. They work in different consoles, and one's got the word "Sigma" in the title. Oh, and there's the boob thing. Beyond that, however, we must turn to the experts.

Digital Foundry reports that the resolution has changed between the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 games. Sigma runs at 1280x718, effectively 720p, while the Xbox version ran at 1120x585. The resolution boost comes with some cuts: DF says the PS3 version loses some polygons, or rather some whole collections of polygons: Sigma 2 maintains a limit of six enemies or fewer in most situations, while Ninja Gaiden 2 "revels in throwing seven or eight opponents at you at any given point." Things that didn't get cut: The lighting effects, which are noticeably more advanced in the PlayStation 3 game.

DF also has a video demonstrating a stress test of sorts (forcing as many enemies onto the screen as possible). For some reason, we don't mind the idea of having slightly fewer ninja enemies stabbing us in the back at any time. These games are at their best when Ryu is juggling a few enemies, not when he's buried in them.

Given an extra year of development, it's no wonder why the Sigma version of Ninja Gaiden 2 is so far improved over the original. The upcoming PS3 exclusive adds a ton of new features, ranging from awesome to downright ridiculous. GamesWire took screenshots of the original Xbox 360 Ninja Gaiden 2 and compared them with the new Sigma edition, noting, "The lighting and textures are just so much better this time around and there's much more detail to be seen now too."

Additionally, the PlayStation.blog took some time (10 minutes, actually) to show off the various features of Sigma. You'll get to see the Ultimate Ninpo in action, as well as an extended look at the new co-op mode -- and yes, you'll even see the franchise's notorious Game Over screen. Check that out after the break.

[Thanks, Jeremy B.!]

Source - Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 - PlayStation 3 vs Xbox 360 Comparison
Source - Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Interview and Walkthrough with Team Ninja's Yosuke Hayashi

We've just received word from Tecmo that Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2's demo will be gracing the US PSN one week after Japan gets it on September 24. Unfortunately, Tecmo wouldn't offer anything on what the demo would entail; the company did not confirm any co-op for the demo, let alone which part of the game it would take place in. But hey, it's a free demo and we certainly aren't complaining -- mostly because we don't want to be on that Ryu cat's bad side.

Japanese news site Andriasang reported today that those anxious to wet their sword (or gigantic scythe) with demon blood in Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 would get a chance through a demo on September 17. We wanted to find out when other regions would get the demo, as well as what would actually be in the demo (we're crossing our fingers for some booby bouncing co-op gameplay), so we hit up Tecmo.

A Tecmo representative said that, while the company plans to release a demo "very soon in the US, Europe and Japan," there's no guarantee the demo will hit regions outside Japan on September 17. Tecmo did say that we "should have news very, very soon." So, mark very, very soon on your calendars, kids. As for content, Tecmo remained tight-lipped.

While you wait on that demo, you can pass the time ogling the new screens in our gallery below:

If there's one thing ninjas love more than totally sweet acts of acrobatic violence, it's -- no, wait. There's nothing they love more than totally sweet acts of acrobatic violence. However, high up on the list, sandwiched between guitar solos and dead pirates, is competition. Fortunately, it seems Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 will possess this quality in spades -- a recent Playstation.Blog update revealed the game's two new competitive modes, titled Chapter Challenge and Ninja Records.

Chapter Challenge is unlocked once you finish the single-player campaign, and allows you to replay your favorite levels, ultimately measuring your final "Karma" score against other players on a global leaderboard. Ninja Records will supply an exhaustive list of statistics based on your play style -- highest score, largest combo, fastest time, number of sweet guitar solos -- that sort of thing.

In addition, the post reveals the design for the GameStop pre-order bonus costume, the addition of a soundtrack to the game's limited edition, and the second Japanese advertisement for the game, which we've posted after the jump. Sorry to disappoint, but it doesn't contain any plaster lady chests.

A recent piece of marketing for Tecmo's Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is catching a lot of attention, because -- well, because it features people groping breasts that are mysteriously jutting out of a wall. No need to beat around the bush, folks. We got a video with people grabbing walljugs after the break. Enjoy.

The plaster mammaries assumedly belong to Sigma 2's Ayane or Momiji -- both are playable in this iteration of the game (the text which appears at the end of the video actually says "a female ninja appears"). Oh, sorry -- did we explain that like we thought it made a lick of sense? We apologize.

You read that right, folks. The co-op compatible, new and improved Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 will (Izuna) drop into stores on September 29th. Arriving just in time for the busy holiday rush, this updated version of the 2008 Xbox 360 exclusive features two three extra playable characters, along with a puzzling reduction in violent displays.

Tecmo has dropped some new screens and video highlighting the new co-op feature in Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2. With Ryu Hayabusa's recent outings having been exclusively solo affairs, the opportunity to play co-op is definitely a welcome one, even if it is reserved only for special challenge stages. The two videos show off both the online and offline co-op. Co-op offers some neat new gameplay twists, like the ability to resurrect a dead partner -- which we're guessing will happen a lot -- and co-op Ninpo magic maneuvers.

It certainly looks like a good deal of fun, though we can't help but notice that player two seems to spend an awful lot of time off screen during the offline co-op video (find it after the break). Looks like online is the best way to go.

GameStop has updated its site with a listing for a limited edition of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 exclusive to the retailer. The product page lists the $69.99 premium release as including an 80-page book divided into three sections: art from the game, a color Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 comic and a strategy guide. There's no mention of special packaging for the edition, which is dated for September 29.

We contacted Tecmo for more info and were told that additional details will be disclosed within the next two weeks. The book sounds alright, but we're hoping for some additional goodies to sweeten the deal.

You've probably read the laundry list of all the things that are new to the PS3-exclusive version of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2. Among the list of three new playable characters is Momiji, first introduced in Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword on Nintendo DS. Check out the footage after the break and watch as a proficient player (ie. not us) slashes through a horde of ninjas -- and don't miss her sweet bow & arrow.

We're still a bit miffed that his version is missing the gore that made the original Ninja Gaiden 2 notorious. Guess we'll have to stick with this improved -- and artsier -- version.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is set to hit stores on October 1 in Japan. Once an Xbox 360 exclusive, Ninja Gaiden's PS3 return combines the 2008 Xbox 360 sequel with new features, including online co-op, two new playable characters and planned fixes to a laundry list of issues found in the original game. Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is priced at ¥7,800 ($80 US). According to Kotaku, pre-order bonuses for the game include a "starter guide book" and download code for the original Ryu Hayabusa character costume. Better get a good stain remover, getting blood out of a Gi is hellacious.

My, my how things have changed. The former Xbox 360-exclusive Ninja Gaiden 2 is now the PS3-exclusive Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2. Is this the first game that's been able to wear the "Only On" stickers for both the PS3 and 360? Perhaps. While Sigma 2 may be an enhanced port of the original Ninja Gaiden 2, it features a number of new features that are, as the box says, "only on PlayStation."

Most exciting of the new features are the new playable characters: Ninja Gaiden's Rachel, Dead or Alive's Ayane, and Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword's Momiji. The PS3 version will also feature a new online co-op mode not found in the original that lets you and a friend take on ten different stages. Finally, the game is touting "variable AI," which allows "the gameplay [to differ] each time you appear in a level as enemies engage in a variety of different actions as they assess the situation." Whatever that means.

Nintendo's Yoshio Sakamoto, who's been involved with every 2D Metroid game since co-creating the original, tells Game Life that the latest in the series -- Metroid Other M -- will (in addition to looking awesome) help flesh out the character of Samus Aran. Bridging the gap between Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion in series canon, the game's plot goal is to depict the legendary bounty hunter as "an appealing human character," according to Sakamoto, and the joint Nintendo / Team Ninja production team will be "explaining a little bit about what happened in her past as well as the characters that influenced her."

The Metroid Prime games haven't been devoid of story, but we get the sense from Sakamoto's comments -- "The story will play a big part," he said -- that Other M will offer something meatier, perhaps through more cinematics ... and no scanning. In fact, we hear that any planned instances of scanning in Other M have been replaced with badass.

[Via 1UP]

With all the rapid-fire 3D action, Metroid: Other M may not look anything like any Metroid we've seen before, but according to Reggie Fils-Aime, it's a return to a more familiar Metroid style. "A year ago, someone could have asked me, what's going on with Metroid?" Fils-Aime told GameSpot. "When are we going to go back to the more traditional Metroid series versus the path that we went down with Prime? Here's the answer: Other M." The more traditional series -- with a "harder edge," according to Fils-Aime.

Reggie would like Other M to sell a bit more than the traditional Metroid game, however. "Metroid, for us, is a key franchise. And, in our view, really, since the SNES Metroid, we haven't broken through in terms of 1.5, two million units, and that's our bar," he said. He also told GameSpot that he's beginning to hear feedback from other companies, hoping to work with Nintendo in the same way Team Ninja is on Other M.

Gallery: Metroid: Other M (Wii)

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[Via The Escapist]