Ninja Gaiden 3 - Xbox 360

Ninja Gaiden 3 Review: Ryu's Lackluster Return

Dan Ryckert — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:00:00 GMT

Fans of Ryu Hayabusa’s last two adventures can’t be blamed if they approach Ninja Gaiden 3 with a certain amount of skepticism. It’s the first of the modern entries in the series that Tomonobu Itagaki hasn’t been involved with. Moving away from the series’ trademark difficulty, it promises to be more friendly to newcomers. It nixes decapitations and severed limbs in favor of general blade wounds. Many of the decisions made during Ninja Gaiden 3’s development have raised the eyebrows of fans, and the end product is a mixed bag as a result.

The first two 3D games in the series required razor-sharp reflexes, a healthy knowledge of useful combos, and the patience to endure countless deaths. Casual action fans understandably had issues completing these games, and Team Ninja has made good on its promise to make this sequel more newcomer-friendly. Hero mode is a new setting that turns Ryu into an invincible dynamo once his health meter gets low. As I type this, I’m watching the ninja auto-evade grenades and blocking bullets with his sword while my controller sits untouched on my desk. This has been going on for a good 30 minutes, and there is no indication that Ryu can or will ever die.

While hero mode is optional, general dumbed-down difficulty isn’t confined to that setting. I played through the entire story mode on the default difficulty level, which was nothing short of punishing in the past. Back then, you’d get killed by new enemies a few times over before you started recognizing their patterns. In Ninja Gaiden 3, you’re usually safe as long as you keep mashing the attack buttons and utilizing your screen-clearing dragon ninpo.

It may be the easiest experience of the series, but that didn’t keep me from dying a few times. As the game progresses, enemies do require a bit more strategy (while remaining simpler than the standard enemies from the past). Despite this, you’re unlikely to die much as long as you utilize the helpful new slide technique when foes telegraph attacks. Boss fights may not be on the level of the previous panic-inducing battles, but they’re still absurd enough to be entertaining. One encounter with the world’s dumbest T-Rex stands out as especially memorable.

Combat isn’t the only thing that’s streamlined. Previous games featured a large assortment of collectibles, secrets, and upgradeable weapons. Ninja Gaiden 3 features one non-upgradeable sword (although two free DLC weapons are available), no currency system, and no collectibles. That satisfying feeling of leveling up your sword after saving up several levels’ worth of orbs is gone, and it’s a definite detriment to the experience.

Prior to release, Team Ninja was fond of mentioning Ninja Gaiden 3’s new focus on story. Don’t let this fool you into thinking it’s any less convoluted or asinine than previous games in the series, however. What’s pitched as a dive into the character and ethics of the murderous ninja is filled with the same cardboard characters, nonsensical backstabbings, and atrocious dialogue.

In a somewhat surprising move, Ninja Gaiden 3 also includes a multiplayer component. You won’t be playing cooperatively during the campaign, but an assortment of trial missions can be completed either solo or with a friend. These bare-boned trials feel more like challenge rooms than actual missions, but they might extend your play time if you’re looking for more after the story.

Clan battles are Team Ninja’s attempt at competitive multiplayer. In these, two teams of four ninjas face off across three maps. Basic unlocks will become available as you rank up, granting you new moves, costume pieces, and more space in your shuriken/arrow inventory. It’s nowhere near the level of customization that a multiplayer experience like Call of Duty offers, but it may keep fans gunning for that next unlock. Unfortunately, the actual multiplayer gameplay leaves much to be desired. Shurikens and bows feel like they barely do any damage, and it’s difficult to hit fast-moving opponents with the aiming controls for the ninpo attack. This means that most battles boil down to basic “run at the other guy, then mash buttons to hopefully kill him first” gameplay.

Ninja Gaiden 3 is not a complete train wreck, but it does suffer from a multitude of problems. The action can be fast-paced and engaging at times, but many design decisions significantly bring down the experience. Dumbed-down A.I., a limited arsenal, the series’ notoriously difficult camera, no inventory/currency system, and an incoherent story combine to make this the most disappointing title in the series.

Ryu Brings On The Pain In Ninja Gaiden 3 Launch Trailer

Jeff Marchiafava — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:28:00 GMT

Ryu Hayabusa is no stranger to killing. In past games, he popped the heads off of ninjas like they were dandelions and danced in the ensuing blood geysers like they were spring showers. But how does that make Hayabusa feel? That's the question the Ninja Gaiden 3 launch trailer poses, which is a direction we definitely weren't expecting the series to go.

I'll be honest, I don't play a Ninja Gaiden game for exposition. The only thing I expect Hayabusa to feel after cutting down one of his enemies is wet from the back-spray of severed arteries. But I can't blame Yosuke Hayashi for trying to grow the series beyond its ultra-difficult hack and slash roots, so maybe he's on to something. See for yourself in the trailer below.

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Ninja Gaiden 3 will be available on March 20. In the meantime, check out these screens of the game, which prove there's still plenty of bloodletting to be had.

New Ninja Gaiden 3 Screens Full Of Blood And Ninjas

Kyle Hilliard — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:21:29 GMT

The Ninja Gaiden series has never been one to shy away from violence, and Ryu's third adventure looks to be no different. This installment will, however, allow Ryu to spare the lives of his attackers if he so decides. Team Ninja wants to humanize Ryu more than he has been in the past with Ninja Gaiden 3, but there is still going to be a lot of blood.

The latest screens offer some insight into Ryu's cursed arm, which causes him more pain and agony the more he kills. The images are from levels that take place in Dubai as Ryu fights new enemies, the Alchemist Forces.

Ninja Gaiden 3 is set for release on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 early next year. A Wii U version is planned, but no release date has been announced.

Ninja Gaiden 3 To Be Heavy On Story, More Accessible For Casual Gamers

Dan Ryckert — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 06:07:00 GMT

Last month, Team Ninja explained at Gamescom that Ninja Gaiden 3 wouldn't include any decapitations. While they dismissed it with a "We don't think people want to see that anymore" comment, we're learning more about the game that explains the decision. We spoke with Team Ninja lead Yosuke Hayashi, and he elaborated on the game's theme of consequence.

"Sometimes you have to do bad things to do good things," explained Hayashi. Ryu has killed untold numbers of enemies, and the upcoming sequel wants to put across the fact that these people are humans, not faceless soldiers. The new "Consequence" trailer, seen below, illustrates Team Ninja's intent by showing a soldier pleading for his life before being cut down by Ryu.

Cutscenes aren't the only time Team Ninja will try to humanize opponents, as your foes in-game react differently than the typical sword fodder from previous entries. Soldiers will become scared after witnessing Ryu wreaking havoc, especially after flashy attacks like his new dragon ninpo. They'll crawl away from the ninja, pleading for their lives. With a focus on making players feel like their fallen foes are humans, cartoonish decapitations and fountains of blood may take the player away from the intended realism. Fans shouldn't worry about a lack of violence in the game, however, as I witnessed gallons of blood throughout the TGS demo.

A mysterious alchemist known as The Regent of the Mask places a curse on our protagonist at the outset of the game, and Ryu's arm begins carrying the burden of all the death he's caused. The nature of the curse wasn't elaborated upon, but it will impact the story as well as the gameplay.

Even early on, it seems that Ninja Gaiden 3 will have a more focused story than the scattershot narratives of the past two games. Team Ninja wants to make sure that players experience the story, even if they're not skilled enough as gamers to tackle the series' notorious difficulty. Because of this, they're incorporating two different play styles - Hero and Ninja.

Ninja style will feel familiar to fans of the series, requiring players to evade, block, and attack with precise timing. For players that lack the necessary reflexes, Hero mode will auto-block and auto-evade. Hayashi explained to me that this isn't a one-button automatic mode like the one seen in Bayonetta, however. Intricate combos will still be in Ryu's arsenal, but enemy attacks won't require any defensive maneuvering on the player's fault. In fact, Hayashi still hasn't decided if he wants it to be possible for the player to die when they're using that play style. "As for whether players will ever see a Game Over screen [when using Hero mode], we haven't decided yet," the producer stated.

Playing Ninja Gaiden without the risk of dying is a concept new to the series, especially considering its legendary difficulty throughout the years. It's this difficulty that led to the introduction of Hero mode, however. Hayashi explained that some players like the hardcore difficulty dating back to the NES entries, and their gaming skill have kept up throughout the years. Others were turned off by the difficulty and quit, or returned to the series years later to find they didn't have the necessary reflexes any more. Ninja and Hero mode is the result of this split in gaming ability, and Team Ninja hopes it will cause Ninja Gaiden 3 to appeal to both new and old fans of the franchise.

On top of the story-heavy single player campaign, Ninja Gaiden 3 will also include cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes. Two players can team up to take on enemies in specific co-op missions (separate from the campaign), and up to eight players can take each other on in competitive team battles. The theme of multiplayer will be "world of ninjas," featuring players starting as grunt ninjas and working their way up the ladder by advancing their skills. New costumes and weapons can be acquired, with an objective of becoming as skilled a ninja as Ryu himself. Hayashi promises unique "ninja-like" spins on multiplayer, but said we'll learn more in the coming months.

When Ninja Gaiden 3 releases early next year, it's a safe bet that hardcore fans of the series will cry foul at the Hero style. However, Team Ninja promises that the game will still be just as hard as the hardcore fans expect if they prefer it that way. Either way, it should be interesting to see the developer's attempt to humanize enemies in a franchise long-known for its wanton violence and death.

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New Ninja Gaiden 3 Shots Are Surprisingly Tame

Dan Ryckert — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 04:42:12 GMT

We're used to seeing fountains of blood, severed limbs, and scores of dead bodies whenever we see a shot of Ninja Gaiden, but these new screens from Ninja Gaiden 3 are downright tame by the series' standards.

Check out the gallery below to see several of the game's new characters.

Ryu Returns In Blood-Soaked Ninja Gaiden 3

Dan Ryckert — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:37:00 GMT

It’s been a few years since Ryu Hayabasa sliced up his opponents in an all-new adventure, and my time with Ninja Gaiden 3 proved that it’ll be the most violent entry yet. While it remained mostly in line with the fast-paced slicing and dicing of the last two games, an assortment of minor changes and additions should be intriguing to fans of the series.

One of the game’s central themes is the burden and consequences of killing. Ryu’s past is covered through flashbacks, and the guilt over his murders has manifested in the form of a cursed, veiny arm. This arm starts glowing red as you kill more enemies, and it can unleash a massive Ultimate Attack that will kill several enemies in the surrounding area.

To maximize the gore, some attacks will cause the camera to zoom in dramatically and slow down the action. As you see the blade start slicing through your enemy, you can press square again to completely tear him apart with added force. Cut-up enemies will stagger around or even crawl along the ground, bleeding profusely. Seeing numerous enemies groaning and spilling blood all over the area after a fight does a pretty good job of selling Ryu’s badassery.

Getting around the world of Ninja Gaiden 3 feels new at times thanks to new mechanics. Ryu loves standing on tall things and staring into the distance, and now you can pilot him in mid-air when he eventually jumps off of them. Sometimes you’ll have to dodge missiles during your descent, and these flights often end with a murderous drop on an opponent. The new Kunai climb ability also allows Ryu to climb walls using his knives and alternating presses of the L1 and R1 buttons.

My demo ended with a boss fight against a giant four-legged robot. Like many boss fights in the series, this scene was filled with explosions and required Ryu to sneak in some quick combos during his enemy’s downtime. It didn’t feel particularly new, but it still managed to be fun. Time will tell if Ninja Gaiden 3 includes enough new features and mechanics to make it feel like a significantly different experience than its predecessors.