Bleeding Edge Is a Disappointing Departure for Ninja Theory

"As a leak from earlier this week suggested, Microsoft announced Ninja Theory’s newest game. That project is Bleeding Edge, and it could hardly be further from what the team’s die-hard fans are hoping to see."

[PhoenixUp]

“Fans may not appreciate that the studio is exploring the multiplayer realm with this 4-vs-4 brawler. Nevertheless, for such a studio’s first post-acquisition announcement to be a multiplayer project is disappointing.”

The first game Ninja Theory even made, which incidentally was an Xbox exclusive, was a multiplayer game when they were known as Just Add Monsters. I really loved Kung Fu Chaos a lot. It’s been 16 years since they made a multiplayer game(Disney Infinity doesn’t count).

Ninja Theory returning to the multiplayer realm shouldn’t be looked down upon. A game should be judged by its individual merit.

[UltraNova]

In my eyes NT was a beacon for quality SP games with great gameplay and story (DMC, Hellblade etc) for the majority of their existence. Going from that to an Overwatch me-too game is what people, including me find dissapointing. Surely you can see that.

That said, I hope being under MS now affords them a big expansion that will allow simultaneous project development. My hope is that a second team is working on something closer to what people have come to expect from them.

[conanlifts]

As pointed out this is one of many projects. It was in development at the same time as Hellblade. 20 staff members were making Hellblade, Others were making this. We will see more from them next e3, most likely with a game by the Hellblade team.

[gamer7804]

It was already announced that the second team is working on a bigger game, this is just something on the side they have worked on for three years

[TK-66]

"In my eyes NT was a beacon for quality SP games with great gameplay and story (DMC, Hellblade etc) for the majority of their existence."

Okay stop. You just called their DMC game great? Imagine you're playing God of War 4 and an enemy goes to swing at you. Do you dodge or block it? Or if you're playing with DMC mechanics do you move the camera off the enemy to stop the attack? Just want to clarify that enemies that are out of sight will not attack you in Ninja Theory's DMC game. I could repeatedly stun lock enemies in this game effortlessly and position myself to be un-hittable by simply moving enemies beginning an attack by just snapping the camera off them for milliseconds and on occasion it actually broke the enemies and they would no longer attack or even follow my movement.

I know everyone wants to pretend it was just hated because of the new design and dialogue (which are mostly valid criticisms) but it actually had huge problems in it's gameplay and everyone who says otherwise did not thoroughly play the game and is making an uneducated opinion.

I find it funny that a studio that repeatedly struggled to get a game to sell well is a beacon for quality SP games. Why were none of us buying these spectacular games? I actually watched a video the other day that said MS should've pulled Ninja Theory aside and said "Yeah sorry you're not making that game" which just amazed me because I thought we were all for publishers giving developers freedom.

Ninja Theory is a good studio but they've only made one exceptional game so far. I'm actually interested in Bleeding Edge so I look forward to the possibility of getting in on the technical test they have planned.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

"I hope being under MS now affords them a big expansion that will allow simultaneous project development. "

You weren't paying attention at all Ninja Theory literally said that on MS stage. They have other projects in the making but this B.E was something they had going for a while. They heavily hinted they weren't straying away from SP experiences overall. MS would look like total jerks if they ripped their game to shreds to make something else.

[UltraNova]

@angelic

Look I heard them man, but when your first game under MS's wing is a MP game no one asked for (a format that people are tired off jo less) it makes a statement on where your priorities lie, a statement people who know NT dont like. That's what I took from their reveal.

[darthv72]

@nova, Why do you keep assuming this is the first game under MS's wing? It isnt because it is one they were working on before talks even began involving MS. Their first game "under MS wing" will be something else.

And maybe you arent into MP games but others are so its naive to even state "a MP game no one asked for" when you can really only speak for yourself. you don't speak for me or anybody else who may find this appealing. Personally I love the MP games that dont take themselves to seriously. Those are getting tired and played out, these are just looking like mindless fun.

Enslaved is one I hope they make a return to. Same with Heavenly Sword, unless Sony retained the rights to the IP.

[PhoenixUp]

The fact that this game is melee based means it’s more like Anarchy Reigns than anything else. And just like how Platinum made that multiplayer game, every dev should be allowed to move outside their comfort area once in a while.

Plus it’s not like Ninja Theory is never going to make another narrative based game in the future.

[UltraNova]

"Plus it’s not like Ninja Theory is never going to make another narrative based game in the future."

They are under MS's rule now so that may very well be the case. I hope not.

[PhoenixUp]

It may be, but we’ll never know until after seeing Ninja Theory’s next few games

[Lilrizky]

im not disappointed that it's a MP game on its own. It's the fact that NT was at the top of its game with Hellblade and it kind of filled a gap within Microsoft's lineup which is filled to the brim with MP centric games.

Ninja Theory's next game with the level of $$$ microsoft can invest could produce something along the lines of their own God of War.

That is why it's disappointing to me. I'm sure they could make a great MP game, but that's not what I want or expect, and judging from what I've read and heard from others, it's not the game they want either.

These hero type arena games with popping colours are also over saturated in the market. NT have been known to do some pretty defining IP. I think this might be forgotten in a similar way Elvolve, battleborn, lawbreakers etc did.

Having said that, I still think they are working on something bigger. This was either the remnants of another project b4 microsoft bought them out that may have changed when they came in OR a quick project put together to fill in xbox's library while they work away at a larger game.

[darthv72]

They said on stage that this is one they were working on even before MS became interested. And they also said this is one of two projects they are working on.

[rainslacker]

What they started off as is wholly different than what they've become known for. Fans of their games, and the studio, are fans because of what games they've put out, and while some may be willing to support them with a new style of game, it's still going to be disappointing to those who want games more like they expect from the studio.

It's fine for them to try new things, but it doesn't mean that people have to support it if they don't like it. I don't think they should disparage against the studio, because every dev deserve the right to try new things, but people have the right to express their opinion.

As far as a games individual merits, I agree. But, most people seem more upset it's not the kind of game they were hoping for, and that it's in a genre which already sees copious releases from many other developers. If they bring something unique, that's great, but they haven't shown that they are doing that yet.

[StrangerX]

You're right, I was just about to say the same thing and it's a game genre that they Excell well. Don't know why but this game makes me think of Arms for the Nintendo switch and that gets me interested. Time will tell!

[Saranya]

It was Disappointed for hater. nuff said.

[No Way]

Kung Fu Chaos was brilliant. I have some great memories with that game.. fantastic fun game.
What's disappointing is everyone bashing a game they know little about. It's a game they wanted to create (and apparently are working on another title, too...) and MS is letting them create what they want. I don't see the problem here. I'll definitely give it a go.

Multiplayer may not be everyones cup of tea - and that's okay - but why even show up to put it down? If teams were to stick to "what they know" we would never have had a Horizon game. Let the creators create..

[Christopher]

If they're doing this now while working on something more up my lane, I'm fine with that. Not everything needs to be for me and it's not like I'm not already drowning in potential games that I'm going to love next year (Bloodlines, Cyberpunk, BG3, etc.).

[Nitrowolf2]

yeah I wouldn't mind if they were working on another project while doing this, and I'm sure they are.

Its just one of those things though, where people joke about Microsoft buying studios and making them do multiplayer games, but this ended happening here. Though that goes without saying that Ninja Theory has made MP games in the past.

It doesnt look like my cup of tea, but we will see how it turns out in the end

[EDKICK]

It sounds like the guy who did the combat design for DMC is leading this and the team who did Hellblade is doing something else.

[gamer7804]

They are they announced that before the show and at the show before showing the game that a second team is working on a bigger game

[Kribwalker]

“I’ll say it again, Bleeding Edge is a small arena style game from a smaller team at Ninja Theory. This is not from the Hellblade team, their next game is years out.”

https://mobile.twitter.com/...

it’s really all but confirmed. multiple people have stated similar things, and Dealer Gamer is a pretty big youtuber

What i find funny is people still trying to say it’s because MS bought them, even though they said on stage they were making it before

[Jin_Sakai]

@Kribwalker

“What i find funny is people still trying to say it’s because MS bought them, even though they said on stage they were making it before“

More like Microsoft seen they were making a online MP game and decided to scoop them up.

[Lilrizky]

Nice, this is what I was hoping or believing had happened. For the record, I haven't seen those quotes but judging by what was shown and the timing, i had guessed it was a smaller team.

[Lilrizky]

Yeah I agree with this.

[ApocalypseShadow]

I just wonder if the company can come up with something other than the same play on word titles

Heavenly sword
Hell blade
Bleeding edge

The game may turn out fine to play. But what's with the sharp objects?

[C4rnos]

Well, this is just a theory, but Ninja's do love sharp objects.

[ApocalypseShadow]

True. That was funny.

[The Wood]

Lol. . .yes. . .sharp objects are definitely a ninja thing. . .

[PhantomS42]

is that your theory on the subject?

[PhoenixUp]

Well...

Kung Fu Chaos
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
DmC: Devil May Cry

They don’t always adhere to that

[The Wood]

It's just play. Nothing more

[ApocalypseShadow]

Was being facetious. Not to be taken seriously.

[Einhander1971]

Rubbish!!

[SkatterBrain]

ohh Forgot Microsoft Bought em ,theyre on a roll with 70s on metacritic with there bought studios, like DJ Khalid says Another 1

[TimmyTurnersDad]

too bad the game has been in development for over 4 years. (before Microsoft bought them) They even have multiple teams working on games. this was also stated during the reveal on stage. Please take the time to do some research before you try to talk shit and end up looking like a fool.

[BanginTunes777]

I like the idea of a 4v4 melee combat game, if it's like a multiplayer Devil May Cry or something then I'll be into it. Not really digging the aesthetic but I'll wait until some footage or the alpha is out or something before calling it bad

[SyntheticForm]

Even though it could end up being a solid game for what it's worth, and for those who enjoy this type of game, it's not what most people expected. Yes, it is disappointing, regardless of how it turns out.

[AK91]

I wont attack the studio for this, this is the game they wanted to make so let them but that being said as an SP guy it's not my thing so I'll be skipping this.

[Grown Folks Talk]

Dude literally said they were working on multiple projects which they would show later down the line. This isn't their only game.

[Mister_Wolf]

They came on and said they've been working on this title for a while. I'm sure this game has been in the oven prior to the MS buy out. Calm your tits people.

[81BX]

I thought the trailer looked great. Had a borderlands feel to it

[Knushwood Butt]

'Had a borderlands feel to it.'.

Now that you mention it..

[tontontam0]

This is probably the reason why they joined Ms, they wanted to try something else and if this game flops MS will take the blame and they'd go back to single player games and that would certainly generate a lot of hype.

[TimmyTurnersDad]

so your saying that nt planned this years ago................

[meep316]

I don’t know, it’s the kind of game I have to try myself. Luckily it’s on gamepass.

[DeadManMMX]

I agree this isn’t what I was looking for from them after Senuas Sacrifice but they did mention having multiple games in development. This is looking like more of a side project for them.

[Thundercat77]

At the conference there were many people over hyping everything and yet when this game was announced, you could feel the shock in the air.

[Ratchet75]

I thought Microsoft bought them to compete with Sony on the single player, story driven arena. What a let down. 😔😔😔

[InKnight7s]

What is wrong with NT. Their characters designs are so emo.

[Relientk77]

No interest in this, another great single player game from Ninja Theory though, that would draw my interest. Do what you're good at Ninja Theory.

[Gameseeker_Frampt]

This is Fuse all over again.

[CrimsonWing69]

I can’t agree with you more. This would be like expecting something grand from Naughty Dog and then seeing the unveil just be some 4 vs 4 arena fighter... it’s just not the game Xbox needed when Sony is coming out with The Last of Us 2, Death Stranding, Ghost of Tsushima, or the games they already have like God of War, Spider-Man, etc. I was really hoping Xbox was going to have a hardcore exclusive narrative driven game, but instead they just let Ninja Theory make a fighting game... great...

[MellauxGMNG]

I feel like when people don't see a "gritty, third-person single player game" they immediately right it off, as if that is the only type of game that can be good. Like damn, give the game a chance lol, we've seen a 1 minute trailer and still barely know anything about the game.

If im honest I think most of the hate is coming from the other camp, who wont even get to play the game anyway

[Phantom68]

Very much so. Not needed

[HighPlayer28]

I agree with this article 100%. This is a game Microsoft does not need right now they need more story driven rpgs. I dont care if they were working on it before joining they should of at least also developed a rpg along with it.