120°

Ninja Gaiden III - is aimed at the mainstream gamer

With Ninja Gaiden III arriving this week for all, it's clear the game isn't the same as its predecessors in terms of depth and unforgiving gameplay. Ninja Gaiden III is very much a mainstream game to suit our current times.

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Sanetoshi4416d ago

I can certainly see why they'd make the transition, though whether it succeeded in bringing in the expanded audience it wanted I'm not yet sure. Still, even if the transition is justified, that doesn't really negate the complaints. Like, I sympathize with the complaints even if I think Tecmo Koei shouldn't really listen to them.

dark-hollow4416d ago

And the mainstream gamers doesn't give a f**k about ninja gaiden.

Way to screw your original fans....

tehpees34416d ago

I understand why they would do it. A faithful fanbase is a nice thing to have since it gets instant sales in a certain category. But its a set category that it appeals to. In this case the hardcore fans that play the game to push their skills on it.

Expanding it to other gamers could generate more sales but counting out the people that love the game and dedicate their time to it seems a bit harsh. I'm wondering though because they said the difficulty wouldn't come down in this game.

BinaryMind4416d ago

The major appeal to Ninja Gaiden has always been its Hardcore focus. When Team Ninja decided to go entirely against what has always worked for the series, it was bound to blow up in their face. And the sales will show it.

bunt-custardly4416d ago

I would have liked to have hacked my enemies away limb by limb, but so long as that core gameplay for the most is intact, and I can still feel like bad ass ninja, then I'm game.

All I would expect is an optional Insane difficulty and achievement to compliment for those fans to showcase how bad ass they really are.

morganfell4416d ago

You do feel like a complete badass. Personally so far today I feel like more of a death machine than any other Ninja Gaiden game and I own and have played them all. All of them. However, I hate cutting someone 8-9 times and though the blood is flying and I have the sharpest blade in the history of swordsmanship, I can't remove a limb.

They also seem to have replaced the Izuna Drop with another move, equally wicked, or else my timing hasn't adjusted to the new mechanics. I picked up the strategy guide and haven't cracked it yet so I need to check out the techniques.

I love doing the Flying Swallow Technique and decapitating a guy in one shot. So far...not here. That said, the camera is completely unique and it feels a lot more violent than past titles and you are definitely more in the middle of matters.

The QTE complaints do not seem valid. I am playing on Hard - it seems I have to beat that to unlock a higher setting - and the QTEs pop up at first then are no longer there after a use or two. The only cases are a few incidents - the second time I jumped from a ledge in London - after the first silent kill - the dodge QTE shows up again along with the aerial kill. Light attack often appears when you have a blade buried in someone and are pull cutting though this too has disappeared now and I simply perform the move without prompt.

After a use or two it seems as if instructions are only appearing if I ignored them. For example rather than deflecting some shots I was just Wind Running and dodging and it kept reminding me to use L1 to block. That's not a QTE, just a mechanic instruction. On hard those rocket launcher guys are showing up 3 - 4 at a time and their rockets do no harm to their own guys.

RaidensRising4416d ago

The choices are probably pretty hard nosed. Either have no more Ninja Gaiden games or change them to be more welcoming. This is what's happened and it's the hardcore fans being most vocal and most upset.

NYC_Gamer4416d ago

Always knew NG3 would take a more casual approach since Itagaki left

ShaunCameron4416d ago

But where's the easy mode option? I'm watching a NG3 walkthrough and all I see are NORMAL, HARD, and HERO modes. It seems that the only thing casual about NG3 is it not being completely over-the-top.

Shivan4416d ago

this is what gamers want. globalization, making everything mainstream

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180°

What a New Ninja Gaiden Game Needs to Fix

Screen Rant Writes: Team Ninja knows fans want a new Ninja Gaiden game, but if Ryu Hayabusa is going to come back, there are some things that the series needs to fix.

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Melankolis1529d ago

- Better story, not that it has to be very deep though
- Better level design, on par or even exceed NG1
- Better enemies design, NG3's enemies design were boring and repetitive

TheRealHeisenberg1529d ago

Agreed and bring back the dodge roll. The dash was trash.

Melankolis1529d ago

Yep. I also prefer dodge roll than dash.

NapalmSanctuary1528d ago (Edited 1528d ago )

I'd say just re-add the dodge roll and have both but with different properties. As long as they made both tactically useful in their own ways, it could be really interesting.

Godmars2901529d ago

- No NG has had a good or deep story. Its best has only been about action and enemies.
- Likewise, level design was stages where you fought enemies, which said shallow story connected.
- NG3 utterly forgot that enemies where either trained and highly skilled psychotic killers, or literal demons who'd crack a baby's skull open for fun.

At this point Nioh and Shadows Die Twice have taken NG spot.

TheRealHeisenberg1528d ago

NG Black beats them both. Agree that NG3 was trash. Nioh and Shadows can occupy the spot until NG makes a triumphant return.

NapalmSanctuary1528d ago (Edited 1528d ago )

I take it you never played NG3: Razor's Edge. That game fixed the lack of difficulty. Maybe a little too well with how unfair some of the enemies and bosses were. Still not on par with the previous 2 games but miles ahead of the original NG3 release and well worth playing.

And whats this shit about story. Few action games come close to being on the same level of quality as NG 1&2 and having "good or deep story" didn't get them any closer to it. "Its best" sets it apart and far ahead of almost any other game in the genre except for DMC 3-5 and the Bayonetta series. NG 1&2, along with other games like Doom, prove how little story matters when you get the important aspect of a game (gameplay) right.

Not that Sekiro isn't a great game. The only thing that keeps it from standing shoulder to shoulder with NG 1&2 is its lack of weapon variety and its frame rate issues.

NapalmSanctuary1528d ago

I definitely prefer the Zelda-esque game progression. NG2 was still a great game though.

CorndogBurglar1528d ago

Don't give Ryu some crazy weakness that interrupts literally anything he is doing in order to do some BS animation of him wincing in pain! That garbage ruined NG3

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AK911529d ago

Bring back the difficulty of the first game both 3 and Yaiba (yes I played that POS game) had laughably easy difficulty that it wasn't even funny.

Thundercat771529d ago

With games like NiOh, I don't miss ninja Gaiden at all.

NapalmSanctuary1528d ago

Completely different sub-genres, dude.

CorndogBurglar1528d ago

Nioh was totally different than Ninja Gaiden...

Hungryalpaca1528d ago

Might as well say “wish games like Forza I don’t miss Mario kart”

Asuka1529d ago

Bring back the difficulty.

NapalmSanctuary1528d ago

I want a Ninja Gaiden Black and Ninja Gaiden 2 remaster for all consoles/PC. Complete with peak difficulties intact and maybe some new weapons and outfits. The problem with the Sigma series was that 1) they removed most of the puzzle elements 2) they nerfed the difficulty and 3) they seriously reduced the number of enemies on screen at a time in many places.

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110°

The History of Ninja Gaiden: The Resurrection

In the conclusion to a three part series, CV takes a look at the most recent Ninja Gaiden games, for better and for worse.

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culturedvultures.com
spicelicka1582d ago

They need to make a true sequel to Ninja Gaiden 2, that was the most satisfying combat I've experienced in a hack n slash game.

micdagoat191582d ago

been playing 1&2 on and off since they were released. I usually will play until I get frustrated then take another year off lol. Nver tried 3 or the 4th one even though they are in my backlog.

Domestupidname1582d ago

I tried to go back to Sigma but good god those controls are just insufferable. Couldn't do it.

210°

Fatality: Games That Killed Their Franchises (Or At Least Put Them On A Long Hiatus)

Phil writes, "Sometimes all it takes is one game to make a long-running or promising franchise become dead in the water, maligned to irrelevancy and just a memory in the annals of gaming history. It's a dog-eat-dog industry where it doesn't matter if the franchise has been around for ages or for milliseconds--just one or two failures and you're done. That's the case with these franchises, all of which I'm sad to see are currently nowhere to be found. Whether any of these will return for a kick-ass comeback or not is up in the air, but what is known is that for many, these franchises met truly unfortunate ends."

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superphillipcentral.com
PiNkFaIrYbOi2116d ago

For Tony Hawk's Pro Skater really the first 3 were really the only good ones. After that they sort of went downhill.

Skull5212116d ago

Biggest shame I think is SOCOM. Easily Sony’s best franchise by a long shot and they just let it die.

BlackIceJoe2116d ago

I was going to say SOCOM too. That was one of the best strategy games on the market and then Sony turned it Into a normal shooter.

Dabigsiebowski2115d ago

I thought Underground was pretty good

Segata2116d ago

Klonoa was great but released at a bad time on just 1 system with no marketing. Razors Edge fixed many issues with NG3 vanilla and is a guilty pleasure. Another one that killed a franchise is Lost Planet 3. The better game was Japan only in EX Troopers on PS3. I also would say Marvel vs Capcom Infinite killed the series. I know it's less than a year old but the writing is on the wall. Silent Hill series as soon as Konami gave it to western devs and also made mobile spinoffs.

CorndogBurglar2116d ago (Edited 2116d ago )

With all the licensing effort it takes to make an MvC game you are probably right.

Which sucks because people love MvC. Bad decisions were made with the last one, that's all. But I guarantee if they made a new MvC and put a good roster in with 3 man teams and no easy mode combos then people would go right back to it.

Unfortunately, most companies won't be willing to make another sequel as soon as the latest title flops. Even though MvC Infinite wouldn't have flopped if they had just made different decisions.

81BX2116d ago

Nice try buddy. Then why have they made 1,000,000,000,000,000. Games? Cod has never gotten it wrong...over and over and over.

FPS_D3TH2116d ago

Never gotten it wrong? I guess in terms of how to get kids to steal money out of parents wallets. It’s done plenty wrong lol

81BX2116d ago

Lol. Little money grabbers! I remember when paying for map packs was a big deal. Now we have to pay for everything. This is crazy

REDGUM2115d ago

It's all well and good saying COD sells well, which I don't deny, but that doesn't make it a good game. It merely means people want more of the same,game play, as you put it, over and over and over!

If it's so good, why are more people playing Battlefield 4 over the more current COD releases!

People impulse buy i recon, pre order a game before it's been shown to the public then just stick with it when it releases hoping for change!

I Find COD games much of the same with every release which is why I'd call id a dying franchise.
These kids will grow up soon and realise there's more out there than just corridor shooting games.

It's just an opinion afterall.

DialgaMarine2116d ago (Edited 2116d ago )

When has CoD died or gone on hiatus though? You may not like them, but tens of millions of people do, and buy it every year. People seriously need to shut up and leave that franchise alone. It’s not hurting anyone, and the whining is seriously getting old.

T2X2116d ago

I know right? Those games are always fun. At least IMO. The fun varies a bit depending on the location and theme, but overall, always pretty damn good.

81BX2116d ago (Edited 2116d ago )

Youre 100% wrong. They need to be called out just like every other company. That's why they returned to boots on ground. You let them treat you however they like... some of us chose to be treated how we like

DialgaMarine2115d ago

You say that as if I’m an avid CoD player. I don’t mind the series, but it’s definitely not my favorite. The bitching, however, was old back in 2010. 99% of people that do it only do so because they see others doing it. You don’t like CoD? Play something else. It’s not supposed to cater to fans of other franchises.

MWH2116d ago

I love Klonoa, there's always hope for a new game.

Pickledpepper2116d ago

I loved the dead space 1+2 hated 3. Played through them so many times but found number 3 such a bore to get through, really hope they pick this back up.

PowerOfTheCloud2116d ago (Edited 2116d ago )

Dead space 1 is imo unrivaled when it comes to horror games and part 2 was already kind of a let down by still good. I didn't even play part 3 because i didn't like the direction that game went.

Wish they will reboot dead space one day .

Pickledpepper2116d ago

I totally agree with you on that, dead space 1 was the pinnacle of survival horror and dead space 2 was still a great game, I have all achievements for 1 and 2 and both games still hold up well against modern games, 3 was a complete let down I did finish it just for satisfaction but had no fun from the game at all, found it very boring to say the least.

CorndogBurglar2116d ago

For me, the only reason Dead Space 2 wasn't as good as the original is because it wasn't new anymore. But when you think about it, DS2 was still just as good of a horror game. DS1 was so good because everything you came across was new and terrifying.

I remember the feeling the first time I played DS1. No other game, before or since, has given me that feeling that something is going to jump out and attack with every footstep you took. Talk about great atmosphere and tension!

REDGUM2115d ago

and the Resistance games franchise!

Fist4achin2116d ago

Agreed, plus I didn't care for what they did to the weapons crafting system.

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