This November sees Nintendo publish a Wii U reimagining of Tecmo-Koei’s Ninja Gaiden 3. A game which upon its release received a lot of negative reviews and very little sales.Why is Nintendo publishing this title you ask? Well Tecmo-Koei have attempted to right the original games wrongs. Head inside to see what has changed…
Ninja Gaiden II (PS3, 360) sold a combined world-wide total of 1.67m units with a Metacritic rating of 82% however the original release didn’t achieve anything like it. Ninja Gaiden 3 (PS3, 360) only managed an embarrasing 0.31m units world-wide and was maligned with the average rating of 58%.
Game-Play
- Includes dismemberment
- This leaves enemies crippled and open to instant-kills called Obliteration Techniques.
- These dismembered enemies will try to sacrifice themselves by blowing up and taking you out with them
- Ninpo is still earned through combat and can keep your Ninpo charge between encounters
- Bosses have life gauges now
- There was less slowdown in the most current demo build when compared to the 360/PS3 release
- Loading times are still quite long
Combat
- Obliterations are initiated with the heavy attack button near a crippled enemy
- Light attacks no longer initiate obliterations
- Steel-on-Bone has been re-implemented specifically as a grab-counter
- When enemies attempt to grab Ryu or Ayane, they will be surrounded by a red aura
- Striking an enemy with a heavy attack when they’re glowing red will result in the steel-on-bone finisher
- Steel-on-bone attacks can still be chained from enemy to enemy
- Ryu’s recovery has been shortened greatly
- This makes it easier to cancel into a dodge or block
- Enemies are more aggressive and some have access to new moves
- Combat has been redesigned
- Enemies have more stagger animations
- Both playable characters now have a universal grab
- Charge attacks are extremely fast
Weapons
- The six weapons available to Ryu in Razor’s Edge are there right from the get-go
- These weapons are claws, scythe, dual katanas, staff, and one yet to be revealed weapon
- Karma functions as both the point/ranking system and currency
- Collectible items have been reintroduced
- Golden Scarabs from the original Ninja Gaiden and Crystal Skulls from Ninja Gaiden 2 are strewn about each stage
- These can be collected for an instant Karma bonus
- Use Karma currency to purchase upgrades for weapons and magic (Ninpo)
- You can also buy unique combat abilities and even in-game costumes
- “Cicada Surge” teleportation ability has been revamped
- “Four Rings” is a 360º shuriken attack that stuns enemies surrounding Ryu
- This move can be thrown into combos as well
- Ultimate Techniques can be used even when Ryu/Ayane’s weapons aren’t glowing red
- This is done by holding down and charging a heavy attack
- Ultimate Techniques have two charge levels once again
Ayane
- Ayane has her own missions, weapons, ability upgrades and costumes
- One mission takes place in Paris, France,
- You’ll be running errands for Mizuki McCloud and the Japanese Special Defense Forces
- Weapons include a kodaichi (short katana) and explosive kunai from Sigma 2
- There are also Obliteration Techniques and steel-on-bone attacks
- Ayane’s moves are quick but hard to chain due to their short range
- Ayane possesses her “Raging Mountain God” Ninpo as well
- This spell has three levels, with each one increasing its damage and range
Ryu
- Ryu is transported to an ethereal mental arena when the “Grip” gets ahold
- When in this state, Ryu’s health will deplete rapidly
- The game will throw waves of enemies at you
- Every enemy killed restores some of Ryu’s health
What do you think? Is this game worthy of your time? Ninja G
