Instead of the bold, fearsome ninja hero we saw in the first games, we get a conflicted, confused ninja that raises kids and feels remorse for killing villains. He entertains a love interest and her daughter, even taking a role as a father figure for the young girl and emotionally connecting to her. Yes, master ninja Ryu Hayabusa is sad because someone called him a name. In this game, someone calls Ryu a murderer and that makes him quite sad. There was nothing to say regardless of what was said, the player still needed to end up bloodily killing dozens of foes. In the past NG games, this fact wasn’t only apparent but it was emphasized. He may be murdering for the greater good, but he’s a murderer none the less. However, the way the game tries (and fails) to humanize Ryu does the series a great disservice.
The team has clearly put more time and thought into the narrative this time around than in past games. I found the story in the game to be moderately entertaining. As he battles to stop said villain from completing a plan to destroy and recreate the world, he must also battle himself as his body starts to suffer from the effects of the curse. Protagonist Ryu is cursed by a masked villain, with a curse that infects his body with the hatred and anguish of the countless souls Ryu’s Dragon Sword has absorbed. The story in Ninja Gaiden 3 takes itself more seriously than in any of the past games. Ninja Gaiden 3 fancies itself a series reboot, but it has so little in common with past games that it would probably have made more sense to present it as a new franchise altogether. And after they did, there would be no turning back. Because even though I was giving them the benefit of the doubt, I knew that there was still the possibility that, with the rightful lead designer gone, they would ruin the Ninja Gaiden series. Yet as I booted up the game for the first time, my nerves were racing. I convinced myself that because Itagaki was gone, Team Ninja would have no choice but to tread carefully with such a prized franchise, reboot or not. Sure Itagaki demanded all of the credit and attention for Ninja Gaiden and Ninja Gaiden 2, but he didn’t craft those games single-handedly. Yet, against my own better judgement, I convinced myself to trust Yosuke Hayashi and the new Team Ninja to make it phenomenal. Team Ninja had clearly outlined several things they would be removing/adding well before the game’s release, so I knew the game would be more than a bit different from past installments. I was nervous because I had heard so much about the game. Upon booting up Ninja Gaiden 3, my nerves began to race uncontrollably.
0 kommentar(er)
