I’m very particular about my action games.  It’s my favorite genre and for a clinically-diagnosed ADHD gamer like myself, I need my actioners to be constantly engaging.  From Software’s 360-exclusvie Ninja Blade piqued my interest when I first heard about it and I recently completed a run-through.  here are my hack n’ slash junkie thoughts.

Is it worth checking out for like-minded chop-socky aficiandos.  ?  Short answer: hai-yeah!

Steve’s review reflects much of the same sentiment I have for Ninja Blade.  As an action title, it held my attention and the gameplay was varied enough to keep things from getting tedious.  Essentially there are three elements at work here: traditional button-mashing melee combat, on-rails shooting and the infamous Quick Time Event.  All three work well because the game doesn’t milk each section to death.  You might start off a stage opening fire on flying demons with a machine gun, then you’re into a brief QTE event then you’re on the ground hacking bad guys to death with your swords.  The balance worked, but if I had to choose one aspect to be given more screentime it would be the combat, but that’s just how I roll.

Now this is no Ninja Gaiden 2, thought the influence are undeniable: demonic antagonists, wall-running, magic ninjitsu, even some of the bosses are familiar (the blast mite will have you flashing back to those diabolical explosive aardvark bastards).  NG2 still stands as the pinnacle of third-person action gaming to me so it’s not a huge knock on Ninja Blade to say its combat doesn’t measure up, but it is satisfying and the unlockable moves are fun (love the killer snowboard maneuver).

Though there is one notable thing that From’s ninja saga has going for it that NG2 doesn’t: I never felt like the game wanted to punish me.  The masochism of Ninja Gaiden is world-renowned and, arguably one of its selling points, but with Ninja Blade, you don’t have to worry about punishing difficulty.  Screw up a QTE?  The scene rewinds and you give it another shot.  Checkpoints are frequent and if you die during one of the many, many, many boss fights, you return with full health.  I always felt like the game was in my corner, whereas with Ninja Gaiden 2, I thought the game wouldn’t be satisfied with just laughing at my frequent demise but would also like to hunt down my parents and make them pay for my hand-eye-coordination shortcomings.

The QTEs are many, but I had a great time with them.  Less like God of War and more like Dragon’s Lair or Space Ace, these bits were essentially interactive, kick-ass cinematics that were a blast to watch.  When a boss’s energy is depleted, Ken (the sort-of dorky Ninja Blade protagonist) launches into a ridiculous, over-the-top fatality sequence powered by QTEs.

Once you complete the game–an eight-hour affair or so on normal–you get some moderate replayability with new weapon upgrades, character customizations and collectibles.   You can also choose specific missions to replay, a feature I have long wanted to see in Ninja Gaiden 2.

Anywho, if you’re a fan of third-person action, ninja or otherwise, I recommend Ninja Blade.   It’s a fun time.

Pro-Tips

1.  For added glee, outfit Ken in the goofy “clown” suit.  Seeing him in the dramatic cutscenes while wearing a flamboyant one-piece is high-larious.

2.  For melee weapons, the giant sword can’t be beat.  Your enemies will detonate on usually one hit.

3.  Ninjitsu of choice: the wind shurkien (good damage and an enemy clear-out)  followed by the fire shuriken (great against bosses).  Lightning shuriken blows.

The Verdict

Not Guilty (A, A, A, A, A)