Summer Games Done Quick is well underway, so we've already been treated to a couple days worth of fantastic speedrunning feats. One of today's had TheRetroRunner taking on a Low% run of Ninja Gaiden on NES, and the fact that it nearl??y ended in defeat really showcases what makes these events special in the first place.

For those unfamiliar with the Low% category for Ninja Gaiden â€?I had never seen it before myself â€?it's essentially a sword-only run with some key restrictions. While it's okay if you pick up a few items by accident, you can't use t??hem on enemies and you can't pick up anything that automatically activates. That means no fire wheel, no time stopping, and no health potions. 

Thankfully, TheRetroRunner and others who run this category have plenty of tricks up their sleeves. Chief among them is the sword cancel technique, which lets you mash down and B in mid-air to execute slashes in rapid succession. Even with those tools at his disposal, though, the final halls of Ninja Gaiden provided cruel company. A few misplaced boosts left his health on the wrong end of the bar, and ??he soon succumbed to the third form of the game's final boss.

And then it happened again, and again, and, unfortunat??ely, again! 

Dance with the demon

TheRetroRunner's rapid-fire down+B slashes �for which he even had a cutting board on his lap to make things a little more stable �?made short work of both the Masked Devil and big bad Jaquio. Thus??, he went into the battle with the Demon Statue with plenty of confidence.

A single misstep ended Ryu's fight just as it was about to conclude, but TheRetroRunner and his couch were quick to hop back in with just a dash of disappoinment from the Runner himself. You only have to replay one stage and you end up right at the final form of the fight again, after all. As the following at??tempts failed in the same spot, though, his enthusiasm was wavering. The last couple of runs through the final stage were grueling. Nothing had changed in the game, of course, but the mood had certainly taken a turn.

It was rough enough that TheRetroRunner was re??ady to call?? it quits. He questioned whether or not the folks behind GDQ wanted him to go on, as he was fast approaching his estimate, which could affect the overall schedule. That's where the runner's couch and the GDQ attendees and viewers came into play. TheRetroRunner was on the cusp of victory but needed that extra push, and he got it every time. 

The jaws of defeat

After some thorough encouragement, TheRetroRunner eventually made it through to the end while strictly adhering to the Low% rules established from the sta??rt. No one would have blamed him for putting the controller down after a handful of last-minute losses, but that's the beauty of Games Done Quick and other similarly positive and welcoming events. Victory wasn't guaranteed, but there's always room for improvement in the next attempt. 

It's easy to get caught up in the virtual acrobatics associated with marathon speedrunning. There's nothing like watching a flawless run that pushes a game beyond its boundaries. TheRetroRunner's sword-only dash through Ninja Gaiden reminded me of what really makes th?ese events special, though. The downs can have just as much impact as the ups, and it's a?? good reminder that these runners are really doing it live and trying their best in front of thousands of viewers who are donating money to a good cause in exchange for some well-rehearsed entertainment. 

I'm pumped that there's still almost a full week of Summer Games Done Quick to go. I'll be looking forward to the next mind-blowing, potentially record-breaking run on the packed schedule. I'll also be keeping an eye out for the speedruns that aren't quit?e so clean. Let's cheer them all on for good measure. 

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It's easy to forget in today's franchise-driven world populated with sequels and spin-offs how many great series have fallen by the wayside. Many once-glorious game series fizzle out because of unexpected financial outcomes or because the newer entries jus??t didn't draw the attention of fans.

But some franchises seemingly have an eternal wellspring of hope for more. Whether it's a series that resonated with fans long after it mattered on a financial report or a cult favorite that's fallen by the wayside without a shepherding figure, these ga??mes deserved more and better. These dead gaming franchises have countle??ss fans desperately hoping for their return.

Wipeout

Ask anyone younger than 25 what the name Wipeout stands for, and they'll tell you it's a wacky live-action game show where regular people are forced to run on an obstacle course to avoid getting yeeted into a lake. The correct Wipeout is not only one of the best racing series of all time but also a ??generation-defining piece of art.

On top of beautifully dissing cars (or karts) in favor of ships that can blow up their opponents, Wipeout did Sci-Fi aesthetics better than any other game in existence. Even navigating the menus on any of the games in the series feels like visiting a museum of the future, thanks to the game's absolutely out-there art style and music picks �and we're talking about a series that began in the '90s. Even if we don't necessarily need a new Wipeout game, we need one ??that does what thi?s series did in the past.

Timesplitters

We miss Goldeneye 007, we miss the good times of Halo split-screen, and we didn't stop having those games because a better game kicked them off the throne to take their place. The kings just died of old age and left no heir to replace them?? because we just stopped getting great split-screen games.

Whereas the company behind Goldeneye changed completely and Halo made the awful decision of moving away from local multiplayer, the Timesplitters series just died. I'd love a new game in the series, even if the classic multiplayer mode had to be paired with some Fortnite-like Battle Royale mode. It's extremely sad that the best way to experience Timesplitters nowadays is by finding a fully-playable version of Timesplitters 2 inside a vastly inferior game.

Star Wars: Jedi Knight

You can argue that the Jedi series survives with Fallen Order and Survivor, but that statement might hurt anyone who grew up with Dark Forces 2: Jedi Knight and Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast. Even though it was obviously based on a very popular IP, the series told its own story and played unlike any other game in existence. The new games are good, but the inspiration that they take from the Souls series prevents them from achieving the uniqueness of the Star Wars games of long ago, and that's a big step down.

It's especially hard to accept that this series is over since it concluded with Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, a game that sold well and that many loyal fans play to this day. Raven Software has been a Call of Duty studio for years now, and is developing the upcoming Black Ops 6, but I can't help but feel like the company hit its peak when making Jedi Outcast. We might never get another game that so effortlessly combines the epic action of Star Wars, the competitive side of Quake, and the personal duels of the Souls series.

Chrono Series (Chrono Trigger, Cross)

While Chrono Cross was disowned by many fans for doing away with Chrono Trigger characters in a rather cold fashion, both games are at least connected by their undeniable quality. Squaresoft never released Chrono Cross outside of the NTSC zone, so I wasn't able to play? it until long after its release, and it still felt better to play than many of the PS3 games I was experiencing at the time.

If Square Enix doesn't want to bring back Chrono Cross because the plot brings back sad memories, then they can just make a direct sequel to Chrono Trigger. We live in the era of the multiverse, so you can just use that as an explanation for why you're throwing away Cross �though I doubt anyone would even care to ask why since they'd be too busy playing Chrono Trigger 2.

Ninja Gaiden

Ok, let's address the elephant in the room: Ninja Gaiden 3 was so bad that it's probably the primary reason they stopped making these, but it's not the only reason. Team Ninja noticed that the Souls series was getting popular, and they knew that they were good at making challenging games, so it did its own take on the Souls genre with Nioh.

I love Nioh, and, despite NG3 committing the worst crime a game in the Ninja Gaiden series could commit (allowing you to chill), the blueprint for great Ninja Gaiden games exists in Ninja Gaiden Black and Ninja Gaiden 2. This franchise could totally make a comeback as a high-difficulty, character-action-focused alternative to Soulslikes. It's been a while since the last truly great Ninja Gaiden game, and we're talking about a series that only got better with it??s previous re-invention. What are they waiting for?

Legacy Of Kain

Though the series' story got a satisfying conclusion with Legacy Of Kain: Defiance, fans know it could stand to get a new beginning. I'm stating this because we know Crystal Dynamics tried to continue t?he series thanks to a bun??ch of leaked videos of a sequel that looked absolutely amazing. Unfortunately, that project ended up canceled for reasons we'll likely never know.

I can accept that the Legacy of Kain series is perhaps better off left dead if it's not going to have the involvement of series creator and writer Amy Hennig. Still, I can't avoid feeling tempted to want it after witnessing a glimpse of what it could've been.

No One Lives Forever

The name No One Lives Forever might not ring many bells among younger gamers, but it was one of the most popular shooters of the '00s. Back then, if you asked fans of spy shenanigans and the slick '60s retro vibe about the best FPS series, No One Lives Forever and its sequel w?ould show up in the conversation.

No One Lives Forever was one of the most innovative, slickest, and best-looking series of its day, but its day was rather short. Today, the rights of the series have fallen into some sort of supermassive legal blackhole th?at prevents you from even acquiring the game through any digital storefront nowadays. Though this situation actually ?somehow lives up to the themes present in the games, it sucks for an entire generation of gamers who will never get to experience this game for the first time.

There's always hope for something, and Night Dive, the studio known for their high-quality remasters of classic games, recently claimed No One Lives Forever to be their "white whale." Here's hoping this one does get to liv?e forever as a remas??ter.

Panzer Dragoon (Saga)

Panzer Dragoon Saga was Sega's attempt at an answer to Final Fantasy VII, but it just didn't sell well enough. A lot of that has to do with coming out so long after Sega had given up on the Saturn that its print run was only a few thousand. But Saga is an absolute masterpiece, and on top of the insult of never getting a re-release, fans have to deal with the injury of it being one? of the most d??ifficult games to find.

Anyone who's played Saga knows that the on-rails mechanics of the series made a glorious tra??nsition to the RPG format. Having RPG battles take place while riding a dragon added an incredible amount of energy and uniqueness to the gameplay.

Despite the confusing name, Panzer Dragoon Saga is a single game, not an actual series. Still, it's part of the wider Panzer Dragoon series �which has been mostly dead for over a decade, save for the 2020 Panzer Dragoon Remake. Even if the RPG-inspired Saga doesn't warrant a return, surely we can bring the regular Panzer Dragoon games back. Those kinda rocked, too.

Zone Of The Enders

The original Zone Of The Enders was one of the best titles for showing the impressive graphical capabilities of the PS2, and it was also pretty good as a game. Its sequel, Zone Of The Enders: The 2nd Runner, is a much better game in every regard and remains one of the best mecha-action games out there.

It's sad that Hideo Kojima never picked up the series again while he was still at Konami, and it's very unlikely that Konami will ever revive it.? Maybe we'll get lucky if Kojima goes on a Twitter tirade about how he actually hated the series and hopes it remains dead forever.

Vagrant Story

Sadly, Vagrant Story never even got a sequel, but it ends on the promise of a mysterious beginning, and we know that its creator was always interested in keeping it going. What makes Vagrant Story spectacular is how it combines elements from regular Japanese RPGs like Final Fantasy and the Tactics genre to create an experience that ??remains unique.

Despite massive critical and fan acclaim, poor sales prevented one of the best games in SquareSoft's catalog from getting an official sequel. If you like Vagrant Story, the closest you'll get to a sequel is Final Fantasy XII, which uses some of Vagrant Story's gameplay elements to create one of the most interesting entries in the Final Fantasy series. Sadly, FFXII also didn't sell well enough for Square to keep making similar games, so it'?s likely we'll never see anything of the sort ??again.

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Ninja Rap

[Update: In a new statement to VGC, Team Ninja's Tom Lee has suggested that fans shouldn't hold their breath on these previously hinted reboots for both Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive.

"Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden are both long-standing pillar franchises for Team Ninja. These celebrated titles are synonymous with our studio history and reputation," said Lee in VGC's statement. "It goes without saying that when speakin?g about the development of our past and future projects, both of these important titles cannot be left without mention. However, there are no details or information to share on either of these franchises at this present time."

“Like many of our dedicated fans, we share the enthusiasm for the return of these belo??ved titles. And we will be sure to provide a proper update (if and) when that day arrives."]

Original Article

Team Ninja is not done with its flagship franchises Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive �What's more, it appears th??at the Japanese develop?er is actually making preparations to reboot both franchises for something of a fresh start for both long-running series.

At the G-Star conference in Busan, South Korea this weekend, Team Ninja President Fumihiko Yasuda held a panel on the future of the studio. As part of Yasuda's presentation, a slide was shown that featured logos and images from action RPG franchise Ninja Gaiden, and 3D scrapper series Dead or Alive, complete with a header of "Reboots of popular series". A translation from Ruliweb suggests that Yasuda said news of these projects would arrive "??as soon as possible".

The last mainline Ninja Gaiden release was 2012's Ninja Gaiden 3, though numerous spin-offs, side-titles, and compilations have hit the market since then. The series is ??renowned for its violent combat, mythical adventure, and exceptionally challenging gameplay. It is also one of gaming's longest-running franchises �the original entries in the series having launched on arcade and NES mar?kets in 1988.

Initially launched as a challenger to the burgeoning 3D fighter market, Dead or Alive is typified by its incredibly fast fighting action, smart counter-attack mechanics, and cheesecake-sexualized roster of buxom babes. While Dead or Alive as a fighter is top-tier entertainment, the series has been heavily chastised in recent years as a mere cash register, with the last release, Dead or Alive 6, being particularly egregious in its "DLC first, game second" mentality. Over $400 worth of in-game costumes were released for the title in its first year, with even alternate hair colors being sold as separate DLC purchases. In addition, the game itself felt as if little advancement had been made over the-then seven-year-old DoA 5.

Dead or Alive 6, inarguably, was a shameful end to a plucky, well-designed, underdog fighting franchise. A reboot is the only way to go for Team Ninja. As for whether any lessons will have been learned from DoA 6's embarrassment. Th??at wil??l be on the part of its publisher. Time will tell.

Team Ninja is planning to reboot Dead or Alive an??d Ninja Gaiden [Free Step Dodge]

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Launching a PC game with no menu in 2021 is wild

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection, like some PC ports from select studios, launched in shambles. While I could go on and on about the technical shortcomings of the port, suffice to say, it didn't launch with an options menu. Crazy, right?

Thankfully I played Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection on PS4, which didn't have these issues. But for those of you who are ?interested in the PC version, or own it and are waiting on a patch, your time has come. Sorta.

Lo and behold, we got very barebones patch notes this week:

The following were added to the Options menu of the title screen:
DISPLAY MODE
RESOLUTION
VSYNC
Triple Buffering
ANTI-ALIASING
DEPTH OF FIELD
DISPLAY SHADOWS

Yes. that's exactly how they were detailed in the last Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection patch; with caps and all. At the very least, the notes have...text, that lists stuff! We get basic PC options that every?? game should ship with, including resolution options for 720p, 1080p, and 4K. Remember how folks used to have to manually input these values in the Steam launcher to get the game to boot with them? Good times.

A previous patch in late June added 1440p to the Steam resolution launcher, and fixed a few minor collision issues, among some fullscreen/windowed problems. The current most-requested feature from Steam fans in the comments? A gore toggle, as well as vibration for Sigma. It's not a big ask, I think, but there's more work to be done with things like smoothing over input ?lag and making the options menu even more fully-featured.

I hope that at this point, studios have learned that they need to actually ship functional PC ports, lest they lose the faith of their audience long term. Hire a Durante type if you need to.

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Go ninja go (well, go twice anyway)

"The third time is the charm," eh? Well not in the case of Ninja Gaiden.

At least it kn??ocks the first two go-arounds out of the park.

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection (PC, PS4 [reviewed], Nintendo Switch, Xbox One)
Developer: Team Ninja
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Released: June 10, 2021
MSRP: $39.99

Ninja Gaiden is back in the form of the Master Collection, which gathers three games under one roof. Sorta.

So, the process for installing these on PS4 deserves a special note. Although the phrase "Collection" is used, you have to download each game individually on the platform, and "change" them via the single "Master Collection" icon. They all work individually, but the icons are so similar that I accidentally "swapped" to the wrong game, which restarts the old one. This ??is more of a Sony problem to be sure, but something to be aware o??f.

Of course, there's another caveat that I'll share before we move on to a game-by-game analysis: you're forced into the Sigma versions once again. For reference, Ninja Gaiden I and II originally launched with no qualifiers or extra monikers. While both games eventually got a "Sigma" edition, the saga of Ninja Gaiden Black is a bit more interesting.

Black is hailed as one of the greatest action games of all time, and it was specifically tweaked to include extra content and was intended to be harder than the original by design. This hand-crafted difficulty was changed again in Sigma, and although the core foundation is still intact, there are slight differences. Given that Black works on Series X, if it's just the first game you're after, that might be a better option. For now, let's dig into this ne?w thing.

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Ninja Gaiden Sigma

I found it very easy to slip back into the first two games: like riding a bike! Ninja Gaiden is so incredibly well-paced I can basically play it any day of the week. Level one, you fight ninjas. Okay, this makes sense. Level two: magic users. Oh right on. Then there's an airship, and you're fighting demon ninjas. I still remember the day I first played it �I ran through the entire thing in a weekend. I was c?ompletely hooked, and that spark is still alive all these years later.

Ninja Gaiden is what I'd call "boldly wacky." It's completely over-the-top and never takes itself too seriously. The action is also so buttery smooth that it deserves a spot in the all-time pantheon of action alongside Devil May Cry 3 and the Bayonetta series. Our hero Ryu is incredibly fast, distinct from other character-action protagonists, and so fun to play at all times. With minimal platforming that allows just enough exploration without sacrificing its action roots, Ninja Gaiden maintains an incredibly toned sense of pacing. Now, Sigma taking out some of the puzzles of Black and screwing with that previously perfect pacing isn't great, but it's a relatively minor sacrifice because the meat of Ninja Gaiden is still there. That includes a little jank (mostly clipping issues and the like), and some ve??ry B-movie-le?vel cutscenes, so be warned!

In addition to the wonderful story mode, there's also a collective of ninja trials with multiple difficulties; which force you out of your comfort zone and into new loadouts. Combined with the survival mode, there's just so much to do in this one game. I was immediately ready to go for a new playthrough on another difficulty level afterward �it's that good. I do wish there was an option to "swap" to Black, which Koei Tecmo has explained in no uncertain terms that it's not happening. Again, Black works on Series X and it's 10 bucks. If the sequel wasn't so good, it would be an easier decision to pass on th?e collection.

Ninja Gaiden II Sigma

The sequel attempts to up the ante in a few ways and mostly succeeds: even if the levels and enemy variety aren't quite as strong. This time you're fighting ninja special forces right off the bat, then moving to a living statue bout, then monster ninja special forces. Oh, and who can forget the werewolves. "Boldly wacky" indeed!

It all ties nicely into the first entry, which makes even more sense when you play them back to back. Team Ninja allows Ryu to breathe a bit with some of his arsenal from the first game, eschewing the complete "amnesia"-style forgoing of previous kits of some character-action games. Ryu is formidable out of the gate, which is incredibly refreshing to see and fun to play right away. It also has streamlined quality-of-life upgrades like auto-healing and instant-save statues, as well as the chance to "sense" the correct path to avoid getting lost?. Some items are also automatically used when picked up, like life-enhancing relics. They're small, but noticeable a??lterations.

Unlike Ninja Gaiden 1 though, the Sigma edition of the sequel was the preferred version by some. You're also getting all of the be?lls and whistles, like extra characters, a chapter-based score attack mode, the arcade-heavy time attack gametype, and the best one of all: tag team. The latter is an incredibly engaging romp with a bot partner through various enemy gauntlets. It's so damn cool to slice enemies up and see your partner do it out of the corner of your eye, even in bot form.

Oh and there's a comic movie prologue too. Again, the Sigma edition is packed to the gills.

Ninja Gaiden III: Razor's Edge

And now we move to the black sheep of the family: Ninja Gaiden III.

What's interesting here is that we're technically already getting the "Sigma" version in the form of "Razor's Edge." Koei Tecmo has already made a pass at fixing this game, and although Razor's Edge is technically an improvement, it still pales i?n?? comparison not only to its predecessors but the entire action genre.

Part of the issue is the setup is so droll and self-importan??t. Ryu gets a "handler" and is sent on missions, fighting generic soldiers before anything remotely interesting pops up. The tone is way edgier, and although there are some interesting ideas like Ryu coming to grips with killing (a classic anime trope), it doesn't explore them in any meaningful way, intent on only showing the mere reflection of Medusa in Perseus' shield. Sadly, Troy Baker's turn in the role doesn't elevate Ryu either: he's just a miserable character this time around. The creators were over their heads with this one narratively.

Add in a very muddled upgrade system with a stale menu, and you have a recipe for disaster. This is also the era where developers s?hoved QTEs into basically everything, coupl??ed with some jarring setpieces that weren't even worth the button-mashing squeeze.

The original is roughly a 10, the sequel is about a 9, and the third is...something else entirely. Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is in a weird spot, propped up by the strong legacy of the original two games. From a re-relea??se standpoint, not much was ??done, especially from the perspective of the third game.

Koei Tecmo could have used this opportunity to further strengthen the weak link beyond what it already did, but the ?first two games still stand so tall that it justifies the? preservation altogether.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Ninja is supreme and you have double-crossed it

We're still almost two months away from the launch of Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection, which sees three classic titles from the Ninja Gaiden franchise remastered and collated for those who like their?????????????????????????? action-adventure?s a little on the sadistic side.

Publ?isher Koei Tecmo continues to market the upcoming release with the arrival of the new "Action" trailer, designed to showcase the mad ninja skills of s??eries protagonist Ryu Hayabusa. The new video shows the master assassin doing what he does best: separating people from life with top-tier martial arts, a utility belt of intricate weaponry, and a deep connection to an otherworldly plane of ninja magic.

You'd think that the enemy stands nary a chance, but anyone who has played the Ninja Gaiden series can attest to their difficulty. Hayabusa is going to need every single trick in his "how to be a Ninja" guidebook. Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection features three titles in all: Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge, visually remaster?ed and complete with a??ll previously released DLC. The compilation will come spin-kicking onto PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Switch on June 10.

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It's not like they have anything else to do right now

Koei Tecmo has released a new trailer for its upcoming compendium Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection. The video focuses on a bevy of babes from 3D fighter Dead or Alive, who will be lending Ryu Hayabusa a hand as he relives the challenging ??adventures of his past.

Up to their elbows in dead ninja bits are DoA's poster girls (and bitter rivals) Kasumi and Ayane, who bring their mastery of both martial arts and magic to the fracas. Joining them are Hayabusa's apprentice Momiji, who debuted in Nintendo DS release Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword but is perhaps best known for breaking jaws as a guest star in Dead or Alive 5 and 6. Rounding out the quartet is Ninja Gaiden veteran Rachel, who has also spent recent years making her presence felt in DoA's electrified ring.

Koei Tecmo is obviously sticking to the kunoichi theme, as there no sign of Lei-Fang, Hitomi, or any of the non-ninja DoA gals. This is a shame, as I'd love to see Tina giving a samurai a frankensteiner. Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection will contain remastered editions of Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge, complete with all previously released DLC and some ?exclusive artwork, making it a fine package for those yet to experience these tough-as-nails hack 'n' slash classics.

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection laun?ches June 10 on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

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The trilogy re-release is out in June

The Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is an interesting remaster prospect.

For many, they'll be experiencing the entire trilogy for the first time. Others just prefer the first: an absolute classi?c in the action genre, even still. Some may also dig the second game, w??hich isn't quite as beloved, but still has its merits. Others will want to relive the polarizing third entry as a flight of fancy of sorts.

I??n any case, it's a collection that's worth talking about. And we did just that with the game's producer, Fumihiko Yasuda. Even though the third game was their first major project at Koei Tecmo, they mused with us on the past, present, and future of the series.

Destructoid: How tough is it living up to the legacy of that first opening action game salvo? It was an intimidating debut for the entire action industry.

Fumihiko Yasuda, Producer on the Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection: I personally did not work on the first game as my involvement in the series started with Ninja Gaiden 2. Many of the original dev team members?? includ?ing the producer and director have moved on since then, but the challenge to live up to the legacy of the series is always there.

Would you say Ninja Gaiden is the most treasured IP at Team Ninja?

The Ninja Gaiden series along with the Dead or Alive series are both Team Ninja's signature franchises. And of course all of our franchises are important, but the Ninja Gaiden series in parti??cular can be considered the ??foundation of Team Ninja's action style and methodology.

So, that is why this series is so sp?ecia?l to me personally.

Has anyone been interested in a follow-up to Ninja Gaiden 3? I know we got Yaiba, but Ryu Hayabusa has been teased and has made cameos in multiple games. We're waiting for it!

That woul??d be great! If and when that time comes, we'll let you know!

If you had to describe each Ninja Gaiden trilogy entry to a new player, how would you sell them on them individually?

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 1 can be considered the origin of Team Ninja action games as it was created using a concept of high speed & high response which compels a player to be well aware of both attacks and guards much like in a fighting game. (At the time, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was said to be the inspiration behind the development of the game. The puzzles and jump actions, as w??ell as the quest elements that were included are remnants of that inspiration, even though it ended up becoming a game focused on action.)

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 added the noteworthy Obliteration Technique which became even?? more specialized in action. The addition of memorable characters such as Ayane, Rachel, and Momiji made their appearance as playable characters in this iteration.

Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge revised the system of Ninja Gaiden 3, and added not only weapons and Ninpo, but it also introduced new moves and character growth elements. I think it's a game that was well bal?anced and comprehensive which also effectively incorporated violent depictions to a greater extent.

What's common among all three titles is the amazing control re??sponse. The enemies are very hard to defeat and aren't holding back as they are absolutely out to kill the player. But once you master the controls, Ryu Hayabusa becomes your formidable weapon to command each battle. I hope players will try and learn each of the many actions to fully experience and enjoy the series.

Which Ninja Gaiden, of the trilogy, is your favorite?

Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge, wh??ich is my first time as the director of the franchise. I'm sure a lot of the fans may not agree w?ith me though.

Which one is the toughest?

Each of the games are difficult in their own way, but I think it's Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge.

What is the single most impressive move/ability/item in the trilogy for you?

I suppose I should answer "the Dragon Sword," but my favorite weapon is actually the Staff. There's a showiness to the action and weapon movement as it firmly conveys the image of ninjas and traditional Japanese elements, making it a very Ninja Gaiden-like weapon in my opinion.

And while I can't say that it's a perfectly balanced ?weapon, I think that's part of its charm and "flavor." If weapons are used to convey one's emotions or attitudes, I think any of them can become a personal favorite.

What lessons have you learned from the Ninja Gaiden trilogy that you've applied to future projects?

The incredibly responsive controls and the unrelenting enemy AI are some of the things we've adopted ?over the years. But at ??the same time, simply making games difficult isn't our primary goal as it is to create an immersive game that players can enjoy navigating and overcoming.

I think this core philosophy was carried over to the Nioh series and other Team Ninja titles.

I firmly believe that Ninja Gaiden, as a whole, is still relevant, even in their original incarnations. What is the most significant tweak you've made in the Master Collection?

We focused on repl??icating the original games so there aren't any major tweaks, but we have made adjustments to things such as the Tag Missions, which players thought were really unfair and as a result were not well received.

I remember when Ninja Gaiden 3 came out on Wii U, and Team Ninja had plenty of experience with Warriors games on the Wii U/Switch. How was it working with the Switch again this time around with the Master Collection?

Being able to play it anywhere is one of the key attractions of this unique hardware, and we were really excited about that aspect. It's pre??tty cool to be able to take this tough, hardcore action game with you and play it anywhere!

Can you tell us anything about potential PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions? Other than that they will allow the Master Collection to be played by default?

There are no plans for a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S version. For a proper next-gen version, it would actually require a complete remake. We did consider it, but we also wanted to get the games into the hands of p?layers sooner than later.

Also, if we had the time and resources for a remake we felt it would be a better served opportunity to create a new game, so that's why we de?cided to go with this remastered version at this time.

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Revealed by the Microsoft Store

Thanks to the gift that keeps on giving (Microsoft Store listings), we now have a bit more info on Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection's technical specs.

The listing confirms that the game will feature 4K Ultra HD visuals, as well as "60FPS+." That's great news for any Ninja Gaiden&??nbsp;purists, as they'll probably want the game to favor the latter in any case. Still, both is good. Just in case the listing gets taken down, we've screencapped the pertinent parts below.

N??ote that while this technically only applies to the Xbox editions of the game, it stands to reason that the PS4/PS5 editions and the PC port will sport similar compatibility. 4K on the Switch though is probably not in the cards.

Note that the collection is still on track for a June 10 release, so we're still a ways out. But really, a competent re-release of just Ninja Gaiden Black and 60FPS is all we need. The?? rest is extra.

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection Deluxe Edition [Microsoft]

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It's easily missed in the Shrine menu

As if I don't already have a hard enough time sticking to a single character transformation in Nioh 2, Team Ninja went ahead and released the Ryu Hayabusa-approved "Dragon ??Nin??ja" look for free in-game.

To celebrate the reveal of NINJA GAIDEN: Master Collection, The development team have created the "Dragon Ninja" skin, which players can use to transform themselves into Ryu Hayabusa in #Nioh2! Access the Shrine menu & select the Boons tab in order to obtain the exclusive bonus! pic.twitter.com/G6J5OCuwvo

— Team NINJA (@TeamNINJAStudio) February 18, 2021

To grab it, update your copy of Nioh 2 to Version 1.26, duck into the Shrine menu, and flip over to the Boons tab. It's been a while, so I had a few bonuses waiting for me – including the catgirl garb.

If you're rusty, I've snapped a few pics showing where to f??ind the Dragon Ninja transformation:

The transformation is a nice little tie-in for this year's Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection trilogy.

Also, for those of you who are diligently carving your way through Nioh 2 on PC or PS5 right now, you can spar with a Hayabusa in due time. Don't sleep on the Darkness in the Capital DLC, y'all.

The post Don’t forget to claim the Dragon Ninja skin in Nioh 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Not so hot on the third one

Ninja Gaiden is one of the most celebrated franchises in gaming, and this year, some of its best games are coming back in a massive collection. Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection brings together Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, and Ninja Gaiden 3 Razor's Edge, ?along with most of the DLC and game modes released for the t??itles.

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection&??nbsp;will launch on June 10 for Switch, Xbox One, PS4, and PC.

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'No plans currently' for a new Ninja Gaiden or Nioh sequel

Team Ninja is closing the door on the Nioh series now that "the story that we had built has come to an end," and the studio has "no plans currently" for a new Ninja Gaiden, according to Fumihiko Yasuda.

In an interview with Video Games Chronicle, the Nioh director elaborated that "all the loose ends are tied up, so there are no plans for a sequel at this point. Of course, it's something that is still possible in the future and that we will consider at a later date." That's disappointing news for ardent fans who have invested hundreds of hours, but at the same time, my ideal scenario would be for them to take time off, make something truly new, regroup, and circle back with a much-bolder and more distinct Nioh 3.

On that front, Yasuda said that if Team Ninja ever returns to this yokai-infused historical universe, "it's definitely possible for a potential sequel in the Nioh series ?to be in a different time period or even a completely different setting, and that's something we'd like to take a challenge with in the future."

Circling back on Ninja Gaiden, it's been rumored that we'll get a so-called Ninja Gaiden Trilogy in 2021 that bundles the Sigma games for PS4 and Nintendo S??wi?tch, and that seems entirely believable.

A Ninja Gaiden sequel isn't in the works, but Yasuda told VGC that he's "always wanted to make a new installment in the series." Even though they've partnered with Sony for Nioh, "the Ninja Gaiden series has had a long history on Microsoft's consoles." With that in mind, "if there was to be a new title in the Ninja Gaiden series in the future, we'd definitely like that to be on Xbox conso??les."

(On a separate but semi-related note, Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden's Tomonobu Itagaki recently expressed interest in working alongside Microsoft again with his newly-formed studio Itagaki Games.)

If Team Ninja isn't doing a new Nioh or Ninja Gaiden, then what's in the pipeline? We'll have to see.

Asked about the new console generation, Yasuda said he's excited about the SSD in the PlayStation 5 and how it can "open up new aven??ues for open world games being even more accessible to developers."

Going one step further, he said "there's definitely no specific plans to speak of at this time, but Team Ninja as a whole would specifically like to take on the open world genre. But we feel at this point that there haven't really been open world games with a lot of intensity, which are really action-packed from? beginning to end. So we'd like to actually take that on as a potential challenge in the future, and try to put a new spin on the open world genre in that regard."

I'm listening! I feel like this team learned so much from Nioh, and I want to see that applied elsewhere.

Team Nin?ja Interview: 'The Nioh story has come to an end' [VGC]

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Passionate to work alongside Xbox once again

It looks like there's a new gun in town. Charismatic producer Tomonobu Itagaki, creator of fighting franchise Dead or Alive and the head honcho behind the modern Ninja Gaiden tit??les, has announced that he has f??ormed his own studio - Itagaki Games.

The news was revealed in an excerpt from a recent interview between Itagaki and Bloomberg, which focused on the 20th anniversary of Xbox. Itagaki Games will exist as its own endeavor, and is not connected with studios such as Koei Tecmo, Valhalla, or Team Ninja, wit?h which Itagaki has been closely ass??ociated in the past.

In the interview, (which you can check out on Facebook), Itagaki noted how comfortable he felt when working alongside Microsoft/Xbox in the early '00s, specifically on Xbox launch title Dead or Alive 3. In the interview, Itagak?i also expressed pleasure at the possibility of collaborating with the industry giant?? once again.

"All the main Xbox team,?? including Seamus Blackley, Ed Fries, Kevin Bachus, their leader Robbie Bach and George Peckham who often played golf with me, provided full support on me," remembers Itagaki. "I visited Redmond once every two months, and they introduced me a lot of tools and support that would help speed up game development [...] If they reach out to me, it will be an honor for me."

Left to his own devices, it will be interesting to see what Itagaki and his team have in store for the new generation of gaming. Now in the driving seat, Itagaki fans could see a run of releases that stand up against the producer's past successes such as Dead or Alive 4 or Ninja Gaiden Black. So fingers crossed, lest we forget The Devil's Third also exists.

Tomonobu Itagaki establishes Itagaki Games [Gematsu / Facebook]

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Get your roof-run back on

Game Source Entertainment, a Hong Kong software distributor, briefly hosted a listing for a Ninja Gaiden Trilogy, supposedly coming to PS4?? and Nintendo Switch platforms? in 2021.

While the listing was swiftly removed, fast-thinkers over on ResetEra were able to capture a cache of the product page, which notes that the compendium bundles 2007's Ninja Gaiden Sigma, 2009's Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, and finally 2012 release Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge.

According to the listing, the trilogy is scheduled for release in March of next year at a price point of around $40. We will keep you informed if there is any official word forthcoming from Ninja Gaiden publisher Koei Tecmo.

Hong Kong distributor lists Ninja Gaiden T?rilogy for PS4, Switch [ResetEra / Gematsu]

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That's my best-case scenario

Nioh turned out better than I ever would've expected, and I love that we're getting an imminen??t sequel, but what's next for Team Nin??ja now that the PlayStation 4 is starting to wind down?

In an interview with Eurogamer Portugal, Team Ninja's Yosuke Hayashi said he expects the PlayStation 5 to "bring new opportunities." As such, the studio hopes to create "a new game, a new intellectual property." Assuming Nioh 2 performs well li??ke its predecessor, I don't see why that can't happen.

"We created the Nioh series fo??r PS4 and we would like to do the same?? for PS5," he said.

If you've yearned for a return to form, for what it's worth, Team Ninja recognizes that "some fans wanted Ninja Gaiden more than Nioh 2," according to a recent interview with IGN.

A new take on Ninja Gaiden sounds great in theory, but given the series' hiatus and the current ninja-loving video game landscape, there's much to live up to. The developers "see a lot of good inspirations," according to Nioh 2 director Fumihiko Yasuda. "We hope to deli?ver some good news one day."

Either way, I'm ready and waiting.

Equipa de NiOh quer c??riar uma nova série na PS5 [Eurogamer.pt via Reddit]

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(And some seemingly random games)

We've had consistently great things to say about Xbox Game Pass these past several months, but when it comes to Games with Gold, well, things tend to get a little funkier. The October 2019 lineup is no exception. It's jarring to see a Halloween staple like Friday the 13th: The Game sit beside Disney's Bolt.

Then there's Tembo the Badass Elephant – one of the rare non-Pokémon curiosities out of Game Freak – and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge, a ga??me that tried but fell ??short of Team Ninja's past home runs.

There's fun to be had, but talk ab?out an uneven? bunch.

Games with Gold for October 2019 (Xbox One)

• Tembo the Badass Elephant from October 1 to October 31
• Friday the 13th: The Game from October 16 to November 15
  

Games with Gold for October 2019 (Xbox One + Xbox 360)

• Disney Bolt from October 1 to October 15
• Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge from October 16 to October 31

Are you going to bother with ??any of these, or do you have more pressing games to play?

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Go, Ninja, Go!

The 1989 arcade classic Ninja Gaiden will be available for $7.99 on both PS4 and Switch today thanks to Hamster's "Arcade Archives" line. Not to be confused with the NES version of the same name, the arcade version was a more standard beat-em-up that featured cooperative play and a slightly diff??erent story. It doesn'?t bear much resemblance to the version most of us are familiar with, though it's still a solid game.

In addition to having selectable filters for the graphics, this new port will feat?ure an online leaderboard mode for competing against other players. There isn't a mention of online co-op, but I wouldn't hold out hope for it. At least local co-op is still a thing.

The Original 1989 Arcade Release of Ninja Gaiden Is Coming to PS4 Tomorrow [Push Square]

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Ninja Gaiden 3 also joins the backward compatibility list

It's wild to think about where Trials started and how far the series has gone. For better or worse, it's an institution at this point. If you're ever feeling wistful about the care-free Xbox Live Arcade days, it's not too late to revisit Trials Evolution and ?rekindle your dormant leaderboard feuds. The challenging time-trial platformer is playable on Xbox One through the backward compatibility program.

Trials HD is also compatible, in case you missed that news, but Evolution is arguably the fan favorite. Whil??e I still enjoy?? the series to this day, most of my fond memories are tied up with these two titles.

NINJA GAIDEN 3: Razor's Edge and Trials Evolution are coming to Xbox One Backward Compatibility today //t.co/qPMRNrLoTQ pic.twitter.com/tBeZTGSQoy

— Larry Hryb (@majornelson) May 2, 2019

And that's not all for Xbox 360 fans. Not long ago, Microsoft added support for Ninja Gaiden II on Xbox One, and as of today, it's possible to continue Ryu's crimson-soaked saga on the same console. Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge is backward compatible. Ayane, Momiji, and Kasumi – the gang's all here.

I have zero interest in Ninja Gaiden 3, if I'm being bl?unt, but it's good to see all three games represented.

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Backward compatible with Xbox One X optimizations

Today on Inside Xbox, Microsoft confirmed a long-requested addition to the Xbox One backward compatibility list: Ninja Gaiden II! Not only that, but the brutal action game is Xbox One ?X enhanced, meaning you'll get a higher resolution and pixel cou??nt if you're playing on the beefed-up console.

I was just thinking about Ninja Gaiden II the other day in light of Sekiro. Part of me feels newly emboldened to beat up some ninja dogs, but another more grounded part of me knows that it's going to be a long road ahead. I mean, it's been a decade; I'm going to be beyo?nd rusty. I'm already swe??ating!

If you're fee?ling more optimistic abou?t your odds, godspeed and remember to stay hydrated.

Alongside Ninja Gaiden II, Microsoft announced Xbox One X enhancements for five other backward-compatible Xbox 360 games. Are you noticing a trend here in the selection? What could it mean?

• Splinter Cell: Double Agent ($10 on the Xbox Store)
• Splinter Cell: Conviction ($12)
• Splinter Cell: Blacklist ($10)
• Fable II ($20)
• Fable III ($20)

As always, you can use your? old copies of th?ese titles on Xbox One if you have 'em around.

This backward compatibility update should make certain circles very happy considering it's targeting three passionate fanbases. Whether we get new entries in these se??ries anytime soon or end up having to wait f??ar longer than expected, it's nice knowing we can effortlessly revisit the Xbox 360 lineup.

If it's been a while since you've last checked in on the big list of compatible games, here's something wild to note: nearly 550 titles in the Xbox 360 library are playable on Xbox One (and around 60 are Xbox One X enhanced). The original Xbox list is far less substantial – it's been sitting at just over 30 supported games for a while – but I'm holding out for some power plays from Microsoft at ?E3 20??19.

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But probably not

Ninja Gaiden on NES is pretty notorious for its difficulty. While one can typically breeze through the first four levels, the game's back half is fairly insane with the number of enemies it throws at you. Level 6-2 is, in fact, actual hell and you can't convince me otherwise. Very few have ever finished the final boss because it kicks you back to 6-1 upon dying. Screw Dark Souls! At least that game lets you retry bosses when ??you fail.

If you've never managed to finish Ninja Gaiden, today might be your lucky day. Along with the regular Switch Online update today, both Ninja Gaiden and Ghosts 'n Goblins have received SP versions that start you off on the final level. Ninja Gaiden goes a step further and ????puts you right at the final battle, but it's still a huge boon for players that gave up in frustration.

I don't think I'd personally utilize these (there is no way you'll be skilled enough to topple the last boss if you've never played Ninja Gaiden), but I like that Nintendo keeps adding unique ways to play old games. That does a lot more fo??r me than simply uploading old games I own fiftee??n times over.

NES – Nintendo Switch Online Update Stealth-Releases Ninja Gaiden, Ghosts'n Goblins' SP Versions [Siliconera]

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I wonder who would tackle it

Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z had a lot going for it on paper. It was released back in 2014 at the height of the zombie craze and interestingly deals with a protagonist that's murdered by series hero Ryu Hayabusa: set to the tune of a Grant Kirkhope soundtrack. Unfortunately developer Spark Unlimited couldn't deliver and even folded a year later. As a producer it was also one of the first steps in Keiji Inafune's fall before he delivered Mighty No. 9 and ReCore.

But the Ninja Gaiden property still remains. According to this trademark filing on January 2 of this year Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z could return, but whether it's with a new incarnation by another studio or a port is yet to be seen?? (given how it bombed I doubt the latter is happening).

Koei Tecmo has been at a loss as to what to do with Ninja Gaiden since Itagaki left the company so many years ago. They've tried re-release after re-release and the newer entries just aren't cutting it. But after Team Ninja found their mojo again with Nioh, I know it's possible to see this series rise to its ??former glory once again.

USTPO [Yaiba Ninja Gaiden Z via Siliconera]

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The Switch's best indie yet

Sabotage Studio's The Messenger is a visually striking game that at a quick glance you might shrug off as yet another quick grab at ou??r nostalgia. While my nostalgia heartstrings were tugged at significantly during my playthrough, it's safe to say this is a cut above the rest.

The Messenger pulls from the legacy of Ninja Gaiden as well as the classic metroidvanias of Nintendo's golden age, and it's one of the be??st experiences I've had on my Switch to date.

The Messenger: (PC, Switch [reviewed])
Developer: Sabotage Studio
Publisher: Devolver Digital 
Release: August 30, 2018
MSRP: $19.99

The Messenger doesn't waste time with too much exposition before getting you into the action. An ancient demon comes to destroy your peaceful ninja village, and as the only survivor, you're tasked with traveling east to deli??ver an ancient scroll.

From that point the plot is straightfor?ward: you travel across a few linear levels upgrading equipment and exchanging banter with a mysterious shopkeeper while fighting off some baddies who want you dead so they can take the aforementioned scroll.

It isn't until about two or three hours in (depending on how much trouble those baddies give you) that something doesn't seem right. It looks like you're on the final level, but it was almost too easy. It's here The Messenger offers its big surprise. Your protagon??ist is sent forward in time, and the shift comes with a graphical update.

The future landscape has a stunning 16-bit style as opposed to the previous 8-bit aesthetic. Along with this comes a new look for our hero and changes both related to time and graphical capability for the levels you just completed. You can even?? hear new 16-bit versions of the fantastic soundtrack.

After exploring the future for a bit, our hero discovers he's had a map this whole damn time. It's now clear The Messenger isn'??t a linear game, ?but an exploration-focused metroidvania in disguise. You'll have to travel through rifts that have opened up, swapping between 8-bit and 16-bit eras to solve puzzles and unlock new areas to explore on the map all in an effort to break the demon's curse.

On your journey, you'll be able to spend shards you collect in the environment to upgrade your abilities. You can add health, and magic power, or enhance existing abilities like cloud step, the skill that allows the ??player character to get a second jump by striking certain objects with his sword. You'll automatically pick up abilities like the rope dart and squirrel suit along the way as these are necessary to proceed.

The controls feel tight and responsive, even in handheld mode on the Switch's tiny Joy-Con. I was able to make my ninja leap from platform to platform with ease. The speed with which you can move through the levels cutting down enemies once you have a good handle on using all your upgrades in tandem is? incredibly satisfying.

While The Messenger is for sure an homage to those old Nintendo games, it cuts out some of the stuff that sucked about them. There's plenty of room to breathe, for one. I never felt entirely overwhelmed with enemies or projectiles. The platforming also feels great -- it's precision-based, but you won't be gambling on things like blind jump??s.

If you're looking for strong writing, all of the character interactions are reasonably clever and self-aware. Most of the bosses end up looking ?like complete fools like a pint-sized sorcerer and a confused rock monster. The bulk of the witty chatting comes from the shopkeeper, and if you're willing to hang around, he has plenty to say.

The Messenger trades in the idea of an antiquated life system for a demon who charges for saving your ass. He can bring you back from the brink indefinitely, but he'll stick around to steal any shards you grab for a while afterward. He also isn't above making ??fun of you for dying an absurd amount of times.

You might want to get used to seeing that l?ittle guy as there i?s plenty of dying to be had here. Thankfully, I never had a controller-throwing moment. Whenever I was taken out, it was due to a poor snap judgment on my end, or just losing out to one of the more acrobatically focused boss fights.

The Messenger is without a doubt one of the best indies available on the Switch right now. It has a lot of competition with the sudden sea of metroidvania games available, but its stunning look, fantastic soundtrack, and clever writing coupled with the amazing gameplay put it a step abo??ve the rest. When I walk away from a game every night only wanting to play more, there's little to complain about.

_{[This review is based on a pre-release build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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A nice bouquet of late bloomers

I like to cling onto my consoles for dear life (as shown by my recent PS3 buying guide). I'm a little wary of anything new, I like what I know, and I'm incredibly tight-fisted when it comes to shelling out for new tech; this all means I'd much rather spend my ha?rd-earned cash on games for the consoles I already have, rather than ?saving up for a new one – *ahem* Switch *ahem*.

Often, consoles become targets in their dotage for shovelware, movie tie-ins and pure kids' games, but you can find a handful of unsung heroes and surprising classics at the tail-end of console life cycles, if you dig into gaming history. And yes, this period in the life of a console contains a lot of JRPGs, but it is by n?o means dominated by the genre. There are even a few titles that you might not have known originally came out on a completely different, dying-out console, or were successfully ported to that console. So, let's check out a few critically acclaimed games that came out on a console that was heading into retirement.

I have not included games that also came out on the console's successor, so no Persona 5 or Breath of the Wild. Sorry!

1. Persona 4 (PlayStation 2), JP: 10 July 2008

Barely a “top 6” list goes by without me mentioning a Persona game, since they seem to somehow tick all the boxes. Persona 4 is definitely a step down in many ways compared to the Golden version that came out for the Vita four years later. But the vanilla version of Persona 4 would ??still be one of my favourite JRPGs of all time – no, scratch that, one of my favourite games of all time – if I did not? have access to a Vita.

The game definitely betrays its prior-generation roots, looking very similar to Persona 3 (also a relatively late PS2 release). The UI and character artwork is gorgeous, but the i?n-game visuals are hardly complex or breathtaking. None of it really matters, since it more than serves its purpose as a solid “one more” JRPG with a nice slice-of-life diversion.

You'll never catch me saying anything truly bad about the most recent crop of Persona games, but you do have to wonder whether the game could have pushed the limits a little more, had it come out for the PlayStation 3. Unfortunately, Western demand for new Persona games was relatively muted back then, so it wouldn't have been profitable to push for a current-gen version. Yet the minimal differences between the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 versions of Persona 5 make me think that a PS3 version of Persona 4, rather tha??n just an emulation, wouldn't have made much of a difference?.

2. Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 (Super Famicom), JP: 1 September?? 1999??/21 January 2000

Fire Emblem is one of the old guard when it comes to Nintendo series, and enjoyed a great deal of critical acclaim even before it became the more mainstream and widely-known series it is today. Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 was released long after the advent of the Nintendo 64, initially on the Nintendo Power rewritable flash cart and the following year on a standard cartridge.

Lauded as a punishing yet worthy entry to the series, Thracia 776 is notable for being one of the last games ever developed for the Super Famicom and for being the last home console game in the Fire Emblem series for another five years. A fan translation has since become available, but to this day, no official Western release has been on the horizon, despite Virtual Console r?e-releases in Jap?an.

3. Ace Attorney Investigates 2 (DS), JP: 3 February 2011

Another game that never saw the light of day in the US or Europe, Ace Attorney Investigates 2 continues the story of everyone's favourite snooty prosecutor, Miles Edgeworth, and a cast of kooky characters, such as the dopey detective Dick Gumshoe. Unfortunately, poor sales of the first Ace Attorney Investigates game doomed its sequel to obscurity outside of Japan, but the sequel has been popular enough there not only to see a DS release in 2011, but also an Android and iOS release in 2017.

Thankfully, the final version of a fan translation was released in 2015, so you can now get your hands on further sleuthing japes if you can't understand Japanese. In hindsight, it's in its favour that Ace Attorney Investigates 2 was a late DS release, since the DS is region-free but the ??3DS isn't.

4. Rayman (Atari Jaguar), NA: 1 September 1995

The Atari Jaguar was a slightly botched creation prone to hardware failure, particularly if you also used the Jaguar CD; by the time the PlayStation was on the market, it couldn't keep up. This became more evident with the release of Rayman, which was originally planned as a Jaguar mainstay but was later extended to other, sh?inie??r consoles.

The sound fidelity of the Jaguar version of Rayman appears to be a common complaint, while the jaunty tunes of the PlayStation version are one of my positive memories of the first-ever outing of the armless adventurer. Unfortunately, the original Rayman was incredibly difficult for a very small child, and I ultimately wish that five-year-old me had had Rayman Legends at their fingertips ??instead of this slightly cruel ordeal. But it was a solid start to a lovely, whimsical journey that is ultimately one of my favourite long-running platformer series.

Comparing the sound of the cartridge Jaguar game to that of the CD Sega Saturn version.

5. Resident Evil (Saturn), JP: 25 July 1997

Unlike with the Jaguar version of Rayman, there are a handful of upsides to playing the Saturn version of Resident Evil, as opposed to one of the crisper PlayStation editions. Sure, Chris looks a little more...cuboid in the Saturn version, but it tried to make up for it with exclus??ive skins and a battle mode.

There are regular discussions as to which version of the original Resident Evil is the best, and both the DS and Saturn versions are often given a mention: part of a larger tradition of Resident Evil games varying massively and in very plea??sing ways fro?m port to port.

6. Ninja Gaiden (Sega Master System), EU: 1992

While the Ninja Gaiden series got its start on the NES in 1988, a single NG game was released for a Sega home console four years later, receiving a great deal of praise. Diverging from the story of the original games, it still managed to carve out its own successes through inventing the wall-to-wall jumping mechanic that would be used again in Ninja Gaiden for the Xbox.

By 1992, Sonic 2 was just around the corner, as was the concept of blast processing; the Sega Master System was well on its way to being shoved in a drawer. The Ninja Gaiden release for th?e SMS limped out of production, only ever seeing a release in Europe due to poor demand elsewhere. Despite all of its setbacks, including being restricted to a pretty out-of-date console, it was seen as a highlight of the series' origins.

What are your favourite end-of-life releases for a console? Which console do you particularly miss getting new releases for? Let me know in the comments down below!

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'Still no sign of this so-called Western Hero'

The Messenger is the game I walked away from PAX East this year swooning over. The NES-style platformer takes clear inspiration from Ninja Gaiden. Thierry Boulanger, the lead programmer and designer, has been upfront about that from the start, but The Messenger is a hell of a lot more than a simple ??tribute to a great NES title.

While our protagonist may have a lot in common visually with Ryu Hayabusa, his adventure is decidedly more complicated, and his skill set far larger. Along with that the fantastic soundtrack and quirky writing do wonders to differentiate The Messenger from its inspiration.

The Messenger (PC [previewed], Nintendo Switch)
Developer: Sabotage Studios
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Release: Summer 2018 

The story hook is straight out of an old NES game. A prophesied demon comes to destroy the world, and our protagonist, a young ninja, is tasked with traveling east and delivering an ancient scroll. You'll move across a few linear but well-designed levels gathering gadgets like a squirrel suit and rope dart to help you traverse the landscape, but the most exciting thing about The Messenger happens about halfway through.  

After a few levels, the story propels our ninja into the future, ditching the 8-bit design for a flashier Super Nintendo-era 16-bit one. Backgrounds become more extravagant, your characte??r model changes, and new 16-bit tracks even drop into the already amazing music.  

It isn't just visuals that change here, eit??her. It's revealed that our hero had a map this whole time. He never bothered to check it, but in his defense, this is the first it has come up. This quickly opens up into exploring metroidvania-style gameplay. Specific points on the map even allow you to shift between the past and the future to solve puzzles. For example, a tree that's withered away in the future might have branches strong enough to climb on in the past, or a pile of rubble in the past may have been cleared away in the future.&??nbsp;

The Messenger's nameless hero controls like a dream. Every jump feels deliberate, and his c??loud step ability that allows him to perform an extra jump by striking certain objects with his sword makes moving quickly across these levels feel amazing. Thankfully, ??this game is a bit more forgiving in certain spots than its NES predecessor. Namely, it gives you a little more breathing room when getting spammed with enemy projectiles to get out of harm's way and back in the action. I still got my ass handed to me more than a few times during my playthrough, but it was always my own shortcomings. 

There's no life system to speak of. If you eat it, a small demon rescues you and brings you to the last checkpoint. As a tax, he'll take any currency you pick up f??or a while, but it's a small price to pay. The little guy isn't above making fun of you for dying multiple times at th?e same spot though. 

As you progress??????????????????????????, you'll gather crystals you can spend at the shop to purchase and upgrade abilities. You can get more shuriken to throw or improve the damage of your sword attack. One of the first unlocks I'd recommend investing in lets you perform a cloud step off of enemy projectiles. You'll also get a few upgrades like the squirrel suit and climbing claws narratively, and new upgrade paths present themselves as you progress in the story. 

Speaking of the shop, some of The Messenger's best writing comes from the shopkeeper. This game is self-aware in an entertaining way at every turn, but the hooded shopkeeper seems to never run out of things to say. You can sit there probing?? him for quite a while before you'll get a repeated line.&nbs??p;

I also can't stress how brilliant this soundtrack is. If you aren't playing The Messenger with headphones, you're doing yourself a disservice.&nbs?p;

The Messenger remains one of the games I'm most excited about this year even after having played through it on PC. I can't remember being this excited about an indie platformer since Shovel Knight. I may just have to double dip on that Switch version later this ??summer.

 _{[This preview is based on a pre-release build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Are you the messenger?

At PAX East this year I got the chance to sit down with the developers of The Messenger, Sabotage Studio's new game that follows a you??ng ninja on a simple mission: deliver a mysterious sc??roll with the hopes of saving his clan from some less-than-friendly demons. 

It's apparent from a glance that Ninja Gaiden is the main source of inspiration, but The Messenger is hiding so much more under the ??surface. &nb??sp;

I'd looked into The Messenger after getting my first glimpse at it during the recent Nindie showcase, but having finally gotten some play time I can say it sub?verted my expectations in surprising ways.

According to Thierry Boulanger, one of the title's co-creators, The Messenger is all about subverting the player's expectations. Changing the layouts of levels in bo?th 16-bit and 8-bit versions encourages the player to explore each stage multiple times. 

The ability to jump between both versions of the level via portals may even open up areas that were previously inaccessible, giving you a reason to explore each from top to bottom. A metroidvania-style map will also help you keep track of where you're go??ing and where you've been. 

The change from 8-bit to 16-bit is incredibly striking, with environments adding more to the background and foreground and new trac?ks dropping into the phenomenal soundtrack. 

The Messenger isn't the first game to try and emulate the original Ninja Gaiden, but it stands out in how smooth it feels. It took no more than two minutes for me to fee?l fully comfortable with the controls. I was performing air jumps and slicing up baddies in no time. 

Th?e goofy over-the-top writing is way up my alley with most of the dialogue coming from the game's m?ysterious shopkeeper, who has a ton to say if you're willing just to hang around and chat. One quip about how your climbing claws had been invented by "John Gaiden" got a smirk out of me after a long day on the show floor.

The Messenger is coming to Switch and PC sometime ?in 2018 ??and I can't wait to see more of it. I'll also be holding out for the release of its soundtrack which has been stuck in my head all evening.

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Along with 13 games!

The Xbox One might not have many exclusives to its name, but the biggest feature it has over the competition is backward compatibility. Starting tomorrow, that service won't be limited to just the Xbox 360 as Microsoft is bringing original Xbox games to the service. To make things better, two absolute classics are being brought over and I'm eager to jump back into ?the boots of Ryu Hayabusa.

The initial list contains the following 13 games:

• Black
• BloodRayne 2
• Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
• Dead to Rights
• Fuzion Frenzy
• Grabbed by the Ghoulies
• Ninja Gaiden Black
• Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
• Psychonauts
• Red Faction II
• Sid Meier’s Pirates!
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
• The King of Fighters Neowave

I'm surprised to see Dead to Rights and Fuzion Frenzy, since both of those games weren't even well received in their day. Still, getting Ninja Gaiden Black and Crimson Skies is fantastic, not to mention we'll be getting the best console port of Psychonauts and Sands of Time along with the knockout Knights of the Old Republic. There ar??e enough games here t??o last us until the next wave of Xbox classics reaches the XBone.

As previously mentioned at this year's E3, all digital purchases from the 360 marketplace will carry over and you can even use your original Xbox discs. No need to triple dip on purchases like a certain platformer holder (*cough* Sony *cough*). A??ll games will also render in 1080?p and have higher framerates alongside faster load times. Sounds like the best way to play Xbox games will be on Xbox One, moving forward.

First 13 Xbox backward com?patible games for Xbox One announced, available October 24 [Gematsu]

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Hey now

We've covered Koei Tecmo's huge Warriors crossover, Musou Stars here before with the hopes of an eventual Western release and thankfully they've come through. Featuring characters from franchises like Dynasty Warriors, Samurai Warriors, Ninja Gaiden, Dead or Alive, and Nioh, Warriors All-Stars (its Western title) already seems like?? a?? blast. 

Although it won't be releasing on PlayStation Vita here in the West, Warriors All-Stars will be available on PlayStation ??4 and PC in North America o?n August 29th and in Europe on September 1st. Pre-order bonuses from certain retailers (which store gets what costume has yet to be announced) can nab you specialty costumes with deeper crossovers like Marie Rose in my dude-a Opoona's outfit. 

Get your game on. Go play. 

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Featuring characters from various Koei Tecmo games

At the Tokyo Game Show, Koei Tecmo has announced that Omega Force is currently working on a new Musou game titled Musou Stars.

The game will feature characters from various Koei-published franchises, such as Sophie from Atelier Sophie, Ryu from Ninja Gaiden, and Kasumi from Dead or Alive.

Musou Stars is set for release next year in Japan, with ??a Western release currently unconfirmed at this point. You can view the trailer ??below:

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Hm

[Update: In a follow-up remark, Yamagishi said "I?? apologize for?? any confusion caused by this tweet. This new project does not relate to a new video game!"]

I think Ninja Gaiden II (the new one) gets more guff than it needs to. Sure, it wasn't Ninja Gaiden [Black], but what is? Even over a decade later very few games can match up to it. That includes Ninja Gaiden III, which deserves all that guff. 

Team Ninja is still doing decent work though with Nioh, which redeemed them in my eyes even just having tasted the alpha -- but what are they doing after that game ships in October? A new Gaiden, potentially. According to series composer Keiji Yamagishi, he is working on a "new project related to Ninja Gaiden, and will be able to share more informa?tion ?in July.

As one of Koei Tecmo's flagship franchises it would be idiotic to have it lay dormant, I just hope they take their time with it. Hell, maybe Itagaki can come back to some degree now that his studio seems to be in dire straits. Or, maybe the "related" part will come back to bite us, and it will be another character skin in a Warriors or Dead or Alive game.

Keiji Yamagishi [Twitter]

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I kinda liked Legendary

Developer of Legendary, Lost Planet 3, and Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z Spark Unlimited has closed up shop and laid off all of its st??aff after 13 years of game develop?ment.

As reported by Polygon, the company’s assets we??re found up for sale on liquidation sites. Shortly after, ?John Butrovich, the chief technical officer at Spark, confirmed the closure, saying that many of the staff will be continuing to work together on projects outside of game development.

According to Butrovich, the CEO of Spark – Craig Allen – left the company at the end of 2014 to “pursue other ventures and interests.” Those other interests may be film, as in 2014 Spark Unlimited produced a film called Nightmare Code, a strange move for a team known fo??r making kinda middling games.

It’s never cool to see a team laid off, and we hope all affected are able to find work soon. We will also never see a sequel to Legendary now, which absolutely breaks my heart.

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