Devil May Cry director hearts God of War, Ninja Gaiden not so much

by Randy Nelson { Sep 4th 2008 at 9:30PM }

There was a time – when he was working at Capcom, creating the likes of Resident Evil 2, Devil May Cry, and Viewtiful Joe – that Hideki Kamiya didn't say much. In fact, he hated doing interviews. Something's changed, because now that he's at Platinum Games, the historically low-key director is letting his true feelings out – about action games, at least.

Speaking to EGM, Kamiya said that, "I've never played Ninja Gaiden, and to be honest, I'm not that interested." Itagaki could not be reached for comment on whether or not he felt that epic burn.

So, what does the master designer actually like? God of War. "There's one game that I am paying really close attention to, that I think is a rival game, a good game, which is called God of War 3," he revealed, boasting, "I want to make a game that exceeds God of War's sequel." That game, he hopes, is his next: Bayonetta. In particular, Kamiya credits Sony's series with being "Very carefully made," saying, "Devil May Cry was a bit rough, but I think that there's no roughness in God of War." Pretty nice words, eh, Mr. Jaffe?

Tags: bayonetta, devil-may-cry, god-of-war, god-of-war-3, hideki-kamiya, ninja-gaiden, platinum-games

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

AlterEgo @ Sep 4th 2008 9:38PM

This could get ugly.

DangerMouse @ Sep 4th 2008 9:39PM

"I've never played Ninja Gaiden, and to be honest, I'm not that interested."

Funny, i felt the same way about Devil May Cry. Tried it anyway after all the buzz surrounding the game, and regretted it.

Mr.ESC @ Sep 4th 2008 9:56PM

Warning Fanboy Over-reaction Zone Up ahead..Aww Too late.

BananaBoat @ Sep 4th 2008 11:46PM

The original Devil May Cry was excellent, it's just the next 3 that suck extremely hard (4 is debatable, so I won't).

This guy played Ninja Gaiden, his team studied it extensively, and anyone claiming otherwise is a big fat phony =p

Roto13 @ Sep 5th 2008 1:30AM

I played 1 and 2 and I didn't particularly like them. But this is the guy who made Viewtiful Joe and Okami, so he's still one of the greatest game directors ever as far as I'm concerned. I'm definitely looking forward to Bayonetta.

atrimus @ Sep 4th 2008 9:40PM

hopefully Bayonetta's good, although the concept of your character having guns on her feet is rather...odd. still, the man's got taste when choosing rivals.

Titanium_Orchid @ Sep 4th 2008 9:48PM

I like the Itagaki burn as much as the next man but I think that Kamiya should play Ninja Gaiden to at least see what not to do.

Gehodra @ Sep 4th 2008 9:50PM

And what would that be?

AoE @ Sep 4th 2008 10:12PM

@Gehodra, see: the camera.

Don't get me wrong, I love the NG games... but that camera is as broken as a camera can be.

Titanium_Orchid @ Sep 4th 2008 10:16PM

Maybe make weapons feel less similar. I'm speaking in terms of what kind of/how much damage is dealt.

Design a cleaner camera system, or make fighting less dependent upon knowing what all the enemies on screen are doing at a given time (maybe something similar to Assassins' Creed fight mechanics)

Less linear levels

Larger areas to battle in if the player's character is supposed to be acrobatic

Spawn enemies in view of the camera or maybe allow the player to know, before hand, what kind/number of enemies he/she will encounter.

Maybe have a more complex fighting system, i.e. more button combinations.

Go the route of the new Prince of Persia and sacrifice the number of enemies a player encounters for a smaller, more in-depth fighting experience. This might defeat the purpose of a hank and slash style of game though.

rdj75 @ Sep 4th 2008 10:29PM

@ AoE

The only game that has worst camera issues that Ninja Gaiden is in fact Devil May Cry.

Noshino @ Sep 5th 2008 12:20PM

rdj,

yah, but Kamiya only worked on the first DMC...which came years before NG...

We should be paying attention to whether or not he improved the camera for Bayonetta, well, for what its worth, the camera angles used for both Okami and Viewtiful Joe were good and stylish

Hopper @ Sep 4th 2008 9:54PM

Itagaki did reply to Kamiya's comment in that same exact issue.

All I can remember of Itagaki's interview was something about world war 2 fighter planes though.

He's one odd man...

Arnon @ Sep 4th 2008 10:00PM

He was also drunk as hell off of Sake.

Noshino @ Sep 4th 2008 10:11PM

actually, in regards of Kamiya's comment about the genre not evolving since the first DMC, Itagaki said something about whether he has been asleep for 8 years

and about Kamiya not being interested on NG, well, Itagaki said that it was rather unfair, and he said that it is because he has played all the Tekken games that he criticizes the series

Itagaki can be a great man when not he isn't involved in fanboy wars, seriously, his view of the industry is amazing and, imo, spot on.

As for Kamiya's comment, I wouldn't really find it that insulting, his praise for GoW was for the game in general, NG's beauty isn't the environments(nor its camera..), is its fighting mechanics

But yah, I would agree that its comment about the 8 years of no change was out of place, that would even go against his own praise for GoW

Josh @ Sep 4th 2008 11:40PM

I'm pretty sure that Itagaki makes a point of always playing a game before criticizing it, though I don't have a source to back this up.

You know, the more I read about him, and despite his flaws, the more I'm ... what is it? Liking him? Well anyway, it's just that ... he seems to have a really good head on his shoulders, and it seems like he really understands the industry.

Again, despite his flaws, I really do respect the guy and what he says.

Josh @ Sep 4th 2008 11:47PM

Source in that EGM issue, September 2008, Number 232

and in Yaanu's comment right below:

Itagaki: "Yeah, I don't really think that's a fair stance to be coming from. I mean, I make it a point of commenting after I've played a game. I've played Tekken 1 through 5. I don't remember which was which, but I know I've played them all. So I heard Kamiya said something about the action genre not moving forward in eight years. Can you tell me more about that?"

Yeah, he always plays a game before talking about its quality.

KeenCommander @ Sep 4th 2008 9:56PM

I know Joystiq is totally in it for the lulz, but could we maybe have just a little bit more news among the taking jabs at people? Please?

Yaanu @ Sep 4th 2008 9:58PM

From the same EGM:

Itagaki: "...My daughter tried playing Okami, and she got sick of it pretty quickly--and I got sick of it too. And I'm not out to make this an Okami bashing session or anything--I'm just saying that it didn't feel like it had much of a spirit. It's unique, but it's not a powerful fighter plane."

EGM: "Ironically, regarding a certain action series that you've been involved with, Okami Director Hideki Kamiya said that he never played it because it didn't interest him in the least. He described it by saying 'You know how when you see a movie trailer, and you decide whether or not it interests you then or there? Well, the Ninja Gaiden games never caught my interest, so I never played them.'"

Itagaki: "Yeah, I don't really think that's a fair stance to be coming from. I mean, I make it a point of commenting after I've played a game. I've played Tekken 1 through 5. I don't remember which was which, but I know I've played them all. So I heard Kamiya said something about the action genre not moving forward in eight years. Can you tell me more about that?"

EGM: "He said that since he laid the groundwork for the modern 3D action game with Devil May Cry, nobody's done anything to push the genre forward, which he's very disappointed about. And that includes the follow-ups to the original Devil May Cry and pretty much every other action game since then, including yours."

Itagaki: "Was he asleep for eight years?"

EGM: "Probably not."

Itagaki: "There are two types of people out there who like to make controversial, splashy comments. There are those who are truely outspoken, and there are those who are just trying to cover up for their own weaknesses. We have a saying here in Japan--'the weaker dog barks more'--and I sincerely hope that he's not one of the latter. I would also like to remind him to make sure to stay awake for the next eight years."

...Man, that was a workout. I'm too lazy to scan it all, so I typed it out. I'm using Dvorak, too, so you better respect it.

j.howlett @ Sep 4th 2008 10:28PM

he's been barking for years

Immortal Technique PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Sep 4th 2008 10:37PM

thanks Yaanu

Roto13 @ Sep 5th 2008 1:33AM

I love that the man behind Dead or Alive is criticizing a game as beautiful as Okami for a lack of "spirit."

Zsavior @ Sep 5th 2008 1:55AM

I am going to stay out the way of this, these are to gods fighting. Both make great fun beat em games, both are great at there art and both have a point. I was also not to keen on Okami, but loved Viewtiful Joe and DMC. But I also saw problems there.

Same with Ninja Gaiden, I loved the game but some parts really got on my nerves. But I have to agree with Itagaki asking has he been asleep, Otogi alone tells me he isn't being straight or wanted to jab back after taking one to the nose.

Joe @ Sep 4th 2008 10:00PM

Ninja Gaiden is the best action game I've ever played. He really should check it out.

Rodrigo @ Sep 4th 2008 10:12PM

it looks like you have never played GOW ( God of war is the real GOW) before.

Joe @ Sep 4th 2008 11:07PM

I have and I stand by my statement :).

WRE @ Sep 5th 2008 3:15AM

Yeah, I never really got into God of War, either. I remember playing the first one and thinking, "Is that it?" Maybe it's because I had just finished Shadow of the Collossus and found it comparatively lackluster, but then maybe that's not an entirely fair assessment.

eldee @ Sep 4th 2008 10:00PM

I thought this article sounded familiar, I read it about a month ago in the ancient format known as Printed Magazines.

Rodrigo @ Sep 4th 2008 10:07PM

good luck mr capcom dude you are really going to need it. there is no one more badass than kratos.

SoulBlade @ Sep 4th 2008 10:07PM

Sigh... this reminded me that God of War 3 is coming and how I want it now.

j.howlett @ Sep 4th 2008 10:13PM

i like the current ninja gaiden series ok and respect it for what it does but it's not a game i enjoy. i started to make my way through the original and realised i wasn't enjoying it like i did other games. i had fun playing god of war, devil may cry, and god hand.

Immortal Technique PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Sep 4th 2008 11:05PM

I agree with you there j.howlett ...

When I play Ninja Gaiden it feels more like a chore than a fun and engrossing experience. Lets just be real here. Ninja Gaiden has no story -- at all. None. That's OK because NG does not charade its self as a story driven game. The only reason to enjoy NG is for the combat system which is very dated.

Games need to have more than just gameplay -- especially action titles -- but it is the combination of gameplay, story & graphics that makes God Of War stand out over DMC & NG.

I thought that DMC 4 was the best in the series and one of the better games on the PS3 & 360. The DMC story has always been cheesy but #4 had a much more serious tone than the previous iterations.

If I could pick a new action game to be made it would certainly be a new Onimusha game. One of my favorite series of all time.

Xoviet chiK @ Sep 4th 2008 10:43PM

Ninja Gaiden = greatest action game of all time. Ninja Gaiden II = greatest disappointment of this generation. Play the first if you get the chance, Kamiya-san... It's not so bad :D

Tyler Jones @ Sep 5th 2008 4:16AM

NG 2 was still a great game. Not omfg epic, but still buttloads of fun. I'd call Haze a much bigger flop than NG2 was.

I beat NG2, but come on, DMC4 was 1/2 a game that you had to play 2x. After beating 2 of the same bosses with dante that I had just killed with Nero, I gave it back to gamefly.

Maverick Saturn @ Sep 4th 2008 11:19PM

I like Ninja Gaiden loads, can't put a finger against it even with dodgy cam, but theres no way in hell it gives me the same entertainment I get from God of war, playing God of war makes me feel like a badass, playing NG makes me feel like a gamer, except when I'm hacking off heads, but theres only so much hacking you can do before everything gets a bit 'been there, done that'. Saying that, I would gladly switch on my 360 right now and indulge myself in somore of that head hacking :P

He should really try out NG, he hasn't directly slagged it off, so he shouldn't be attacked, he just says it doesn't interest him based on what he's seen, I can understnad that, the same way after playing DMC I had little excitment towards DMC4, to this date I have not touched DMC4 and have no motive to, DMC is great and all, but once you've played one, you've pretty much played them all, they don't change much.

But so far God of war 1 and 2 were the most action packed games I remember playing on PS2, Olympus was on my PSP and no doubt God of war 3 will be on my PS3. Can't wait to kick ass, bring on the trolls!

fred @ Sep 5th 2008 6:43PM

"DMC is great and all, but once you've played one, you've pretty much played them all, they don't change much."

I couldn't disagree more

I admit the controls between 3 and 4 are basically the same for Dante except making it so you can change styles on the go but really, each game brought major differences and improvements to the table. DMC the first had a balanced difficulty, had varied weapons, nice level design but suffered from a horrible button layout. The second DMC was really easy, had level design that could be considered a bit loose and all the melee weapons were the same but it introduced acrobatic moves and the wall run. It played completely differently from the first one. DMC 3 brought a different atmosphere, fighting styles, brought back the varied weapons of the first one, was hard as fuck etc. 4 introduced Nero's arm which, again, changes the game play significantly.

wall of text, srs business etc.

Mr.ESC @ Sep 4th 2008 11:30PM

Well I'll resume my feelings about this using a fragment from a Billy Joel Song.

"Nowadays you can't be too sentimental
You best bet's a true baby blue Continental"
Hot funk, cool punk, even if it's old junk
It's still rock and roll to me

Oh, it doesn't matter what they say in the papers
'Cause it's always been the same old scene
There's a new band in town
But you can't get the sound from a story in a magazine...
Aimed at your average teen"

I love Rock nd roll.

ComicShaman @ Sep 5th 2008 11:52AM

What's the matter with the games I'm playing?
-I can tell you're not hardcore enough
Maybe I should try some Ninja Gaiden
-No the combat there is way too tough

Don't you know about the new trend mister?
You do QTE's 'til you get a thumb blister

You slash guys
Gouge eyes
Even if the Devil Cries
They're still action games to me

Jacksons @ Sep 4th 2008 11:51PM

"He said that since he laid the groundwork for the modern 3D action game with Devil May Cry, nobody's done anything to push the genre forward, which he's very disappointed about."

Excuse me?

Ranus Studios @ Sep 5th 2008 1:08AM

I am not normally in the habit of Joystiq-bashing (it's usually unwarranted, and I don't even think I'm really bashing it here), but I'm glad I still subscribe to a game magazine or two; I read this article upwards of two months ago. It was an interesting issue altogether, actually. Still, I'm glad it was posted here, albeit late, for those who don't have a subscription.

dreadnought666 @ Sep 5th 2008 2:15AM

Ninja Gaiden is an outstanding game and he should definitely play it..............God of War is f****** epic and the best actions series I have ever played hands down.

Douche @ Sep 5th 2008 7:57AM

If he had chosen to play it, he would have realised that his combat system was a dull, superficial piece of shit.

Ninja Gaiden is capable of being both the most frustrating and satisfying game, and it has some questionable design decisions. But it still wipes the floor with DMC.

Vegnagun bwf @ Sep 5th 2008 9:29AM

It's amazing how quickly everyone forgets that taste in video games is subjective, and it doesn't matter which action title you thought was better, there is someone out there how will disagree.

Bitter Kevin @ Sep 5th 2008 9:54AM

It's extremely lame and fanboyish of Kamiya to have never played Ninja Gaiden, especially considering practically everyone called it the best action game in a long time. It definitely explains how the DMC series went to ****.

Maverick Saturn @ Sep 5th 2008 10:40AM

Dude, the man has his dislikes and likes, how the hell is it fanboyish if he says hes seen both in action and NG just doesn't interest him while GOW does?

People with individual minds make up thier own perception on games, we don't go by what other people said, if I look at something at it doesn't look that interesting, I won't bother with it, simple as that, don't critisize him for that, critisize him for the part where he says action games haven't moved forward if you must, but the other part we have all done at some stage. I am extremel sure you haven't been interested in every single game in the world that others have said was good otherwise you'd probably have all games in existance.