Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Dead or Alive 5 to use a DOA4-style four-point hold system]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/30/dead-or-alive-5-to-use-a-doa4-style-four-point-hold-system/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/30/dead-or-alive-5-to-use-a-doa4-style-four-point-hold-system/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/30/dead-or-alive-5-to-use-a-doa4-style-four-point-hold-system/#comments Ignoring any aesthetic peculiarities the franchise may be known for, the Dead or Alive series' calling card is its hold system, which allows players to counter incoming attacks and turn the tide of battle in their favor, provided they're skilled enough to do so.

Dead or Alive 5 will use a four-point hold system ala Dead or Alive 4 (high, mid-punch, mid-kick and low) rather than the three-point system (high, mid and low) used in Dead or Alive 3, director Yohei Shimbori revealed on Twitter. "Four-point holds work really well for game balance, but I was worried that beginners couldn't pull off mid kick holds," Shimbori tweeted. "But all of the feedback we got from players with the Alpha Demo gave me the final nudge to go with four-point."

The demo in question, distributed as a pre-order bonus and included in collector's editions of Ninja Gaiden 3, used a three-point grab system similar to Dead or Alive 3's. It's nice to know that Team Ninja still has time to think about DoA5's design from a balancing standpoint in between implementing costume-specific breast physics and integrating helicopter missiles into gameplay.

JoystiqDead or Alive 5 to use a DOA4-style four-point hold system originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-or-alive-5microsoftplaystationps3team-ninjaTecmo-KoeixboxYohei-ShimboriWed, 30 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kick Zack so hard his fro comes off in Dead or Alive 5]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/kick-zack-so-hard-his-fro-comes-off-in-dead-or-alive-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/kick-zack-so-hard-his-fro-comes-off-in-dead-or-alive-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/kick-zack-so-hard-his-fro-comes-off-in-dead-or-alive-5/#comments Image
The only thing worse than losing your fro mid-fight is getting run over by a tiger. In this match between Lei Fang and Zack in Dead or Alive 5, there's plenty of both.

JoystiqKick Zack so hard his fro comes off in Dead or Alive 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 May 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-or-alive-5lei-fangmicrosoftplaystationps3team-ninjaTecmoTecmo-KoeixboxzackThu, 24 May 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dead or Alive 5 has costume-specific breast physics]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/dead-or-alive-5-has-costume-specific-breast-physics/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/dead-or-alive-5-has-costume-specific-breast-physics/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/dead-or-alive-5-has-costume-specific-breast-physics/#comments Since the departure of Tomonobu Itagaki back in 2008, Team Ninja has attempted to shake its reputation as nothing but a stylish, sex-crazed gore factory. It attempted to give Ninja Gaiden's Ryu Hayabusa a softer side, for one. Only two months ago, Team Ninja head Yosuke Hayashi said Dead or Alive 5 will rise beyond "sex and violence," instead pursing "a direction that contains emotional experiences that can move players."

Now, in an interview with Famitsu, Hayashi has now revealed that Dead or Alive 5's voluptuous vixens will feature costume-specific breast physics. Furthermore, each costume will have varying levels of transparency. It sounds like a contradiction to Hayashi's previous statements ... that is, of course, until you realize that "move" is a very ambiguous term.

JoystiqDead or Alive 5 has costume-specific breast physics originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 May 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-or-alive-5microsoftplaystationps3team-ninjaTecmoTecmo-KoeixboxTue, 01 May 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ninja Gaiden 3's latest update brings Ultimate Ninja difficulty, demo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/ninja-gaiden-3s-latest-update-brings-ultimate-ninja-difficulty/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/ninja-gaiden-3s-latest-update-brings-ultimate-ninja-difficulty/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/ninja-gaiden-3s-latest-update-brings-ultimate-ninja-difficulty/#comments Image
Ninja Gaiden 3's difficulty-boosting update has landed, as has a demo for people who may still be on the fence after reading our less than glowing review. The "Ultimate Ninja" difficulty upgrade is free until May 24, although its related Ninja Trials and customization items will cost you - specifically, $9.99/800 MS Points for the whole kit and kaboodle.

Clan Battle multiplayer has also been updated with "an all-new shadow rule" and a higher level cap, changes ushered in via system update on the PS3 and through the downloadable "Ninja Pack 1 Lite" on the 360. Finally, the aforementioned single-player demo is available on both systems and features "all three weapons in a sample of the opening stage."

Continue reading Ninja Gaiden 3's latest update brings Ultimate Ninja difficulty, demo

JoystiqNinja Gaiden 3's latest update brings Ultimate Ninja difficulty, demo originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DLCmicrosoftninja-gaiden-3playstationps3team-ninjaTecmo-KoeiUltimate-NinjaxboxWed, 25 Apr 2012 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Ninja Gaiden 3 'Ninja Pack 2' DLC swings a big scythe today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/psa-ninja-gaiden-3-ninja-pack-2-dlc-swings-a-big-scythe-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/psa-ninja-gaiden-3-ninja-pack-2-dlc-swings-a-big-scythe-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/psa-ninja-gaiden-3-ninja-pack-2-dlc-swings-a-big-scythe-today/#comments
Swords are a bit too inefficient for our liking. We enjoy weapons that can kill dudes by the dozen in one massive, sweeping motion. The Ninja Gaiden 3 "Ninja Pack 2" DLC adds an enormous scythe to Ryu's arsenal and the multiplayer side of the game. There's also new armor and headgear, and 20 new trials to conquer, for 800 MS Points ($10) on Xbox Live and $9.99 on PSN.

Gallery: Ninja Gaiden 3 (DLC Weapons)

JoystiqPSA: Ninja Gaiden 3 'Ninja Pack 2' DLC swings a big scythe today originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcmicrosoftninja-gaiden-3ninja-pack-2playstationps3team-ninjaTecmo-KoeixboxTue, 17 Apr 2012 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Ninja Gaiden 3 review: To be blunt]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/ninja-gaiden-3-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/ninja-gaiden-3-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/ninja-gaiden-3-review/#comments Ninja Gaiden 3 is all murder and no execution. It places utmost importance on the periphery, neglecting the mechanisms of combat while splashing blood across the screen and desperately sniffing the air for just a hint of remorse from its protagonist. The franchise has never been more accessible as a result, and never more disposable.

Ninja Gaiden's internal clockwork is still in there somewhere, albeit stripped of intricacy. The speed and fluidity of movement abolishes the perceived distance between thought and on-screen reaction, and there's a pleasant cadence of killing injured foes, one by one, after you've hobbled them with a barrage of sword slashes. And the Izuna Drop, which lifts a dance partner into the air before spinning them headfirst into the earth, remains one of the best (and safest) moves in any action game. If you're supposed to feel bad about all the unrestrained killing, as Ryu is meant to after a curse turns his arm into a veiny vector for his victims, maybe it shouldn't be quite as much fun.

Gallery: Ninja Gaiden 3 (1/12/12)

Continue reading Ninja Gaiden 3 review: To be blunt

JoystiqNinja Gaiden 3 review: To be blunt originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftninja-gaiden-3playstationps3team-ninjaxboxTue, 27 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Metareview: Ninja Gaiden 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/metareview-ninja-gaiden-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/metareview-ninja-gaiden-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/metareview-ninja-gaiden-3/#comments Yikes, talk about a big bloody mess. Ninja Gaiden 3 missed the mark on a lot of the elements veterans expected from the series. Complaints include the game's notorious difficulty being diminished, compromised AI and -- maybe, worst of all -- that it's boring.
  • Game Informer (60/100): "Ninja Gaiden 3 is not a complete train wreck, but it does suffer from a multitude of problems. The action can be fast-paced and engaging at times, but many design decisions significantly bring down the experience. Dumbed-down A.I., a limited arsenal, the series' notoriously difficult camera, no inventory/currency system, and an incoherent story combine to make this the most disappointing title in the series."
  • Gamespot (55/100): "It does all the hard labor so that you don't have to. This forgettable action game may feed your bloodthirst, but the series' sharp edge has been dulled by Team Ninja's attempt to bring the master to the masses."
  • Games Radar (30/100): "Ninja Gaiden 3 has completely missed the point of everything that made the series great. Challenging combat, weapon variety, engaging enemies and the series' legendary difficulty have all been cut out in favor of a bland story, flashy finish moves, screen nukes, and button mashing. If you found Ninja Gaiden's difficulty to be a barrier to entry, this game's accessibility won't make it a more attractive option. If anything, it'll leave newcomers wondering what all the fuss was about."
  • IGN (30/100): "Ninja Gaiden 3 is a gash on the face of the franchise and one of the worst games the action genre has yet suffered. It has no consideration for its fans' wants or what a new audience may have enjoyed. It's a nightmare that's as easy as it is uninteresting, and it abandons what used to work for awful new ideas that don't work together. Under no circumstance should you ever waste your time on this self-indulgent and abysmal wreck. "

Gallery: Ninja Gaiden 3 (1/12/12)

JoystiqMetareview: Ninja Gaiden 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Metareviewmetareviewsmicrosoftninja-gaiden-3playstationps3Team-NinjatecmoTecmo-KoeixboxMon, 26 Mar 2012 08:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: More Virtua Fighters discovered in Dead or Alive 5's demo code]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/rumor-more-virtua-fighters-discovered-in-dead-or-alive-5s-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/rumor-more-virtua-fighters-discovered-in-dead-or-alive-5s-demo/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/rumor-more-virtua-fighters-discovered-in-dead-or-alive-5s-demo/#comments Waiting for characters to be announced is so 2011, you guys. Nowadays, hackers figure out a game's roster by themselves, using nothing but a demo and sheer willpower. According to neoGAF user Sectus, alternate costume data mined from the Dead or Alive 5 demo has revealed the fighter's entire character list.

Every character from Dead or Alive 4 supposedly returns, along with series newcomers Mila and Rig, and Virtua Fighter veterans Sarah Bryant and Pai Chan. Each character also has around 6 costumes, assuming this all checks out, of course. Jump past the break for the complete list of uncovered characters.

Continue reading Rumor: More Virtua Fighters discovered in Dead or Alive 5's demo code

JoystiqRumor: More Virtua Fighters discovered in Dead or Alive 5's demo code originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-or-alive-5DoA5microsoftpai-chanplaystationps3sarah-bryantTeam-NinjaTecmo-Koeivirtua-fighterxboxFri, 23 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[See Ninja Gaiden 3's new DLC weapons in action]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/see-ninja-gaiden-3s-new-dlc-weapons-in-action/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/see-ninja-gaiden-3s-new-dlc-weapons-in-action/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/see-ninja-gaiden-3s-new-dlc-weapons-in-action/#comments Ryu Hayabusa could probably kill demons with a toothbrush if he wanted. If any of the new weapons in this DLC pack are indeed toothbrushes, we worry about those teeth.

Continue reading See Ninja Gaiden 3's new DLC weapons in action

JoystiqSee Ninja Gaiden 3's new DLC weapons in action originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcgalleryimagesmicrosoftninja-gaidenninja-gaiden-3playstationps3ryu-hayabusateam-ninjatecmo-koeitrailerweaponsxboxTue, 20 Mar 2012 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Team Ninja unleashes a flurry of Ninja Gaiden 3 dev diaries]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/team-ninja-unleashes-a-flurry-of-ninja-gaiden-3-dev-diaries/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/team-ninja-unleashes-a-flurry-of-ninja-gaiden-3-dev-diaries/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/team-ninja-unleashes-a-flurry-of-ninja-gaiden-3-dev-diaries/#comments
A good ninja must be able to take on many opponents at once. A good Joystiq reader must be able to watch a bunch of Ninja Gaiden 3 developer diary videos.

Continue reading Team Ninja unleashes a flurry of Ninja Gaiden 3 dev diaries

JoystiqTeam Ninja unleashes a flurry of Ninja Gaiden 3 dev diaries originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftninja-gaiden-3playstationps3team-ninjatecmo-koeixboxTue, 20 Mar 2012 04:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ninja Gaiden 3 getting free DLC weapons, multiplayer stages]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/17/ninja-gaiden-3-getting-free-dlc-weapons-multiplayer-stages/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/17/ninja-gaiden-3-getting-free-dlc-weapons-multiplayer-stages/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/17/ninja-gaiden-3-getting-free-dlc-weapons-multiplayer-stages/#comments Following Ninja Gaiden 3's launch next week, Tecmo Koei will release some post-launch goodies: four different pieces of free DLC content. According to Famitsu, these include two new weapons and two new stages for multiplayer.

The Eclipse Scythe and Moukinsou are a -- well, the scythe is a giant scythe. The Moukinsou are some giant claws that Ryu Hayabusa equips to his arms and legs. While the scythe is slow and powerful, the claws make for much more versatile and combo-heavy attacks.

Clan Battle, Ninja Gaiden 3's four-versus-four online multiplayer mode, will be bolstered by two additional stages: a desert-themed locale and perhaps the most iconic stage of battle for the ninja, a submarine. We can't tell you how many epic ninja battles we've seen go down several leagues under the sea, in a metal tube. It happens all the time.

Tecmo has yet to announce the release date of the above content.

JoystiqNinja Gaiden 3 getting free DLC weapons, multiplayer stages originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcmicrosoftninja-gaiden-3playstationps3team-ninjatecmo-koeixboxSat, 17 Mar 2012 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ayane whomps Hitomi in this new DOA5 trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/ayane-whomps-hitomi-in-this-new-doa5-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/ayane-whomps-hitomi-in-this-new-doa5-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/ayane-whomps-hitomi-in-this-new-doa5-trailer/#comments
Team Ninja's Yosuke Hayashi said that he and his team would be toning down the Dead or Alive franchise's trademark dependance on sex and violence, and from this trailer we're actually starting to believe it. It's still violent, sure, but Hitomi and Ayane almost look like human females.

Continue reading Ayane whomps Hitomi in this new DOA5 trailer

JoystiqAyane whomps Hitomi in this new DOA5 trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 03:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ayanedead-or-alive-5DoA5hitomimicrosoftplaystationps3team-ninjaTecmo-KoeitrailerxboxFri, 16 Mar 2012 03:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Ninja Gaiden 3 to require online pass [Update: Confirmed!]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/gamefly-ninja-gaiden-3-to-require-online-pass/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/gamefly-ninja-gaiden-3-to-require-online-pass/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/gamefly-ninja-gaiden-3-to-require-online-pass/#comments To become a ninja, one must learn -- the deadly arts of war, for example. Or how to wear those weird socks. Stuff like that.

You can't be any geek off the street, and so Tecmo-Koei has decided to lock the online multiplayer of Ninja Gaiden 3 behind an online pass. So says a listing on Gamefly warning potential renters of Ninja Gaiden 3, anyway. Update: It's confirmed! Ninja Gaiden 3 will have an online pass, a Tecmo Koei representative has confirmed with Joystiq.

We've sent our silent inquisitors to Tecmo Koei to secure confirmation on the matter. We'll let you know what we hear back.

[Thanks, Josh!]

JoystiqNinja Gaiden 3 to require online pass [Update: Confirmed!] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gameflykoeimicrosoftninja-gaiden-3online-passplaystationps3team-ninjatecmotecmo-koeixboxTue, 06 Mar 2012 14:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Virtua Fighter's Akira playable in Dead or Alive 5]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/05/virtua-fighters-akira-playable-in-dead-or-alive-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/05/virtua-fighters-akira-playable-in-dead-or-alive-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/05/virtua-fighters-akira-playable-in-dead-or-alive-5/#comments
Fighting crossovers are all the rage these days, it seems. In a very unexpected announcement, Sega and Tecmo have revealed that one of Virtua Fighter's most iconic characters, Akira Yuki, will be playable in Dead or Alive 5.

The crossing of Dead or Alive and Virtua Fighter would once have been considered anathema, laughable even. The good people at Sega and Tecmo seem to be aware of this, and have thus released a trailer along with the announcement (complete with stun palm of doom). Behold it above and believe.

Now, if someone could just whip up another Fighters Megamix, we'd be all set.

JoystiqVirtua Fighter's Akira playable in Dead or Alive 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-or-alive-5microsoftplaystationps3team-ninjatecmotecmo-koeixboxMon, 05 Mar 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Five straight minutes of Ryu Hayabusa messing dudes up in Ninja Gaiden 3, right here]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/five-straight-minutes-of-ryu-hayabusa-messing-dudes-up-in-ninja/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/five-straight-minutes-of-ryu-hayabusa-messing-dudes-up-in-ninja/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/five-straight-minutes-of-ryu-hayabusa-messing-dudes-up-in-ninja/#comments
Starting your morning with a murderous ninja (is there any other kind?) feels so right, especially when a giant flame dragon is involved. The five minutes of gameplay from Ninja Gaiden 3 seen above deliver on all of that and so, so much more. Bonus: We've dropped an extra Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus trailer just below.

Continue reading Five straight minutes of Ryu Hayabusa messing dudes up in Ninja Gaiden 3, right here

JoystiqFive straight minutes of Ryu Hayabusa messing dudes up in Ninja Gaiden 3, right here originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gameplaymicrosoftninja-gaiden-3nintendoplaystationplaystation-vitaps3team-ninjatecmo-koeivitawii-uxboxFri, 17 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hayashi: Team Ninja taming its 'sex and violence' image in DoA 5]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/hayashi-team-ninja-taming-its-sex-and-violence-image-in-doa-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/hayashi-team-ninja-taming-its-sex-and-violence-image-in-doa-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/hayashi-team-ninja-taming-its-sex-and-violence-image-in-doa-5/#comments Team Ninja boss Yosuke Hayashi says the studio's perspective has changed since Tomonobu Itagaki left in a huff in 2008, and even though most of its 200 staff are original team members, Hayashi is calling them his "new team." The most obvious shift is the new team's focus on creating an emotional experience, rather than eye candy, Hayashi tells Gamasutra.

"The old team was known for making games that just had two primary elements: Sex and violence," Hayashi says. "It was very obvious. The new team, we want to take it to a new level -- to a direction that contains emotional experiences that can move players."

That's right -- Team Ninja wasn't emotionally invested in all the sexy gameplay you had together, and now it's looking for something more meaningful. Hayashi may find his new, more mature gaming experience in a Dead or Alive crossover with Virtua Fighter, a la Street Fighter X Tekken, Edge reports.

"In terms of collaboration titles, there are staff on our team who just love fighting games and if there was any chance to do that we'd actively, possibly do that," Hayashi says.

"The first 3D game I played was Virtua Fighter; that's the IP I respect most. Virtua Fighter was the father of 3D gaming, so it's very well respected."

For now, one thing's certain: The women in Dead or Alive 5 will be more respectable, well-rounded (emotionally) than in previous titles. "We've always had the sex factor in the game; in the past, the female characters had to have big breasts, they had to have scanty dress," Hayashi says. "In DoA 5 especially, we're trying to focus on the real women that surround us: the voice of a female, the mannerisms. We are being realistic about it."

JoystiqHayashi: Team Ninja taming its 'sex and violence' image in DoA 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-or-alive-5hayashiItagakimicrosoftplaystationps3sextamingTeam-Ninjatomonobu-itagakiviolencewomenxboxyosuke-hayashiTue, 14 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ninja Gaiden 3 dev diary reasserts seriousness of ninja game development]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/ninja-gaiden-3-dev-diary-reasserts-seriousness-of-ninja-game-dev/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/ninja-gaiden-3-dev-diary-reasserts-seriousness-of-ninja-game-dev/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/ninja-gaiden-3-dev-diary-reasserts-seriousness-of-ninja-game-dev/#comments
Worried that the now Itagaki-less Team Ninja isn't still super, super serious about making a Ninja Gaiden game? The latest dev diary for Ninja Gaiden 3 should more than suffice at changing your mind.

JoystiqNinja Gaiden 3 dev diary reasserts seriousness of ninja game development originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-diarydeveloper-diarykoeimicrosoftninja-gaiden-3nintendoplaystationps3team-ninjatecmotecmo-koeiwii-uxboxMon, 23 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus screens have a delicate touch]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/ninja-gaiden-sigma-plus-screens-have-a-delicate-touch/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/ninja-gaiden-sigma-plus-screens-have-a-delicate-touch/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/ninja-gaiden-sigma-plus-screens-have-a-delicate-touch/#comments When Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus launches alongside the PlayStation Vita late next month, its trademark difficulty level will likely be responsible for hundred of broken handhelds. We recommend preparing yourself ahead of time by pantomime touching these screenshots and studying the Ninpo magic within.

Continue reading Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus screens have a delicate touch

JoystiqNinja Gaiden Sigma Plus screens have a delicate touch originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ninja-gaidenninja-gaiden-sigma-plusplaystationplaystation-vitateam-ninjatecmovitaSun, 22 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Here's the Ninja Gaiden 3 collector's edition (with bonus screenshots)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/heres-the-ninja-gaiden-3-collectors-edition-with-bonus-screen/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/heres-the-ninja-gaiden-3-collectors-edition-with-bonus-screen/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/heres-the-ninja-gaiden-3-collectors-edition-with-bonus-screen/#comments There probably isn't a person alive who hasn't, at some point in their life, enjoyed the sight of a ninja flipping out and killing a bunch of dudes. It's universal, like how everyone enjoys warm blankets or shooting firearms. There's a special kind of person, however, that also has an affinity for extreme, debilitating punishment, which is why Ninja Gaiden 3 exists.

NG3's collector's edition, which we first caught wind of last December, includes the game, an art book, a soundtrack, a figure set of Ryu Hayabusa and an eventual murder victim, as well as a download voucher for a four-character demo of Dead of Alive 5. Non-collector's edition pre-orders placed at Gamestop and Amazon will include a code for a two-character demo of DOA5, with Gamestop's demo including Hayabusa and Hitomi, and Amazon's featuring Ayane and Hayate (the four-character version includes both Amazon and GameStop's characters).

The collector's edition will be available exclusively at Gamestop, indicating that Tecmo Koei truly understands the unique relationship it has with its players.

Gallery: Ninja Gaiden 3 (1/12/12)

Continue reading Here's the Ninja Gaiden 3 collector's edition (with bonus screenshots)

JoystiqHere's the Ninja Gaiden 3 collector's edition (with bonus screenshots) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazoncollectors-editiongamestopkoeimicrosoftNG3ninja-gaiden-3playstationpre-orderps3team-ninjatecmoTecmo-KoeixboxThu, 12 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ninja Gaiden 3 multiplayer footage kills so many ninjas]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/ninja-gaiden-3-multiplayer-footage-kills-so-many-ninjas/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/ninja-gaiden-3-multiplayer-footage-kills-so-many-ninjas/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/ninja-gaiden-3-multiplayer-footage-kills-so-many-ninjas/#comments
Here's a video montage of Ninja Gaiden 3's multiplayer mode. As someone who's played it, I can say this video sums up my experience pretty well. I stabbed dudes; dudes stabbed me; occasionally I stabbed myself. Sometimes honor is more important than breathing.

JoystiqNinja Gaiden 3 multiplayer footage kills so many ninjas originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmultiplayerninja-gaiden-3playstationps3team-ninjatecmotecmo-koeixboxThu, 12 Jan 2012 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus added to North America's Vita launch lineup]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/ninja-gaiden-sigma-plus-added-to-north-americas-vita-launch-lin/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/ninja-gaiden-sigma-plus-added-to-north-americas-vita-launch-lin/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/ninja-gaiden-sigma-plus-added-to-north-americas-vita-launch-lin/#comments When the PlayStation Vita launches in North America on February 22, it'll be accompanied by a familiar face, obscured by a familiar facemask. Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus, the Vita revamp of the PS3 revamp of the Xbox reboot of the NES/arcade series, will be available at launch.

This version adds the simplified "Hero Mode," and promises additional difficulty settings for hardcore players beyond Normal and Hard. There are also some new Vita-specific control options: players will be able to target enemies for projectiles using the gyro sensor, and launch Ninpo magic with the rear touch pad. The Mission Mode has been expanded with new "Ninja Trials," forcing specific conditions like exclusive use of projectiles.

Gallery: Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus (1/6/12)

Continue reading Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus added to North America's Vita launch lineup

JoystiqNinja Gaiden Sigma Plus added to North America's Vita launch lineup originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ninja-Gaiden-Sigmaninja-gaiden-sigma-plusplaystationplaystation-vitateam-ninjatecmo-koeivitaFri, 06 Jan 2012 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Becoming a ninja in Ninja Gaiden 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/becoming-a-ninja-in-ninja-gaiden-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/becoming-a-ninja-in-ninja-gaiden-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/becoming-a-ninja-in-ninja-gaiden-3/#comments The idea of multiplayer in Ninja Gaiden 3 is not something I was all too excited about. I'm a big fan of the Ninja Gaiden series, but multiplayer? It just didn't seem like a good idea. Imagine my surprise, then, when I actually had fun sampling Ninja Gaiden 3's additional mode.

Gallery: Ninja Gaiden 3 (Online Multiplayer)

Continue reading Becoming a ninja in Ninja Gaiden 3

JoystiqBecoming a ninja in Ninja Gaiden 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftninja-gaiden-3playstationps3team-ninjatecmo-koeixboxMon, 12 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dead or Alive 5 screens aren't afraid to bust a gut or two]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/08/dead-or-alive-5-screens-arent-afraid-to-bust-a-gut-or-two/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/08/dead-or-alive-5-screens-arent-afraid-to-bust-a-gut-or-two/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/08/dead-or-alive-5-screens-arent-afraid-to-bust-a-gut-or-two/#comments There's nothing quite like watching a teenage girl gut punch a hardcore-looking ninja lady. And Team Ninja clearly knows that, showcasing as much in the latest volley of screens from Dead or Alive 5.

Continue reading Dead or Alive 5 screens aren't afraid to bust a gut or two

JoystiqDead or Alive 5 screens aren't afraid to bust a gut or two originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ayanedead-or-alive-5hitomimicrosoftplaystationps3team-ninjatecmotecmo-koeixboxThu, 08 Dec 2011 13:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Here's what Ninja Gaiden 3's multiplayer looks like]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/heres-what-ninja-gaiden-3s-multiplayer-looks-like/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/heres-what-ninja-gaiden-3s-multiplayer-looks-like/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/heres-what-ninja-gaiden-3s-multiplayer-looks-like/#comments We know, we know -- the gallery below isn't quite a trailer showing off Ninja Gaiden 3's new multiplayer mode, but it is the first we've seen of the four vs four competitive slicer. Head past the break -- carefully -- to take a peek.

Continue reading Here's what Ninja Gaiden 3's multiplayer looks like

JoystiqHere's what Ninja Gaiden 3's multiplayer looks like originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmultiplayerninja-gaiden-3nintendoonlineonline-multiplayerplaystationps3team-ninjatecmotecmo-koeiwii-uxboxWed, 07 Dec 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ninja Gaiden 3 leaps to retail in March 2012]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/ninja-gaiden-3-silently-leaps-from-the-shadows-of-development-to/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/ninja-gaiden-3-silently-leaps-from-the-shadows-of-development-to/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/ninja-gaiden-3-silently-leaps-from-the-shadows-of-development-to/#comments We've got good news and we've got bad news, folks. Let's start with the good: Ninja Gaiden 3 will arrive on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 next March, with a Wii U version to follow at some point after that. Team Ninja head Yosuke Hayashi told as much to a crowd of journalists in San Francisco this afternoon, according to our reporter on the ground.

Now, friends, the bad news: despite a new easy mode, and the notorious absence of a known masochist at the helm, we're still quite confident that Ninja Gaiden 3 is gonna be super duper hard. Like, way hard. Maybe you haven't played the other two? 'Cause they're both pretty hard games, guys.

JoystiqNinja Gaiden 3 leaps to retail in March 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftninja-gaiden-3nintendoplaystationps3q1-2012release-dateteam-ninjatecmotecmo-koeiwii-uxboxyosuke-hayashiWed, 07 Dec 2011 17:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Ninja Gaiden Sigma comes to Vita in Japan this February]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/ninja-gaiden-sigma-comes-to-vita-in-japan-this-february/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/ninja-gaiden-sigma-comes-to-vita-in-japan-this-february/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/ninja-gaiden-sigma-comes-to-vita-in-japan-this-february/#comments Team Ninja's PlayStation Vita update of Ninja Gaiden Sigma will arrive in Japan this February, according to the latest issue of Famitsu. Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus is augmented with Ninja Gaiden 3's "Hero Mode," which assists players in experiencing the story by giving Ryu auto-block and auto-dodge. Understanding the story remains a challenge left to the player.

If the port is ready for release in Japan by February, there's a good chance it'll end up as a launch or launch window title in the rest of the world. The localization was completed years ago, after all.

According to Famitsu, Sigma Plus will be priced at a challenging ¥6,090 ($79) in Japan. Yes, Japanese game prices are nuts.

Gallery: Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus (PS Vita)

JoystiqNinja Gaiden Sigma comes to Vita in Japan this February originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>japanNinja-Gaiden-Sigmaninja-gaiden-sigma-plusplaystationplaystation-vitarelease-dateteam-ninjatecmo-koeivitaTue, 29 Nov 2011 09:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Ninja Gaiden 3 screens leave quite the mess]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/ninja-gaiden-3-screens-leave-quite-the-mess/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/ninja-gaiden-3-screens-leave-quite-the-mess/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/ninja-gaiden-3-screens-leave-quite-the-mess/#comments Ryu is pretty great at slashing and stabbing, this much we can all agree on. But who cleans up the mess afterward? Magical demon blood-scrubbing fairies? Would it kill you to pick up a mop every now and then, Hayabusa?

Continue reading Ninja Gaiden 3 screens leave quite the mess

JoystiqNinja Gaiden 3 screens leave quite the mess originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 04:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftninja-gaiden-3playstationps3team-ninjatecmotecmo-koeixboxThu, 17 Nov 2011 04:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge to launch alongside Wii U]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/ninja-gaiden-3-to-launch-alongside-wii-u/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/ninja-gaiden-3-to-launch-alongside-wii-u/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/ninja-gaiden-3-to-launch-alongside-wii-u/#comments What Ryu lookin' at? As part of its financial results, Tecmo shared plans for its upcoming titles. As discovered by Andriasang, of particular interest is the company's launch plan for Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge for Wii U, which is based on the Xbox 360/PS3 release. According to the presentation materials, Ryu Hayabusa's tablet-powered adventure will arrive alongside the Wii U launch, which is slated for sometime after April next year.

We can't be certain but - dismemberment or no - we're fairly confident that it will be the most violent title ever to launch with a Nintendo console.

JoystiqNinja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge to launch alongside Wii U originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ninja-gaiden-3ninja-gaiden-3-razors-edgenintendoteam-ninjatecmowii-uFri, 11 Nov 2011 11:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Team Ninja dragon out new Ninja Gaiden 3 screens]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/team-ninja-dragon-out-new-ninja-gaiden-3-screens/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/team-ninja-dragon-out-new-ninja-gaiden-3-screens/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/team-ninja-dragon-out-new-ninja-gaiden-3-screens/#comments Team Ninja didn't offer any information when it silently deployed these new Ninja Gaiden 3 screens, aside from some background about Ryu's curse, so we can't say for certain what's going on. Is that fire dragon a Ninpo attack? A transformation? A boss? Whatever it is, it's pretty.

What's not so pretty is Ryu's arm. It turns out that, when not surrounded by an aura of blood, Ryu's newly cursed arm is just covered with gross veins or something. Good thing Ryu doesn't ever stand still long enough for us to get a good look at him while playing.

Gallery: Ninja Gaiden 3 (11/2/11)

JoystiqTeam Ninja dragon out new Ninja Gaiden 3 screens originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftninja-gaiden-3playstationps3team-ninjatecmo-koeixboxWed, 02 Nov 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dead or Alive 5 dishes out another round between Ryu and Hayate]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/dead-or-alive-5-dishes-out-another-round-between-ryu-and-hayate/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/dead-or-alive-5-dishes-out-another-round-between-ryu-and-hayate/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/dead-or-alive-5-dishes-out-another-round-between-ryu-and-hayate/#comments
Team Ninja has released the second round of its pre-alpha Dead of Alive 5 showcase. The construction site becomes a destruction fight, with Ryu knocking poor Hayate right into an ongoing car crash. A vehicle hasn't been this useful since the Daytona car made it into Fighters Megamix.

JoystiqDead or Alive 5 dishes out another round between Ryu and Hayate originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-or-alive-5fightingmicrosoftplaystationps3team-ninjatecmotecmo-koeixboxThu, 06 Oct 2011 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ninja Gaiden 3's 'Hero Mode' allows more players to experience the story]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/ninja-gaiden-3s-hero-mode-allows-more-players-to-experience-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/ninja-gaiden-3s-hero-mode-allows-more-players-to-experience-t/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/ninja-gaiden-3s-hero-mode-allows-more-players-to-experience-t/#comments Ninja Gaiden 3 is Team Ninja's first full Gaiden game post-Itagaki, and it looks like things are progressing a little differently. For one thing, it's got a sort of easy mode called "Hero Mode," which adds automatic dodging and blocking of most normal attacks, to which I can imagine Itagaki's head shaking, making waves in a cloud of cigarette smoke.

I asked director Fumihiko Yasuda (who also did design work on Sigma 2) about why such a ... friendly mode would appear in such a typically unfriendly series.

"We really wanted to flesh out the story this time around," Yasuda said, "so we wanted people to enjoy that story and get used to the game as it is. In the past the games were really hardcore and we couldn't get players to stay with us and complete the game." Team Ninja is "redefining" Hayabusa's image, and wants people to experience that whole story without dying over and over again or throwing the game into the disposal in frustration.

Continue reading Ninja Gaiden 3's 'Hero Mode' allows more players to experience the story

JoystiqNinja Gaiden 3's 'Hero Mode' allows more players to experience the story originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fumihiko-yasudamicrosoftninja-gaidenninja-gaiden-3playstationps3team-ninjatecmo-koeitgs-2011xboxyosuke-hayashiTue, 20 Sep 2011 09:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Hayashi: Ninja Gaiden 3's dismemberment-free gameplay adds meaning to the violence]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/18/hayashi-ninja-gaiden-3s-dismemberment-free-gameplay-adds-meani/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/18/hayashi-ninja-gaiden-3s-dismemberment-free-gameplay-adds-meani/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/18/hayashi-ninja-gaiden-3s-dismemberment-free-gameplay-adds-meani/#comments Ninja Gaiden 3 won't feature the frequent decapitations and other freeform dismemberment of its predecessors. You may think of this as softening the impact of the violence in Team Ninja's famously brutal series, but it's intended to be quite the opposite. In fact, if anything, Team Ninja lead Yosuke Hayashi made it sound even more sadistic.

"For Ninja Gaiden 3," Hayashi told me, "we wanted to focus on the act of cutting someone down, and what it's like to actually kill someone with a sword. Once you start lopping off limbs, your enemy goes from being a living thing that you're killing to just a thing."

And to hammer the point home (or katana the point home, if you prefer) that these are real human beings you're flipping out and killing, he continued. "When you're actually cutting into a person, and you feel them getting scared, and the blood is spraying right on you, you hear their dying breaths in your ear -- that's the kind of visceral violence we're going for in Ninja Gaiden 3." In the demo level I played, by the way, the enemy soldiers start pleading for their lives as soon as you begin attacking them.

At this point you might think, as I did, that you're going to start feeling guilty about cutting into all these bodies. That's ... kind of the idea. "Ryu Hayabusa is a dark hero," Hayashi explained. "If people want to take the easy way out or a cleaner way out -- not killing people -- that's not what the story is about and what Ryu Hayabusa is about. To be a dark hero, you have to do bad things in order to do good."

Gallery: Ninja Gaiden 3 (Tokyo Game Show 2011)

JoystiqHayashi: Ninja Gaiden 3's dismemberment-free gameplay adds meaning to the violence originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 18 Sep 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftninja-gaidenninja-gaiden-3playstationps3team-ninjatecmo-koeitgs-2011xboxyosuke-hayashiSun, 18 Sep 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New Ninja Gaiden 3 trailer, details on 'world of ninjas' multiplayer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/new-ninja-gaiden-3-trailer-details-on-world-of-ninjas-multipl/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/new-ninja-gaiden-3-trailer-details-on-world-of-ninjas-multipl/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/new-ninja-gaiden-3-trailer-details-on-world-of-ninjas-multipl/#comments During its pre-TGS event, Team Ninja lifted the veil (or mask) over Ninja Gaiden 3's competitive multiplayer mode. The mode will connect up to eight players in a sort of ninja tournament, in which the goal is to beat all the other ninjas, rank up and ultimately surpass Ryu Hayabusa. It's a "world of ninjas," as online engineer Ueda put it.

At the event, producer Yosuke Hayashi also introduced the new "play style system." In addition to the normal and hard difficulty levels, Ninja Gaiden 3 offers a choice of two "play styles," Ninja and Hero. Ninja is the familiar style of gameplay, but Hero adds things like auto-block and auto-dodge, to let new players just "enjoy the story." That is, the story of a blood-crazed, cursed ninja putting swords into people. This system is also being added to the Vita release of Ninja Gaiden Sigma.

After the break: the latest, anguished trailer for Ninja Gaiden 3.

Gallery: Ninja Gaiden 3 (Tokyo Game Show 2011)

Continue reading New Ninja Gaiden 3 trailer, details on 'world of ninjas' multiplayer

JoystiqNew Ninja Gaiden 3 trailer, details on 'world of ninjas' multiplayer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftninja-gaiden-3ninja-gaiden-sigmaplaystationplaystation-vitaps3team-ninjatgs-2011vitaxboxWed, 14 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dead or Alive 5 in development, heading to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2012]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/dead-or-alive-5-in-development-headed-to-playstation-3-and-xbox/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/dead-or-alive-5-in-development-headed-to-playstation-3-and-xbox/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/dead-or-alive-5-in-development-headed-to-playstation-3-and-xbox/#comments
There's a brand new Dead or Alive game in development, and it's heading to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Team Ninja head Yosuke Hayashi offered "a glimpse in the future" of the DOA franchise during tonight's TGS 2011 Tecmo event, during which he asked that we shut off all recording equipment (thus the lack of a thrilling image above).

In a teaser trailer of a pre-Alpha (read: very early) build of Dead or Alive 5, Ninja Gaiden's Ryu Hayabusa faces off against rival Hayate on top of a brightly lit urban area -- perhaps the Shibuya digs we're currently writing this from? Hayashi teased dramatic new levels, and even went as far as to call the game "fighting entertainment," rather than "just a fighting game." (Note: It's a fighting game.)

Update: We've added the first teaser trailer above and a ... tantalizing image just after the break. Keep it cool, big guy!

Continue reading Dead or Alive 5 in development, heading to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2012

JoystiqDead or Alive 5 in development, heading to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 08:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dead-or-alive-5microsoftplaystationps3team-ninjatecmotecmo-koeitgstgs-2011xboxyosuke-hayashiWed, 14 Sep 2011 08:54:00 EST<![CDATA[New Ninja Gaiden 3 screens will cut you in half]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/04/new-ninja-gaiden-3-screens-will-cut-you-in-half/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/04/new-ninja-gaiden-3-screens-will-cut-you-in-half/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/04/new-ninja-gaiden-3-screens-will-cut-you-in-half/#comments The Japanese website for Ninja Gaiden 3 has emerged from the inky blackness of the internet, brandishing a finely honed blade and silently moving through the night, all the while tossing shurikens and newly forged screenshots into our cerebral cortexes.

Continue reading New Ninja Gaiden 3 screens will cut you in half

JoystiqNew Ninja Gaiden 3 screens will cut you in half originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 04 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftninja-gaidenninja-gaiden-3playstationps3screenshotsteam-ninjatecmoxboxSun, 04 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Team Ninja will consider Vita game following Ninja Gaiden 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/team-ninja-will-consider-vita-game-following-ninja-gaiden-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/team-ninja-will-consider-vita-game-following-ninja-gaiden-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/team-ninja-will-consider-vita-game-following-ninja-gaiden-3/#comments A Ninja Gaiden game for PlayStation Vita remains an immaterial idea while Team Ninja gets Ninja Gaiden 3 ready for its 2012 launch. The developer has received a PlayStation Vita system to test and eventually chop in half mid-air, in an incredibly expensive variant of Fruit Ninja, but hasn't progressed beyond the consideration phase.

"We've received a PlayStation Vita system and are thinking about it," said team lead Yosuke Hayashi in a recent PlayStation Q&A. "Having said that, right now we're focused on Ninja Gaiden 3 for PS3, and after that's complete we'll start to look at ideas such as bringing out Ninja Gaiden on PS Vita because of course we'd like to expand the series."

Alright, let's toss in another concept tinged with "of course." Beyond the Wii U port (and planned 3DS game), Team Ninja will need some way to sell at least one more iteration of its latest Ninja Gaiden game. A Vita port mashed up with a Greek letter seems like a solid alpha bet.

JoystiqTeam Ninja will consider Vita game following Ninja Gaiden 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 27 Aug 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ninja-gaiden-3playstationplaystation-vitaps-vitapspsonyteam-ninjavitayosuke-hayashiSat, 27 Aug 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ninja Gaiden 3 will be compatible with PlayStation Move]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/ninja-gaiden-3-will-be-compatible-with-playstation-move/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/ninja-gaiden-3-will-be-compatible-with-playstation-move/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/ninja-gaiden-3-will-be-compatible-with-playstation-move/#comments Ninja Gaiden 3's obsession with conveying the feel of a katana -- while it slices the flesh off a man's bones -- is now supplemented with another vicarious attack. What does it feel like when a glowing, squishy ball bounces off a skull?

Team Ninja has announced PlayStation Move support for the PS3 version of Ninja Gaiden 3, presumably enabling spirited swings and forceful bops in your offensive arsenal. Studio lead Yosuke Hayashi claims that it will "bring players even closer to the game's protagonist Ryu Hayabusa," which is a particularly unfortunate occurrence if you also happen to be a generic soldier, a demon, an evil ninja or ... anything that's alive, really.

Ninja Gaiden 3 is set to slice up PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 owners in early 2012. A Wii U version is also in the works.

Continue reading Ninja Gaiden 3 will be compatible with PlayStation Move

JoystiqNinja Gaiden 3 will be compatible with PlayStation Move originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamescom-2011microsoftninja-gaiden-3playstationplaystation-moveps3team-ninjatecmoxboxyosuke-hayashiWed, 17 Aug 2011 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Ninja Gaiden 3 preview: The evolution of mammals]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/ninja-gaiden-3-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/ninja-gaiden-3-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/ninja-gaiden-3-preview/#comments When I asked Ninja Gaiden 3 lead Fumihiko Yasuda how the protagonist was able to glide through the air with nothing more than a black, skin-tight suit, I committed the sin of dragging logic into a discussion that was utterly incompatible with it. Ryu Hayabusa can fly because he's a ninja, and that's an axiom you'll just have to accept.

The legitimate mystery is why an army of hapless (and soon-to-be-headless) soldiers would stomp all the way through the brutally extracted entrails of their comrades, and still insist on fighting an enraged man who literally just flew in. The gushing violence signals a welcome change from Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2's purple energy nonsense and comes across as silly and satisfying, rather than OH GROSS. Hayabusa's sword never seems to clip through enemy bodies so much as it slides and scrapes through them.

Gallery: Ninja Gaiden 3 (E3 2011)

Continue reading Ninja Gaiden 3 preview: The evolution of mammals

JoystiqNinja Gaiden 3 preview: The evolution of mammals originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3e3-2011fumihiko-yasudamicrosoftninja-gaiden-3playstationps3team-ninjaxboxMon, 20 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii U's Ninja Gaiden 3 based on 360/PS3 version]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/08/wii-us-ninja-gaiden-3-based-on-360-ps3-version/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/08/wii-us-ninja-gaiden-3-based-on-360-ps3-version/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/08/wii-us-ninja-gaiden-3-based-on-360-ps3-version/#comments Though still presented under a working title, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge is one of the first third-party games to be announced for Nintendo's upcoming Wii U console. Fumihiko Yasuda, lead on Ninja Gaiden 3, told Joystiq that Razor's Edge would be based on next year's Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, but would offer some changes beyond the addition of a subtitle.

"Ninja Gaiden 3 for PS3 and 360 is the base of the Wii U version," Yasuda said during an E3 meeting. "Of course, we understood that we would need to implement a particular gameplay experience with Wii U, so we are studying what we can do with that console. We're thinking of different modes and different combat action -- something different."

While Team Ninja attempts to figure out the best, ultra-violent uses for Nintendo's controller-screen hybrid, it remains in the planning stages for a 3DS Ninja Gaiden game (announced at E3 2010). As it's so early in development, Yasuda could only suggest that it "may not be a sequel to Dragon Sword."

JoystiqWii U's Ninja Gaiden 3 based on 360/PS3 version originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3e3-2011fumihiko-yasudamicrosoftninja-gaiden-3ninja-gaiden-3-razors-edgenintendoplaystationps3team-ninjatecmo-koeiwii-uxboxWed, 08 Jun 2011 13:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Ninja Gaiden 3 gameplay trailer has Ryu Hayabusa back at his old tricks]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/ninja-gaiden-3-gameplay-trailer-has-ryu-hayabusa-back-at-his-old/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/ninja-gaiden-3-gameplay-trailer-has-ryu-hayabusa-back-at-his-old/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/ninja-gaiden-3-gameplay-trailer-has-ryu-hayabusa-back-at-his-old/#comments For some folks, "old tricks" might mean smooth dancing moves, or a suave ability to hit on the ladies. For Ninja Gaiden 3's Ryu Hayabusa, it means flipping out and murdering people with a katana. Take a peek for yourself -- carefully! -- after the break.

Continue reading Ninja Gaiden 3 gameplay trailer has Ryu Hayabusa back at his old tricks

JoystiqNinja Gaiden 3 gameplay trailer has Ryu Hayabusa back at his old tricks originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2011gameplaymicrosoftninja-gaiden-3playstationps3team-ninjatecmotecmo-koeitrailerxboxTue, 07 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST