On April 7, Microsoft and From Software ask us to grab our Katana’s and take up the mantle of Ninja Blade to defend humanity from disease-ridden monsters hell bent on our destruction.
When the Ninja Blade public demo launches on Xbox LIVE March 9, any doubts about this relatively quiet Xbox 360 exclusive will fade away, and fast. I can’t recall ever playing a game demo delivering such an intense cinematic experience without sacrificing quality. Ninja Blade is like a great Hong Kong action film fused with Ninja Gaiden, all hopped up on a generous dose of steroids. My fingers are still numb.
The demo doesn’t bother to preface the action with tedious back story. Apparently Tokyo is being overrun by all manner of infectious creatures big and small. That’s all you need to know. When I say big, I mean skyscraper big. You’re part of an elite ninja squad entrusted to save the city by any means. Within a few moments you’re leaping from a flying helicopter with no parachute, straight into the mouth of madness.
If you’ve watched the lone Ninja Blade trailer then you certainly noticed it consists mostly of “Quick Time Events” or QTE’s, where gameplay is defined by hitting a button upon instruction from the screen. Think Shenmue for the Dreamcast. Most gamers condemn this style of gameplay, including myself.
After completing the Ninja Blade demo my preconceived opinions on QTE’s have been reformed. Not only are the “QTE” scenes just one small aspect of the game, they also add a whole new dimension to the Ninja Blade experience. The jump from standard gameplay to QTE’s is so fluid that it plays like an immense cinematic. There are no cut-scenes to introduce your new foe smashing through the side of a building; you’re “in” the cut scenes and expected to participate.
Bar none, Ninja Blade is one of the best looking console games to grace Xbox 360 or any other console for that matter. Ninja Gaiden and its sequel have always been stunning action games, but there’s a new ninja in town. Character models are top notch and veer away from that stiff plastic look. Fabric billows in the wind, light glints off of metal; dust, debris and particle effects are constant. Dozens of enemies explode into showers of sparks under the swath of your blade as fire, smoke, and debris fill the air around you. One minute you’re fighting minions inside a building, and then next you’re jumping out the window and running straight down the side of a skyscraper trying to simultaneously avoid flying minions while a massive worm gives chase after having just exploded out of the building’s interior. All of this comes standard with an absolutely silky smooth frame rate. If it’s possible, I would swear the action moves faster than 60 fps.
Ninja Blade is one of those Xbox 360 titles flying under the radar here in 2009. That’s going to change once you get your hands on this stellar and surprising demo next week. If you have any questions about the demo, post them in the HDR Forums and I’ll be sure to answer.
– Jason Krahn
