Ninja Blade Review & Game Analysis

By Rudy Vanegas - (Spk02)

Developer: From Software

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios

Engine: Havok (game physics)

Platform: Xbox 360

Genre: Cinematic action

Mode: Single-player

Just for the record, Ninjas are cooler than Pirates. Developed by Software, Ninja Blade takes place in Japan. Your mission or missions I should say, is to take care of the infected, by taking care I mean slashing your way through deformed and eminent endless monsters and bosses. Your ninja can wear different suits rather than just their plain old Gothic black. Game play is fun and as repetitive as you want it to be. If you find your way back tracking this game to previous predecessors, you're probably not wrong, as it plays like God of War. Well just in case you ever wanted your Ninja version mixed up with a little bit of Prince of Persia, this should more than plenty to satisfy you and make up for the fact we can't get GOW for the 360. No annoying useless menus, everything you need is actually there. Very little game weaknesses associated with predictability and I scored it a 3.5 out of 5.

You're bound to find the cinematic cut scenes more than interesting as they will surely take you right into the action, not to put aside the fact that their gorgeous. With flicks, dodges, convos, and even the occasional button smashing, this game is action packed. It is more than the basic attacks; convos are upgradeable according to weapons. Like most new games, they've left a lot of stuff around the map for you to play with. Blow up walls, run through them, heck fly through them, anything really, and this game will have you wearing your ninja suit and summoning your ninja abilities. Barrels, boxes and other various items are packed with more than just your average health regeneration, and treasures. Look hard, there's always a reward for those of us who like to go into each corner of the game. In this game you can find costumes and special ninja abilities. There's few too no hard parts and everything is easy which makes this game a good beginner game for all those gift gatherers out there. Graphics and environments which thank you for brutally destroying them, I score it a 4 out of 5.

Your ninja suit is set as follows: black, so for all those who have vision issues like me, I'm sure you won't have a complaint about being able to customize your ninja colors, in order to contrast those explosive back grounds of the Japanese settings. Even though this game can be more then easy and actually predictable, this doesn't take away the fact that your fingers will still get a work out. One of the facts I hate is that you can't save your game and continue when you're in the middle of a mission. This brought me flash backs of the old games and really didn't impress me which was more annoying than useful. I'm glad I can't say the same for the menus, one of the cool facts is being able to up grade your swords and some abilities, without the need to go back to main menu. Fire, wind and steel are your allies, they're also your weapons, nothing cooler than a hurricane to kill your enemies specially when those happen to be possible malaria carriers the size of dogs, mosquitoes with the ability to suck you dry and hulk imitations that warm with an over dose of testosterone. Levels are not short which is a pain in the lower region because you can't save while you're in the middle of a mission....Disappointing. 3 out of 5 is my judgment here.

If you're on the look out for a game that's fun but won't take time away from your major online games this is it. You can waste plenty of time and exercise your creativity and thumbs. My friends also consider this game a predictable and easy game but again like I said it is only as predictable as you want it to be. Don't expect yourself to be glued to the TV for this game only, it is a good waste or I should say way of rewarding your free times with gorgeous explosions and wondering why you didn't choose to be a ninja as your career. I'd say don't pay the price (59.99) for right now but wait until it goes down, a little bit above average so over all a 3 out of 5.