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Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z

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Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z
Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z
European box art
Developer(s)Team Ninja
Spark Unlimited
Comcept
Publisher(s)Tecmo Koei
Director(s)Masahiro Yasuma
Producer(s)Keiji Inafune
Yosuke Hayashi
Composer(s)Grant Kirkhope[3]
SeriesNinja Gaiden
EngineUnreal Engine 3
Platform(s)PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows
ReleasePlayStation 3, Xbox 360
  • JP: March 27, 2014[1]
  • NA: March 18, 2014
  • AU: March 20, 2014
  • EU: March 21, 2014[2]
Microsoft Windows
March 21, 2014
Genre(s)Action, hack and slash
Mode(s)Single-player

Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z is a third-person combat game in the Ninja Gaiden franchise by Tecmo Koei.[4] Keiji Inafune produced the game, providing character designs and creating the character of Yaiba.[5] The game was released for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Microsoft Windows platforms on March 18, 2014 in North America, March 20, 2014 in Australia, and March 21, 2014 in Europe.[6]

Gameplay

Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z is a third-person hack and slash video game that features elements similar to previous titles in the series. Players can run, jump, block and attack enemies using Yaiba's blade. A score multiplier on the right-hand of the screen accumulates the player's hit-count on the enemy. The "Ultimate Technique" mode seen in other titles has been replaced by a mode called "Bloodlust" which, when activated, allows Yaiba to decimate multiple enemies around him in quick succession.

Plot

The game follows the exploits of the powerful ninja Yaiba Kamikaze. Yaiba was once part of a clan that tested the abilities of its ninja by putting them up against a highly skilled member; in this case it was Yaiba they had to face. However, after growing weary of his weak, Yaiba eventually decides to massacre his own clan and leave the survivors to their deaths. At one point he meets with the franchise mainstay Ryu Hayabusa and decides to challenge him, claiming that he is the weakest foe Yaiba has encountered thus far. During the battle he discovers otherwise as Ryu slices Yaiba's left arm and eye, killing him.

Later, Yaiba is discovered by a mysterious organization who brings him back to life and restores his lost body parts with mechanized duplicates, thus turning him into a cyborg. Yaiba learns that a zombie outbreak has begun and that Ryu has been searching for the source of the infection. He decides to work with the organization that resurrected him in order to exact his revenge against Ryu, agreeing to help put a stop to the spread of zombie infection.[7]

Development

Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z was officially unveiled on September 19, 2012.[4] It was revealed that, along with Team Ninja, Keiji Inafune would be involved as the director of this new Ninja Gaiden title. On June 6, a new trailer appeared on GT.TV that featured a full motion video sequence, along with a short snippet of real-time gameplay. On October 8, it was announced that Ninja Gaiden Z would be released on Microsoft Windows through the Steam platform. This would make it the first time that a Ninja Gaiden title was released on the platform in the history of the franchise.[8]

Canadian comic book artist James Stokoe has created several art pieces for the game, displaying them at the New York Comic Con.[9] The game is also complimented by a tie-in webcomic, published by Dark Horse Comics. It was drafted by writers Tim Seeley and Josh Eamons, and illustrated by Rafael Ortiz. The comic was released as a free download on Dark Horse's website on January 23, 2014.[10][11] The first issue, part of three, is available to download free on Dark Horse's site.

On December 13, 2013, it was announced that Beck from Mighty No. 9 would become a bonus playable character in Ninja Gaiden Z in the form of downloadable content. This was a deal struck between Comcept and Tecmo Koei, as Keiji Inafune is spearheading both titles.[12]

Release

Reception

Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z opened up to mixed to negative reception. The PS3 version received a 46 rating on Metacritic and a 42.86% rating on GameRankings,[13][14] while the Xbox 360 port was awarded a 50 on Metacritic and a 45.71% on GameRankings.[15][16] Most of the criticism was focused on the repetitive gameplay, the difficulty and the level design.[citation needed] In their review, GamesRadar unfavorably compared the game to last year's Deadpool video game.[citation needed] Brittany Vincent from CGmagazine wrote that "While the game is competent and can hold its own as the most by-the-book instance of a zombie hack-and-slash game, its myriad issues hold it back significantly, enough so that you should take one look, recoil in horror, and opt for an earlier Team Ninja release instead." [17]

References

  1. ^ "N/A". Yaiba: NINJA GAIDEN Z Official Website. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  2. ^ "News: Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z release date confirmed". TecmoKoeiEurope. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  3. ^ "Podcasts - Grant Kirkhope". Muscle Tower. 2012-12-30. Retrieved 2013-08-25.
  4. ^ a b Harradence, Mike. "TGS 2012: Team Ninja unveils Ninja Gaiden Z". Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  5. ^ Ponce, Tony. "I met Keiji Inafune! We discussed Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z!". Destructoid. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  6. ^ "Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z confirmed for release on PS3, Xbox 360". Warp Zoned. 24 December 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  7. ^ "About Yaiba » YAIBA: NINJA GAIDEN Z". Yaiba: NGZ Official site. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  8. ^ Nunneley, Stephany. "Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z will release through Steam alongside console versions". VG/247. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  9. ^ Romano, Sal. "Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z NYCC screenshots". Gematsu. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  10. ^ Hinkle, David. "Dark Horse preparing Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z digital comic". Joystiq. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  11. ^ "Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z Digital Comic Series Released". GamersHell. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  12. ^ McWhertor, Michael. "Mighty No. 9 is making a cameo in Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z". Polygon. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  13. ^ "Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z for PlayStation 3". GameRankings. CBC Interactive. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  14. ^ "Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. CBC Interactive. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  15. ^ "Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z for Xbox 360". GameRankings. CBC Interactive. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  16. ^ "Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. CBC Interactive. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  17. ^ Vincent, Brittany (April 30, 2014). "Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z". CGMagazine. Retrieved april 30, 2014. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
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