We approached Team NINJA with some questions about the ever-changing industry and how it is keeping its development fresh. We also asked about co-op mode, the lack of dismemberment in the sequel, and the newly added multiplayer mode. Team NINJA had some strong words to say about the changing industry and how a development team survives within it.
PSU:
Is Ninja Gaiden 3 adapting to a western audience by making it easier to get into for those who never got into the series, or keeps it roots from previous games which were challenging but rewarding and fun?
Hayashi:
In the end we chose to both audiences. For those who want to still feel the traditional Ninja Gaiden, all you have to do is choose the Ninja play style. You will get the challenge that is characteristic of the series. For those looking for more casual experience, or if you have struggled with the series in the past, just choose the Hero play style. You will be able to experience what makes a Japanese Dark Hero, Ryu Hayabusa until the very end of the saga. You can choose which play style mid-game, so Ninja Gaiden 3 does not choose its players but rather tries to offer an experience for each type of player.
PSU:
“How has the departure of Itagaki-san affected the development and philosophy of the new Team NINJA? Did he have an influence in the games developed at Team Ninja or everyone had his/her input?”
Hayashi:
“Most of the staff on the team have worked with him at one point or another, so there has been some influence of course. Personally, I made games with him for a long time and I learned a lot from Itagaki-san. But all that aside. At Team NINJA, we are focusing on “now” and how we can make games that befit this day and age. The industry is so fast moving that an event that happened a few years ago no longer bears a huge impact on anything. Development teams that can’t adapt to change only wither and die away. In our case, there is no meaning in focusing and comparing every single detail of Team NINJA fame from then to those of now.”
PSU:
“How are you planning to make the multiplayer in Ninja Gaiden 3 relevant in today’s market and why did Team NINJA decided to add one?”
Hayashi:
“There is nothing on the market like this that has a full-fledged online experience. We thought that Ninja Gaiden should be the game to introduce this. We want all action gamers to try this out and feel future potential of this kind of online play.”
PSU:
“What is the reason behind not having dismemberment?”
Hayashi:
“We didn’t feel any future behind the ever-growing expressions of violence. Just by making the game more gory, this only gives the player a burst of self-satisfaction momentarily, yet no difference in the way the game feels. In Ninja Gaiden 3, we wanted to give a feeling and sensation to players through the controller. Through this game feel, we wanted to make the violence feel substantial and visceral, and not just cosmetic.”
PSU:
“In co-op, will it be our created ninjas or Ryu and company?”
Hayashi:
“Co-op will follow in the same path as the online mode which is Shadows of the World. So players will become a rookie Ninja and work their way up the ladder by working together to overcome some tough opponents.”
PSU:
“This is the first Ninja Gaiden being released simultaneously on PS3 and Xbox 360. Did that affect development at all?”
Hayashi:
“We were actually aware that this might cause difficulties so we decided to organize ourselves about two years ago and now it’s all smooth as silk. You’ll notice that there is hardly a difference with the game between the two platforms.”
Ninja Gaiden 3 is releasing on Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 on March 20. Will you be picking up this hefty addition to the Ninja Gaiden series?