Basically i've been following this game for quite awhile since the first e3 pics last year really, i've been a big fan of ninja games and the like and this looked like a welcome action based change from the usual stealth aspect of tenchu.

But in saying that the news over the last few months has all been bad for us PAL gamers with our version most likely being edited to remove decapitations, this IMO is disgracefull especially considering something like manhunt got through without censorship and games like gta:vc still have the blood shooting routines. I wouldn't be suprised if the shurikens are removed as well ( they were taken out of 1 of the old versions of tenchu on ps2) as well as nunchuks if there in the game.

So basically this for me has gone from being a potentially great game to a censored pile of cut up crap. Hopefully we recieve a different version to europe which has in my understanding is all set to be hacked 'n slashed ( by the censors that is).

Article on euro censorship

heres another point to think about:

So anyway what are your thoughts? hopes anything?
:ph43r:

At first I was really impressed by this game, but since then my liking has dimmed. The numerous in-game movies I have seen are repetitive, and uninspired with the levels resembling some what of a Crash Bandicoot feel, being basically narrow and linear.

The only thing that has impressed me is footage of Ryu decapitating three guards in one swipe as well as the spectacular bosses, although everything else falls short of my expectations.

I too have been following this game for what seems like ages. It's really annoying when a game like this, that has the potential to be the best on the Xbox, suffers from pointless censorship at the hands of ignorant politics. I mean it's not like kids are going to buy the game anyway.

I really hope that they make two PAL versions, so us countries with better laws can slap a 18+ rating on it or something, but denying us hardcore ninja fans of our dream game is ridiculous. In fact, I feel like going and decapitating someone.

As I stated on hyper, this game is what finally got me buying my much put off xbox. I do want the decapitations though, as I wish to have the full game as it was intended to be played. Should the PAL version be flatly no-decaps, does anyone know any good xbox import technology other than modchipping?

It's Ninja Gaiden and Fable that ultimately led me to just go out and get an Xbox.

Removing the decapitations is an odd move, especially if it's "crucial" to the gameplay, but ultimately I don't think it'll completely ruin what looks to be a fantastic game. I've already put a pre-order on it, and seeing how it's going to be out in a couple of weeks, I would've thought the rumours about this whole decapitation thing to be concrete by now.

Manny M what exactly is the release date i've heard the 14th being thrown around abit but nothing concrete.

I hated the camera, it totally ruined the experience for me.

Damn it was fun though :D

Not exactly sure of a concrete date, but i've heard mid May, around the 15th.

BTW, just call me Manny ;)

Censorship is BS. The makers of the game are obviously targeting a specific age group and not little kiddies. The makers of the game should be able to distribute it they way they intended it to be with all its guts and glory to be displayed onscreen. And after all this is a game, anyone that can't tell the difference between what is real and what isn't should have some sort of help or be banned from violent games, a few bad eggs shouldn't have to spoil it for the rest of us.

Also why remove decapitations? who the heck is seriously going to say "hrm I feel like I wanna go cut someones head off cause I saw it in the game.... wheres my samuri sword that came bundled with the game...." The sensorship is also pal specific, ffs how annoying is that I spose we could even call it racism if we wanted to.

from what i've read basically Germany was at the front pushing for censorhip, and of course microsoft will comply its gonna get them more sales which is all they care about its tecmo / team ninja which are let down.

I'm still holding on to the hope that they make two PAL versions but I doubt it. I'll be sure to rent it at any rate and if it's still a top game I'll buy it.

The only reason I can see for them not to make two PAL versions of the game is that it will be easily importable from the likes of Australia and New Zealand... Although they did it when Germany wanted green blood in Turok... :(

Oh well now it has almost certainly been censored, well its 100% for Europe but no word on Australia/NZ yet but i highly doubt they'll make another version jsut for us.

Here

And here

Damn those crazy Germans!!

And its been rated....
Meh

Just wanted to let you guys know, Ninja Gaiden is now out!

My cousin is dropping my copy over later tonight, and i'll give you a brief rundown tomorrow...while i'm at work ;)

Just picked up my copy along with rallisport2 ill leave impressions later

*Impressions*

Played it for about an hour now and i gotta say i am still really impressed im not sure how the removal of decaps. has affected the game but theres still alot of blood an exploding bodys. Its been alot of fun so far just knocked off the 1st 2 levels.

Ok, after playing the game for a few days now, i've gotten more of an understanding of how this game works. First and foremost, blocking is your friend.

When i first got it, it was about 10pm Thursday night. I thought i'd have a quick run of it and see what it was like. So I jumped straight in. Initially I was suprised at how much (acrobatically) your character (Ryu) could do. So there I was, wall running, jumping here there and everywhere. About 20 minutes in, while fighting a few "low level" ninjas, I died. Oh crap, now I had to do it all over again.

So I started again, this time, within 10 minutes, at a group of Ninjas I fought previously with ease, I got absolutely smashed. Once again..game over. With that I threw the towel in and went to bed. My initial impressions weren't good. The game seemed to difficult, and I mean WAY too difficult and it felt just like another old beat-em-up.

Well I gave the game another go the next day, this time learning the value of the block button. Like I said before, it is your friend. This time through, I got quite far, finishing the first level without too much difficulty. The second level however, was a great leap in difficulty, a trend you'll find throughout the game it seems. Save points are scarce and because of this, you really find yourself desperate to hold on and stay alive, lest you waste the past half hour of your time. A tense and stupidly difficult game, but it makes for a nice change. The fighting is over the top, and fun because of it. Beware, you will throw your controller in frustration, but if yuo're patient you'll find the niggles which turn you from amatuer swordsmith, to master ninja.

All in all a great game.

One more thing. It seems as though decapitations haven't been completely taken out of the game. It seems as though decapitations have only been removed for your human foes, as i've frequently lopped a head of an unaware moster. Good news though, as the removal of decapitations was to hamper the game play for the later levels where lopping the head off a monster is the only way to kill it. Good to see they've left it in in that respect.

Aside from the single player mode is an Xbox Live mode called Master Ninja Tournament. "Great", I hear you say. Just one on one ninja battles over Live! fantastic....but there's a catch. It seems as though the Master Ninja Tournament is exactly that, a one off tournament that you have to register online to be a participant in. A good idea, but the fact that it's a one off is a damn shame. More on that when I get called up for battle in the Tourney later (yes i've signed up).

Agree totally with Manny, the game is over-the-top difficult at first glance but once you understand that this game REQUIRES you to use the block and dodge features you wont be troubled all that much, until you get to the boss battles that is - whom deal out bs amounts of damage which for the most part (90%+) you cannot block.

I've still gotta say its a good game and worthy of a purchase for anyone whos interested in a challenge.

Don't guys, you aren't alone. ;)

I didn't find those comics very funny.

I thought they were great, but the first is definitely superior to the second.

Heheh, I did and you can certainly relate once you've played it.

Ninja Gaiden is just another of the many game's I want, but won't be able to get due to having no money :(

Spag, if you weren't a Slipknot fan, you'd be getting a copy in the mail..

LOL!! :D

That is Hilarious!!

I love this Game it is so BOSS!!!

Can somebody help me with a battle?

Hehe "Boss", that's so vintage!

So where are you having a problem?

The game is without a doubt a tough challenge, my brother got it for his Xbox, and from what I have seen I can say that it looks like a lot of fun, if you're man enough for the challenge :) .

*bump*

My brother got me Ninja Gaiden for my birthday. And I was aware that the game was difficult, but not this difficult. The best I've managed to do against the first boss is get his health down to about half, every other time he's pretty much made short work of me. Any strategies for the big lug?

The nunchucka guy?

Best thing to do with the whole game in general, is to be on the defence. Block, roll out of his way, and when you see an opening, strike!

Go on the offence, and you're likely to get smushed.

I just picked this up last week and I'm really enjoying the game so far. I'm up to the fifth chapter and still in the city area. Whilst the game is certainly a challenge it's easy enough to learn and become better at it. What were once hard to beat enemeies in the first two levels will become the kind of enemies you want to face just so you can carve them up and get some health.

The bosses are great fun and a good way of mixing up the combat in the game. The movies scattered throughtout the game are also brilliantly entertaining and graphically amazing, just like the game itself.

Manny sums it up well, be on the defense, block and roll attack when you get an opening, rinse and repeat.

Once you realise you have to basically hold the left trigger the whole way through it becomes a little easier. Still, there are some damn hard parts where there isn't much time to attack and you find yourself dying a few times in a row. Frustrating yet damn addictive.

I've been meaning to get back to this game. Might do so if the WoW servers go down again :P

Yep this game is tough, especially at the later stages.

Well having gotten the game last year with my XBOX I got to the the 6th or 7th chapter ...

SPOILER Highlight

I reached the Aquaduct ages ago, but then my save files were obliviated, so I had to start over. Now Im back in the Aquaduct. Hooray for boredom!*


*boredom drove to playing NG again, not saying that it's boring, y'see?

Well I finally finished the game a while ago, and wow best XBOX game I've ever played, although the latter bosses are actually easier than a few of the earlier ones, or that simply could have been because I stocked up on potions :D

Possible spoiler below

I thought I'd bump this thread because of "Ninja Gaiden Black" http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=0&cId=3140456

This article is a pretty funny read, as Tomonobu Itagaki comments on other developers and games, and criticises them for producing games that are too easy, and shares a hilarious story about when he met the creator of DMC3



Anyway, Ninja Gaiden Black contains a remake of the xbox game, including the xbox live expansions, all new content exclusive to the black version, new cutscenes, and 2 new modes, an easier mode than normal, and a harder mode than very hard.

At the moment I have 2 games in progress. I've finished the game on normal mode (and yeah as many people say, it gets easier towards the end what with more health, more moves, upgraded weapons, and an idea of how many potions to carry) so right now I'm playing thru on hard mode, and another game with the hurricane pack.

I've seen a few new enemies so far, some robots who carry heavy plasma swords, some cat-people that replace black ninjas, and some new bosses. It is freaking unbelievable, and I can't believe I waited this long to play thru a second and third time.

Its much more difficult, every enemy is replaced by a harder version, or comlpetely replaced with a new enemy thats faster, has more moves, stronger moves, and looks stunning. Its probably better than a lot of sequels improvment on originals. You do get a new weapon, a staff, and you can unlock the dark dragon blade by getting 50 scarabs.

Anyway, even though I'll be playing thru the hurricane pack I'm still going to get ninja gaiden black, because there will be around 50 missions, tonnes of new stuff, new cutscenes, and Tomonobu Itagaki thinks that only 1% of players or less will be able to beat master ninja mode. I want to give it a shot.

I really can't think of a more replayable game, and to experience the ultimate version, I'm willing to shell out for another disk, and the good news is its going to be much cheaper than a standard new release.

That guy is moron;

You know, in the movies, no one stops to shoot, but in real life, if you want to hit your target, you do. :rolleyes:
He sounds like a wanker to me.

Yeah, Itagaki is like the japanese Romero in more ways than one. ;)