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Crafted in the same vein as Devil May Cry, Ninja Gaiden, and even God of War, comes From Software's Ninja Blade. While one could easily pass up this gaming amalgam as nothing more than a standard action imitation, Ninja Blade offers an interesting take on the popular genre. Simply put, Ninja Blade is as visceral as it gets; it cuts to the bone and delivers an intense, edge-of-your-seat experience with plenty of style to back it up.
Ninja Blade takes place in modern day Tokyo where infectious parasites are transforming its citizens into ferocious monsters. You are a part of an elite group of ninjas sent to rid the city of this biological threat before it further spreads and destroys all of humanity. As formulaic as all of this sounds, Ninja Blade does leave room for the unpredictable as a decent amount of plot twists and interesting character developments make this typical science fiction/action drama a lot more than what it seems. It will surprise you when you least expect it and you will often be left wondering just what exactly is going on. The voice acting is also solid, giving the players the choice of using the North American actors or the Japanese originals, an option which always scores extra points for many fans.
Ninja Blade will always keep you on your toes. Gameplay is very reminiscent of the Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden series as players hack and slash at enemies with ease and effortlessly perform flashy combinations and stylized maneuvers. There are some platforming elements to be found but truth be told, you will spend more of your time slicing enemies into bits than you will worrying about tricky jumps. Besides having your trusty blade to dismember biological abominations, you can make use of ninjutsu. These magical abilities let players toss a large shuriken. It doesn't seem like much, but the airborne weapon can be upgraded with elemental attributes and can even be used to dispose of some particularly nasty environmental hazards. This isn't the limit of your ninjutsu however. You can also use an ability called Ninja Vision. This helpful skill reveals hidden paths and entrances and slows down time incase you are having some difficulty with the handful of jumping segments or intimidating boss fights.
It may sound like a carbon copy of most action titles but what sets Ninja Blade apart is its incredible amount Quick Time Events (QTEs). More than often, players are met with QTEs, and Ninja Blade has found a way to make this mechanic a lot more fun than what most would expect. Quick Time Events are all about the player's response time, focusing less on one's memorization skills and more on how quickly you can react. The game will grade you based on your reflexes and your performance will directly affect the QTE. Presentation during these moments is always the most cinematic, highlighting the player at their most aerodynamic with close-up camera angles to showcase their intense maneuverability.
Like the titles it draws its inspiration from, Ninja Blade features a weapon upgrade system. Players can use the red orbs they collect from slain monstrosities to make their favorite killing toys even more deadly. You also have the option of customizing your character's appearance by changing their costume, including color and emblem. It is a nice little addition by From Software and lends to the immersion quality.
While Ninja Blade does a lot of things right, it does fall short in a few key areas. Like most of its genre counterparts, the gameplay can begin to feel repetitive after extended periods. Boss fights can get lengthy at times so be prepared to curse under your breath when a well-invested chunk of game time has to be replayed because you meet an unexpected demise. The game isn't particularly difficult but a lack of mid-level saves takes away from the carefree nature of the title. Some design flaws, which take away from the enjoyment, are a shame because there are times where Ninja Blade truly shines. Replayability is also a point of neglect because there is virtually none. Sure, there are the aforementioned costumes to discover and upgrading your weapons to maximum does take some extra effort, but aside from these, Ninja Blade doesn't warrant much bonus time in your 360 after the credits have rolled.
Ninja Blade is all about its non-stop action and its over-the-top approach to the action genre. Sure it can be absurd at times but it's all part of the fun. It's hard to recommend this title for anything other than a rental; once the game is over there is very little reason to keep playing. That doesn't mean however, that Ninja Blade isn't a game worth checking out, which it most certainly is. It is a solid action title and should not be overlooked. Those willing to take a stab at it will find a satisfying, albeit all too familiar, videogame experience.
Fun Factor: Being a ninja has never been so effortless. Cinematic QTEs and random bits of handling heavy artillery only add to the excitement.
Length: Roughly 8-10 hours.
Difficulty: Not nearly as challenging as its source materials, Ninja Blade is pick up and go, and relatively easy to play.
On the Negative Side: Several design flaws and glitches take away from the overall fun. Gameplay can get slightly tedious at times.
Bang for your Buck: Extra costumes are pretty much the bulk of the replayability here. Casual gamers should rent.
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