Ninja Gaiden 3 – everything you need to know

Team Ninja’s most iconic character is set to be unmasked to the world – and yet, there is so much that the world does not know about the mysterious man behind the ninja mask.

Ninja Gaiden 3 aims to take players on a journey with series protagonist, Ryu Hayabusa once more – but this time you’ll see more from the silent killer than ever before.

For the first time in the series, players will get a look at the world through Hayabusa’s eyes, and find out what drives him to fight, defend and kill.

If you don’t care what reviews have to say about it, and want to get your hands on Ninja Gaiden 3 this Friday anyway, here’s everything you need to know to keep you jacked up about Tecmo’s latest ninja slasher.

Grip of Murder

There’s a saying: “karma is a bitch” – and it’s something that Ryu becomes all too familiar with in Ninja Gaiden 3.

The game is set to explore the more human side of the typically cold ninja assassin, as he’s cursed to feel the pain and anguish of all of his victims.

This is done through the “grip of murder” curse placed on his arm, which infuses the Dragon Sword into Ryu’s arm and makes him experience extreme pain.

You can tell from his arm’s rather grotesque appearance, it’s not supposed to be a pleasant experience.

The curse is kindly placed upon Ryu by the Regent of the Mask – the mysterious antagonist of Ninja Gaiden 3, whom, throughout the game, players will discover holds many secrets.

Taking it easy

Ninja Gaiden 3 has changed quite a bit from the previous installment, mostly featuring gameplay changes.

The game is supposedly easier – in order to be more accessible to more gamers; however that doesn’t mean it’s easy. The series is rather notorious for being brutal, and will still pose quite a challenge.

To this end, there are different modes of play: Hero mode focuses on story, setting gameplay techniques like blocking to ‘auto’, and assisting in evasion.

Ninja mode places emphasis on gameplay and puts the player in control of the finer aspects of combat; while Hard mode is touted as the far end of the challenge spectrum.

Hack and Slash

The dismemberment system from the previous games – where enemies could fall apart at your sword’s every whim, rather comically – has been replace by “steel on bone”.

Essentially the new system gives enemies a more realistic feel – as the name implies, they presumably have a skeletal structure that doesn’t simply get sliced clean through.

Accompanying the more realistic feel of slicing people, comes the karmatic decision to kill them as they beg for death. Kill them, and suffer the effects of your curse. Let them live, and miss the chance to access your abilities.

Special abilities and super-moves are accessed through your curse – as your Dragon arm glows with the souls of the enemies you mow down.