Ninja Gaiden Headed To The DS

[Gorvi]

IGN (http://ds.ign.com/articles/776/776483p1.html) has the first story on Ninja Gaiden for the DS.
Fully titled Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword, the Team Ninja-developed title is a 3D action game that makes full use of the DS's most standout feature: the stylus. The entire game can be controlled almost entirely with the touch-based motions. You guide Ryu Hayabusa about the play field by tapping in the direction you'd like to go. Slashing the touch pen from down to up makes Hayabusa launch an enemy into the air, into a perfect position for combos. You make Hayabusa jump by tapping the screen twice, and can then point to enemies to shoot shurikens at them and perform a downward thrust attack. Even your ninja arts make use of the stylus, requiring that you draw shapes in order to perform the special attacks. Buttons are used only for defensive moves.

The story goes on to say that the game is played by holding the DS like a book, similiar to Brain Age and Hotel Dusk. The game is due in Japan sometime this late year and is likely to make it over to the US sometime soon after.

I'm personally not too sure about the touch screen only controls, I never really got too comfortable with them in Metroid Prime : Hunters.

[Grimmjow]

I agree, the controls WILL be horrid.

[Yellowman]

Agree with poster, but I'll certainly give it a look. I wonder if they will tone down the difficulty for the casual DS gamers.

[Commissar Rob]

Splinter Cell: Pandora Tommorrow on the DS actually makes my hands and wrists hurt. There are some games that work pretty well (oddly enough, Resident Evil on the DS worked fine for me) but others not so much. Still, here's hoping they wow us all.

[Xerxes]

DS needs a good RTS. A stylus is good for grabbing gaggles of folks and leading them around, drawing paths and what not. Not action.

[TheFlyingOrc]

If it's in 2D, it shouldn't be too much of a problem, methinks.

That being said, I hate games that require you to "slash" with the stylus. Makes my stupid screen get all scratched.

[Kamalot]

I agree, the controls WILL be horrid.
Way to remain skeptical.

Seriously, without having played it at all, how could you say such a thing?

[Gorvi]

If it's in 2D, it shouldn't be too much of a problem, methinks.

That being said, I hate games that require you to "slash" with the stylus. Makes my stupid screen get all scratched.
That's exactly what I was hoping for when I clicked on the story originally, but it's in 3D. :(

[Abednigo]

I never really got used to the controls in MP: Hunters, so I'm not really looking forward to this. Now if it was a remake (but still in 2D) of the original NES games, I'd be all over it.

[Johan]

Kirby Canvas Curse is a terrific game with touch screen controls. I haven't played any others that are primarily based on the touch screen.

I'm hopeful. My primary concern would be more along the lines of how small the screen is, actually. I love my DS, but the screen is small for an older fart like me...

[Grimmjow]

Way to remain skeptical.

Seriously, without having played it at all, how could you say such a thing?

Well after playing a good handful of DS games that require slashing or button mashing, the way the DS is configured its not comfortable, but this is all my opinion so go with it as you will.

[Gorvi]

Kirby Canvas Curse is a terrific game with touch screen controls. I haven't played any others that are primarily based on the touch screen.
I love that game. It's the best use of the touch screen for a full game I've seen yet. I need to replay that. :)

[MrTyzik]

I agree, Kirby was an awesome implementation of touch screen controls! However from what I have read about the latest Wario game, drawing symbols to do things in game can suck.

[Sandman]

I want this game to be good but the speed and precision you'd need for Ninja Gaiden can't be done on touch controls....not with the human hand anyway.

[dethnight]

I loved Kirby canvas, but hated on castlevania; DoS where you had to draw symbols for the boss fights. Hopefully they playtest this for more than a few hours and see if the controls make it better than using buttons, if not, then why bother?

So is Metroid:hunters a crappy game to buy? All the reviews seem positive, but I don't want carpel tunnel.

[Gorvi]

So is Metroid:hunters a crappy game to buy? All the reviews seem positive, but I don't want carpel tunnel.
It's good, but if you've got large hands, the controls can make you cramp up (more than usual for a portable).

[Zaro]

I want this game to be good but the speed and precision you'd need for Ninja Gaiden can't be done on touch controls....not with the human hand anyway.

Don't you think they can adjust the game in consequence?

About the control, i'm able to play Metroid Hunter with a thumb strap, i guess
i'll be able to play this one too.

[divinechaos]

You guys know that Team Ninja is developing this game, right? I know they haven't made any games for DS but it's fucking Team Ninja! This game CANNOT suck. And please don't ask for remakes, I wanna see what kind of 3D graphics Team Ninja can suck out of the DS.

[Kamalot]

Well after playing a good handful of DS games that require slashing or button mashing, the way the DS is configured its not comfortable, but this is all my opinion so go with it as you will.
Strange.

You didn't frame your comment as opinion, but as fact. You also said you AGREED with someone who was skeptical, but then stated that you were not skeptical, but certain that "the controls WILL be horrid."

I'm also curious what the hell 'button mashing' has to do with using the touch screen.

[agentgray]

I'm personally not too sure about the touch screen only controls, I never really got too comfortable with them in Metroid Prime : Hunters.
Did anyone?

I've never had so many craps in my hand at once. Of course, there was that one time.

[Xerxes]

You guys know that Team Ninja is developing this game, right? I know they haven't made any games for DS but it's fucking Team Ninja! This game CANNOT suck. And please don't ask for remakes, I wanna see what kind of 3D graphics Team Ninja can suck out of the DS.
Hey, I really like Itagaki, but the whole touch screen is just being handled poorly but so many people. I hope he does something good with it.

[Kamalot]

I've never had so many craps in my hand at once. Of course, there was that one time.
You do know that's what the toilet is for, right?

[Grimmjow]

Strange.

You didn't frame your comment as opinion, but as fact. You also said you AGREED with someone who was skeptical, but then stated that you were not skeptical, but certain that "the controls WILL be horrid."

I'm also curious what the hell 'button mashing' has to do with using the touch screen.

Have you played Resident Evil or even metroid Prime or whatever that was on the DS? All I'm saying is the controls is going to be crap, I'm willing to bet on it.

[TheFlyingOrc]

That's exactly what I was hoping for when I clicked on the story originally, but it's in 3D. :(

Oh crap.

Nah, not interested. Hunters got boring for me. Nintendo should redo the graphics and release it on Wii!

[Kamalot]

Have you played Resident Evil or even metroid Prime or whatever that was on the DS? All I'm saying is the controls is going to be crap, I'm willing to bet on it.
I have played many games on the DS, many of which used stylus controls. It would be strange to think that the system could sell so many units and games without anyone realizing that stylus control is 'horrid'.

I suppose the tilt-functionality of all future PS3 games is also broken, since the games I have played with it I found to be terrible? No. Someone WILL come along and make a game that utilizes the tilt-sensing in a fun way.

There is a difference between saying something IS, and that you BELIEVE something will be.

[Gorvi]

I have played many games on the DS, many of which used stylus controls. It would be strange to think that the system could sell so many units and games without anyone realizing that stylus control is 'horrid'.

I suppose the tilt-functionality of all future PS3 games is also broken, since the games I have played with it I found to be terrible? No. Someone WILL come along and make a game that utilizes the tilt-sensing in a fun way.

There is a difference between saying something IS, and that you BELIEVE something will be.
I see what he's trying to say. Stylus control in DS games that try to be 3D hasn't exactly worked all that well. It works great for 2D games, not so much with 3D. Personally I would have rather seen this game go 2D myself, but I'll still at least give it a shot.

[Mash]

You guys know that Team Ninja is developing this game, right? I know they haven't made any games for DS but it's fucking Team Ninja! This game CANNOT suck. And please don't ask for remakes, I wanna see what kind of 3D graphics Team Ninja can suck out of the DS.

That's my thought. They have an uphill battle and should have a 'prove us wrong' mentality, but if any team can make this work it's probably them.

There are few games that I look more forward to than Ninja Gaiden games.

[EternalGamer]

I have faith that Team Ninja will make it work. They didn't create one of the best, if not the best, action games every made on accident.

[Kamalot]

Do we know what kind of 3D game this is? Viewtiful Joe is a 3D game, but it plays like a 2D game.

[Dag-Sabot]

If true, this is trully Gay-den.
-My apologies.

[TheFlyingOrc]

Do we know what kind of 3D game this is? Viewtiful Joe is a 3D game, but it plays like a 2D game.

Umm...viewtiful Joe is pretty much a 2D game. At best, it's one of those 2.5D thingies - but It even looked like a comic book.

[Kamalot]

Umm...viewtiful Joe is pretty much a 2D game. At best, it's one of those 2.5D thingies - but It even looked like a comic book.
Exactly my point. For all we know, this game could play like a 2D game but utilize a 3D engine. I don't know what to expect from Ninja Gaiden on the DS, other than what the news above states. Perhaps it is an isometric perspective camera above the action, that plays out in a very 2D-fashion.

Without more information, it is a bit early to be trashing the game just because they used the words 3D in the announcement, or because someone didn't like a previous DS game that was controlled with the stylus.

[wezlypipz]

Why did they have to make it 3D? Live within the DS's means dammit. This game will flop.

[Kamalot]

Why did they have to make it 3D? Live within the DS's means dammit. This game will flop.
Joystiq has up a good article about working within your means (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/28/how-the-ds-does-3d-graphics/)... I mean, developing 3D games on the Nintendo DS. I have seen many games that have been done quite well on the DS that happened to be 3D. Just because a game is in 3D, does not mean it will suck.

[KingGorilla]

After seeing what the PS3 version looks like I bet they could port the Xbox version to DS. I looked like an N64 game by comparison.

[Kamalot]

After seeing what the PS3 version looks like I bet they could port the Xbox version to DS. I looked like an N64 game by comparison.
Ahahahaha!

This is comedy gold.

[ECM]

You guys know that Team Ninja is developing this game, right? I know they haven't made any games for DS but it's fucking Team Ninja! This game CANNOT suck. And please don't ask for remakes, I wanna see what kind of 3D graphics Team Ninja can suck out of the DS.

Yes, because DOAX was the epitome of stellar game design...twice :rolleyes:

[Wyrm]

Trauma Center, Kirby, Elite Beat Agents, Wario Ware, and Pheonix Wright all have great use of the touch screen. I have faith in Team Ninja that the game will be good, even if it is hard as fuck to play.

[Wyrm]

I have played many games on the DS, many of which used stylus controls. It would be strange to think that the system could sell so many units and games without anyone realizing that stylus control is 'horrid'.

I suppose the tilt-functionality of all future PS3 games is also broken, since the games I have played with it I found to be terrible? No. Someone WILL come along and make a game that utilizes the tilt-sensing in a fun way.

There is a difference between saying something IS, and that you BELIEVE something will be.

People who don't like the DS haven't played a good game on it. I'm a firm believer that it is, without a doubt, the most awesome thing money can currently buy, and it's cheap as shit.

[LikeTheRazor]

Am I the only one who had no problem with the controls in Metroid Hunters? Seriously, it was easy. Best handheld FPS I've ever played.

[Skyelan]

Okay, this HAS to be an April Fools joke.

http://gonintendo.com/wp-content/photos/71900_ng2_122_478lo.jpg

Look at that. See what's wrong with that character art? The girl is flat chested.

For gods sake, the GUY has a bigger chest than she does. This is sick and wrong, and Team Ninja should not have their name on anything without extensive booby-physics.

[Kamalot]

IGN got a preview (http://ds.ign.com/articles/777/777221p1.html) of the game

When first learning about Ninja Gaiden DS, we found it a bit difficult to imagine how exactly the touch-based controls would work in an action environment. Itagaki put some of our concerns to rest with his demonstration. He was able to make the DS version of Hayabusa dart about the screen just like his Xbox and PS3 counterpart, performing all the expected moves, right down to leaping between walls to get to higher ground.

From what we could see while watching Itagaki play, the control scheme seems to have a few problems at this point. Itagaki occasionally seemed to have trouble making Hayabusa perform his intended move. For instance, instead of jumping (which requires two quick taps), Hayabusa would run to the tapped location. We presume this is an area that will be fixed as the game approaches its Japanese release this Fall.

While Itagaki didn't make any mention of problematic controls, he did mention that the difficulty would be adjusted for the final build. In closing comments, he admitted that his games have traditionally targeted men above the age 18 and Westerners. With Ninja Gaiden DS, he wants to make a game for all gamers everywhere (he made specific mention of boys, but we presume girls can play too). That's fine and all, but we're sure those who spent countless controlers becoming a master ninja are hoping that Team Ninja keeps the tougher settings in as well.

One area that definitely won't need to be adjusted for the final is the presentation. Ninja Gaiden DS is looking and sounding mighty slick right now. The screenshots we've uploaded don't really do the visual engine justice, as it seems to be quite versatile. The camera angle switches and moves around freely as you play; in some sequences during the demonstration, it was fixed far above Hayabusa for a near overhead view, while in other sequences, most notably the final boss fight, the camera zoomed in so close that Hayabusa practically filled the screen. As for sound, the effects and soundtrack do a good job of replicating their console brothers, down to every sword slash.

Looking and hearing Ninja Gaiden DS, it was hard to believe that Itagaki was playing a DS game. But the fact that he was using the stylus for all the controls was a dead giveaway. If the controls hold together, Team Ninja could do for the DS what they did for the Xbox and capture the crown for the definitive action game.