Ninja Blade

During 14^th century feudal Japan when the idea of a specially trained warrior that used unorthodox means to carry out assassinations and espionage were still mere rumors, it was said that ninjas, or shinobi, have long been active. Unlike the samurai that followed the Bushido code, ninjas did it their way for years and did it in a stealthy style that makes them so darn cool that we cannot help but like them even now. In Ninja Blade for the Xbox 360 to save a modern-day Japan, it takes a modern-day ninja to save the day.

Flying the unfriendly skies

We got our hands on Microsoft Studio’s Ninja Blade demo that gave us a taste of the game’s introductory first mission complete with the wicked boss battle with an opponent that takes up half the screen. You play Ken Ogawa - a trained ninja that continues to follow the old ninja ways fused with modern technology - who is sent into Tokyo, Japan in the year 2015 to destroy genetically mutated monstrosities that have been unleashed on the city.

In the opening cinematic cut scene, we can see that Ken isn’t a lone ninja sent on his own as other ninja jump out of a military transport plane. Before Ken jumps out of the plane, his elderly master gives him a katana blade, one that is meant to be wielded by a ninja warrior like him. Jumping out of the plane, we don’t quite take control of this elite ninja operative just yet but we are introduced to a series of interactive “quick-time” events that will have gamers pressing a button when the icon flashes on the screen. Push the wrong button or take too long and you’ll have to start the event all over again. You’ll find many of these moments in the first level alone but I’ll get back to them in a moment.

Swing blade

When we do take control of Ken, you won’t be able to help but think of a certain memorable ninja on the Xbox by the name of Ryo. While Ninja Blade has its own stylish moves, the third-person hack-and-slash action feels similar to the Ninja Gaiden series. Ken’s arsenal includes his trusty katana blade called the Oni-Slayer Blade but also the massive bladed weapon known as the Stonerrender Sword. Aside from swinging his sword, you’ll have Twin Falcon knives and the Cyclone Shuriken (that not only slices through enemies but also puts out fires).

The enemies introduced in the demo range from the zombie-like genetic freaks that Ken could rip through in bloody ninja fashion as well as genetically abnormal animals such as a wave of bats that will attempt to eat you alive if they swarm too closely. Ken’s moves allow him to lightning dash his way to a horde of enemies, jump and swing as well as unleash secondary attacks with throwing knives and the Cyclone Shuriken move (there are grenades in the game but they weren‘t available in the demo). The first level also gives us a peek at Ken’s ninja abilities such as his Night Vision (for when you reach some dark corners) as well as Ninja Vision (that allows Ken to see an enemy’s weak spot or see attacks that can’t be seen normally).

Ninja Blade just doesn’t pit Ken against weak zombies because the demo showed off the more massive enemies you’ll be going up against. At one point, Ken runs away from the attack of a giant worm, once again bringing back the quick-time events that allow us to see him use his grapple wire hooks Spider-Man-style. Towards the end of the demo we face of the level boss, Arachne, a giant mutated spider. The battle not only uses the same hack-and-slash techniques but also the quick-time moments that feel familiar to anyone who has ever played the God of War games.

Men in black

Visually, Ninja Blade is already looking quite gorgeous and I’m not just talking about the wonderful details you’ll find in the cut scenes. The Tokyo skyline looks absolutely stunning, as does the backgrounds as Ken jumps from skyscraper to skyscraper. The details also make the characters - especially the huge monsters such as Arachne - really stand out. As far as the controls are concerned, they’re not bad at all, although hopefully the camera will be a tad more responsive.

What we have here in Ninja Blade, though, is an Xbox 360 original that is looking really good and doesn’t seem to be short on action-packed moments that will have you on your toes. The already huge and diverse bosses and the quick-time events will give ninjas-in-training a lot to look forward to when the game is released on April 7.

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