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Titan teases Fat Princess ... ninjas!

by Andrew Yoon { Aug 18th 2009 at 11:00PM }

Just when you thought the PlayStation news was about to stop and let bloggers go to sleep, Titan Studios shows off this image on their blog. We're not rocket scientists (we told you, we're bloggers), but we're pretty certain a new class is going to be introduced into the Fat Princess world, sparking a whole new "princess versus ninja" meme in the process.

[Thanks, Pobthiti!]

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 includes Chapter Challenge, Ninja Records modes

by Griffin McElroy { Aug 11th 2009 at 2:30PM }

If there's one thing ninjas love more than totally sweet acts of acrobatic violence, it's -- no, wait. There's nothing they love more than totally sweet acts of acrobatic violence. However, high up on the list, sandwiched between guitar solos and dead pirates, is competition. Fortunately, it seems Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 will possess this quality in spades -- a recent Playstation.Blog update revealed the game's two new competitive modes, titled Chapter Challenge and Ninja Records.

Chapter Challenge is unlocked once you finish the single-player campaign, and allows you to replay your favorite levels, ultimately measuring your final "Karma" score against other players on a global leaderboard. Ninja Records will supply an exhaustive list of statistics based on your play style -- highest score, largest combo, fastest time, number of sweet guitar solos -- that sort of thing.

In addition, the post reveals the design for the GameStop pre-order bonus costume, the addition of a soundtrack to the game's limited edition, and the second Japanese advertisement for the game, which we've posted after the jump. Sorry to disappoint, but it doesn't contain any plaster lady chests.

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Ninjas have never been this good on PSP

by Majed Athab { May 20th 2009 at 4:30PM }

If you previously missed the chance to check out Oreike's highly stylized gameplay, then you'd best check it out right here, right now. It's got substance and style, and looks to be a refreshing change of pace from the usual fare found on the PSP. For the uninitiated, Oreike blends ninja combat with shadow puzzles for what appears to be quite a unique gameplay experience. Watch it in action in the clip above.

After the break, check out the game's intro video. There's not much action going on, but it hints at the different locales that can be visited in the game. Plus, it's got some awesome music to listen to.

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See new ninja puzzle game Oreike in action

by Majed Athab { Apr 7th 2009 at 2:00PM }

Onore no Shinzuru Michi wo Yuke (or Oreike for short, as noted by PSP Hyper) is a new puzzle/action title about ninjas. The most captivating aspect about this new game is its interesting spin on the puzzle genre, where it utilizes shadows, or multiple copies of a player's avatar, to advance through stages. It's a concept that's borrowed from the flash game Cursor*10 and one that is better understood by watching the two clips posted after the break.

Developer From Software presents Oreike with a distinct and colorful Japanese art style, and also with staple co-op/competitive ad-hoc multiplayer modes. The game hits Japan on June 11 for ¥3,990 ($39.58), and will hopefully hit North America too. It's looking good and we need more ninja action on PSP. N+ wasn't enough!

[Via PSP Hyper]

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New PSP puzzle game features ... NINJAS

by Andrew Yoon { Jan 30th 2009 at 6:36PM }

Ninjas can make almost anything seem cool. Have early morning classes? Imagine how much cooler they'd be with ninjas. Having a boring lunch? A ninja could kill your lunch right in front of you. This new PSP puzzle game from From Software also spices up the genre with these cloaked warriors.

In Onore no Shinzuru Michi wo Yuke, players create shadow clones in order to solve puzzles. How does it work? Watch the video and find out. It starts off rather simply, with a lone ninja pulling a switch. However, the switch activates something that needs attention at the same time. The ninja's shadow clone replicates the actions of the first action, giving the second ninja time to act. But then, what if three things need to be done? Or four? That's where things get interesting, folks.

While many PSP games fail to see an international release, we're confident a publisher will pick up this rather intriguing game.

Joystiq visits: The Afro Samurai launch party in Los Angeles

by Kevin Kelly { Jan 29th 2009 at 12:00AM }

Namco Bandai, er ... we mean Surge rented out the Geisha House in Hollywood last night in order to throw a party for the launch of Afro Samurai, and Joystiq tagged along to check things out. The best thing about the night? Plenty of stations to play the game on both PS3s and Xbox 360s. Sadly, the sound was so loud in the place that you couldn't hear the hacking and slashing from the samurai with the gigantic hairdo.

Also puzzling was the fact that Samuel L. Jackson was listed as a co-host of this party and was a no show. That was a real surprise, since he provides both the voices of Afro Samurai and his sidekick Ninja Ninja and is a co-producer of the series. Either he didn't show at all, or he really does have ninja-esque skills and we just missed him. Update: he actually did show up, we just missed him. Plus he was dressed for freezing weather.

Check out the gallery below, and highlights after the break including a video performance by an afro-bedecked The RZA, who provides music both on the show and in the game.

Gallery: Afro Samurai Launch in Los Angeles

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Death comes swiftly for enemies in Tenchu: Shadow Assassins

by David Hinkle { Jan 20th 2009 at 12:45PM }

A new video for that Tenchu game has hit the nets and it again focuses on Rikimaru. Instead of being boring cutscenes, however, this latest trailer gets down to what we really want to see: a badass ninja killing dudes. You know, real ultimate power and all of that.

Head past the break to watch the video.

Gallery: Tenchu 4

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Tenchu 4 videos are a neck-snapping good time

by David Hinkle { Oct 24th 2008 at 4:18PM }

IGN has uploaded a whole bunch of new videos from the Ubisoft-published Tenchu 4. While they're lacking in ninja cats, they aren't lacking in depicting the other stuff that excites us about the game: stealth ,slaughter, and REAL ULTIMATE POWER. As much as this game could be bad, we're holding out hope it'll be like the Tenchu of old. Or, you know, fun. It's currently set to release in North America and Europe early next year.

Sneak past the break to check out the videos.

Gallery: Tenchu 4

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TGS08: Sneak through the Tenchu 4 demo

by David Hinkle { Oct 9th 2008 at 12:47PM }

You know, we've been watching Tenchu 4 for a bit now and we're holding out hope that it won't totally suck. Call us optimists or whatever, but we really thing the game can be a solid Wii title. For one, it's Tenchu and our fond memories of the early games keeps us hoping that the franchise will return to its roots again. Secondly, there isn't much in the way of compelling stealth-based games on the console, so a solid entry in the genre would benefit the library of games, in our eyes. Plus, it has kittens.

Above, you'll see the first video of three that takes you through the entire demo build available at TGS 2008. Head past the break for the other two.

Gallery: Tenchu 4

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Director talks up Muramasa: Demon Blade

by David Hinkle { Oct 8th 2008 at 6:16PM }

When it was announced that Oboro Muramasa Youtouden was headed to North America (under the name Muramasa: Demon Blade), we got all kinds of excited. Not only does the game have a wonderful style all its own, it also looks like a great 2D experience in a world crowded with 3D games. During a recent interview with 1UP, the game's director Jyouji Kamitani answered questions dealing with the origins of the game, the motion controls players can expect and the playable build that will be available during the upcoming Tokyo Game Show.

Hit up this link to read the full interview.

Gallery: Muramasa: Demon Blade

TGS 08: Ninja Blade cut from familiar cloth

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Oct 8th 2008 at 7:30AM }

"The main character is, as you can see, a ninja."

We were quite pleased to have figured this part out on our own, shortly before From Software's Kazuhiro Hamatani laid down the pertinent facts in a pre-Tokyo Game Show presentation of Ninja Blade. Which, as you can see, is a "cinematic action game." For better or worse -- and it's better if Ninja Gaiden II failed to satisfy your unhealthy hankering for third-person kill-em-ups -- Ninja Blade appears to be almost exactly what you'd expect. We're not proponents of judging a game by its cover, but in this case, we're almost able to peer through to the back of the box and recite the bullet points:

Cinematic Action Game (i.e. quick time events)!
Ninjas (i.e. running on walls, being a badass)!
Hideous enemies (i.e. giant spiders and bats)!
Crazy Ninja Powers (i.e. bullet time and highlighted weak points)!
Upgradeable Weapons (i.e. kill more to kill better)!
Exotic Locations (i.e. monsters just won't leave Tokyo alone)!

Gallery: Ninja Blade

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Ubisoft sneaking Tenchu 4 into America, Europe in '09

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Sep 23rd 2008 at 1:30PM }

If, like us, you've recently had the urge to draw a blade and quietly assassinate someone in the dead of night, you should probably seek the assistance of a good or physically attractive psychiatrist as soon as possible. If, however, you've recently had the urge to draw a blade and quietly assassinate someone in the dead of night -- in a game -- you'll be pleased to note that Ubisoft is bringing Acquire's ninja sim, Tenchu 4, to North America and Europe in "early 2009."

Aside from offering two playable characters and the ability to "fight, dash, jump and kill like a true ninja," the Wii exclusive is almost certain to provide one of the most novel uses of the nunchuk yet -- you know, as a nunchuk. Probably.

Either way, Ubisoft is confident enough in Tenchu 4's merits to lay down a fairly specific prediction in the press release: "Tenchu 4 will come to a North American and European audience where it will be well-received by both fans of the series as well as Wii owners who have been looking for an edgy and exciting game." It will be well-received ... hmm, perhaps it's more of a command?

N+ minus $10, plus 2 weeks

by JC Fletcher { Aug 7th 2008 at 11:27AM }

We've got good news and bad news regarding N+, Atari's handheld update of the freeware platformer N. The bad news isn't all that bad and the good news is awesome.

First, the kinda bad: N+ appears to have been delayed again, from August 12 to August 26. While it troubles us to think that the game is just never going to come out, we're glad it's at least not coming out on the same day as Bangai-O Spirits. The good news is that N+ will now launch at $20, which is an insanely good deal for a new, polished N with hundreds of new levels and a stylus-based level editor.

There's a third bit of news too, which didn't really fit in the "good news/bad news" thing we were trying to do, though it falls into the "good" category: Amazon orders will include a download link for a digital strategy guide.

Tenchu IV is jerky, graceful

by Chris Greenhough { Aug 5th 2008 at 8:30PM }

Tenchu IV's animations are the very definition of a mixed bag. The player-controlled kittens, as seen above, look graceful when they move (as cats tend to do), but we're not exactly convinced by the human death animations, which seem to feature enemies jerking about like electrocuted dogs. In the second of the three videos posted after the break, the downed enemy seems to perform some kind of bizarre humping motion in his death throes.

Not that we mean to pick on Tenchu IV or anything -- being overly picky about this stuff is just part of our job.

Gallery: Tenchu 4

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Tenchu IV to feature kittens, might be the best game ever

by David Hinkle { Jul 23rd 2008 at 1:15PM }

While it may look like some Laser Cats to most of you, us history buffs know that Lasers were not discovered in Japan until 1714, much later than when Tenchu IV takes place. So, these cats can't shoot lasers, but they can do other awesome things. Like look cute and distract enemies.

Thinking of a ninja's arsenal, kittens don't really come to mind. They're prone to make noise (which could mean certain death for a ninja) and they take up a lot of space in a satchel. This space could be used for more deadly ninja stars. But, hey, we're not complaining. We love kittens. Even the fake kind in video games.