GalvatronType_R
02-24-2004, 06:52 AM
Hello, fellow grammatically incorrect misspellers, THEEGREATMIND here. Sorry for the histrionic post title. You won't really die if you don't read this post, more like you'll miss out on some of the most intellectually stimulating prose you have ever experienced. I kid, I kid. You will actually die, sort of like after watching the videotape in The Ring.
Recently, I had the pleasure of experiencing the Ninja Gaiden demo from the most recent issue of OXM. Besides the magazine being a byproduct of bunghole (which is a whole other post), here are my impressions of the game.
Gameplay
In a phrase, like buttah. If you thought Devil May Cry was smooth, wait until you get a load of this. Every button input is followed up by a corresponding attack and jump combination. For instance, I ran along the wall (Prince of Persia style) over several enemies and before gravity took hold, I threw out four shuriken and started a sword combination before even touching the ground. Heck, the other day, I had a 97 hit combo.
The demo gives you a choice of three hand and three ranged weapons. Of the hand weapons, the Vigorian Flail (nunchanku) was the most fun by far.
The camera is good but still could use some work. There were times when the camera was at an inopportune angle to lay some punishment out or make jumps (of course, the camera was to blame and not my superior gaming skeells...).
Graphics
Sorry, Splinter Cell, but you're going to have some company in the pantheon of impressive graphics. Walking Ryu by a window produces shadow and motion effects, blood sprays realistically, water flows smoothly, the list goes on. The animations have to be seen to be believed, ranging from rag doll death to Ryu swinging the flail.
Oh, and for the deniyahs who think that graphics don't matter, I'm here to say that they do. Looks matter, even when it comes to video games; if they didn't, we'd all be driving Volvos and dating chicks who look like Monica Lewinsky :( .
Sound and Music
My subwoofer really hates this game. It's already threatened to unionize like Sally Field from that movie for better health benefits but now, from the extra workout that it gets from Ninja Gaiden, it wants one more week of paid vacation.
Every one of Ryu's footfalls, every swing of the broadsword, each contact made on an enemy produces a spike in LFE. I had to adjust my sub level just to compensate. The music is okay, it's just traditional Japanese tunes from medieval times. Maybe I've been spoiled by the Castlevania and Final Fantasy soundtracks, but I prefer the orchestral stuff.
What little voice acting there is, so far, it's serviceable. The first level boss is great while Ryu's voice doesn't fit him; he sounds like a whiny teenager.
Again, just like 2003 with Panzer Dragoon Orta, the Xbox will start the year with an exclusive that cannot be fully recreated on another system and might even be an early Game of the Year candidate. Hopefully, the PS2 will respond in kind instead of laying an egg like Devil May Cry 2 or The Getaway.
So, on my 4-hour scale sponsored by Cialis (don't pretend that you don't know what I mean), I'd give the Ninja Gaiden demo 3.5 hours (and trust me, 3.5 hours really hurts).
Recently, I had the pleasure of experiencing the Ninja Gaiden demo from the most recent issue of OXM. Besides the magazine being a byproduct of bunghole (which is a whole other post), here are my impressions of the game.
Gameplay
In a phrase, like buttah. If you thought Devil May Cry was smooth, wait until you get a load of this. Every button input is followed up by a corresponding attack and jump combination. For instance, I ran along the wall (Prince of Persia style) over several enemies and before gravity took hold, I threw out four shuriken and started a sword combination before even touching the ground. Heck, the other day, I had a 97 hit combo.
The demo gives you a choice of three hand and three ranged weapons. Of the hand weapons, the Vigorian Flail (nunchanku) was the most fun by far.
The camera is good but still could use some work. There were times when the camera was at an inopportune angle to lay some punishment out or make jumps (of course, the camera was to blame and not my superior gaming skeells...).
Graphics
Sorry, Splinter Cell, but you're going to have some company in the pantheon of impressive graphics. Walking Ryu by a window produces shadow and motion effects, blood sprays realistically, water flows smoothly, the list goes on. The animations have to be seen to be believed, ranging from rag doll death to Ryu swinging the flail.
Oh, and for the deniyahs who think that graphics don't matter, I'm here to say that they do. Looks matter, even when it comes to video games; if they didn't, we'd all be driving Volvos and dating chicks who look like Monica Lewinsky :( .
Sound and Music
My subwoofer really hates this game. It's already threatened to unionize like Sally Field from that movie for better health benefits but now, from the extra workout that it gets from Ninja Gaiden, it wants one more week of paid vacation.
Every one of Ryu's footfalls, every swing of the broadsword, each contact made on an enemy produces a spike in LFE. I had to adjust my sub level just to compensate. The music is okay, it's just traditional Japanese tunes from medieval times. Maybe I've been spoiled by the Castlevania and Final Fantasy soundtracks, but I prefer the orchestral stuff.
What little voice acting there is, so far, it's serviceable. The first level boss is great while Ryu's voice doesn't fit him; he sounds like a whiny teenager.
Again, just like 2003 with Panzer Dragoon Orta, the Xbox will start the year with an exclusive that cannot be fully recreated on another system and might even be an early Game of the Year candidate. Hopefully, the PS2 will respond in kind instead of laying an egg like Devil May Cry 2 or The Getaway.
So, on my 4-hour scale sponsored by Cialis (don't pretend that you don't know what I mean), I'd give the Ninja Gaiden demo 3.5 hours (and trust me, 3.5 hours really hurts).