Welcome to Ninja Gaiden 4 week on Player 2. Thanks to Xbox, Matt Hewson was able to fly to Tokyo to spend the day with Platinum Games and get a host of inside info on the upcoming Ninja Gaiden 4. Join us over the coming days for previews, videos and interviews as Matt dives deep into the upcoming action title.
Ninja Gaiden 4 - Five Takeaways From My Platinum Studios Visit
A trip to Japan to check out one of the most well-loved developers’ HQ is not something that happens every day, especially for this independent games journo, so I feel it is my responsibility to make the most of this situation. I spent my time equally chatting with developers, PR and other journos, playing Ninja Gaiden 4 and just observing what things are like in a country I had never visited before. So with all that in mind, here are five things that I took away from my visit, things that struck me as noteworthy and may not normally get covered in a tradtional preview.
The People
There was quite a mix of fine folk at Platinum during my visit. From Team Ninja and Platinum staff, to Xbox PR team members, to other journalists. This mix actually gave me a wonderful sense of community during my trip. Every person there was a genuinely nice person who made me instantly feel welcomed. Language barrier or not, it didn’t matter; we were all there, at a basic level, because we love games. Whether we write about them, develop them or market them, that common element made the trip more than just a fact-finding mission, but an enjoyable journey with like-minded people.
Oh, and another thing. It is quite understandable to be upset at these large companies about choices made by their executives, be it job losses or even selling products to questionable customers, so it is easy to forget that most of the company is made up of great people who just love games. It is something I know I have to remind myself of, and I am sure more of us out there need to keep that in mind when we get justifiably upset by a direction the company is taking. By all means, voice your displeasure about corporate direction, but don’t direct anger at those who are just trying to bring games to us all.
The Passion
One thing that was made abundantly clear with every member of Team Ninja, Platinum or Xbox I spoke with was that there is a massive passion for Ninja Gaiden among the team. Every conversation showed reverence for what came before and how they could carry that legacy forward. The passion was obvious, and it is clear that both Team Ninja and Platinum are dedicated to making the best Ninja Gaiden yet. In an era where pure action games are few and far between, there would have been the temptation to just release a competent product to a hungry crowd, but it is obvious to me that “competent” is not enough for these talented developers. They want this to be the best game it possibly can, and frankly, it is showing in what I have played of the game.
Balance is Key
Things in the gaming world have changed substantially since the last mainline Ninja Gaiden, so much so, I can see it as something of a risk to release this sort of game today. That said, the developers seem to have a clear understanding that catering for old fans is important, but at the same time they need to open the door for new players. That is a hard balance to strike, but one that seems to have been a key focus of development. Old fans, like myself, will have no problems slotting into the action once again. Muscle memory kicks in, and it feels like we never left the game. New players will get a new character, without a ton of backstory, along with some detailed and comprehensive training modes to make sure they don’t feel left out and are given everything they need to succeed in the game. Getting this right may very well mean the difference between a big hit and a niche title, so the effort that has gone into this balance is well worth it in my opinion.
Collaboration Works
One thing I discovered during my trip is that not only is this a game that both Team Ninja and Platinum worked on, but Xbox helped out quite a bit, too. Platinum took the lead but had Team Ninja staff with them for the whole way, while Xbox jumped in to help on the tech side of things, ensuring that the game lived up to the design from Platinum. I honestly am surprised at just how well having these three unique entities working on the one title has worked out. There is always the possibility of scattered focus, competiting agendas or contrasting goals but here everyone appears to be on the same page. It is great to see. It also gets me wondering, in this day and age of skyrocketing development costs, if more collaborative efforts between studios might be a way forward that is beneficial to both parties. It might just be a way that mid-size studios can combine forces in the AAA space, or a way for an Indie studio to go above and beyond their initial scope. The more I think about it, the more I would like to see it happen. I mean, anything to make the development process easier and results better is a good thing, right?
I Really Have to get Back to Tokyo
I am probably preaching to the choir here, but man, one day in Tokyo to explore is just not enough. I was based in Akhiabara, which, for those who don’t know, is basically Tokyo’s headquarters for all things tech, games and anime. I had an amazing time wandering the streets, looking through the stores and taking in the culture. There is just nothing that even compares in Australia, and after 25000 steps, I still didn’t spend nearly enough time exploring. There is no doubt in my mind, if you are into games or anime at all, this is a must-visit location. Of course, this doesn’t even take into account the amazing food, rich and deep culture and lovely people. The long and short of it is I need more time in Japan, I really do.
So there you have it, Player 2’s Ninja Gaiden 4 week has come to an end. Special thanks go to Xbox Australia for taking me on this trip and giving me the chance to check all this out in person.
