The New Shinobi: Legitimate Heir Or Bastard Child?

I have only played it for a couple of hours at my friend's store. It did not really ring true to the Shinobi style for me, but it is to be expected that there would be some major changes in the transition to a third person 3D game. I guess the question I need to answer after I buy it and play it more is: Does the game follow the natural evolution of Shinobi as it would occur in its change to a 3D game, or is it just some generic ninja game with a Shinobi paint job? Your opinions and votes, please.

Umm... in the gameplay sense, it's a bastard child, but it's a great game and real shonobi wouldn't have made a good next gen title, so I don't mind.

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Originally posted by Frogacuda
Umm... in the gameplay sense, it's a bastard child, but it's a great game and real shonobi wouldn't have made a good next gen title, so I don't mind.

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You do not think they could have pulled off a Shinobi game the way they pulled off Contra: Shattered Soldiers? Come on, this is SEGA, the master of creating new game types.

It did not ring true to the Shinobi style. On the other hand, it was a good game...I see a connection...*runs from angry mob*

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Originally posted by Frogacuda
Umm... in the gameplay sense, it's a bastard child, but it's a great game and real shonobi wouldn't have made a good next gen title, so I don't mind.

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I have to agree. While it is not Shinobi through and through, it is the best a 3D ninja action game could be. In my book, that makes it good enough for the name.

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Originally posted by BioMotor_Unitron
You do not think they could have pulled off a Shinobi game the way they pulled off Contra: Shattered Soldiers? Come on, this is SEGA, the master of creating new game types.

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They could have done a new 2D one, yeah, but that would have bombed even harder than this.

I have to decide between this and Ryagar...? Can anyone help?

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Originally posted by xS
I have to decide between this and Ryagar...? Can anyone help?

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That's Sega vs. Tecmo. Would you choose DoA over VF? I sure as hell hope not.

How hard is this Shinobi? My main problem with Gungrave was that it was too easy.

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Originally posted by xS
I have to decide between this and Ryagar...? Can anyone help?

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I enjoy Rygar much more. That's more of an adventure game though, while Shinobi is straight-up hardcore action. Depends what you're looking for.

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Originally posted by xS
How hard is this Shinobi? My main problem with Gungrave was that it was too easy.

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I really don't think Shinobi not being hard enough will be a concern.

Shinobi can be pretty tricky, some levels are a pain as well as a lot of the latter bosses. From what I have read its a LOT harder then Gungrave, but I have yet to play Gungrave so I am not sure.

I voted that its a heir fit for the Shinobi name. The only way to make it perfectly fit the other Shinobis was to go the Contra:SS route, but I don't think Sega wanted to do that. In my opinion Shinobi in the genral is kinda generic, but that does not mean its not a great game. All Ninja games are pretty generic. Shinobi (PS2) is the most different of the Shinobis though, but it features more Tactics and Skills to use then the Previous Shinobis. It may not be exactly like the old Shinobis, but Mario 64 is not like the old Marios either.

Screw Shinobi! Ryu Hayabusa would take Shinobi any day of the week! Now all they need to do is NOT Make Gaiden 3d! Oh how I will spasm with agony if I see Ninja Gaiden become a 3d game. Keep it animated, doodyheads. I CRAVE new 2d platformers on my big systems. I don't want my GBA to be the sole source of 2d games, although what they did with METROID I have no complaints about.

BonusKun needs help Or: I've never played the original.

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Originally posted by Cowutopia
Screw Shinobi! Ryu Hayabusa would take Shinobi any day of the week! Now all they need to do is NOT Make Gaiden 3d! Oh how I will spasm with agony if I see Ninja Gaiden become a 3d game. Keep it animated, doodyheads. I CRAVE new 2d platformers on my big systems. I don't want my GBA to be the sole source of 2d games, although what they did with METROID I have no complaints about.

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Uh... don't know how to tell you this bud, but here.

2D ninja gaiden? On xbox? Pardon me while I hold back hysterical laughter. :(

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Originally posted by Contra
Uh... don't know how to tell you this bud, but here.

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:lol:

Well, All I can say PS2 Shinobi is hard :) You got to have some good skills, if you want to finish it. Camera has some problems, and aiming can be very distracting, but otherwise its best straigh action 3d Ninja game, as it was said.

Now, I need to finish 7B Boss :)

This is a very hard question. On the one hand, PS2 Shinobi is a great action game with amazing art, music and cool moves like wall-running, tate, etc. But on the other hand, I think Overworks could have made an even better game and and at least could have included some classic Shinobi feel. I still quite enjoy PS2 Shinobi and I'm glad it came out. Hopefully it will be successful and result in many more ninja games.

And don't listen to StriderKyo, he hasn't even played most of the games in the series including the best one, Shinobi 3. :)

What is classic Shinobi feel? Is that like lemon filling?

Classic Shinobi feel would involve more shuriken-throwing than sword-slashing. I think that's the biggest gameplay difference between the old games and the new one.

shrug, I always found that fairly boring, but that's just me ;)

and I DID play through the genny shinobis many, many times

Gaiden's too good for X-box :P
Wow, that was the lowest I think I've ever stooped...Stooped?
:( WHY GOD?!? WHY??
Doesn't anyone else want some good 2d platformers, old school visual style? Or does everyone just play on their old systems all the time, like me...

I'm not a proponent of the '2d = good games, 3d = bad' school of thought. I'm also console agnostic, so I don't care about it coming out on the Xbox (well, I would have, but the S controller took care of my only real complaint with the system).

I will say that games like Legend of Mana and Saga Frontier 2 make me weep for the loss of handdrawn 2d games, since they're goddamn beautiful (and in the case of SF2, a huge waste of talent :()

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Originally posted by Victrix
I'm not a proponent of the '2d = good games, 3d = bad' school of thought. I'm also console agnostic, so I don't care about it coming out on the Xbox (well, I would have, but the S controller took care of my only real complaint with the system).

I will say that games like Legend of Mana and Saga Frontier 2 make me weep for the loss of handdrawn 2d games, since they're goddamn beautiful (and in the case of SF2, a huge waste of talent :()

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Wow. That was perfect. I agree compeltely.

I'm getting sick of using 2.5D and cel shading in situations where hand drawn art would simply look much better. Seriously, cel animationdidn't disappear from the airwaves when reboot came out. Why are people afraid to use 2D art in 2D games?

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Originally posted by xS
How hard is this Shinobi? My main problem with Gungrave was that it was too easy.

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Compared to Gungrave in straight difficulty (no point challenges), Shinobi is tons more difficult. The regular difficulty gets decent as you go along, but the last level has a couple trouble spots and the final boss is a pain and a half. The game really picks up after that, when you unlock the next difficulty, and there's at least one more even after that (but distractions have stopped me from beating Hard). If difficulty is your concern, it needn't be.

Back OT: I'd say this is nothing like the original Shinobis, but an incredible game in its own right. It could have been "Sparky the Wonder Ninja" and still been the same (well, almost).

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Why are people afraid to use 2D art in 2D games?

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Because it doesn't sell as well and requires people with actual drawing talent. Which can be harder to find and utilize well then one might think...

The only Shinobi bastard child (other than the upcoming GBA one) is the Saturn game.

The GBA one is in stores, has anyone played it yet?

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Originally posted by MechDeus
The GBA one is in stores, has anyone played it yet?

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I have. HEre's my impressions:

I am now completely convinced that thepeople who made this game have never played a shinobi game in their life. It doesn't feel anything like Shinobi. The 3D rendered sprites look nasty, and the bright daytime environs seem wholly inappropriate as does the main character's (who is now named "Shinobi") bright blue outfit. Controls are stiff and sometimes awkward, and while animation is smooth, the characters look stupid and the animations are unnatrual. The game's a stinker. I'd avoid it.

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Originally posted by NeoZeedeater
Classic Shinobi feel would involve more shuriken-throwing than sword-slashing. I think that's the biggest gameplay difference between the old games and the new one.

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Just unlock Joe Musashi by getting 40 coins. I haven't done it yet, but from what I know his sword is weak but his shurikens do damage. Problem solved.

I love the game, but many of the boss fights require either a huge amount of skill, or just plain luck. I can't figure which.

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Originally posted by Green
Just unlock Joe Musashi by getting 40 coins. I haven't done it yet, but from what I know his sword is weak but his shurikens do damage. Problem solved.

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"Just"? That's no small order. Hehe.

Wow, it seems far worse than I'd originally feared.

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Originally posted by Green
Just unlock Joe Musashi by getting 40 coins. I haven't done it yet, but from what I know his sword is weak but his shurikens do damage. Problem solved.

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What BenT said. Getting some of those coins is insane, and Joe is (I think) the last thing you unlock.

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I love the game, but many of the boss fights require either a huge amount of skill, or just plain luck. I can't figure which.

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Skill. :)

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Originally posted by BenT
"Just"? That's no small order. Hehe.

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I'm hoping for a code myself:lol:
*goes back to being owned by 7B boss*

I like the new Shinobi. It isn't very classic Shinobi-like, but it's still good. And since it is, why does it matter that it's not like the old ones?

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Originally posted by Blaze
I like the new Shinobi. It isn't very classic Shinobi-like, but it's still good. And since it is, why does it matter that it's not like the old ones?

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So you would be perfectly fine with being a fan of the original Star Wars movie, then going to see Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and having it turn out to be The Country Bears, with the only relation to the previous movie being that the bears wore Star Wars costumes?

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Originally posted by BioMotor_Unitron
So you would be perfectly fine with being a fan of the original Star Wars movie, then going to see Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and having it turn out to be The Country Bears, with the only relation to the previous movie being that the bears wore Star Wars costumes?

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If The Country Bears rocked, then yes.

[edit] No pun intended. And I believe this would be very similar thing to the Ewoks tv series.

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Originally posted by BioMotor_Unitron
So you would be perfectly fine with being a fan of the original Star Wars movie, then going to see Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and having it turn out to be The Country Bears, with the only relation to the previous movie being that the bears wore Star Wars costumes?

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Well I wouldn't mind going to see a country bears sequel and having it turn out like Star Wars. I honestly think Shinobi's outdated and overrated to begin with. I was furious at the notion of a "true" shinobi sequel. It's just a stupid idea. This works out nicely though.

...about your avatar...IKARUGA is THE MOST DIFFICULT game I have EVER played in my LIFE

Classic Shinobi= fast, frenetic, addictive gameplay.
New Shinobi- fast, frenetic, addictive gameplay.
There are major differences between the two, granted, but at the same time, what remains the same is fun.

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Originally posted by Cowutopia
...about your avatar...IKARUGA is THE MOST DIFFICULT game I have EVER played in my LIFE

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Go play Batrider or Alien Soldier.

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Originally posted by BioMotor_Unitron
So you would be perfectly fine with being a fan of the original Star Wars movie, then going to see Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and having it turn out to be The Country Bears, with the only relation to the previous movie being that the bears wore Star Wars costumes?

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Only if Star Wars wasn't even all that origional or unique to begin with...
*runs and hides in the bushes*

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Originally posted by NeoZeedeater

And don't listen to StriderKyo, he hasn't even played most of the games in the series including the best one, Shinobi 3. :)

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Heh, I was only kidding anyway. I liked the first one back in the day, and I think I liked the GG version (haven't played it in forever). It's just Revenge that I think is kinda weak. If I ever see it for sale, I'll pick up 3.

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Originally posted by Jeremy

Classic Shinobi= fast, frenetic, addictive gameplay.

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I totally missed the fast and frenentic parts. Ol' Joe strolled through those games like ...uh...a slow guy.

It doesn't stick true to the Shinobi style and, imo, it's not even a good game. Decent, passible, but not good. If this had any other name other than Shinobi and if you didn't know Sega developed it, I'm sure you would all find it 'generic' at best.

I hate the PS2's analog sticks so much... I just can't play the game.

Wasn't this game supposed to be based on the new shinobi comic or something and that's why ther huge difference? Or was that the other way around? I need to check this out.

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I totally missed the fast and frenentic parts. Ol' Joe strolled through those games like ...uh...a slow guy.

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Not really. His walking speed was fast, the enemies only gave you split second chances. Whenever he jumped he would land very quickly instead of floating in the air like dhalsim where he could leave himself exposed. He would die in a single hit so you had to be accurate and see danger ahead of time like a real ninja, and of course he could escape danger by super jumping to another plane in emergencies, which would be excuted really fast and sudden, and you could feel a sudden speed boost on his journey up to the air and feeling of inertia as he quickly falls back down like he actually weighs something. The flow of the game and his reaction speed was very quick. I was just playing it on an emulater the other day too.

I kind of think of the original as like namco's Rolling Thunder games and this other side scrolling game where you play a cop with a gun and take down gangs. (can't remember the name)
The only difference is that instead of being a ninja in those games, you were a secret agent or cop. I really long for a revival of those games because they were fast and simple.

EDIT: just remembered what it was... Crime City! I always seem to forget the taito arcades games.

http://www.klov.com/screens/C/vCrime_City.png http://www.klov.com/screens/C/wCrime_City.png
http://www.klov.com/screens/C/xCrime_City.png http://www.klov.com/screens/C/yCrime_City.png

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Originally posted by Hero
It doesn't stick true to the Shinobi style and, imo, it's not even a good game.

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I can assure you that it's a virtual masterpiece compared to the GBA game. :)

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Originally posted by Sataro
I hate the PS2's analog sticks so much... I just can't play the game.

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They are no different from the Xboxs or the Cubes. Just move them in the direction you want to go, its easy!

Well, I dont have a problem with DS sticks in PS2 Shinobi. He controls great, and very responsive. But what buggs me, is the camera, which multiple times led to my untimely death. The game's action is too fast for the camera to follow.

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Originally posted by Hero
It doesn't stick true to the Shinobi style and, imo, it's not even a good game. Decent, passible, but not good. If this had any other name other than Shinobi and if you didn't know Sega developed it, I'm sure you would all find it 'generic' at best.

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Considering I'm probably one of the biggest lovers of this game on this board and I care absolutely nothing for the old Shinobi games... No.

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Originally posted by Despair
The game's action is too fast for the camera to follow.

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Sounds like a certain other game... ;)

Well, Its different story, than in DMC case. There you could at least find a good safe spot during fighting, if you knew the environments well And fixed camera actually helped. Plus it wasnt filled with miss and you dead holes and gaps :)

I think it's the true heir. You can either play badass newly designed Hotsuma or go to the classic yet still badass Joe with the unlimited shurikens and reg sword.

So you have the best of both worlds.

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Originally posted by Hero
If this had any other name other than Shinobi and if you didn't know Sega developed it, I'm sure you would all find it 'generic' at best.

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I think this would be better used when talking about Metroid Prime...

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Originally posted by Hero
It doesn't stick true to the Shinobi style and, imo, it's not even a good game. Decent, passible, but not good. If this had any other name other than Shinobi and if you didn't know Sega developed it, I'm sure you would all find it 'generic' at best.

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It's anything but. I can't name a single game thatplays like it, and I defy you to do the same.