The original release of Ninja Gaiden 3 was released on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in March of 2012. The game wasn’t received well by either fans of the series or critics. The Razor’s Edge version, exclusive to the Wii U, looks to solve many of the issues that players had with the original release. Check out the video below to see how these changes play out, and please leave your thoughts on the video in the comments.
Ninja Gaiden 3 Razor’s Edge offers up gameplay mechanics that are better suited for a fast-paced action game. Some of the new additions are dramatic changes such as changing up the combat, while some are simple, like bringing back dismemberment. All of these changes are an improvement to the game. Players can also acquire a variety of upgrades that are better suited to their style of play, such as different weapons, powers, and moves. The chaotic action can be fun but it can also highlight some of the game’s short comings.
As battles get more intense, players may notice that issues with enemy tracking and targeting that can make it difficult to prioritize enemies, which is essential in the tougher fights. The difficulty scaling between progressing through a level and the subsequent boss battle, seems off. The standard enemies aren’t pushovers, but compared to the bosses, they aren’t much of a challenge. It feels like the boss difficulty levels should have been lowered, or the standard enemy difficulty should have been raised.
Conclusion
In the end, Ninja Gaiden 3 Razor’s Edge, does its best to fix the issues found in the previous versions, but many still remain. It’s a decent game, and hardcore fans will likely be able to look pass its flaws, but newcomers should take note of these issues. If you are someone looking for an intense action game with unforgiving boss fights, this one may be for you.
Pros:
- Player feels more control of the character
- Lots of enemy and level variety
- Additional characters and upgrades provide replay value
Cons:
- Sporadic difficulty scaling
- Enemy targeting and tracking issues
- Too many effects on screen can get distracting
