Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge

Did You Know?

• The game stars elite master ninja Ryu Hayabusa, and its events take place after those of Ninja Gaiden II.
• Ayane stars in her own set of unique missions in Razor's Edge that involve the return of the Black Spider Clan.

Gameplay

The Wii U GamePad's touchscreen lets players switch weapons, cast Ninpo, and check extra game info. Bloody dismemberment and decapitation are back from earlier games. A planned touchscreen mode like Dragon Sword's was shown but didn't make it into the final version. Many features from Ninja Gaiden 2 were brought in, while some from the original Ninja Gaiden 3 were changed or cut. Steel on Bone now works as a grab counter chain without needing to mash buttons, and Kunai Climbing is quicker and simpler. New exclusive weapons include the Lunar Staff, Kusarigama, and Dual Katanas. Enemy AI is smarter, with new enemy types, battle areas, and alternative costumes. The Karma Counter returns with better bonuses and features. An upgrade menu lets players spend Karma to improve weapons, Ninpo spells, health, and special moves. Online co-op is included, with new playable characters like Ayane, who has her own moves from Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 and extra cutscenes. Chapter Challenge mode lets players control Ayane or DLC characters Kasumi and Momiji in any part of the game.

Development and release

Nintendo published Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge outside Japan, making it the company's third M-rated title from the ESRB, following Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem and Geist. It debuted at E3 2011 as a launch game for the Wii U. In Australia, it became the first game to earn an R18+ classification after that rating was introduced. Free downloadable content added Kasumi and Momiji as playable characters. Tecmo Koei Europe later announced on February 6, 2013, that the game would also come to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Reception

The game received more positive reviews than its predecessor, but overall reception was still largely mixed or average. An early version was well received by Mitch Dyer of IGN, who wrote that it makes massive strides toward becoming the game Team Ninja clearly wished it was on 360 and PS3. IGN's review by Ryan McCaffrey stated it is fantastic to see this kind of hardcore gamer's game on a Nintendo console at the Wii U's launch. Kevin VanOrd from GameSpot wrote that it is harder and more varied than its original release but does not reach the greatness of its forebears. Eurogamer's Martin Robinson wrote that it is a better game than Ninja Gaiden 3 and does commendable things in atoning for Team Ninja's past sins, but is far from a brilliant one. James Stephanie Sterling from Destructoid gave it 5.5 out of 10, writing that nothing this Wii U release does can improve upon the core gameplay, which remains dry, disaffected, and banausic.