Ninja Gaiden 3's 'Hero Mode' enables auto-blocking

Team Ninja discusses Ninja Gaiden 3's new "Hero Mode," a setting meant to help newer players get through the story.

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Team Ninja is definitely trying to broaden the appeal of the Ninja Gaiden franchise. The addition of PlayStation Move support, for example, was meant to add "casual appeal." In addition, Ninja Gaiden 3 will include a new "Hero Mode," intended to make it easier for newer (or less-skilled) players to make it through the game's story. In a nutshell, the entirely optional "Hero Mode" enables automatic blocking and dodging of most normal attacks.

"In the past the games were really hardcore and we couldn't get players to stay with us and complete the game," director Fumihiko Yasuda told Joystiq. The hope is that "Hero Mode" will encourage more players to finish Ninja Gaiden 3's more "fleshed out" story.

In an effort to help players relate to ninja Hayabusa on a more personal level, Ninja Gaiden 3 will be taking a look behind Ryu's mask. Yasuda explained: "When you take that mask off, he's not a ninja anymore. He's a human like all of us. To leave that aspect out doesn't make sense. We wanted to show that human under the mask. Who is this guy, why he does things."

Yasuda was also quick to reassure longtime fans of the series' blistering difficulty that Ninja Gaiden 3 will still pack a serious challenge, even including a "super hard difficulty mode." "We're keeping the hardcore aspect of the game anyway," he said. "We're just trying to get the players who have never had a go at Ninja Gaiden to come check it out."

Making a series more accessible to newcomers without alienating traditional fans is a noble goal, but "Hero Mode" is one that we suspect might not have happened under outspoken Ninja Gaiden creator Tomonobu Itagaki's watch, were he still with Team Ninja.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    September 20, 2011 12:45 PM

    Jeff Mattas posted a new article, Ninja Gaiden 3's 'Hero Mode' enables auto-blocking.

    Team Ninja discusses Ninja Gaiden 3's new "Hero Mode," a setting meant to help newer players get through the story.

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      September 20, 2011 12:46 PM

      FINALLY I can play a Ninja Gaiden game!

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      September 20, 2011 12:53 PM

      [deleted]

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      September 20, 2011 2:34 PM

      If I remembered right Itagaki called this mode "Ninja Dog". Interesting how much different this is now with Hayashi at the helm. One of my favorite franchises ruined.

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        September 20, 2011 2:52 PM

        I don't think you HAVE to play it on this mode. How is it ruined?

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          September 20, 2011 3:17 PM

          I'm not sure I would go so far as to say it's ruined, but it does upset the game's mystique somewhat. Ninja Gaiden you could talk with all your friends at the water cooler about how unfair the game was, compare the numbers of controllers you've all had to buy and the quantity of spackle you've had to use to repair your living-room's drywall. If Ninja Gaiden 3 has an easy difficulty mode but everything else is the same, you'd still have a game that was just as fun, but what you'd lose is the universal bonding experience with fellow players.

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            September 20, 2011 3:23 PM

            And I mean obviously it's not ruined because Ninja Gaiden Sigma did have an easy mode, and people still liked that game, right? But it's sort of an issue where if the series had an easy mode from the start the game would have a very different kind of discussion around it, it'd be like any other (fun) game where it's easy in easy mode and hard in hard mode, but you'd have lost the feeling of bonding that you get where pretty much everyone is in the same boat.

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            September 20, 2011 3:37 PM

            As long as there's a significant reward for completing it the way it's meant to be played, I'll be happy. If it's the same either way, that'll be unforgivable.

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              September 20, 2011 4:25 PM

              Yeah it certainly doesn't affect the quality of the game itself.

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        September 20, 2011 3:13 PM

        it was ruined when you didn't have to worry about random birds knocking you into a pit when you jumped from platform to platform

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      September 20, 2011 3:07 PM

      Why would they call it hero mode?

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        September 20, 2011 3:08 PM

        "Down Syndrome" would be deemed offensive.

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        September 20, 2011 3:21 PM

        because its like the game is saying "herro!" to you

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        September 20, 2011 3:31 PM

        I guess "Very Easy mode" mode wasn't appealing to them.

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        September 20, 2011 3:40 PM

        NINJA DOG MODE.

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          September 20, 2011 3:42 PM

          I love that it wasn't even automatic. You had to fail like 3-4 times in a row for the option to unlock?

          lol

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      September 20, 2011 3:17 PM

      I may just have to boot up Black and 2 soon. I have been craving some ninja violence. Beating these on hard was one of my high points as a gamer.

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        September 20, 2011 4:19 PM

        This post reminded me of Ninja Gaiden Sigma for the PS3. I just ran out and grabbed it for $13! Sweet.

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      September 20, 2011 3:36 PM

      Guitar Hero Ninja Gaiden.

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