Summary
Formed inside Tecmo by Tomonobu Itagaki as a team designed to work on home console versions of arcade classics likeDead or Alive,Team Ninjahas evolved from being a simple subsidiary into one of the finest designers of action games and RPGs on the market. As their sensibilities and priorities shifted, Team Ninja went from simply being theDead or Alivestudio to crafting its own unique brand of RPGs and fast-paced action games.
Whether it’sthe fast-paced speedand challenge of theNinja Gaidenfranchise or the deliberate pace ofWo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Team Ninja has proven that it isn’t just chasing trends but is, in many ways, creating them by working with popular IPs and constructing new, original franchises. Team Ninja is a proven team of talented people that is hitting a fabulous peak in its history, as its current crop of action games and the legacy games from its past are filled with somemeticulously designed combat elementsand a visceral feeling that is hard to top.
As Square-Enix was looking to expand the concept of what aFinal Fantasygame could be, the series started to abandon the turn-based roots of the series, and new experiences were born. So, when they tapped Team Ninja to developan action RPGthat acted as a sort of re-imagining of the very first game, it seemed like a perfect match.
The end result wasStranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, a dazzling mix betweenDark Soulsand the long-running series that features some absolutely spectacular combat. This wonderful action role-playing game is a blast to play, withsome challenging bossesand a sense of weight that is very important to titles like this. It is easily one of their best efforts, as the combination of Square’s iconic world design with Team Ninja’s flawless combat proves to be a perfect match.
Based on theRomance of the Three Kingdoms,a historical novelthat has influenced other games likeDynasty WarriorsandKessen,Wo Long: Fallen Dynastyfuses real-world events with fantasy in a stunning and wonderful, fully realized world. Much likeNiohand the Soulslike games that influenced it,Wo Longputs an emphasis on deliberate, tactful combat that unfolds at a perfect pace.
Built around a system favoring deflections and parries,Wo Longconstructs a wonderful flow where paying attention to a bar that fills up on either side determines the player’s outcome in these battles. It’s a fantastic,deceptively simple set-upthat lets battles play out in a way that is incredible to participate in.
As its trek into completely original properties deepened with the launches ofNiohandWo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Team Ninja opted to create another original IP for their next project in the form ofRise of the Ronin. Set in the final years of the Edo period,Rise of the Roninis Team Ninja’s first open-world game and takes everything from their deflection focused system seen inWo Long, mastering it into something that feels truly remarkable to play.
Weapons have a perfect feeling of weight, with hits and slicesfeeling appropriately meaty. The furious feeling of metal clanging around from deflections, followed up with the gory finishing moves, is just fantastic. It is a terrific culmination of everything that Team Ninja has learned over the years, fusing its best systems into one in an altogether fabulous package.
Niohwas originally based on an unfinished script written by acclaimed director Akira Kurasowa, developed as Team Ninja’s first original IP and influenced by the story of Irish samurai William Adams. Taking place at the end of the Sengoku era,Niohpits the player up against not just other sword-wielders butdemonic oni known as Yokaithat roam the landscape.
Engaging withNioh’s wide variety of baddies feels great, as the flow of battles and Team Ninja’s attention to enemy placement is a key component to the pace and structure. By adding in new ranged weapons from their previous efforts, including the outstanding rifles, the way the player can switch from melee to ranged in such a swift manner makesNiohfeel immediate in a way that a lot of action RPGs do not.
After the first threeNinja Gaidengames were developed by Tecmo from 1988-1991, the series took a hiatus, andseries star Ryu Hayabusafound his way into theDead or Aliveseries. But with the power of the Xbox behind it, a newNinja Gaidenwas developed by Team Ninja and proved to be a major reason to own Microsoft’s console. It was a game changer, as the focus on extremely difficult, fast-paced action made it a perfect fit for Microsoft’s edgier console.
First released in 2004, it was reworked asNinja Gaiden Blackone year later and improved on the initial release in every possible way. Ryu feels phenomenal to control, and his moveset is a delight to master, featuring some slick combos and devastating finishing moves. Enemies are quick and agile, keeping the player on constant alert, as the back and forth between the two is flawless. This absolutely stellar action game is readily available on modern platforms, as Tecmo has done their best to preserve this master class in combat and action game design.
