Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge

Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge
Developer(s)	Team Ninja
Publisher(s)	Nintendo(Wii U) Tecmo Koei
Director(s)	Fumihiko Yasuda Hidehiko Nakajima
Producer(s)	Yosuke Hayashi Takanori Goshima
Designer(s)	Motoi Tanahashi Hiroyuki Nishi Makoto Ishizuka
Programmer(s)	Shuhei Shiota Shuhei Sato
Artist(s)	Masahiro Nose Kenichiro Nakajo Nozomu Sugiyama
Writer(s)	Masato Kato
Composer(s)	Takumi Saito Ryo Koike Hiroaki Takahashi
Series	Ninja Gaiden
Platform(s)	Wii U PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 Nintendo Switch PlayStation 4 Windows Xbox One
Release	Wii U NA:November 18, 2012 JP:December 8, 2012 EU:January 11, 2013 AU:May 11, 2013 PlayStation 3,Xbox 360 NA:April 2, 2013 JP:April 4, 2013 EU:April 5, 2013 AU:April 11, 2013 Nintendo Switch,PlayStation 4,Windows,Xbox One WW:June 10, 2021
Genre(s)	Action-adventure,hack and slash
Mode(s)	Single-player,multiplayer

Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edgeis a 2012action adventurehack and slashgame developed byTeam Ninjaand published byNintendo.It was released for theWii Ufrom November 2012 to May 2013, and subsequently released byTecmo Koeifor thePlayStation 3andXbox 360in April 2013. It is an enhanced port ofNinja Gaiden 3that includes all downloadable content from the original title, as well as additional enhancements made to improve the game. The game can be considered an equivalent to theNinja Gaiden Sigmagames, as it makes several changes to the original title.

This version of the game was released forNintendo Switch,PlayStation 4,Windows,andXbox One,as part of theNinja Gaiden: Master Collectionon June 10, 2021.

Gameplay

A promotional screenshot showing thecooperative gameplaymode withRyuandAyane

The players can now use theWii U GamePad's unique touchscreen to select different weapons, perform Ninpo, view additional game information and more. Decapitation and dismemberment from previous titles return, and an optional mode withtouchscreencontrols similar to that ofDragon Swordis available. Many gameplay elements from Ninja Gaiden 2 were borrowed and implemented in Razor's Edge, while some elements from the original Ninja Gaiden 3 were discarded or completely remade, such as Steel on Bone being a grab counter chain and no longer requiring button spam, and the Kunai Climbing being much faster and easier to perform. Many other gameplay mechanics fromNinja Gaiden IIwere implemented in Razor's Edge.

Additional features include new exclusive weapons such as the Lunar Staff,Kusarigamaand Dual Katanas, improvedAI,and new enemy types, new battle areas and alternative costumes. The "Karma Counter" from previous games was brought back, now with enhanced features and bonuses. An upgrade menu was implemented which allowed players to spend their Karma points to enhance their weapons, Ninpo spells, and character traits, such as health bar length and special moves.

The game features onlinecooperative gameplaymode, with new playable characters, such as the female ninjaAyane,was revealed in a preview of the game at the Nintendo of America Wii U press conference in New York. She has her own set of moves, similar to herNinja Gaiden Sigma 2iteration, with additional cutscenes produced for her added role. A new Chapter Challenge mode allows the player to control Ayane, as well as additionalDLCcharactersKasumiandMomiji,in any part of the game.

Plot

The game stars the elite master ninja of the previous titles,Ryu Hayabusa.Like the original, the events ofRazor's Edgetakes place after the events ofNinja Gaiden II.This time around it also features a separate storyline for Ryu's kunoichi ally,Ayane,who stars in her own set of unique missions inRazor's Edgethat involve the return of the Black Spider Clan.

Development and release

The game was announced atE3 2011as a launch title for the Wii U.Outside Japan,Razor's Edgewas published byNintendo,making it the company's third title to be rated M by theESRBafter previous titlesEternal Darkness: Sanity's RequiemandGeist.It was the first game to receive an R18+ classification in Australia after the rating was introduced in the country.Downloadable content includes both Kasumi (from theDead or Aliveseries) and Momiji as playable characters, available for free.On February 6, 2013, Tecmo Koei Europe announced the game would be also released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Reception

Reception

Aggregate score

Aggregator	Score
Metacritic	WIIU: 69/100 PS3: 67/100 X360: 70/100

Review scores

Publication	Score
Destructoid	WIIU: 5.5/10
Eurogamer	WIIU: 6/10
GameRevolution	WIIU: 4.0/5 PS3/X360: 4.0/5
GameSpot	WIIU: 6.0/10
GamesRadar+	WIIU: 2.5/5
IGN	WIIU: 7.6/10
Official Nintendo Magazine	WIIU: 75%
Official Xbox Magazine(US)	X360: 8.0/10
VideoGamer.com	WIIU: 6/10

The game received more positive reviews than its predecessor, but overall reception was still largely mixed or average. An early version of the game was well received by Mitch Dyer ofIGN,who wrote that it makes "massive strides toward becoming the game Team Ninja clearly wishes it was on360andPS3earlier this year. [Yosuke] Hayashi and his team clearly took the negative criticism and hardcore fan backlash to heart – and they deserve a second chance. "IGN's review by Ryan McCaffrey stated "it's fantastic to see this kind of hardcore gamer's game on a Nintendo console – and at the Wii U's launch, no less – and you can forget much of what you may have heard about the original release of this game."On the other hand, Kevin VanOrd fromGameSpotwrote: "It's harder and more varied than its original release, butNinja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edgedoesn't reach the greatness of its forebears. "Likewise,Eurogamer's Martin Robinson wrote: "This is a better game thanNinja Gaiden 3,and one that does commendable things in atoning for Team Ninja's past sins - but sadly it's far from a brilliant one. "Jim Sterling fromDestructoidgave it 5.5 out of 10, writing: "Nothing this Wii U release does can improve upon the core gameplay, which remains as dry, disaffected, and banausic as ever before.Razor's Edgegives us more, but when the original serving exceeded that which the player could stomach, 'more' isn't a very tasty prospect. "

External links

• Official website
• Official website(in Japanese)
• Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's EdgeatMobyGames