video game action adventure hack slash video game developed xbox video game console went years development release number expansion packs remakes game follows fictional story master quest recover stolen sword avenge slaughter clan specifically targeted western audience despite difficulties obtaining content ratings game graphic depictions violence generally received copies sold north_america month release game censored release regions japanese sales poor months following release making use xbox internet focus series online contests north_america europe japan record breaking numbers players took competing places live final held tokyo game tgs team continued update game release hurricane packs available free downloadable content added extra content gameplay challenges game engine improvements incorporated reworked version released entitled black regarded game creator players definitive version enhanced playstation extra content form version later released playstation gameplay develops narrative thread actions player controlled protagonist viewed person shoulder perspective typical action adventure fashion starts game basic low level abilities weapons upgraded progresses discovering buying items keeping persona character interact game environment perform feats running jumping walls swinging pole pole running water game world distinct regions connected city functions hub access regions obtained fighting enemies finding keys solving puzzles inspired mechanics legend video games dragon scattered regions provide means save player progress permitting gameplay resumed later time movements directed console game control system comprises left attack buttons block button described fluid responsive regarded having deeper combat engines xbox games time comparing playstation action adventures god war devil cry designer god war combat engine explained prohibits players stopping changing attacks mid stroke contrast god war allows players devil cry grants freedom certain attacks williams said compared games combat system harder master lets players fight computer controlled foes equal terms features large selection weapons advantages affect way player approaches combat include handed swords grant quick attacks called flying swallow allows leap slash enemies addition light weapons allow smash foes ground perform signature spinning heavy weapons slow cause damage opponents player string long sequences attacks engage distant foes throw shoot arrows addition standard melee techniques employ colored energy released death enemies absorbed body comes proximity important role general gameplay acting heal restore magic increase cash combat player cause deliberately draw powerful attacks known ultimate techniques allow damage enemies taking damage techniques deal heavy damage immune injury short time provides magical spells form spells activated player cast ice storms bolts lightning functioning similar manner bombs grenades shooter action games spells allow inflict heavy damage enemies potentially avoiding damage dissatisfied programmed visual effects game director wanted deter players game award bonus points players cleared stages employing magic defense player options stand attempt block attacks certain enemies break guard particularly strong attacks second option dodge rolling away attack maneuver called reverse wind plot inspired 1990s series nintendo_entertainment_system nes version originally set imagined game world based team creation dead alive series fighting games interviews indicate xbox games nes series possibly share single continuity set game world dead alive series located mainly japan fictional game draws period structures japanese fortress village set mountains contrast capital city blend architectural types world european style buildings display arabic lettering monastery exhibits gothic influences vaulted hall pointed arches large stained glass windows hidden underground level features statues heads cats walls covered carvings pyramid labyrinth mix styles result deliberate refusal game creative process characters super protagonist player character game believed creating extra player characters distract team focusing development long history star 1990s series roster roles games played popularity fans video game industry provides backstory appearance character seen dead alive series set years game rachel leading female character tragic heroine game twin sister alma afflicted blood curse turns humans believing cure condition rachel seeks kill alma sister soul relationship sisters greater cursed serves plot device drive game forward rachel occasionally needing rescued player controlled character sections remake characters assist player game young female regular cast members acts guide supplying advice objectives player shops scattered game world players purchase useful items upgrades weapons gives quests relates stories crucial information example tells obtain item required upgrade dragon sword potential players option appearance player characters costumes rachel enemies humans changed monsters blood curse greater lead lesser playing major roles game plot alma rachel sister story forms significant game main antagonist raid theft dark dragon blade comprise main plot thread lord underworld responsible final set challenges faces realm encountering story story spans chapters beginning ending start game player takes control shadow clan fortress visit uncle clan leader chat delivers news raid village fighting way village encounters killed shrine maiden taken dark dragon blade cut stolen blade brought life soldier revenge falcon spiritual animal clan seeking vengeance death learns raiders away bound empire fighting way streets capital city faces bosses including greater defeats alma battle city leaves rachel mercy conversely rachel bring kill sister instead taken prepares sacrifice ritual enhance alma power alma help rescues rachel destroys spirit dying breath casts blood curse way lift curse kill emperor storms palace defeating bars way emperor personal realm successive boss fights completed destroy emperor reclaim dark dragon blade accomplished realm starts series escape process loses grip dark dragon blade fallen blade lands feet figure dark disciple game taking blade disciple reveals clan leader admits raid plan restore blade evil power souls harvested drawing blade transforms setting stage final boss fight defeats blade true dragon sword victorious turns falcon flies village game final scene places dragon eye enhance sword disappears night story continued sequels development started work generation project stage development create game sega arcade system board planned project console development release abandoned sega announced end product line point decided release launch title sony playstation united_states plans team leader impressed software development kits xbox pushed team develop microsoft console company kept silent change direction surprised games industry fans announced released exclusively xbox gaming console fans voted poll wanted game nintendo gamecube team action title initial concept common original series released nes retail reasons wanted retain link previous games adherents west asked ideas target foreign market earlier games concluded violence appealed players included content xbox game retain spirit aimed new game hard challenge players memories team point designing smoothly flowing gameplay high quality animations reacted quickly player input paid homage earlier series including updated versions foes special attacks team based computer models pistols upwards real world material character models taken studies human anatomy team hired martial artists order digitally capture movement import motion captures directly game animators sense realism game characters exaggerated movements found interesting design creatures human enemies release released demo disc japan bundled february issue magazine demo let players try chapter game difficulty settings fully upgraded weapons march year later originally planned released united_states regional censorship released contained bloody acts violence monsters north american games rating body rated mature game prohibits sale age depiction attracts ratings parts world germany deemed excessive refused rate game potential place germany list media harmful young people meant shops advertise game sell request customers years older censored european pal version obtain rating year later managed obtain rating release japan rated black release games time ratings acted guidelines consumers march japanese rating system changed scale introduced additional rating games large amounts gore sexual content rating legally enforced illegal sell games age result removed human obtain rating east asian market reclassified previous games despite depicting human post release team kept working project release aim pushing action genre title far end released downloadable expansions known free charge said packs born team interest care charge players efforts packs available xbox live quarter hurricane pack revamped version encounters artificial intelligence foes increase difficulty game pack introduced additional foes cats giants wearing dinosaur key change camera system screen action displayed players control camera change viewing angle feature pack enhance combat engine new intercept skill let players counter enemy attack proper timing hurricane pack kept enhancements took place alternative world comprising regions players fight encounters rescue rachel new bosses expansion introduced giant swords cast team later compiled expansion packs added new features create game viewed final version went sale september years later upgraded graphics game ported playstation version released june black xbox original game february online competition master tournaments series online contests held microsoft took place xbox live open participants europe japan north_america winner selection based scores achieved playing players days complete required games submit scores online tournaments formed regional qualification stages live master tournament world championship held september tgs competition places intense tournaments breaking records online participation xbox live events highest scoring players europe north_america won bearing signature regional winners selected proceed final finalists simultaneously played custom game drawn hurricane pack commentators called action minutes complete game post highest score winner emerged seconds cleared game rivals award ceremony finalists received prize plaques tournaments controversy players complained microsoft posting official rules playoff believed posted score fair means officials stated score possible allowed results stand second playoff microsoft initially named runner north american finalist winner publicly stated reason eventually send second runner tokyo unable produce passport time master tournament started september lasted days rankings decided scores obtained playing hurricane pack prizes games marked end official tournaments microsoft retained ranking boards players scores merchandise built line merchandise online shop carries accessories caps shirts key holders merchandise based associated game launches given prizes master tournaments published original soundtrack game record label wake march maker includes scale plastic characters range products produced figures rachel versions published versions black xbox essentially game original tell story include additional content updated game mechanics deemed black final version release ported game platform addition narrative black introduced gameplay variation called focused action character development provides combat based missions set mainly small areas player goal destroy enemies story mission modes game scoring based player speed clearing encounters number kills achieved number unused spells remaining end cash collected players compare scores online ranking boards black announced team working black later exhibited working version game tgs black reworked compilation original hurricane packs game features new foes exploding bats imitate contains costumes original nes games arcade version key feature version new difficulty settings easy dog hard master added receiving complaints hard default incarnation believed persistence player capable completing game ensured players selecting dog subjected gentle game players difficulty setting receive colored accessories treats inferior compensation difficulty settings harder feature black comprises combat missions adapted custom game designed final missions based hurricane pack form linked series known eternal legend improvements hurricane packs carried forward game including camera system new boss battles intercept maneuver introduced hurricane pack included black adding increased challenge sony announced development obtained european publishing rights game direct role judged flawed game acknowledged gave playstation owners taste version playstation titled released north_america europe february reception released critical acclaim gamespot called best challenging action adventure games ign said sets new standard person action games terms length depth speed gore electronic gaming monthly called instant classic declared xbox critics regarded difficult games released prior enhanced version impressed reviewers gamespot noted best visual audio presentation xbox praised new mission mode game ign called release rare welcome day brought excitement levels time played game technical point view critics regarded black best available xbox software time console hardware pushed limits showing significant drops performance gamespot impressed rate presentation said games time came close visuals audio according ign games momentarily forget generation consoles black sellers led compatible xbox regions new platform release attracted criticism way screen action framed game camera default camera system centers action surroundings reviewers frustrated occasions camera locked scenery losing track attempted address introduction manual camera controls critics judged camera frame usually acceptable good game flaws overlooked consumers purchased million copies august bulk sales going north_america europe according month sold copies united_states sales figures reflect decision target non japanese market japanese gamers particularly excited according copies sold japan months following release critical commercial successes led gamespot asia game halls fame games gained reputation gaming community difficulty attention detail appealed gamers like wanted bloody hard bloody good challenge feared casual gamers find learning curve ign warned gamers lesser skills game incredible difficulty edge commented refusal extend kind dedicated players simply failure design badge hardcore honour impossible believe couldn found way increase accessibility game nature challenges contains found challenge rewarding actually better game thompson focused slate article examining motivation playing difficult games contends extreme levels challenge initially frustrating cause game abandoned disgust game rewards player teaching skills required overcome challenges player motivation finish game opinion strikes correct balance challenge reward completion brings sort exhausted like finally reaching end war peace included list games calling pinnacle action gaming time holding crown entire year god war released true video game classic maybe best game time year ranked video game time calling best game hardest
Ninja Gaiden (2004 video game)