Ninjamurai World Exclusive Hands on.
Developer : Open Emotion Studio
Platform : PSP/PS3 Mini’s
Release Date : Q2 2011
Ninjamurai is the next game in line for release on the PSP/PS3’s Mini’s market from the brilliant young Irish developer team at Open Emotion Studios. Earlier this year saw Open Emotion release their first Mini game, the critically acclaimed Mad Blockers Alpha which went on to receive a string of positive responses from both critics and fans alike, with its beautiful visuals, clever game play and excellent music
If Mad Blockers pushed the idea of what I’ve come to expect from a Mini game, Ninjamurai looks set to totally blow all those preconceived ideas out of the water. I was lucky enough today to get some hands on time with an early build of the game, and to say I’m impressed is an understatement.
Ninjamurai could be described as a modern take on an old classic. From the first moment you start to play this 2D side scrolling platformer you are reminded on the classic Shinobi series, with many subtle nods and winks to the retro classic with its jumping crates, throwing knives and hacking sword play. The more modern gaming influence become apparent later on, for example being able to change your attacking style to a much slower more measured approach allowing you to get in close and do some serious damage
The game can be played using either fast or slow option and each approach has its own benefits, the faster option allows you to quickly avoid enemies and traverse large expanses and the slower option wields far greater power when faced with a fight.
The combat also has a few different attacking methods, from throwing daggers, to slashing sword attacks, but that’s not all you have to look out for. Levels are made up of lots of different obstacles, melting ice platforms, spikes and bottomless pits to name a few of the many different ways you can meet your demise
The game is set to release with around 18 levels included in the story mode, with a number of tricky boss battles to face along the way. Once unlocked the levels are then playable in the time trails section where you have infinite lives and you simply try to beat the fastest time.
The game is looking really good, again they have used the lovely hand drawn back grounds and animation (similar to the style seen in Mad Blocker) which is all done in house along with the music and scripting. The gameplay is running smoothly now and the story looks intriguing, telling the tale of a half Ninja, half Samurai hell bent on revenge
Ninjamurai will be coming out on the Mini’s market in the first half of the year so will be available to PSP and PS3 owners, and perhaps on other formats later in the year too.
Check back for our preview and Review which will be coming in the next few weeks, once we get our hands on the finished version
