In another stage, our hero needs to be sniffed by every attack dog. For example, one goal wants you to complete a level without breaking a single light bulb. It's little touches like this that make Mark of the Ninja so easy to play.Įach stage comes with its own set of goals to complete. When a dog barks, a giant blue ripple will let you know which guards were alerted. When a light gets turned off, you'll see who else noticed the darkness. There's no need for a Metal Gear Solid-style radar, every cue you need is presented on the screen. You can see every step the enemies make, which is invaluable when plotting stealth kills. He also has his ninja senses to protect him, which is presented here as sound ripples. Our hero comes equipped with a sword, throwing knives and those trusty action items. Or, if you're brave, you can stand your ground and fight. Much like Arkham City, our hero has a grappling hook that will take him out of the action at a moment's notice. Even if you accidentally alert the guards, there are plenty of ways to quickly escape that potentially deadly situation. What we have here is pure action, even when you're trying your hardest not to get caught. It also isn't one of those games where you spend two or three minutes hiding under a table.
Forget the countless Tenchu sequels this is the first game to truly make me feel like a ninja.ĭon't be scared off by the stealth mechanics, Mark of the Ninja does not turn into a frustrating exercise in trial and error. Thankfully the level design also kept up, constantly giving me new ways to avoid detection and swoop in for the kill. Suddenly I going head to head with snarling dogs, oversized brutes and laser rooms. Each stage introduces a new wrinkle, forcing me to rethink how I tackle each situation. I was a ghost, unable to be killed and ready for any and all battles. I would use my terror darts to torment the weak, making them fire on their friends before eventually turning the gun on themselves. I would dangle from the lights high above the action and pick off guards, then jump down and sneak up behind the few that got away. I was one with the ninja able to pull off every complex plan my mind was able to concoct. There came a point mid-way through where it all clicked. The game's superior mechanics made sure I never felt out of control and allowed for a lot of experimentation. Our tattooed hero is quick to respond and able to stick to walls without any fuss. Even though we've already seen ninjas tackled countless times on dozens of game systems, Klei manages to keep the formula fresh. The game mechanics have been honed to an inch of their life, creating an experience that is an absolute joy to play. Aside from these limited items, the ninja is also able to throw knives to break lights and get the attention of passing baddies. In the other hand you get attack items, such as the Hisomu terror dart and the trusty spike mine. One hand holds distraction items, which include noise makers, smoke bombs, distraction flares and the trusty cardboard box. Our hero has a few ninja tricks that will make avoiding detection a lot easier. The levels are flush with obstacles to hide behind, places to stuff dead bodies and explosive traps to set off. Each and every scenario can be tackled in a number of disparate ways, from leaving everybody alive to killing every guard in sight.
Each map is gigantic, full of wide-open areas, multiple paths and secret passageways. The game's thirteen stages are specifically designed with stealth in mind.
After you've mastered the controls and built up your arsenal of attacks, you'll be an unstoppable force that bats his prey around like a cat before going in for the kill. This is a stealth game through and through, but like Rocksteady's recent Batman titles, this is more about toying with your enemies. The real star here is the gameplay, which seems to be channeling both Castlevania and Arkham City. The target is a bearded gentleman with a striking resemblance to The Most Interesting Man in the World from the Dos Equis advertisements.įor much of the game, the actual story isn't the main draw.
From here you (and a computer-controlled female ninja) set out on an adventure to get revenge. The tattoo gives our hero all kinds of special powers, but will eventually drive the ninja insane. You play the ninja in question, a super-powered fighting machine that has been marked with a large tattoo. Mark of the Ninjas is not only a strong contender for game of the year, but a new high water mark for all ninja games. With its smooth gameplay, gorgeous artwork and deceptively twisted storyline, there's a lot to love about Klei's newest stealth/action game. Despite being published by Microsoft, Mark of the Ninja has slipped by completely unnoticed. While hiding in the shadows may be a good tactic if you want to perform a stealth kill, it turns out that it's not the ideal way to get people's attention.