Ninjas, demons lurk in latest titles
By Marc Saltzman
Gannett News Service
March is shaping up to be an extraordinary month for gamers with the help of two thumb-swelling action titles.
After several delays, the hotly anticipated "Ninja Gaiden" is now available. It's a tough but deep Microsoft Xbox exclusive that lets gamers try their hand at playing an acrobatic assassin out for revenge.
Horror movie fans, on the other hand, will find a lot to like in "The Suffering," a violent but cinematic adventure for Sony PlayStation 2 and Xbox starring a death-row inmate who gets a second chance.
Both titles are rated "mature" by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (www.esrb.com) and are recommended for players 17 years and older.
Here's a closer look at each:
'Ninja Gaiden'
Tecmo; for Xbox; $49.99; www.tecmoinc.com; (4 1/2 stars out of five)
Players assume the role of Ryu Hayabusa, a skilled ninja who vows to crush the evil Vigoor Empire for slaughtering his clan.
Ryu isn't your typical ninja. He can perform gravity-defying moves such as running across or up walls, swinging from ledges and jumping over enemies. Combine these acrobatics with an arsenal of weapons — a sword, shuriken throwing stars and nunchaku for starters — and Ryu can pull off nearly limitless combination sequences, such as throwing enemies into the air and incapacitating them several different ways before they ever hit the ground.
By the end of the 20-hour adventure, Ryu will have accumulated an assortment of weapons, moves and other items — a good thing considering how tough the super-human enemies become as the ninja delves deeper into the empire.
Graphics are top-notch, with highly detailed characters and environments, and a clever third-person "camera" that follows Ryu during battles, exploration and puzzle-solving.
"Ninja Gaiden" is a single-player game, but an optional Xbox Live feature lets players download exclusive levels so they can compete for top national rankings. The Xbox Live service is $50 a year.
Visit www.ninjagaidengame.com for more information and images.
'The Suffering'
Midway; for PlayStation 2 and Xbox; $49.99; www.thesuffering.midway.com; four stars
Not for the faint of heart, this survival-horror game is as frightening as it is challenging, thanks to its disturbing premise and excessive gore.
In "The Suffering," players assume the role of Torque, a death-row inmate accused of killing his ex-wife and children. Just before the protagonist is executed, a hoard of bizarre creatures take over his maximum-security prison and begin slashing through fellow inmates and guards.
It's up to players to help Torque navigate the prison's dimly lit corridors, cells and creepy outside areas to fight the monsters, while also helping Torque to grapple with the inner demons who torment him for the evil deeds he's supposed to have committed.
"Supposed to have committed" is the key phrase, because the game features three different endings depending on how you play. Torque can either turn out a sadistic, brutal killer, a man wrongfully accused or something else entirely.
Cinematic flashback sequences and delusional "visions" shed light on Torque's possible back stories. Because of the disconcerting premise of a murdered family, these scripted events are creepier than beasts jumping out of shadows. Aural effects also make the game scary.
For maximum effect, play "The Suffering" alone with the lights turned off.
