Jason Moyer on 30/5/2009 at 18:31

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Kane and Lynch?

henke on 30/5/2009 at 19:05

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Haven't played it, but I read (http://www.popmatters.com/pm/post/72092-za-critique-kane-lynch-dead-men) this Popmatters article about it recently that waffles on about how the gameplay fits the characters personalities perfectly and how the dynamic between the title characters is all kinds of groundbreaking(for videogames). It kinda made me wanna play the game anyway, I'm certainly keeping an eye out for a budget copy.

Oh yeah, Mini Ninjas, looks alright. Nice to see io broadening their horizons anyway.

Morgoth on 31/5/2009 at 12:25

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Was pretty decent, why?

henke on 18/9/2009 at 19:13

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Just played the demo(360 version). Fun, and remarkably complex. Very nonlinear, with many ways to tackle each situation and multiple paths to take through the level. You can sneak up on your enemies and try to take them out one by one, throw a bomb at them if they're in a group or just charge in and hack them all down. New spells/potions can be gained by picking flowers/herbs and mixing them correctly(with recipes you'll have to buy in the local store). The ninja has a big hat which you can use as a boat and travel down the river with, you can also fish for sushi if you have a fishing-rod. You also have caltrops, smokebombs and some fun power-moves, with different tactics/weapons working better on different foes. And you will level up and gain new powermoves as the game moves on. Like I said, it's remarkably complex for what at first glance appears to be just a cute little platformer. I've never played any of the Zelda games but I guess they'd be the closest comparison to Mini Ninjas.

I only have two complaints. The first is that it seems to be impossible to hide again if you've been detected. No matter how far I ran and crouched down in the grass my pursuers still knew exactly where I was when they caught up with me. The second complaint is that the story seems to be the same uninspired mystic kungfu-babble we've heard a hundred times and the cutscenes are sprinkled with slapstick humor that seems to be targeted at elementary school kids.

Still... gotta play the demo a few more times. It feels like I missed out on a lot the first time through. I might end up buying this.