
It would appear that Japanese developer Team Ninja has plans to reboot both Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive. This news arrives via a recent company presentation, which hinted at the studio's future (as translated by Free Step Dodge).
Don't get too excited just yet, though. It sounds like these plans are a while off, as Team Ninja notes that it's already hard at work on Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty (which is due out in March 2023), and Rise of the Ronin (which is pencilled in for a 2024 release). We probably won't be hearing much more on the topic of reboots for quite some time.
It's also worth mentioning that back in 2021, Team Ninja said that it had no plans to make a new Ninja Gaiden game — although series director Fumihiko Yasuda did clarify that he would like to work on a fresh instalment. Safe to say that something's changed behind the scenes since then.
Anyway, potential reboots do make for an interesting approach; it's no secret that both Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive as properties leave much to be desired these days. The former has been missing in action for over a decade now (at least in terms of new mainline titles), and the latter left a bad impression with the disappointing Dead or Alive 6. As such, reboots are probably the way to go if Team Ninja wants to get its two franchises back on track.
What would you want from a new Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive? Try to keep your expectations in check in the comments section below.
[source bbs.ruliweb.com, via freestepdodge.com, nintendolife.com]
Comments 47
I'd be fine with Ninja Gaiden reboot if Platinum Games does it, not so sure about Team Ninja. DoA on the other hand? Nah. With all the censorship thats been going around, its probably not gonna be the same.
As long as they don't make it cost hundreds of dollars after DLC like Dead of Alive 6, then I'm all for a Dead or Alive reboot. I loved 4 on the Xbox 360, but then it became all about the money.
Dead or Alive doesn't need a reboot. The series was fine up until the last game.
Ugh I don't wonna complain since this confirms that Ninja Gaiden and DOA aren't dead but why reboot them? They don't need a reboot just carry on
Ninja Gaiden black and Ninja Gaiden 2 are superb games. I play them every couple of years, even to this day, as the combat is just amazing. The Sigma games are not as good, but still awesome.
I’d like the dead or alive franchise back generally, as long as it stayed true to the spirit of the original games.
Ninja Gaiden could be really interesting if they apply some of the lessons they've learned making Souls-likes for the last several years. I'm not saying I want a Ninja Gaiden Souls-like, but their old style could be melded with their new approach for some interesting results.
As for DoA I'm not sure where they go. I played a little bit of 5, and it was fine, but I'm not sure how they differentiate themselves enough beyond fan service. I loved DoA1 and 2. They provided a fast and easy to pick up alternative to Virtua Fighter. I think they can still be that, but they have to find a way to not alienate potential players that are turned off by the gratuitous cheesecake and fan service. It's a delicate balance which I don't think they are capable of achieving.
They’ll somehow have to find time for the remake of the first third of their greatest game, Metroid Other M, Part I. I heard the classic game beloved by generations of children will now be in glorious dynamic HD (540p undocked*) with full analogue drift action!
Yaaaay!! Hope the two series have a stronger connection than ever before, too, like an expanded universe.
@rawzeku After Nioh and the upcoming Rise of the Roin? Nah, team ninja feels like a much safer pair of hands compared to Platinum at the moment - although i do feel like that might be the result of taking on too many projects at once
@RudeAnimat0r
They could try to just do a fan service fighting game with good fighting mechanics as they used to. Unfortunately I don’t think Sony would let them release a game to appeal to a player base they don’t respect, so, yeah, difficult to know where to go from there.
Good luck releasing DoA with the hyper-sexualized women in today's climate of fashionable constant rage at everything mindset.
@rawzeku Dude Team Ninja are one of the greatest action game developers of all time in their entire history they've only wobbled with Ninja Gaiden 3 and DOA 6 Platinum to me are extremely overrated they're incredibly hit and miss I wouldn't want them in charge of my Team Ninja favourites
@Uncharted2007 I don't buy it. In a world where Bayonetta is a successful video game franchise, they could definitely spin it more towards the female empowerment angle. It's also not like DOA was ever on the same level as Omega Labyrinth or its ilk.
Ninja Gaiden, yes! First one on the Xbox absolutely blew me away and the sequel was really underrated.
@Thaliard The only way it'll be accepted by society today is if all the characters identify as the opposite sex. Then they can be nude for all society would care.
I don't think you need a reboot of DOA because for a fighting game the story isn't terrible.
Just make a fun game and maybe don't have a million outfits as dlc
@AndyKazama Maybe by reboot they mean something along the lines of what Mortal Kombat did with their 9th entry that released on PS3? Start at the beginning but add stuff making it better. MK was greatly improved by it.
Ninja gaiden is excellent.so i would welcome it.word up son
No thanks to both. Don't trust Team Ninja to do either right and even if they tried, Sony and MS would be sure to censor the heck out of the fan service. Just stick to NioH and make new IPs.
@Uncharted2007 maybe explain the Raidou family tree better.
That would work.
Thinking about it again DOA does need some touch up, instead of having a tournament for tournaments sake.
Keep the same VOs tho. That's all I ask.
I hope doa come back we definitely need another 3d fighter this gen besides tekken 8 hopefully Sega make a new Virtua fighter as well.
I actually really enjoyed my time with DOA6 personally. It had plenty of content at launch and I also liked the way it played. Always though it got a bit of an unfair reputation so I'd absolutely be down for another. Same with Ninja Gaiden.
@Gamer83 same here, dead or alive "reboot" will still be riddled with microtransactions and ninja gaiden would be made even more simpler than 3 razors edge 🤦♀️🤦♀️ this is a lost cause tbh
@Thaliard
With Nintendo sure, but not Sony. Although Nintendo are regressing somewhat too unfortunately.
I wouldn't get your hopes up DOA fans. "Dead or Alive reboot" essentially means "no boobs". That is what the developers wanted from DOA6 and were very open about it. Rebooting means that they get to do a Saints Row 2022 and try to get rid of the old fans.
A complete 180 seems... unlikely.
I thought dead or alive was koei tecmo doa 6 already looks fantastic can only imagine how good the next one will look on my ps5 can't wait to spend hours drooling over Honoka 😂
@LifeGirl have you played doa 6 there's no shortage of boobs there they literally put Honoka in a cow t shirt that says got milk on it to highlight her huge mammary glands 😂
@Would_you_kindly That's not how I remember it. I remember it being toned down significantly to pursue the e-sports market, it then proceeded to sell terribly and not take off as an e-sports game, and then the developers went into to damage control by dialling the game back to what is basically DOA5.
As I say, there are interviews. There is nothing made up here. The devs hate the image that this series has.
@Uncharted2007 exaggeration at its finest.
@LifeGirl I didn't get it at launch I got it about a year ago but I was pleased with the amount of 'boobage' aswell as the jiggle physics & the sweat dripping effect 😂
I love the "new" trilogy as much as the old. Would love another game. Also make Yaiba more easily available.
DOA has always been a favorite series of mine. I feel a reboot for this series will probably be worse than what DOA6 was.
@naruball I honestly don't think it's an exaggeration but there's no way we'll be seeing eye to eye on the subject.
This is great news. Hope they make it more like DOA5 with better storytelling.
Don’t mess with the girls or costumes.
@Ralizah true! Loved DOA5
@Would_you_kindly
Honoka is definitely hot.
Tina is still my DOA Waifu but Honoka rocketed past Kasumi and Mila with her slight redesign in DOA6. She’s now firmly in second place.
New IP please. It's no longer Gaiden without Itagaki san
@OrtadragoonX she's my favourite because I'm a breast guy & she has the biggest 😂
@Uncharted2007 then by all means provide examples of video games with characters that "identify as the opposite sex" and "are nude". I'll wait. It's one thing to have an opinion. It's another to be able to support it.
@Keyblade-Dan so do you think metal gear revengeance is overrated ?
@rawzeku why doubt team ninja on their own franchises? They've mostly had great output, as does platinum, but even they had duds like babylons fall or legend of Korra.
Looking forward to ninjas next releases but could do with less soulsborne games at this point. I'd welcome a tough as nails action game that doesn't rely on on level grinding and equipment and rather require twitch reflexes like gaiden. And yes... I know that if you "git gud" enough in a soulsborne game you can do it naked on lvl 1, but that doesn't describe the majority of players.
@Keyblade-Dan forget bayonetta, you gotta try vanquish, astral chain, perhaps even God hand (then still clover). Those are platinums truly great games!
@naruball Umm. No. A hypothetical isn't necessarily an exaggeration. Second, I said this reboot would be accepted by the masses if A and B were true. My argument never held that one already existed. Way to change that goal post though.
@rawzeku I love P* but idk about this. I'm sure they'd do a great job, but certain games need to stay with their og developers. Team ninja made ninja gaiden as fun as it is and idk if P* can make it feel the same way. Same way I wouldn't want Capcom doing a bayonetta game cuz it's P* who made it as fun and hype as it is. Yea Capcom would probably do an amazing job with the combat and mechanics, but can they make the same kinda hype boss fights? The same kinda level design?
@huyi
Yeah, I thought DoA 6 had decent fighting mechanics but the microtransactions and the fact it is a lot more simple than DoA 1-4 (even 5) disappointed me. NG 3 is just a joke no matter if it's the original release or Razor's Edge. That was NG without Itagaki and it sucked. Don't think it needs to be revisited.
@Lup There was a rumor of a Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z PS4 port ages ago, but it sadly never came to fruition.
https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2019/01/yaiba_ninja_gaiden_z_might_be_coming_to_ps4
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