Ben-DutkaHellblade was initially revealed during Sony's press conference at Gamescom in August, and it was a very nice surprise.
While it wasn't exactly the Heavenly Sword sequel for which some PlayStation aficionados pined, it seemed awfully similar and it was exclusive to PS4.
The question is, why did they opt to stick with the PS4? Well, Product Development Manager Dominic Matthews answers that question in a recent OPM UK interview (as cited by J Station X ):
"As a small development team we have to be careful about which platform we focus on. PlayStation offers us a good opportunity to realise the game in a way that we really want to. There’s also something nice about the partnership between Sony and Ninja Theory – there is heritage there with [PS3 exclusive] Heavenly Sword, so I think getting that team back together…there’s something nice about that."
Ninja Theory wants to produce an "independent AAA" title, which they believe can change the gaming industry for the better. It's not a small-scale indie game and it's not a massive blockbuster with a huge budget; ideally, it's a AAA game with an indie budget. …that's a nice thought but I have a hard time believing that will work.
Even so, I have tremendous faith in Ninja Theory and I can't wait to see Hellblade in action.
Related Game(s): Hellblade
Well with an Indy budget, most obvious thing to cut would be advertisement and exposure. It's like store brand products. Quality can still be there, but with games cost of labor is costly especially with the pair of new technology. I just can't see it happening either.
An Indy budget would be closer to $20mil… 😛 (as in IndyCar) I know… But I had to! I'm sorry.
as a genre that still remains void on the now current-gen of hardware I hope this one delivers.
I'm excited as HELL! You know what it kinda reminded me of? Shinobi. I'm not sure why it did. It's such a different game,but it'd be awesome if Sega resurrected Shinobi into this genre of gaming… One can dream!
Also, it could give us a break from crappy Sonic games. Poor Sonic is all types of disgraced nowadays.
Sonic has had it bad on Wii U. But Sonic 4 Episode 2, Sonic Colors, and Sonic Generations are arguably the best Sonic's ever made. And they're not that old. Apparantly Rise of Lyric was handled by a team of defunct Naughty Dog employees. Hopefully they're never tasked with another Sonic.
Oh, and Sonic All Stars Racing Transformed is excellent.
Last edited by Temjin001 on 12/20/2014 4:03:47 PM
I think I remember reading something a few days ago about Sega expressing an interest in investing in film adaptations of some of their games, and seeing Shinobi on the list. Perhaps if that goes forward (and it wasn't a dream), it could see a revival. I remember playing Shinobi on the Master System…. I was pretty bad at that game, but still, good times.
I'm always up for new Shinobi games.
The PS2 had a Shinobi reboot and a sequel starring a FEMALE lead called Nightshade (Kunoichi in Japan).
Shinobi was hard as nails but I did complete the game.
Nightshade built upon what the reboot started with a whole new game and addressed some criticisms (it was easier)
They had a cool combat system but an atrocious camera. The graphics haven't aged well at all either. It does have some of gaming history's nastiest enemy dogs with knives in their mouths.
Last edited by Temjin001 on 12/20/2014 9:44:07 PM
Its got the world right. Something unique and plays off of real history.
Gameplay and atmosphere will make this sell. So long as they stick to those 2 key things, it'll be a hit.
So many indie budget games do really well and try new things.
The main money sink for companies is honestly advertizing and voice actors.
I think that its totally possible to make a great game on an budget, its been done before. Torchlight 2 for example, not the same production values and CG cinematics as Diablo 3 but for most fans of the genre was and still is leagues better than Diablo 3.
I can't wait for Hellblade!!! Ninja theory is one of my favorite developers.
Why would we want a Heavenly Sword sequel? Not only was it self contained but it's easily the weakest of Ninja Theory's slate of melee games. I liked it a lot but leave it alone, IMO.
There was much room for a sequel and it could be brought up to date with even better gameplay than in those early years.
Don't know about this, Ninja Theory is one of the best at motion capture, voice acting and Sound with a good or great story.If you essentially take all of that away all that's left is their crappy gameplay.A Heavenly Sword Re-release would be amazing though.
What? Look at the reviews of DmC. Best fighting mechanics of all time for a combo slasher.
"Best fighting mechanics of all time for a combo slasher." &_&
I pray(not literally) that SE somehow lets Ninja Theory do that FFVII remake you've been asking for.I'm positive you would hate a DmC type FF no matter how it came out.
Not sure I agree with "best" there, World, but to call their gameplay "crappy", Hexen, is doing their games a massive disservice. Enslaved was easily their weakest game on that front, but even that was solid.
Then whose best? Bayonaise? Kratos?
The only game I've played that even comes close to DmC in terms of melee mechanics is Metal Gear Rising, because Platinum makes boss combat games.
Not GoW, certainly. And I haven't played Bayonetta, so I can't comment on that, but Metal Gear Rising was stylistically different, yet still very accomplished. I'd argue that DMC3 gives DmC a run for its money on the gameplay front.
If I recall the trailer had a sweet soundtrack. It's so nice to hear news about current gen platform exclusives. The whole multi-plat-cross-gen is getting old. If you want to make the best game you can have to focus 100% on one kind of architecture. Or at least that's how ND put and it and they seem to live up to there words.
Hell yeah, favorite developer.
I am so invested in this game 😛
Seriously, I've been following their dev diaries, and every time a new one is released, my excitement for Hellblade is ratcheted up a little further. YOu can tell by the way that Matthews and Tameem Antonaides talk about the project that it really is a labour of love and they're putting a huge amount of effort into living up to the AAA expectations, even while the game is built with only 13 or so people.
One thing that I really like about it is the way that it's going to adopt a third-person over-the-shoulder perspective, more akin to shooters than to previous melee-oriented games because it seems as though it's going to feel really different from many other titles.
Anyway, heaps excited for this, and glad that NT chose to do it on the PS4. They really are an massively underrated developer.
They made the main character look like a mix of Kai and Nariko; that alone will get me to buy it.
I want Ninja Theory to get it right on ps4, they had so much promise with Heavenly Sword.
yeah i think what they were saying was good but it will be a timed exclusive as a console debut, but a good game nun the less
happy gaming