Slashdot Mirror
Ninja Gaiden Hurricane Pack Debuts On Xbox Live
RobZ65 writes "The new upgrade to Ninja Gaiden, previously mentioned on Slashdot Games, has just debuted for download via Xbox Live. The pack features improved camera, more bosses, improved AI, a new weapon, and two new costumes. What do you fellow Slashdotters think about addressing customer complaints in downloads? GameSpy has hands-on impressions of the Hurricane Pack from a couple of weeks back, and IGN covers the new Intercept Technique for blocking and countering, if want more info."
Will it be available on a demo disc with a magazine? I believe they did that for the extra Splinter Cell level. Would downloading it off the net, then FTPing the content to your xbox be considered 'illegal'? Especially if this update is more of a patch, then a content download.
It used to be that console games didn't need updates or didn't need add-ons. Now they seem to be getting into the same arena as a PC.
And personally, I would feel ripped off if I bought the game and didn't get these addons because I had to sign up for X-box Live.
The gap between console and PC thins out a little more.
Get paid to code OSS
The developer who releases a buggy console game will face the same (if not more) wrath from players as the developer who releases a buggy PC game. There's no reason to think that standards will drop on either end. Moreover, this isn't a patch. This is a content expansion, as have been most of the downloads via Live. I believe there is a rule that no changes to games that aren't Live-specific may be released via Live, as well -- meaning that a buggy game won't be "fixable" in the future unless the bug is a multiplayer bug.
We who were living are now dying
With a little patience
Come on now, it's the same thing again. Tecmo, COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT of Microsoft, releases a FREE add-on to an incredibly popular game and all you guys can do is cry foul? HOW? It's a FREE add-on with new content & a new reason to play the game! Do you want Tecmo to come and give everybody free money and openly declare there hatred for everything you don't like? What does it take to please you people?
And by the way, how many of you would be crying foul if this were a free add on for a PS2 or GC game, huh?
I'd mod you down but I wanted to reply to this. This download is NOT a patch. They are not trying to fix anything because nothing is broken. The camera in NG was a pain in the ass but I beat the game with it. There is a lot more content in this update.
And its not like PS2 games have been bug free. At least, XBox has a platform that addresses these issues.
Regardless, its NOT a patch but a content update.
I'm aware that a lot of people put little stock in game reviews, but given its current 91.7% rating (before added content/camera change) on Game Rankings, I don't think Ninja Gaiden can be categorized as "a broken game."
The game isn't broken, so its not really an issue of that. If you have the $100+/mo you get the additional material for no extra charge. If you don't pay the $100+/mo you get a fully functional game without any extra whizz bang.
Big whoop.
Ninja Gaiden ist definitely not a hard or even unplayable hard game (not on normal difficulty, that is). It is not an easy game, so much is true. But I am sure that everyone can make it up to level 12 (this is where I am; I don't know if it gets harder but I am told that everyone who gets to level nine can beat the game). There are only two hard Bosses until where I am now (level 12 of 15, said that before): The first one (because you are not yet used to fighting) and the first encounter with Alma in the church. All other Bosses can easily be killed by EVERYONE if he equippes ten normal health drinks and a little Ninpo. Usually less. The game only forces you to really look what your enemies do and use more than one single move. Some timing and two or three different moves will help you through every single fight. People who wine about Ninja Gaiden being too hard (on normal) just didn't try it for longer than half an hour. after that, you get used to the outstanding and excellent pacing of the game.
It's a Hurricane Pack not a Hurricane Patch, like offering extra levels for Splinter Cell this pack offers NG players new moves, costumes, enemies and weapons.
:(
That said I refuse to subscribe to Live as I don't really like online play, so the only way I'll get to enjoy this is on a cover CD.
It's funny how people argue such things as holding onto ledge in the new Metroids to not be of the original design when the reason the first one didn't have it was most likely due to memory contraints.
The original Ninja gaidens were NOT hard because all it required was a little memorization since the enemies appeared in the exact place, and did the exact same thing.
I personally think a lot of older games were far easier than new ones.
I can't believe how many people are upset about this. New content comes out and people bitch and complain. Quick, someone call the whaaabulance.
I was going to explain why this is a good thing, when it hit me. People aren't bitching about the new content, they are bitching because...
They don't have XBL and can't get the content
Don't have an XBOX, and therefore, this must be substandard because their PS2 or GC is better.
Hate MS, so anything that is connected to MS is bad
Come on people. Let's use a brain here. Do you bitch when blizzard offers an update to Diablo II to make it fun to play again? Add new items, balance the characters, change the enemies? No.
Do people bitch when your MMORG (or whatever the acronym is) gives you new stuff? No.
They don't have to, but they do it to keep the game fresh and playable. Blizzard does it for free. MMORG's do it as part of their agreement to you. You pay them X a month, they promise that their servers will work and your game experience will improve.
So why is it so wrong when NG does this? You bought the game for 50 dollars. They already fulfilled their agreement with you. They provided you with an enjoyable game. They owe you nothing now. But to keep you coming back they release new content the most effective way they know how: XBL. They didn't have to...but they did.
So now you complain because XBL costs money. Well if you don't like it, don't get it and stop bitching. XBL is a service to connect you to other people playing the same game. Just like the Internet connects you to content you want. You don't need it, but it is nice to have.
Personally, I think this is great and hope other game makers take the hint and do the same. There is nothing I hate more than playing a game a second or third time and finding out that it is exactly the same thing I've already done before.
Deal with it and move on.
-Mark
Dovie'andi se tovya sagain.