
I found myself wanting to go back and best my previous runs, not for leaderboards or Achievements, but just because it was fun to see if I could. In addition, the game really drove me to better my performance. There are also scrolls you can collect and the seals, which are basically level-specific challenges. As I mentioned earlier you are scored on each level for various factors such as killing enemies or being detected. There is plenty to keep you coming back for more. The sheer amount of items and tactics at your disposal by the end of the game is truly impressive. These items can also be upgraded as you earn more points. Smoke bombs can allow you to move through lasers undetected while things such as caltrops can take down patrolling guards. These range from noise makers to smoke bombs, and all have their own benefits. Eventually you gain access to both distraction and attack items. You start off with darts that can take out lights or power conduits. That dog is going to ruin your stealth rating. You also have a nice selection of items you can use to aid you along the way. This is key for a game that relies so much on stealth. Moving from one ledge to the next is intuitive and never becomes a hindrance when trying to remain hidden.
#Mark of the ninja review plus
Once you initiate an execution you have to tap a direction plus the X button do it wrong and the guard gets out a scream that can alert others. You have a grappling hook you can use to attach to certain ledges, and attacks and executions are handled with the X button. Never did I feel frustrated as I do with most stealth games, and that in and of itself is a massive achievement.
#Mark of the ninja review upgrade
It does a wonderful job of keeping you vying for higher scores and earning upgrade points. I found myself restarting checkpoints after being discovered, not so much because I died, but because I lost points for it. Being detected isn’t an instant game over, but it certainly impacts your score. What separates Mark of the Ninja from most other stealth games is that Klei has gone a long way in rewarding players for using stealth, as opposed to punishing them for failing. By the end of the game you are powerful enough to literally run head first into most situations if you so choose, but the stealth is much more fun and rewarding. These make the game easier as you go along. You can unlock abilities such as being able to stealth kill enemies while hanging and hiding in the shadows. There is also an upgrade system that comes into play within the first few levels in the game. You can complete the entire game without killing a single soldier if you so choose, which is definitely a challenge. Unlike Shank, you’ll spend a lot of your time in MotN sitting in the shadows, waiting to strike, if you strike at all. This gives you incentive to go back through the levels to earn better scores and dominate the leaderboards. Alerting enemies or raising the alarm hurts your overall score for that level, and there are seals you can earn by performing specific tasks during the level. Every level rates you on things such as stealth kills, remaining undetected and hiding bodies. Mark of the Ninja is a 2D stealth game that focuses on stealth and cunning over head-on action. Thankfully, the narrative takes a backseat to the gameplay. It just never seems to find its rhythm to draw you into the world. They look fantastic, and the voice acting is well done. The cut scenes are similar to Shank, with a stylized look complete with exaggerated features and a barrage of colors. The premise is solid and well presented, but it never got its hooks into me. This mission will almost certainly end with your death, and yet you still press on. You are bestowed tattoos that somehow give you special abilities, but also cause you to basically lose your sanity. You take on the role of a Ninja whose clan is on the verge of extinction. When I died, I knew why, and that makes all the difference sometimes. I find them tedious, but Mark of the Ninja made it interesting enough to keep me playing with minimal frustration. Now, normally I am not a fan of trial-and-error mechanics. Instead of focusing on straight-ahead action, the game instead turns its attention to stealth. With Mark of the Ninja, they keep their trademark visual style, but have changed up the gameplay substantially.
#Mark of the ninja review series
The Shank series harks back to the glory days of 2D action games with a mix of gorgeous visual fidelity thrown in. I have always been a big fan of what the guys at Klei produce.
