So...Mark of the Ninja is kind of amazing

[WillieDaKid3]

Recently I've been playing a lot of indie/digital only games on XBLA. Most recently I bought Mark of the Ninja the day it came out. I first heard about this game about a week ago on IGN, and thought, "that looks really good - I'll check it out it whenever it comes out." I didn't know when it would release and a few short days later IGN's review went up. So I scurried off to the digital video-game store and purchased it for 1200 Microsoft. It's worth about twice that.

I'm probably about halfway through the game and so far it is the biggest gaming surprise for me this year.It's graphics and sound are sublime. It's controls are some of the best I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. It's replay-ability will be great due to divergent game-play styles (lethal or non-lethal.)And the stealthy game-play doesn't fall into the genre trap of being either ridiculously slow-paced and difficult, or twitchy and...well, not stealthy (I'm looking at you Splinter Cell: Conviction.) I can't comment on the story yet, because I haven't seen it through to the end.

Thus far this game is, in a word, one of the best video-games of the year and certainly worth every gamer's fifteen bucks and ten hours (or more!)

So what are y'all guys thoughts? Have you bought Mark of the Ninja yet? Will you? What are your opinions/comments on this sleeper gem?

Also, this is my first thread on the Escapist (woot, woot!) so feel free to give me a hypothetical shake of the hand.

Peace out.

 

[RicoGrey]

Going to go ahead and point out the obvious...

...4 posts, and you joined September 2nd 2012, yeah you are a promoter for the game. So what exactly is your relation to the game, did you work on it directly in some function, or simply hired to "spread" the word?

EDIT:For spelling.

 

[Nelsormensch]

Going to go ahead and point out the obvious...

...4 posts, and you joined September 2nd 2012, yeah you are a promoter for the game. So what exactly is your relation to the game, did you work on it directly in some function, or simply hired to "spread" the word?

EDIT:For spelling.

So I'm the lead designer of the game (really, this is me: http://www.twitter.com/nelsormensch) and if Willie Watt is a plant who was hired, well, that would be news to me. Maybe he's just stoked about the game? If so, thanks Willie. But I'd be quite shocked if myself or one of my colleagues was pulling this dude's strings. Sorry, less exciting, I know!

 

[KoudelkaMorgan]

Yet another game that PSN will probably never get... /wrists

Not MY wrists, don't be silly.

 

[Zhukov]

Looks like Shank with stealth. Same developer.

I'll probably pick it up if it makes it to PC/PS3 at $10 or so.

 

[WillieDaKid3]

Going to go ahead and point out the obvious...

...4 posts, and you joined September 2nd 2012, yeah you are a promoter for the game. So what exactly is your relation to the game, did you work on it directly in some function, or simply hired to "spread" the word?

EDIT:For spelling.

I said it was my first thread, not my first post, as posts encapsulate comments on other threads, which I have done -three times if you do the math. Also, I'm glad that you think my writing is good enough to merit an advertisement.

I have no affiliation whatsoever with this game, except that I am playing it and I am loving it.

Peace out.

 

[WillieDaKid3]

Looks like Shank with stealth. Same developer.

I'll probably pick it up if it makes it to PC/PS3 at $10 or so.

I've never played Shank, but I was aware that Mark of the Ninja's developer was the same. PC version will probably come to steam in six months-ish (just a guess.)Wouldn't hold my breath on a PSN release, though.

Peace out.

 

[peruvianskys]

Yeah I'm so excited for it to come out on PC. It looks great.

 

[Swyftstar]

I played the demo recently and I was like whoa. I did not expect anything this polished or fun. Usually when you play a ninja game it's running around with a katana cutting up hordes of enemies. This is actually a pretty well designed stealth game where the stealth is actually fun and rewarding to do. I haven't had this much fun with a ninja game since the original Tenchu.
There is actually a bonus for getting through a level without killing anybody. I don't think I'll ever get that bonus.

 

[WillieDaKid3]

I played the demo recently and I was like whoa. I did not expect anything this polished or fun. Usually when you play a ninja game it's running around with a katana cutting up hordes of enemies. This is actually a pretty well designed stealth game where the stealth is actually fun and rewarding to do. I haven't had this much fun with a ninja game since the original Tenchu.
There is actually a bonus for getting through a level without killing anybody. I don't think I'll ever get that bonus.

I got "that" bonus one time...took a lot of self-restraint.

And dude, if you thought the demo was good, your mind will be blown by the full game. Take my advice, go buy it if you have the cashola!

 

[Darkmantle]

Going to go ahead and point out the obvious...

...4 posts, and you joined September 2nd 2012, yeah you are a promoter for the game. So what exactly is your relation to the game, did you work on it directly in some function, or simply hired to "spread" the word?

EDIT:For spelling.

So I'm the lead designer of the game (really, this is me: http://www.twitter.com/nelsormensch) and if Willie Watt is a plant who was hired, well, that would be news to me. Maybe he's just stoked about the game? If so, thanks Willie. But I'd be quite shocked if myself or one of my colleagues was pulling this dude's strings. Sorry, less exciting, I know!

Your link doesn't work , just need a space between the h and the ) I think.

But I always like to see developers interacting with the community, I'll give the demo a run.

 

[WillieDaKid3]

Going to go ahead and point out the obvious...

...4 posts, and you joined September 2nd 2012, yeah you are a promoter for the game. So what exactly is your relation to the game, did you work on it directly in some function, or simply hired to "spread" the word?

EDIT:For spelling.

So I'm the lead designer of the game (really, this is me: http://www.twitter.com/nelsormensch) and if Willie Watt is a plant who was hired, well, that would be news to me. Maybe he's just stoked about the game? If so, thanks Willie. But I'd be quite shocked if myself or one of my colleagues was pulling this dude's strings. Sorry, less exciting, I know!

Dude, at first I didn't think this was really you, but the link proves you're legit. I know it probably doesn't mean much, but y'all really did a great job on this game. Well done, I'll definitely be waiting for Klei Entertainment's next game.

Also might go check out Shank.

Peace out.

 

[Mirroga]

To the lead designer of the game. Wonderful job. I hope to see Mark of the Ninja hit the PC. I really like the polish of the stealth gameplay and the overall visuals.

 

[RicoGrey]

snip

So I'm the lead designer of the game (really, this is me: http://www.twitter.com/nelsormensch) and if Willie Watt is a plant who was hired, well, that would be news to me. Maybe he's just stoked about the game? If so, thanks Willie. But I'd be quite shocked if myself or one of my colleagues was pulling this dude's strings. Sorry, less exciting, I know!

All this crap seems kinda faked, but really I don't care, I was hoping to bump into someone like you(That is to say actually tied to the game and not a marketing type person), what were some of the inspiration for your game? How does this process work? Did someone else come along and give you the core idea, or did you have the core idea already?

Wish I could make my question more understandable(comprehensive), but I am drunk, just like the last time I posted. I tend to only post when I am drunk. Anyway, I always look forward to talking to actual game designers.

 

[Zeckt]

I'll wait to see if it comes to the pc, I want to avoid xbox live and arcade as much as possible.