Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection was announced on February 17, 2021 during a Nintendo Direct. Many fans have been excited to return to the trilogy that brought Ryu Hayabusa back to the forefront of the video game scene - while helping put developer Team Ninja on the map for more than its signature fighting game franchise Dead or Alive. It can be argued this Ninja Gaiden reboot series gave Team Ninja credibility as a diverse developer that opened the door for numerous projects including Metroid: Other M and Nioh.
Team Ninja is seemingly aware of this and shows reverence toward its Ninja Gaiden games. With Master Collection, one of its leading developers said the studio has been thinking about bringing them back to modern hardware for some time. Game Rant spoke to Team Ninja Producer Fumihiko Yasuda about Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection, how the games were updated and changed, as well as what he hopes new and returning audiences take away from the experience. Interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
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Q: What has the process been like bringing this trio of games into the modern era? How much of an overhaul has there been in terms of performance and graphics?
A: Each of the games in the collection were designed without much thought given to being remastered, so we had a hard time. Therefore we worked on NG3:RE, Sigma 2, then Sigma, going in reverse order. Also, the program structure of the PS Vita games, Sigma 2 Plus and Sigma Plus, were well organized, so we were able to use that source code effectively. Plus, we've resolved the Sigma Plus and Sigma 2 Plus issues of the framerate drops and difficulty inputting certain commands!
In terms of performance and graphics, the Switch version is 720p, and the other platforms are 1080p and 60 FPS. It is 4K resolution and 60 FPS for PS4 Pro, PS5, Xbox One X, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam (with proper hardware requirements). Resolution and FPS may fluctuate during gameplay, and players will, of course, need to have a 4K TV or monitor to play in full 4K/60 FPS.
Q: Why bring the Ninja Gaiden games back now? Are there plans to have the collection come to next-generation consoles as standalone releases?
A: The Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive series are Team Ninja's signature franchises. It has been on our minds for a long time that the Ninja Gaiden series hasn't been available on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One generation of hardware, as well as PC. The timing fit since we had completed work on Nioh 2.
In addition, the number of staff at Team Ninja who are of the generation that grew up playing Ninja Gaiden is slowly increasing. So, for our development team we wanted this to be an opportunity to get involved once again with the Ninja Gaiden franchise.
As for upgrades to next-gen consoles, there are currently no plans. For a proper next-gen version, it would actually require a complete remake. We did consider it, but we also wanted to get the games into the hands of players sooner rather than later. Also, if we had the time and resources for a remake, we felt it would be a better served opportunity to create a new game, so that's why we decided to go with this collection at this time.
Q: How long has the Master Collection been in development? Did the pandemic and lockdowns have a big impact on its progress?
A: It's been in development for about 1.5 years. When Japan first went into a state of emergency last year due to the pandemic and people couldn't come into work, there was some confusion transitioning to working from home. But we have adapted and are moving forward with development in this new structure. We've been able to construct various tools and workflows for sharing, so while there are some changes, it hasn't had a completely negative effect on our development.
Q: It has been nearly 10 years since Razor's Edge, and it is coming up on 20 since the original Ninja Gaiden reboot (pre-Sigma). How do you feel the industry has changed, and are you expecting it to affect people's perceptions of the Master Collection? How have your relationships with the series changed in that time?
A: I think not only the simple advancement of hardware, but gameplay environments, including online and smartphones alongside game systems, have become pretty multifaceted. Within that context, high difficulty "Souls-like" games have become a popular genre, and have gained a certain level of support. The current crop of difficult games, including the Nioh series to a certain extent, gives players various options aside from full-on combat to redeem themselves after dying.
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However, players are clearly required to improve their playing skills in the Ninja Gaiden series in order to advance. For many new players, this stoic approach might feel fresh in comparison for that reason.
Q: Have the years working on projects like Nioh offered any kind of lessons or ideas that were brought to Ninja Gaiden?
If we were to create the next Ninja Gaiden game, I think that undoubtedly it would be influenced by our experience creating Nioh and all of our other projects. The incredibly responsive controls and unrelenting enemy AI are some of the things we've carried on over the years. But at the same time, simply making games difficult isn't our primary goal, as much as it is to create an immersive game that players can enjoy navigating and overcoming. Therefore, we'd like to retain the essence of Ninja Gaiden-like aspects, but create a new game that can hold its own when compared to the latest action titles.
Q: What do you hope people will take away from playing these games today, for new and returning players?
A: Well, the high-speed action doesn't feel dated even when played now, and the enemies are still as tough as ever. I think returning fans and new players will find it to be a new challenge and experience.
Q: In an interview with The Gamer this January, you said there are no plans for sequels such as Nioh 3 because Team Ninja wanted to work on newer projects. Based on the success of this release, are you more likely to consider a new Ninja Gaiden?
A: Yes, there's always a possibility. One of the reasons we are able to work on this remastered version is because of the interest in the Ninja Gaiden series, along with the encouragement and voices of our fans. Team Ninja will dedicate ourselves to working on new projects, so we hope you will continue to voice your support.
Q: One big selling point for the Master Collection is its four female playable characters: Ayane, Rachel, Momiji, and Kasumi. Where did the idea for adding them come from, and how will they change the game? Could this be testing for potential spin-offs?
A: The idea came from the question, "What would happen if these popular and capable characters in their own right, were to battle with Ryu Hayabusa on the same field?" That exciting thought made us want to see it happen! I think with the addition of these playable female characters, we were able to bring in a more stylish and different kind of action to the games, which helped broaden the series. Personally, I'd like to make a spin-off if we had the chance!
Q: While extra characters have been added, multiplayer elements were removed from the trilogy. Why was the decision made to focus on single-player content?
A: We focused on single-player content because in order to replicate the online system used in the past, not only would it require a great deal of time and money, it would also place limitations on the platforms we could release it on. Given that dilemma, we decided to increase the number of platforms we would release the collection on in order to reach as many players as possible rather than pursue the multiplayer feature. Nevertheless, a ranking system for competitive scoring has been implemented, and of course our signature Ninja Gaiden action can still be enjoyed to the fullest in classic single-player mode.
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Q: Sigma 2 and Razor's Edge are listed as being available in Traditional Chinese as a selling point. Were they previously in Simplified Chinese, or will this be the first time that market can access these games?
A: Both Sigma 2 and Razor's Edge are not available in Simplified Chinese in this collection or in their original format. Since the game is coming out on PC through Steam as well, we hope to see a lot of people in Asia play the game!
Q: Are there other notable changes to bring these games to a wider audience?
A: We focused on replicating the original games so there aren't any major changes. But we've made adjustments to features like Tag Mission mode, which players previously felt were really unfair and as a result were not well received. Also, the graphics and stable frame rate have been improved.
Q: This collection was announced during the February 2021 Nintendo Direct, though the original Ninja Gaiden reboot was an Xbox-exclusive, so many may associate this trilogy with Microsoft. Was the Nintendo announcement convenient timing, or perhaps related to the NES series?
A: We were approached by Nintendo and the timing was right, so we took part in the Nintendo Direct event and used that opportunity to announce the game. Also, we've only released Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge on a Nintendo platform since the series became a 3D action game, so we also felt this would create a significant impact.
Q: On a similar note, there have long been rumors about Ryu Hayabusa coming to Super Smash Bros., and with Ultimate having two more DLC slots it could work with this collection's June release. Can you speak to this? If not, how would the team feel about Ryu joining the roster?
A: We'd love to take part if they approached us. We're still waiting for our invite!
Q: Is there anything more specific that can be said about what Team Ninja is working on next? Will the Master Collection receive support over time, or are you moving completely into production on something new?
A: Not so much the Master Collection, but if we have an opportunity to work on the next game in the franchise, I'd like to make a game that retains the pure action elements, but incorporates the experiences in RPG, online, and various art designs we've gained through the Nioh series as well as collaborations with other companies. We'll let everyone know if that actually becomes a reality!
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?
A: The Ninja Gaiden series can be considered the foundation of Team Ninja's action style, and the hallmark has always been its precise control response. Even though you're faced with enemies at every junction, Ryu Hayabusa is your formidable weapon to command each battle as you master the controls. I hope players will try and learn each of the many actions to fully experience and enjoy the game.
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Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection launches June 10 for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One, with backward compatibility on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
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