Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge Wii U Launch Preview

Nintendo's Wii U will launch on November 18 with 23 promising launch titles.

Earlier this year, Xbox 360 and PS 3 fans got Ninja Gaiden 3. The game was slated to be as big a hit as every other game in the series. However, that iteration of the title struggled mightily as the critics blasted the game for its lack of substance and its lack of true challenges. Director Yosuki Hayashi stated that the development team had tried to copy the rest of the game industry and in doing so, lost the franchise's identity.

But lovers of the franchise can be relieved to know that a new Wii U version is slated for release on opening day and the hope is that it will save face for the series. Now entitled Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge, the game will up the difficulty and increase the challenge that has made the series so legendary.

"For Razor's Edge, we listened to the feedback (from Ninja Gaiden 3)," Hayashi said. "And we re-examined what the series was, what the game was, what people want. We're going back to rethinking what the series means."

But there are a number of other surprises regarding the game. The blood and gore has been increased substantially and the game will be the first AO (Adult Only) title for Nintendo's console. Nintendo has always been readily ridiculed for not appealing to the hardcore, but with such titles as Assassin's Creed 3, Call of Duty Black Ops 2, Batman:Arkham Asylum, ZombiU and now Ninja Gaiden 3 at launch, that insult can longer hold substance. The other major surprise regarding this title is that it will now be published by Nintendo rather than Tecmo. The Big N is supposedly helping fix the game up for the Wii U release.

In terms of the gamepad functionality, players can choose from a list of move combinations listed on the gamepad. There is also a touch screen button for special moves. It has been rumored that players may get to the use the Wii U Pro Controller for this game for a more traditional gameplay experience.

The Wii U version of the title will also get a ton of new content. First off, players will get to play with Ayane, a new character from the Dead or Alive series. She uses her two short blades and is tremendously agile.

The Wii U version also includes new downloadable content including the Scythe DLC and new skills to level up weapons and magic. Players will also get new moves such as "Guillotine Throw." According to Stickskills, there is other downloadable content that has yet to be announced.