Kotaku: ninja magic

The Legend of Kage Brings Ninja Magic Back To DS

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 18:20:30 MDT

After twenty years, Taito has finally decided to follow up on the original arcade game The Legend of Kage with the cleverly titled The Legend of Kage 2, proving anything can happen when we're talking about the Nintendo DS. Taito is adding dual screen platforming action and some thirty ninja skills to the Legend of Kage formula, destined to hit Japanese store shelves in February of next year. Gpara has tons of in-game screens and loads of artwork at which you may gawk.

For those of you unfamiliar with or not alive for the first Legend of Kage, you have two easy, legal ways to play it. The original arcade release is included in Taito Legends Volume 2 for the PlayStation 2 and PC, with the NES port available on the Wii's Virtual Console since February. Great games? Not necessarily, but they're indisputably ninja-riffic.

The Legend of Kage 2 [Gpara]

Odin Sphere Developer Reveals Wii Project

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 16:40:51 MDT

Vanillaware, whose latest gorgeous 2D games include Odin Sphere, pictured above, and GrimGrimoire for the PlayStation 2 have announced their latest game, this time for the Nintendo Wii. The latest issue of Famitsu, by way of 1UP, reveals that Oboro Muramasa Youtouden will follow in the 2D tradition, with a feudal Japan era setting that's loaded with paranormal enemies and mystical creatures. The best news? You play as one of two ninja.

No date is set for Oboro Muramasa Youtouden's Wii-mote swinging adventure, but we pray to the video game gods that we see more at TGS.

Vanillaware Unveils Wii Action Game [1UP]

New Wii Virtual Console Titles Rated By ESRB

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:20:50 MDT

A trio of rock solid Sega Genesis releases may be making the Internet tube trip to a Virtual Console near you, as the ESRB has rated Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole, Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master and Capcom's Ghouls N' Ghosts. Good news for yours truly, as I'm in possession of 1400 unused Wii Points and have a nerd-on for all things Shinobi.

Keep in mind that just because the ESRB issues a rating for a particular game doesn't mean it's going to pop up in the Wii Shop Channel come Monday. Plenty of titles, from Pro Wrestling to Pilotwings, have been in the ratings board's database for far too long.

ESRB Game Ratings [ESRB]