Devil’s Third still exists, coming in August

Devil’s Third is a game I’ve been interested in for what seems like forever. Coming from the guy who brought you the Xbox’s brilliant Ninja Gaiden. It was originally set to be a multiplatform action title, but ended up in limbo after would-be publisher THQ went belly up. A hyper-violent action shooter, the unlikeliest of publishers came in to save it: Nintendo.

Obviously looking to draw in that “core” gamer crowd for its Wii U, Nintendo’s doing publishing duties on the game, which now has a release date: August 28 this year. Here’s former Ninja Gaiden director and Dead or Alive creator Tomonobu Itagaki talking the game up in Japanese, followed by most recent footage of the game in action.

I think Itagaki is a master of action games – and his guiding hand was very much missed in the rather awful Ninja Gaiden 3, but I’m just not feeling Devil’s Third much anymore. The game looks like it’s taken several steps backwards, harkening back to the sort of things you’d see on the PlayStation 2. I’m very probably judging that on its visuals alone, which is a terrible thing to do, and it very likely plays rather well given its heritage, but judging from that footage (and really, just that footage) I’m finding it hard to be excited.

The game was first announced in 2010, as the first game from Itagaki after his departure from Tecmo and Team Ninja in 2008. It’s had more than its fair share of woes, switching publishers and engines half way through.

It looks a bit like it’s still stuck in 2010.

Last Updated: June 10, 2015