Ninjas were the original black operatives. Stealth was key to the success of their missions. Yet with every ninja game I’ve ever played, it seems like I’d be worried about anything but stealth. Don’t get me wrong, games like Ninja Gaiden and Shinobi are great but they fail to capture the true spirit of what it means to be a ninja by focusing on over-the-top, crazy fast action. Even Tenchu, which is a more stealth oriented ninja game, relies too much on legends and ninja mysticism rather than actual ability. Honestly if you look across the board, the closest thing to a ninja game anyone has ever seen is probably the Splinter Cell series.

But how does Splinter Cell transition to ninjas? Splinter Cell has always been about taking Sam Fisher and using him to infiltrate various locations in order to uncover information or assassinate select individuals. That idea is instantly transferable to a ninja game, even if we are going back some 500 years into the past. Splinter Cell games are renowned for their stories which always have a deep level of political intrigue and creating a ninja game based at some point during the Feudal Ages of Japan allows for so many of the same possibilities since much of the backdrop is centered around rival families and warlords fighting for control of each other’s lands.

One of the biggest challenges Sam always had to overcome was security. Just about every location he was breaking into had some combination of security devices including electronic locks, laser trip beams and security cameras. Now due to the lack of…electricity, just about all those worries go out the door leaving behind the roaming guards as the chief obstacles. But just because you’re main focus will be the guards posted all around your target doesn’t necessarily mean things will be easier.

Since all that electronic security will be non-existent, it only makes sense that all of the electronic tools and gadgets Sam makes use of be eliminated as well. I think if you’re going to make a legitimate ninja game, your character is going to have to focus on using their own highly trained senses and the ability to manipulate the surrounding environment to their advantage. For example, if you have to reach one of the upper floors of a temple, rather than sneak in the first floor and work your way up it would make more sense to climb a tree and sneak across an elongated branch towards a balcony. The point is there should be more freedom and an emphasis on finding a potential advantage and exploiting it.

Now identifying openings and sneaking by security is only part of what a ninja was all about. When necessary they had more than enough ways to eliminate whatever stood between them and their mission so naturally a ninja game should have a wide arsenal of weapons to make use of. However if there’s one aspect of the weapons that needs to change, it’s the preset load outs. I remember playing Chaos Theory and no matter what my options were, I always wanted to make a few changes. A different attachment for the SC-20K assault rifle or more clips of ammunition. Things like that. Ninjas had plenty to pick from, so a proper ninja game should allow the player to choose what they want. Of course with all the possibilities, there should be some sort of limit. I think their should be a weight limit where you can only carry a combination of weapons that total no more than 10 lbs or 15 lbs. So for example, if you wanted to attack your target from a distance then stock up on a bow and arrows, a blow gun, shurikens, throwing knifes, and so forth. If you want to be more up close and personal, grab a Ninjato, a Kusarigama, and a pair of cat claws.

However, ninjas were masters of subterfuge&deception so naturally there should be more than just a wide variety of weapons. Over time ninjas developed tools and devices from which they could throw off an enemy without having to use any of their weapons. Things like black eggs and powder clouds were used to disable their opponents’ vision either temporarily or permanently. From there, it was at was at the ninja’s discretion as to how to finish the job. So if you wanted to forgo all weapons and focus on strictly carrying these devices, you have the ability to do so. You don’t always have to sever a limb in order to disable your opponent and you combine the tricks of a ninja with the skills in their bare hands and they’ll be able to turn any advantage against their opponents.

Up until now though, this has all been about the single player experience. Infiltrating a compound as a ninja with more than 20 armed Samurai guards ready to take your head off is fun, but doing it with friends is even more fun. By adding a co-op mode, a whole new group of tactics present themselves. Having another player with you allows you to coordinate your efforts which can work to throw your opponents off. Outside of tactical advantages, the game should also include co-op specific maneuvers. These could moves like step ups, boosts, forming a human ladder, dual rappelling, and so on. Another really cool feature would be allowing players to share items and weapons between each other.

Ninja co-op would be fun and exciting but looking back at Splinter Cell, it was the competitive Spies vs. Mercs multiplayer mode that really got everyone’s attention. I guess if you were going to make a similar multiplayer mode, it would have to be Ninjas vs. Samurai. Each scenario would essentially be attack and defend with the Ninja team attempting to steal something or assassinate a target and the Samurai team trying to prevent the Ninjas from accomplishing their goals. What made Spies vs. Mercs fun was that both sides were incredibly unique and had their own strengths and weaknesses. With Ninjas vs. Samurai it would be the same. Both sides would have a small arsenal of weapons and equipment that only they can use.

Being that this is a wish list means none of this might actually happen, but I hope it does at some point. I’ve never played a ninja game that incorporates what it truly means to be a ninja. It’s always some straight-forward, crazy, off-the-wall action game without any focus on stealth and skills. Ubisoft has come the closest with the Splinter Cell series and with their experience I think they’d do the best job.

If people are interested, feel free to email your opinions on what you'd like to see coming down the pipe in the future to jcalomino@aggrogamer.com or send me a message on Pwned.