Team Ninja dissects Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden 3

The concept of this game is basically best version of Dead or Alive. For the Metroid collaboration, we had help from Nintendo and they're really friendly with us. But the concept of Dead or Alive as the best version of the game means Samus Aran or Metroid is something different. That's why we are not focusing on that in terms of the concept.

So talking about Samus Aran, is she playable or not? This time she's not playable. But Samus Aran will be shown in the game. She comes to help the player. That's the collaboration shown there [in the trailer]. But how can you unlock Samus Aran? Please find out for yourself.

Maybe reboot is a good word. Maybe not. Talking about Team Ninja's understanding of the current gaming world, game design has changed dramatically and the previous Ninja Gaiden series is already classic or outdated.

That's why aiming at the current or latest 3D action games, we have to make it from scratch. In that case, maybe somebody says reboot. But we say we need to revolutionise the way we develop the title.

Ninja Gaiden 3 focuses on integrity with the playable character and the user. Previously it was separate. At this point, maybe the previous ones lacked integrity. Previous versions, people focused on Ryu Hayabusa's fast movement and sword cutting, katana cutting action, and they felt, OK, it's awesome.

But you need more integrity and a feeling of humanity. You have to feel like you're playing as a real Ryu Hayabusa. It's a different feel.

Usually for Ninja Gaiden we have a number in the title, Ninja Gaiden 1, 2 and this time 3, and we make it from scratch and revolutionise. Talking about Ninja Gaiden 1, it focused on the movement of the action and the cutting action itself.

Ninja Gaiden 2 focused on the outcome of actually cutting people, but in a deforming type of expression.

Ninja Gaiden 3 focuses on the feel and the sense of cutting down real people in a realistic way. That is the main difference.

Difficulty is just one of the elements. But we understand series fans like you really like the difficulty part.

Okay, maybe not you! That's why Ninja Gaiden 3 is going to be for you. Team Ninja is focusing on two things. It aims to be the number one 3D action game of the time. And secondly, the main character is Ryu Hayabusa. They're the two things we're focusing on.

Then, providing excitement, which is not only from the difficulty. That's just one of the elements. It's more like having excitement from fighting an exciting boss. That is what we needed.

With the previous Ninja Gaidens, you were playing and you were excited, but it was more about putting the controller into the TV screen or something. So that's why for you maybe it was too difficult at that time. That is one of the elements, but we're not focusing on that. We're focusing on providing excitement.

Not easy, but it will enable more people to play. More accessible. We don't plan to have Ninja Gaiden 3 only for the really good, skilled people.

All we can say now is Ryu Hayabusa is the main character. Also, as I've said, we're focusing on integrity for the story, action, player and the playable character. You will be more emotionally immersed.

For the series fans and the people who are devoted to playing Ninja Gaiden 1 and 2, they will like the new Ryu Hayabusa more. We can ensure that.

The setting is not separate from the previous games, but Ryu Hayabusa is more of a living character, having the history of 1 and 2 coming into 3.

Actually we cannot answer at this point. We will in the really near future. Also, especially for the series fan, we will make sure we bring excitement. At E3 this year we are going to provide a playable demo.