Toronto Thumbs

Content Freeze Is Over

By Shaun Hatton - April 9th, 2009

While we haven’t actually even begun moving servers yet, Jamie and I have decided to just keep posting news in the meantime rather than wait till we’re settled into the new web space. Why? Because it looks like the move might take a while, so we might as well keep at it. Also, your overwhelming and suddenly deafening heavy sighs upon finding out we were stopping with the posts was somewhat shocking. So now, you will be suddenly silenced, like so many Alderaanians.

Posted in Ninja | 1 Comment »

REVIEW
Naruto: The Broken Bond

By Chris Calzonetti - January 26th, 2009

Soylent Green is people alert: This review contains some (minor) plot spoilers for those who have not watched the Naruto anime series.

The Broken Bond is a fighting/adventure game that follows the storyline of the Naruto series, starting at the end of the attack on Naruto’s home village by the villain Orochimaru. Throughout the game, we primarily follow two friends, Naruto and Sasuke, and watch how their friendship develops in the aftermath of that battle.

While the main story arc follows the anime very closely, there are plenty of breaks in the original story to follow side missions that allow the game to be a little more interactive and video game oriented. The player will send various characters questing all over the villages and countryside doing typical video game quests: retrieving stolen supplies, subduing and capturing bandits, etc. But this is all done with an authentic flavour of the story that fans of the series will appreciate.

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Posted in Ninja, Reviews, Xbox 360 | 1 Comment »

OVERVIEW: Ninja Gaiden Black is Back

By Shaun Hatton - March 16th, 2008

Developed by Team Ninja and published by Tecmo for Xbox 360.

While the wait for the super bloody Ninja Gaiden II is still a long one, 360 owners can take solace in the fact that Ninja Gaiden Black is now available for download as an Xbox Originals title from the LIVE Marketplace. And though the game is two and a half years old at this point, it still looks and plays quite well.

As master ninja Ryu Hayabusa, players can use a wide assortment of ninja weaponry and techniques to dispatch enemies. The game is not for everyone, however. It’s extremely difficult once the enemies start showing up in droves, and the boss fights are full of white-knuckled action. Black has a great combo system and the controls are, for the most part, very responsive. When you’re hacking and slashing with your sword, you really feel the weight of the swings and the resistance given when attacks are parried.

For fans of ninja (and really, who isn’t?) this game is a definite steal at its purchase price of 1200 Microsoft Points. The only drawback, if it could be called that, is at just under six gigs, the game will take quite a while to finish downloading. Still, you’ll be able to play it a lot sooner than Ninja Gaiden II.

Posted in Download Updates, LIVE, Ninja, Overviews, Reviews, Xbox 360 | No Comments »