Mark of the Ninja Remastered

Mark of the Ninja was another little game that was talked about a lot. To my surprise, it was actually one of KLEI games. I kind of always wanted to try out their other games - Don't Starve and Oxygen Not Included - but never got around to it. Now usually a game comes out with some additional content, like some free DLC or bonus patch. Remastered does include extra features but not enough to warrant the download size. The original game is 2.3 GB and essentially includes all of the core game. Things get a little messy depending on who you download with. I've read various download sizes for all platforms: Nintendo Switch says 3.4GB, Xbox Live estimates 9.31GB, Playstation 10.24GB. Mark of the Ninja: Remastered on Steam is about 8GB (about 3 times as more). Most of it is because the quality of the picture went from 720p to 4K resolution. Yet I question the details of the art design. I barely could tell a difference between the two. There is one extra mission, a new costume, and commentary... surprisingly enough.

The game does "Ninja" very well. You can distract guards, assassinate, use tools, or stick to the shadows. You eventually gain more abilities, more tools, and more challenges. The only thing that it doesn't do quite well is combat. Once someone sees you the race for smashing buttons begins. Your body flails around as you try and knock your enemy down to finish the job. By that time all satisfaction of being "an awesome ninja" goes out the window and all you want to do is restart the checkpoint. Then again, that might be the point.

The game is rather short lasting about 10 hours. There are two endings but both of them are rather ambiguous at best. You are offered hundreds of different ways to finish the game. There are multiple pathways, shortcuts, and costume choices to increase replayability. My issue is that I didn't really care to replay the game at that point. The art style is gorgeous but for some reason I wish they toned down the artsy poetry and riddling story. I just didn't care too much for it.

The absolute one thing I will always remember of this game is how well it does stealth. Now all they need to do is make it with an alien so I could take down some marines from the ventilation shafts and we will be all set.

 

11-17-2018