Welcome back to another edition of Rolling Back the Week’s Best Tips, our helpful column that gives you advice on more recent physical and digital releases for consoles. Though this week didn’t see too many new releases, we’ve still got a handful of tips for you. Without further ado, let’s kick things off with a little ninja action!
Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge (Xbox 360/PlayStation 3)
Originally released for Wii U last November, the “definitive” version of Ninja Gaiden 3 has finally arrived for other consoles and it’s a “nice slice” for those of you looking for over the top action. Here are some helpful tidbits…
Don’t be afraid to jump into Hero Mode. Ninja Gaiden 3 is a TOUGH game. Even on normal difficulty, you’re bound to die often. That’s why it was helpful for Tecmo Koei to include a Hero Mode, where you automatically enter into defensive mode with Ryu Hayabusa when you’re low on health. This helps you block and counter-strike enemies with ease and is a godsend when it comes to battling certain bosses. Be careful: you’re not completely invincible and you can still die from long falls and cheap hits from certain enemies.
Mix up your weapons. With Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge, you’ll have access to a number of wonderful weapons in addition to the Dragon Sword. Be sure to try out the Falcon’s Talons, which turn your hands and feet into Freddy Krueger-like claws of destruction. The Scythe is also a fantastic thing to chop up enemies that are surrounding you and leave a bloody trail as a result. You can switch weapons at any time using the D-pad and the same goes for the multiple ninpo magics. The Inferno one where you throw large flames around is a personal favorite.
Good to go? Then let’s move on to the next game!
Battleblock Theater (Xbox Live Arcade)
After spending what seems like an eternity in development, The Behemoth finally released its long-awaited follow-up to Castle Crashers last week. The game is an engaging side-scrolling adventure where you fight your way through a deadly gauntlet in an effort free yourself from the grasp of your former ally Hatty Hattington. Here are some tips to help you out…
Why just take the single player route? Battleblock Theater does have a moderately good single player campaign, but it’s all about bring a friend along for the ride like Castle Crashers before it. The game fully supports both local and online co-op and there was nothing better than cruising through a stage with a friend, working with them both cooperatively and competitively.
With cooperation, you’ll hurl them over a chasm to activate a switch for a bridge to get across or maybe use them as a boosting tool to reach a higher platform. But you can also be competitive, forcing them to drown in a nearby pool or throwing them at enemies that pack a meaner punch than you might expect. Either way, the co-op is gut-bustingly hilarious and something you should try out at least once. If you don’t know someone, seek out a random person on Xbox Live. Chances are you’ll have just as good a time… if they don’t curse you out first for leaving them hanging.
Free up some other characters. One excellent feature in Battleblock Theater is being able to unlock a slew of additional skins. This doesn’t really change the gameplay that much but it still unlocks additional content. In-between regular stages, head over to the shop and pay a visit to the local vending machines where you can use in-game currency to add prisoner types to your collection. (Head to the second floor if you’ve got some yarn and you can bribe guards for even better goods for yourself.)
If you’re a veteran fan of The Behemoth and have Alien Hominid HD and Castle Crashers in your game collection, you can also unlock custom skins based on characters from those titles! Just start up Battleblock Theater and the game will scan your hard drive and open them up automatically.
Finally, let’s hit up some Guacamelee!
Guacamelee! (PlayStation 3/PS Vita)
Finally, we have this inspired Metroidvania-style platformer taking place in Mexico, where you battle an evil demon warlord who’s taken your woman: the daughter of El Presidente. As you journey throughout the game, you’ll unlock new abilities and powers from the world’s mightiest head-butt to transforming into a chicken. (Trust us, it’s handy.)
Exploration is a plus here. While you can probably get through Guacamelee!’s main story mode in just a few hours time, there are towns you can visit that adds some replay value to the game. For instance, there are some citizens that have extra currency for you if you complete one of their side missions. You can also open up your arsenal of moves by stopping by the local gym and practicing new combos. These really go a long way to getting a 100 percent completion for the game, so don’t be afraid to look around. Speaking of which…
Keep an eye out for some humorous nods. While this may not do much in terms of adding to the lenght, Gucacamelee! comes with some awesome jokes that are nods to things in pop culture. This ranges from video games like Donkey Kong and Castle Crashers (or in this case, Casa Crashers) to Internet memes like the Grumpy Cat. If you look sharply enough, you can even find Batman and Bane or Wreck-It Ralph. Enjoy the sights and see how many of these you can find. You might even find something we haven’t stumbled upon yet…
Thanks for reading another Rolling Back the Week’s Best Tips. We’ll see you next Friday!
