Ninja Theory has been around for awhile, releasing their first official game in 2007 on the PlayStation 3. As hype has started to build for their upcoming action-adventure title "Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice", this seemed like the perfect time to re-visit Ninja Theory's backlog and see how they hold up. As a disclaimer, this list will only include full titles released by the company, so something like "Disney Infinity 3.0" will not feature.
Also, before rebranding themselves as Ninja Theory, they released on Xbox an exclusive called" Kung Fu Chaos". This will not be included, as it is not an official Ninja Theory title.
4 'Fightback' - iOS
Nobody expected Ninja Theory to follow up their first two successful titles with an Apple exclusive beat 'em up. Although "Fightback" is one of the better looking iOS games, especially for 2013, its visual presentation is its only redeeming factor. The bland gameplay, which boils down to a series of swipes as the player kicks his way through wave after wave of goons, does not offer enough variety to keep you coming back for more.
The worse part of "Fightback" is that it is billed as a free-to-play mobile game while incorporating the worst elements of that model. Taking part in levels requires stamina, which depletes at a frantic pace, and any upgrades require considerably more points than can be earned within the game. The only way to level up is to spend your hard earned cash to replenish the stamina bar or purchase power ups.
3 'DmC: Devil May Cry' - PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Windows
Early on, Ninja Theory earned a reputation as one of the most interesting young developers in the industry, before they released the reboot of the much loved "Devil May Cry" franchise. Despite receiving mostly positive reviews, the fan reaction was, to say the least, mixed.
In comparison to the previous two games in the franchise, most felt that the combat was too dumbed down to be satisfying.
"DmC: Devil May Cry" has its fair share of positive characteristics, and is an above average hack and slash title, but it could not measure up to the franchise's legacy. Probably making fun of old Dante was not a smart move either.
2 'Heavenly Sword' - PlayStation 3
Ninja Theory's first ever game, "Heavenly Sword" received a lot of press and hype before its release, especially as it came out at a time when the new Sony console desperately needed a good exclusive. Andy Serkis provided his acting, writing and directing talents to the development of "Heavenly Sword," which resulted in a really gorgeous experience that pushed the PlayStation 3 to its limits.
Out of all of their games, "Heavenly Sword" has, by far, the best combat system. Nariko, the protagonist, is capable of fighting in three different martial arts stances, with each transforming her sword into a unique weapon. The gameplay is smooth and rewarding but falls a bit short of greatness due to the repetitive enemies and environments. Too often, a fight will go on for a minute or two too long. At the end, "Heavenly Sword" is a mediocre game propped up by a well-designed combat system.
1 'Enslaved: Odyssey to the West' - PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows
Ninja Theory has yet to release an ugly game, with "Enslaved: Odyssey to the West" envisioning a bright and colorful post apocalyptic world that is brimming with life and detail.
Players take on the role of Monkey (Andy Serkis), who is forced to escort Trip back to her village after she places a deadly headband on him, which will go off if she is killed. Forced to work together, they set off on a journey across the dangerous terrain.
The polar opposite of "Heavenly Sword", "Enslaved: Odyssey to the West" serves mediocre gameplay in an otherwise brilliant package. The art style, characters, and plot came together to present a truly gripping action adventure. The combat is by no means terrible, but it lacks any unique element that separates it from the pack.