Console to Screen: Ninja Gaiden

Ninja Gaiden was the first
game that made you feel
like you were playing
a movie.

In 1988, Ninja Gaiden appeared on the Nintendo Entertainment System and changed the way games were played forever. Sure "cutscenes" (as they were called) were used in various games for years, but this was one of the first video games to have 20 minutes of cinematic cutscenes. You didn't just jump from board-to-board without rhyme or reason. You progressed in the game to find your father and help the FBI find a criminal mastermind known as the Jaquio. It was among the most torturous games to NES gamers as losing to the final TWO villains sent you back to the beginning of the stage to work your way back just to face the enemies. If you lost again...yup, right back to the beginning of the stage. Try to find three people you know (and don't meet at an E3 show) that finished any of the Ninja Gaiden series. Ninja Gaiden had two sequels and a rebirth on the Xbox 360, but most gamers remember the days you'd face statues coming to life and cracked open your Nintendo Power for helpful hints.

This is the duel your father "loses"
in the game's intro.

Story: This game that had TWO incarnations in the late 80's. In arcades, Ninja Gaiden was a bloody action game. In homes (and some arcade NES machines), Ninja Gaiden was a story-driven game where you play as Ryu Hyabusha is on a quest to find his father, who disappeared after a duel. On his quest, he meets an archeologist friend of his father's that tells him about his sword's origin and a demon statue that cannot fall into the wrong hands. He tells Ryu that his sword was made from the fang of a dragon... and that the demon statues could result in the end of the world. Along the way, he befriends a female FBI agent Irene Lew- though their friendship didn't start out well since she shot him. They're all after the cult leader called the Jaquio, a man trying to revive the demon called Jashin. The Jaquio was the other man Ryu's father (Ken) fought in the duel. Eventually, the government enlists Ryu to help the defeat the Jaquio and reclaim the demon statues.

The Bloody Malth was an example of
story and cheesy dialogue that
Ninja Gaiden sports.

As the story progresses, you fight the Bloody Malth- the first character with a pre-fight cut scene. Through Ninja Gaiden's cheesy dialogue, the Malth tells you that "you're not as good of a swordsman as your father." After you defeat him, he insists that your father is still alive and you'll see him, but it'll be the last thing you see. The next boss you fight is the Masked Devil- your father controlled by an orb on the wall. Once you destroy the orb, the Jaquio kills your father and awakens the demon with the statues reunited. Ryu gets his revenge against the floating son-of-a-bitch final boss before taking on the awakened demon that seems more fitting for Contra than a ninja story, but by the time you fought this guy you're willing to buy into anything. As you escape, Irene is told to kill Ryu and refuses for a little tongue from the heroic ninja.

Cast:

Josh Hutcherson could be
a budding action star.

Ryu Hyabusha's face is only scene at the beginning of the game when he reads his fathers letter and at the end, but his twenties-look eyes and covered face could make him anyone. They also need to be able to pass for a NINJA so Channing Tatum is out. Unlike some of the other games written about here, Ninja Gaiden isn't dependent on needing a good actor, but which would you rather have: an actor that learns martial arts for the role (Matt Damon, Bourne series) or a martial artist that you get to act (Ray Park, X-Men and Star Wars: Phantom Menace)? I'd always prefer the actor. Perhaps a Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games) could be Ryu. Ryu's father is named Ken and his look is pretty American. That pretty good considering it's tough to find a young actor that could grow into this role.

Fiennes did the Titans series,
so he could do a video game
movie.

The Jaquio is a little easier since he doesn't have to fight a hundred men. All the Jaquio has to do is look sinister, laugh maniacally (though better than Chris Cooper in The Muppets) and shoot fireballs. If pressed for a name, Ray Fiennes would be great here. Doesn't have to do much. His voice alone can make people tremble and after the forgettable Titans series, he can't get much worse. Why not chalk up another good villain to his resume?

What's Already In Place:

The scenery in Ninja Gaiden was
used better than any game of it's time.

A good story- not exactly a great one. This could be a very action packed series, done in the typical old kung-fu style movie. It has the usual elements: secret organization, double agents, government involvement, supernatural powers, twists and demons. Sure, there's really no explanation for statues coming to life, but nonetheless it's easier to buy into for this story than other crappy films out this year. The scenery of these games is amazing. Whether it's seeing the Jaquio's castle at the top of a cliff or Ashtar's fortress in the sequel, this game captured it's scenery perfectly. This was the first game that treated the gamer to more than just stage 1-1. It gave you plenty of eye candy. Ninja Gaiden made Off The Marc's list for Best Music in Video Games and it wasn't just great for the action, it was great for the storytelling.

Who could pull this off:

The Jaquio was one of gamers most
hated villains- particularly because
you had to replay the level if you lost.

Normally I say, "Don't sacrifice quality for a flashy direction," but in this case Wanted's Timur Bekmambetov wouldn't be a bad choice.  His action would be welcomed in this type of film and it's not like there's an Oscar winning moment in it. If anything the campiness can work out in his favor. Not many directors maybe good with a sword style combat, though Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter was awful, Timur's action style used in the terrible movie could work here.

Bottom line:
This one's a bit of a cult favorite, but it's not out of the realm of possibilities that it could get it's number called. It's was a ground breaking game, but for a movie could be a massive swing-and-miss if done by a hack...which I recommended- oops. It could fit from cinema scenes to cinemas, but it'll need respect by Hollywood in it's development.

Best Music in Gaming History

In the genesis of the video games, music wasn't needed to soothe the savage beast. Pong didn't have music, neither did Asteroids or Missle Commander. Hell, even Donkey Kong and many early Nintendo games didn't have music except a bit in the beginning. However, as games evolved into bigger experiences with better storytelling, a great score was needed. Some of these games have scores that blockbuster films would envy and set the mood brilliantly. Sometimes it wrenched your guts and sometimes it keeps you going to the next level. The music of these games inspired the constantly sold out show "Video Games Live", where fans get to hear the music of games they loved.

Let's take a look at ten: (will not include Mass Effect, Halo or Dead Space for lack of experience with them and all Star Wars games are out since their music comes straight from the movies.) 

Mega Man gave you a different
feel for every level.

Mega Man - The theme of different tones for different worlds and characters come up a lot and Mega Man was one of the first that used that tactic well. All of the worlds had a their own traits and their own music, but Dr. Wily's was always most ominous and frantic style. This would not be Capcom's only entry in this blog.

Ninja Gaiden's music was key for
the action as well as the cinema
scenes.

Ninja Gaiden (NES) - Probably the earliest game that used cinema cut scenes, but music drove the engine of Ninja Gaiden. Whether it was in the gameplay- where each stage had it's own identifiable music- or the cinema scenes that used the music to build the suspense during Ryu Hyabusa's search for his missing father. Throughout the game, Ryu encounters enemies, friends, counter-agents and even loss of those friends as they are captured or killed. The twists and turns of the story are all given extra juice by the score.

Arkham City put you in the
Dark Knight's skin.

Batman Arkham City - The Arkham games are the one place that DC Comics have conquered Marvel and it's music was a primary reason. Nick Arundel and Ron Fish create a score closer to the Danny-Elfman style, but it's used more like the Christopher Nolan movies that don't overpower the audience. During gameplay, the music stays in the background, but during fights or predator battles, the music leaps to the forefront as the panicking henchman desperately endure the Dark Knights tactics.

With a new techo-style, Metroid Prime
sparked gamer's adrenaline.

Metroid Prime - Metroid didn't use much music that would be memorable until it hit it's stride in Metroid Prime. With a more techno style by Kenjo Yamamoto, Metroid Prime created the style that made you listen to the game as well get your adrenaline pumping. Take the final fight of the first game against Metroid Prime or the battles with Dark Samus, you can't help but slide to the front of the couch as you attempt to destroy your nemesis. The series continued with great music in Metroid: The Other M and continues to reinvent itself all the time.

Resident Evil's score made you
live in a horror movie.

Resident Evil - The original installment relied on silence and mostly ominous tones, but hauntingly crept when the situation called for it. As the series progressed it used the music in the background effectively in a horror movie style. The music was appropriate; never overpowering and never letting you feel safe. Take the fights with Mr. X or Tyrant, where the music is absent and slowly builds to make you sweat. *Music by Akari Kaida, Makoto Tomozawa and Masami Ueda

The music in Street Fighter was
intricate for every stage.

Street Fighter II - The fighting game that spawned the craze. Sure Karate Champ was first, but this was separated from all others by it's music. Every character had their own home and their own theme highlighting the opponents personality. If you fought Zangief, the music would give you a more Russian flare. If you were in America, rock music would play and so on. Sure, some of these stories (PunchOut is also guilty of it) are comically racist, but that's not what we're talking about here. 

Final Fantasy VII was an epic experience
with an epic score.

Final Fantasy VII - Probably the best example of music enhancing the storytelling. From the into of the game to the end, the Final Fantasy series used music better than most other franchises. The composers didn't treat this like a video game- more like an opera. All the characters had their own music. You could have been blind folded and still known when Sephiroth comes on screen. You felt Cloud's decent into madness, when danger came to the group, or even when the members of the group had romantic feelings for one another (by the way, even Barrett could fall for Cloud). Perhaps on of the best moments in gaming history was the Aeis' death (FFVII), which was largely without music, but when inserted beautifully, made many gamers weep. The epic 60 hour experience was full of great music and few were better than it. *Music by Nobuo Uematsu

Who didn't hum the Mario Bros theme?

Super Mario Brothers - Possibly the most famous of all video game music, but it stuck in many gamers heads when they were done popping quarters in the arcade or when they turned off their NES consoles in 1986. The game had different music for the different worlds you'd visit, different tasks you accomplished (like warping: wa, wa, wa) and especially when you grabbed a star. That sounded like to composer took some cocaine and just went nuts. The only thing Mario didn't have was different music for Luigi...but at that time no one cared. This is the first mention of Koji Kondo on the list, but won't be  the last.

If Gear of War becomes a film,
it already has the perfect music.

Gears of War - Believe it or not, this series produced exceptional music throughout it's trilogy. Kevin Riepl's score made it feel like a blockbuster summer action movie. It made a fire fight with hordes of grubs engulfing and kept you fighting until it you heard that tone signaling the last locus had his head blown off. All that is good, but this series gave you fantastic music during it's cinematic scenes. Whether it was watching Kim get killed by General RAAM or the soul crushing scene of when Dom finds Maria in Gears of War 2, this series pulled you in with it's tone, heightening the peril, exciting you with the danger and even breaking your heart. The booming tones of the series echo in your brain hours after you shutdown the game. If you don't believe me, play the end of Gears of War 3 and try not to hum the theme in the end.

The Best of the Best when it comes to video game music.

The Legend of Zelda - The cream of the crop when it comes to video game music. Koji Kondo created the greatest of all video game themes and adjusted the music from game to game in a way that made every installment unique. In fact, the one time the music for the series was criticized was when they didn't include the famous Legend of Zelda theme in arguably their greatest game (Ocarina of Time). Still, every edition of this series has not just given fans good music- it's been great music. Every aspect of the music accentuated each main (and even most minor) characters, the story, the time of day, the mood and even broke you emotionally. Music has also been a weapon used by Link in every edition of this series. Whether it was saving Zelda, facing Ganon (or Ganondorf in later games) to surprise twists or that tone when you solved a mystery. Most people can tell you exactly what game it is from the first couple bars of the theme. It was so popular that Nintendo gave away a CD of the series popular themes. Most fans would agree that it was worth the extra money for the "special edition".