Bleeding Edge - Preview of the new title of Ninja Theory

The last few years for Ninja Theory they were a real rebirth from their own ashes. With the excellent work done with Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice as an independent studio and with the numerous awards received for the same (which added to the excellent existing curriculum) the team is back in the limelight and started a collaboration with Microsoft. Right on the stage of E3 2019 dedicated to the showcase of the American company, the Ninja Theory presented a new IP, which reluctantly had been anticipated with a leak a few hours before the official reveal on the stage: Bleeding Edge. From what has been shown, the title is totally different from the canons that characterized their previous titles, and right from the start it turned out to be interesting and crazy; if we then add that this product will be included in theXbox Game Pass, the jackpot is guaranteed. Let's take a closer look at what awaits us.

Together…

From lone wolf to accompanied studio, and now from single player to multiplayer titles. The story of Ninja Theory therefore seems to follow a parallel path with its games, and this change has somewhat displaced the public. So here we are in front of a title whose main feature is hand-to-hand combat, structured in a 4 vs 4 online multiplayer. As we have been accustomed over time, however, the camera is placed in the third person, to give the user a broader view of what is happening around him. The choice of the player will be among a variety of characters characterized ad hoc not only aesthetically, but also in the ability, and everything will be devoted to create a synergistic team to better face the opponents. Who these individuals are is not yet clear, but there is no doubt that madness and fury are basic characteristics for each of them.

To specialize the characters even more will be their classes, which contain basic characteristics from which to draw to create the perfect strategies. These are classic, i DPS, the Support and Tank. In the trailer that was shown to us in Los Angeles we got to know their names as well. How about a refresher?

… But also alone?

In recent days, however, there have been rumors about a possible arrival of single player campaigns dedicated to the characters, or one that involves several. This, however, should it enter into the plans of Ninja Theory with Bleeding Edge, it will not be an immediate project:

I think we could create some great single-player campaigns in the game. But it's a very small team, and multiplayer is at the heart of the project. It's the most important thing, and you can't do it second, it has to be the first thing. For me multiplayer is the game. We have the potential to create single-player content in the future, perhaps, because there are so many interesting stories to tell with these characters, but we'll have to wait and see.

Beating and tactics

We don't know exactly how many types of modes Bleeding Edge will offer, but it will certainly be interesting to find out how they will be exploited maps and settings, in combination with the peculiar abilities of the present warriors. All we know, however, suggests that the title is not only devoted to carnage, but to real tactical challenges, where you can also exploit traps and means of trasporto. With similar characteristics, most likely we will also be faced with situations in which it will be necessary to maintain control of certain areas, or even to carry out certain objectives where it is not essential to engage in combat at all times.

On the technical level there is little to say at the moment, but knowing that behind the works there are those who worked on the combat system of the excellent - in this respect - DmC: Devil May Cry, we can be sure that we will see some good ones :

With DmC I loved working on combat, I wanted to focus a lot of action in third person action. I'm really enjoying working with the animators on rendering the controls. These are the starting points for Bleeding Edge, where competitive multiplayer team play meets third-person action (which is the thing I love to create, the thing I love to play!).

The style

As it is clear at first glance, the style that Ninja Theory has recreated on the graphic level recalls many titles of the same mold, first of all Overwatch, yet it manages to give its touch thanks not only to the personality shown by the characters, certainly more "rough" , but also thanks to some peculiar color tones. Just the characters, once again, go to take the scene, thanks to their exaggerated and deformed appearance. Too early, again, to talk about performance, given the not too advanced stage of the work; however know that the team is working with theU gives us hope.