With Ninja Gaiden III, it appears that the developers are most concerned about big sales. Team Ninja will be implementing an easy mode to end all easy modes, in an entry into a series known best for its spirit crushing difficulty. Ninja Gaiden III's "Hero Mode" will add automatic dodging and guarding for "most" attacks, allowing players to absorb the game's story without challenging them.

NG has never, ever revolved around story much, but Team Ninja seems content with changing everything they can. Hero Mode will result in a much more accessible game which will allow more players to get into it and more importantly, increase sales potential. Director Fumihiko Yasuda broke it down:

"We really wanted to flesh out the story this time around, so we wanted people to enjoy that story and get used to the game as it is. In the past the games were really hardcore and we couldn't get players to stay with us and complete the game."

While I don't find too much umbrage in this very optional, very easy game mode, this simply adds to the list of things that won't please series fans. I sincerely hope that Team Ninja captures whatever new demographic it's aiming for with this title because it is going to lose much of the crowd that made the series as popular as it is. Though I suppose that makes little difference to them as long as people buy it. NGIII will be available on HD consoles sometime next year.

[Joystiq]