Microsoft India has let slip that on April 8th, they will make an announcement that will “revitalize the gaming industry” here. We initially thought they’d try to mirror Sony’ssuccess with Hanuman: Boy Warrior(confounding gamers on a PS2 near you) - who’s up for an Ace Combat-offshoot of Garuda: Sky Warrior for the 360? But slowly and slowly, realization dawned on us. Our recent experience with From Software’s Ninja Blade for the 360 had us shaken and for good reason. In an ingenuous design move, the game has 90% support for the Guitar Herocontroller, enabling us to rip this Quick Time Event-heavy title a new one in a massacre of beats and blood. Sources tell us Microsoft is set to repeat this unintentional new sub-genre of action and rhythm when it announces Ninja Blade 2in 7 days.

“You see,” said Tomonobu Itagaki, in that laid-back manner of the unemployed, “From Software is sitting on a gold mine here. By combining the tactics ofActivision’s Guitar Hero and my very own Ninja Gaiden series, they’ve successfully created a franchise that intimately what is essentially hardcore Simon Says.” On questioning Itagaki about how he knows all this (and after informing him that he’s not getting the royalties from Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2), he began weeping. Audibly at first, then visibly. We tried comforting him but beat a hasty retreat after he began calling out for “Kasumi” and “Daddy’s little girl” in the same sentence.

Rumour also has it that Ninja Blade 2will be a serious step-up from the original. Not content with a game that plays like Shenmue without the plot, story and useless side-quests, Ninja Blade 2 will take the Rock Band route to it’s control system. That’s right - now you and up to 3 friends can take control of a generic band of character-types and rock your enemies a new one. The difference in instrument types corresponds amazingly with the classes: While the Assassin’s quick moves are best utilized with the guitar, the Tank’s flashy and ultimately slow-ass attacks find resonance with the drums. The sexy female lead also has her own system of fighting altogether. By missing every single damn beat, she’ll lapse into a temper tantrum akin to Avril Lavigne at an autograph signing and shatter enemies’ skulls with her equally tempered singing. Smashing your instruments after a successful boss fight unlocks a new side-quest, “Buy all your shit again, you idiot” while completing the game without missing a single note on Insane difficulty unlocks the “WTF Are You On?” Achievement.

On asked for a comment, Sony forwarded us this, citing how proud they were ofMicrosoft before lapsing into strange and uncontrollable laughter.

lol cant wait

http://www.split-screen.com/2009/04/01/ninja-blade-2-to-be-announced-on-april-8th/

"On questioning Itagaki about how he knows all this (and after informing him that he’s not getting the royalties from Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2), he began weeping. Audibly at first, then visibly."

Ha! I got the April Fool's joke there. We all know Itagaki doesn't cry. He makes others cry.