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Yesterday, we speculated on the existence of a new Shinobi game for the 3DS. There’d been mention of one in an artist’s résumé and an unfinished trailer running down the history of the Shinobi series. Even a developer, Griptonite Games, had been pegged, but there was no official word. Today, we receive not only that word, but images of gameplay. The game, a return to the series’ side-scrolling roots, uses polygonal graphics locked to a 2D plane. Those who have had hands-on time with the title report that throwing knives are of renewed importance, having fallen to the side-lines since the Saturn’s Shinobi Legions. Powerful ninja magic also makes its return with fire, lightning, and wind abilities confirmed to be in the mix.  Perhaps most interesting, however, is that the player can now parry attacks. While it has been possible to block strikes in previous Shinobi titles, the new 3DS game makes it a momentary, responsive action and assigns it to an individual button. The parry skill is fully integrated into gameplay instead of being relegated as a power-up. Since this opens enemies to a counterattack as well, its impact on the flow of combat looks to be tremendous. Shinobi 3DS will be out this fall from Griptonite Games. |