# Wanted: Dead - A Disappointing Gaming Experience
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Wanted: Dead
Have you ever pondered how the beloved Ninja Gaiden series from Team Ninja would fare if stripped of its excitement and charm? Your curiosity can be satisfied by diving into Wanted: Dead. I genuinely hoped to enjoy this title, as it's an original concept from a team with a somewhat reliable history in a time when the gaming industry favors sequels. Featuring a compelling female lead and engaging marketing, including quirky promotional videos showcasing its unique world and art style, I was optimistic.
However, this quirky charm is the only redeeming quality of Wanted: Dead, aside from a free downloadable arcade mini-game available on Steam that doesn't require purchasing the main title. Regrettably, the rest of the game falls flat. The ambitious vision of the developers is marred by some of the poorest execution I've encountered in a long time. Combat lacks enjoyment, even when it occasionally feels right. The graphics are simplistic, attempting to pass as a tribute to Xbox 360 titles, but it ultimately comes across as a sign of budget constraints. Additionally, the voice acting seems disconnected, with performers appearing confused about their roles and delivering lines that can border on offensive. The sound effects are repetitive and uninspired, featuring the same generic action cues and guitar riffs on loop.
This game stands out as one of the most glitch-ridden titles I've seen pass console certification in some time. I confess I didn’t finish it completely, so perhaps it improves later on, but the initial stages are riddled with odd bugs and frequent crashing. Eighty minutes into my gameplay, my Xbox Series S froze completely while I was traversing a nondescript hallway.
I considered abandoning my review and seeking a refund for my digital purchase. Having reached my limit, I thought it wiser to sulk in my disappointment than to continue with a game that failed to engage me. Unfortunately, my refund request to Microsoft was denied, which forced me to endure a couple more hours of playtime. Now, here I am, sharing my experience. Interestingly, Steam allows refunds for up to two hours of gameplay, even for titles that are buggy. However, Microsoft’s brief response indicated that any engagement with the digital product invalidated my eligibility for a refund, despite their policy suggesting otherwise.
Section 1.1: The Flawed Combat System
At first glance, the combat in Wanted: Dead appears to merge the melee action of Ninja Gaiden with the shooting mechanics of Gears of War. However, this perception is misleading. The shooting mechanics, despite the variety of weapon upgrades available, are tragically ineffective and lack power. Accurate aiming is crucial for dealing meaningful damage, which is challenging due to the erratic gamepad controls and fast-moving enemies. The shooting mechanics seem intentionally underwhelming, nudging players towards the melee combat, which is ironically more successful. Each time I pulled the trigger, I questioned the inclusion of firearms in the game at all.
Melee combat fares slightly better, though it feels clunky compared to its inspirations. Players can perform basic sword attacks, pistol strikes (yes, this is a melee option), along with parries and dodges. Timing the parry is tricky, and utilizing the pistol for a different type of parry adds to the complexity. Most enemies are designed to challenge your parrying skills, but even when successfully executed, the combat feels disjointed and unsatisfying compared to any modern action title.
Animation has a certain weight that can be visually appealing, yet it results in button presses feeling sluggish. There are a few flashy finishing moves that restore health and a slow-motion maneuver for dispatching multiple foes, but they come off as less exciting than similar features in other games.
Wanted: Dead primarily revolves around battling enemies throughout five expansive levels. However, the combat and shooting mechanics lack enjoyment. The game leans heavily into a challenging difficulty, not in the precise manner of Ninja Gaiden or Elden Ring, but rather frustratingly designed to prolong gameplay. Checkpoints are poorly placed, and unless you’re patient and adept at learning parry timings, expect to repeat lengthy segments multiple times.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Story Elements
The narrative elements of Wanted: Dead are intriguing yet chaotic. The protagonist, Hannah Stone, begins in prison and soon finds herself part of a mercenary police unit in a cyberpunk setting. This squad enjoys hanging out at a quirky diner, engaging with the aforementioned arcade game, and competing in ramen-eating contests. One character's use of sign language adds a nice touch of representation.
Regrettably, another squad member frequently delivers bizarre non-sequiturs and misogynistic remarks, which are intended to be humorous but feel out of place in the vibrant, quirky world of the game. Hannah's performance would greatly benefit from a more engaging voiceover, as her delivery often comes off as bored and bewildered, suggesting a lack of attention during recording sessions.
Section 1.2: Development Team Background
The game was crafted by a team known as Soleil. While some of the developers have ties to the original Ninja Gaiden, they are also infamous for the Wii U disaster, Devil's Third. Last year, they delivered a surprisingly enjoyable title, Valkyrie: Elysium, which is part of Square Enix's classic RPG franchise. I thoroughly enjoyed that game, despite not having written about it yet. It embodies everything Wanted: Dead should have aimed for, with genuinely enjoyable combat mechanics. This led me to believe that Wanted: Dead would offer a similar experience, only to realize that it heavily relied on marketing.
Chapter 2: Final Thoughts
I find myself questioning whether I can endure the remaining hours of Wanted: Dead. Koei Tecmo’s re-release of the classic Ninja Gaiden games is available on Game Pass, and I've downloaded them as a much-needed palate cleanser. Wanted: Dead exemplifies a frustrating experience where glimpses of creativity are overshadowed by execution failures.
I seriously doubt I'll encounter a more disappointing game this year. It’s heartbreakingly bad, at least based on my experience. Yet, the trailers and the arcade shooter provide some consolation, leaving me with a sliver of enjoyment. For those seeking a nostalgic throwback to simpler action games but with modern technology, I recommend checking out Evil West or the latest installment of Gungrave.