Last Ninja: Evolution

These ‘Last Ninja: Evolution’ pieces will look at various aspects of The Last Ninja game series. Small snap shots into the development of these iconic titles.

In the Last Ninja, Kunitoki is portrayed as an evil shogun who seeks to dominate all realms and uses time travel to achieve his ambitions. In that case, the name itself needed to be very symbolic and meaningful.

Many traditional Japanese names have meanings that are derived from nature, locations, or other culturally significant symbols and themes. The component “kuni” often relates to “country” or “land” and “toki” can mean “time”, although in names, the meanings can vary based on the kanji used and the specific context.

If “Kunitoki” is used in a particular context, like a character in a story or a historical figure, it would be helpful to understand that context to give a more precise interpretation or background of the name.

1. Kuni (国): As mentioned before, “kuni” often relates to “country” or “land.” This can symbolise Kunitoki’s desire to dominate and control all lands and territories. In the context of the game, he might be seeking to bring all countries under his rule, whether they are from the past, present, or future.
2. Toki (時): This can be translated to “time” in Japanese. If Kunitoki possesses the power of time travel or is obsessed with controlling time, this part of his name emphasizes that aspect of his character. It showcases his ambition not just to dominate lands but to control the very fabric of time itself. He might be travelling through different eras to gather resources, warriors, or knowledge to strengthen his rule in his original timeline.

Therefore, his name “Kunitoki” can symbolise his grand ambition of “Dominating the Lands Through Time.”

To further enhance the storyline:

• Ancient Artifacts: Kunitoki could be in search of ancient artefacts or relics from different time periods that boost his power. Each artefact could be tied to a particular era in history, and players have to stop him from obtaining these artefacts.
• Legacy: Given his name’s association with land and time, Kunitoki might be driven by a desire to leave an indomitable legacy. He wishes for his name to be revered and feared across all lands and throughout all of history.
• Cultural Dynamics: As Kunitoki travels through time, he could bring with him advanced technologies to earlier eras or old-world tactics to the future. This can create interesting dynamics where players have to adapt to varying combat styles and strategies.

This nuanced meaning behind Kunitoki’s name can make the character more intriguing, providing depth to his motivations and making the game’s narrative more compelling.

The Last Ninja world has been extensively researched and planned for ultimate levels of authenticity.

Legendary games artist & long-time System 3 collaborator, Dan Malone, created various preparatory scenes for Last Ninja, making sure period detail and scale were all correct.

The Ninja World is a rich and varied landscape, full of atmosphere and detail. Getting these details correct makes a huge difference to how a game looks and feels to the player, which is hugely important to System 3.