A handful of the new Ninja Gaiden game for the Nintendo DS popped up this weekend in tallscreen(?) format, further reinforcing that some companies have absolutely no idea how to develop games for the console.  While the game promises to utilize the stylus to deliver "innovative touch-screen motions", I'm very curious to see how this fails to become an utter nuisance. My gut reaction: As if its not bad enough that the game is split across an inch gap between screens, I'm gonna have my stylus in my way? What's next -- blocking attacks by pressing down my left thumb? IGN noted this potential control scheme nightmare:

The entire game can be controlled almost entirely with the touch-based motions. You guide Ryu about the play field by tapping in the direction you'd like to go. Slashing the touch pen from down to up makes Hayabusa launch an enemy into the air, into a perfect position for combos. You make Hayabusa jump by tapping the screen twice, and can then point to enemies to shoot shurikens at them and perform a downward thrust attack. Even your ninja arts make use of the stylus, requiring that you draw shapes in order to perform the special attacks. Buttons are used only for defensive moves.

I'd like to send that nugget to Jacob Nielsen so he could have a stroke. On the flipside, I do like the screenshots and the preview does show some promise. While I'm doubtful that this will be anything but awkward, take my apprehensions as old schooler who's protective of known and liked Ninja Gaiden asskicking schemes. I had the same reaction to the upcoming touch-screen Zelda: Phantom Hourglass game -- some things are sacred, people! Here's to hoping this isn't a cart full of suck.

Ninja Gaiden:Dragon Sword hits Japan this August, so you can probably count it as a holiday impulse buy.