Team Ninja's Hayashi: I'm Dead or Alive's "Parent" Not Itagaki

It's been a few years since the departure of Team Ninja creative Tomonobu Itagaki, but current bossman Yosuke Hayashi has told SPOnG that the turbulent days of uncertainty surrounding his leave are now behind the studio.

Demonstrating Dead or Alive: Dimensions ahead of its 20th May release date, Hayashi said that morale within the team is "excellent," and that everyone feels proud of the work they have done on the 3DS.

"In terms of atmosphere in the studio, I think that you get an idea for the studio’s morale when you play the fruits of their labour. So, yes, the atmosphere at Team Ninja right now is excellent, I’d say," the studio head told us in an interview to be published today.

"The team feels a great sense of achievement from (Dead or Alive: Dimension's completion). It would be nice to see consumers play it and for us to hear their thoughts. If they think it has improved from Dead or Alive games of the past that would really please me - I personally feel that we have created a great game."

Conversation naturally turned to Itagaki, who has criticised Hayashi's own work on Ninja Gaiden Sigma as being inferior to his own projects. Hayashi, on the other hand, sees his role in both the Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden series as equally instrumental as his former boss'.

"If you use the metaphor that these games are perhaps (Itagaki's) babies... if he is the parent who gave birth to them, then I see myself as the parent who brought them up," Hayashi said. "This is the first Dead or Alive title since his departure, and I feel that it is of a very high quality. I’m looking forward to introducing my children to the consumers."

Keep an eye out for the full interview later today.