{"id":1831,"date":"2016-07-19T19:07:11","date_gmt":"2016-07-19T19:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/development.survios.co\/studio\/?p=1831"},"modified":"2016-07-28T14:59:34","modified_gmt":"2016-07-28T21:59:34","slug":"parsing-raw-data-creation-saija","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/survios.com\/studio\/parsing-raw-data-creation-saija\/","title":{"rendered":"Parsing Raw Data: Creation of Saija"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve met Bishop<\/a>, and earlier you got an in-depth look<\/a> at all of Saija\u2019s gravity-manipulation abilities that make her so much more than just a melee class. Just like with Bishop, we wanted to share our inspiration for Raw Data<\/i>\u2019s distinctive take on the classic ninja archetype, playing with how she would embody the well-honed tropes while also standing out as a unique interpretation.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s also become such an iconic figure for us during development that we made her the star of Raw Data<\/i>\u2019s cover art.<\/p>\n

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The concept of a tech-enhanced ninja is so well-suited to Raw Data<\/i>\u2019s futuristic Neo-Shinjuku setting that it was basically part of the game from the start. Even the earliest demos of the game featured the fan-favorite Flash Blade, because–simply put–everyone feels badass wielding a katana.<\/p>\n

But our ninja needed to be much more than just a martial artist clad in black. You\u2019ve probably already noticed that Saija sports a bit more armor than her gun-wielding compatriot.<\/p>\n

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As one of SyndiK8\u2019s elite operatives, Saija walks the line between being a spy in the shadows and a fighter on the front lines: a marriage of the ancient discipline of Ninjutsu<\/i><\/a> with the samurai code of Bushido<\/i><\/a>.<\/i> In the Raw Data <\/i>universe, Ninjutsu <\/i>has evolved to stand toe-to-toe with advanced weaponry by including mental mastery among its practices.<\/p>\n

Along with refined swordplay and incredible physical prowess, practitioners of modern Ninjutsu <\/i>are also telekinetic thanks to point-cloud neural nanomachines. How can a gun compete with someone who\u2019s able to not only deflect the bullet, but pick up the shooter and fling him away?<\/p>\n

During the concept art process, Saija wasn\u2019t even referred to as a ninja–her codename was \u201cKnight,\u201d and with her suit of futuristic armor, it wasn\u2019t that far-fetched of a moniker.<\/p>\n

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In a sharp contrast to Bishop, Saija is completely shielded from head to toe in form-fitting armor that explicitly reads as such. It needed to be equal parts protective and agile, so we went for a chitinous appearance that suggests interlocking yet flexible plates of carbon fiber and strong vinyl.<\/p>\n

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Saija\u2019s suit also gained a helmet for complete head coverage, transforming her into the consummate faceless assassin.<\/p>\n

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A basic katana wouldn\u2019t cut it (literally), so Saija uses the latest in blade-honing technology. Her retractable energy-powered Flash Blade features an advanced harmonizing wave-dynamic effector grind, providing sharpness on an atomic scale. In simple terms: it slices through everything unfortunate enough to come into contact with it.<\/p>\n

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As mentioned before, while Saija is easy to classify as a melee hero because of her Flash Blade, her true strength lies in that perfect balance of physical and mental power. Playing as Saija means you have to always be aware of positioning (Teleshift is essential), plan your ability timing well, and not be afraid to get up close and personal with Eden\u2019s vicious synthetics (read the full ability rundown in our complete Saija hero feature<\/a>):<\/p>\n