Ninja Gaiden II

By Kristan Reed Published 7 May, 2008

World of gorecraft.

Team Ninja main man Tomonobu Itagaki reckons Ninja Gaiden II will be "the world's premier action game", and as hyperbolic as that sounds, there's a good chance it will be. The brand's certainly built on firm foundations - back in March 2004, Tom reckoned the Xbox original was "one of the finest action games ever made". But that was then, and plenty of challengers have come along since that have been even more spectacular - not to mention far more accessible. Ninja Gaiden could give most hardcore gamers a bloody nose at ten paces.

Just a year ago, of course, we got back up to speed with the revised PS3 version, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, which was a good excuse to start preparing a mental wish-list of improvements for the pending sequel if nothing else. Although remarkably solid in the combat stakes, it was painfully obvious that Team Ninja had plenty of niggles to address if it wanted to win back its crown, such as needlessly respawning enemies, regular loading pauses between areas and an irritating save-game system that could leave you high and dry at inopportune moments.

Thankfully, it's evident within minutes that most minor issues have been dealt with, and the promise is of a far more entertaining and accessible sequel, without diluting what made it so beloved of action gamers in the first place. Blessed with a feature-complete preview build, we rattled through almost half of the game's eight chapters and came away impressed in almost every area.

'Ninja Gaiden II' Screenshot 1

Do the shake and hack and put the freshness back.

The first thing that hits you about Ninja Gaiden II is the level of polish lavished upon it. When we last saw the game at the Tokyo Game Show, we expressed some concerns that the game didn't quite look at strikingly beautiful as, say, Devil May Cry 4. Since that time, Team Ninja has evidently gone to town with the 360's hardware, creating one of the most assured, confident action games seen to date. Often, a 50" 1080p panel can expose high-definition titles, but Ninja Gaiden II appears to be designed to exploit such treatment. Boasting incredibly sharp textures, vivid and atmospheric backdrops, and frenetic, pinball-like action that barely flinches no matter what chaos is unfolding on the screen, it's every bit as in-your-face as the trailers and controlled demos suggested it would be. As you might expect from a studio with so many visually opulent games under its belt, technical excellence is almost a given - but what about the rest of it?

Once again starring leather-clad ninja warrior Ryu Hayabusa, the game kicks off as it means to go on - at a hundred miles an hour with a blizzard of severed limbs. Set high up in the night-time Tokyo metropolis, you battle Black Spider clan minions five at a time down walkways and corridors, with the neon glow of the skyscrapers and city streets below providing a stark contrast to the serene opening of the previous Ninja Gaiden. With no tutorial to speak of, you learn basic moves such as Reverse Wind, Technique of Shadowless Footsteps, and The Furious Wind Technique on the job. Based around a few simple button combinations, you'll have a firm grasp of wall-running, light/heavy attacks, blocks and dashes quickly. For the most part, the combat centres around the Y and B buttons (for heavy and light attacks respectively) with the left trigger providing the essential blocking ability, and A to jump.

'Ninja Gaiden II' Screenshot 2

Such a lovely shade of red.

Soon after you've mastered the basics and marveled at how Ryu's Dragon Sword slices through flesh and bone like a hot knife through butter, your move-set is embellished with more gory, death-dealing tricks. The first NINPO attack, The Art of Inferno, gets added to your arsenal, and becomes accessible via the intuitive d-pad selection system. Once activated with Y or B, it acts as a good old-fashioned smart-bomb attack, where you switch to a first-person perspective and have a few seconds to move left or right to change the direction of the blast and set everyone on fire.

Elsewhere, the hilariously grisly Obliteration Technique gives you a chance to rub salt into your enemy's stumps; if they've already been dismembered, holding Y finishes them off in grisly style. As ever, the pace is ridiculous, so it's more blink-and-you'll-miss-it cartoon violence than the gratuitous slow-motion seen in, say, Viking. Honestly, it probably looks worse in the screenshots than in real-life.

You soon also gain the Flying Swallow aerial attack, followed by the Ultimate Attack, where holding down the Y button charges up your newly acquired Lunar Staff and pirouettes around the room in the blink of an eye, smashing up everything in the vicinity in comical fashion. Before the first chapter is over with, you're already more than capable of dishing out some pretty nifty moves without having to resort to finger-crippling combos to get there. As long as you're diligent about using the block-dash move and picking your foes off, it's a fairly straightforward task to chip your way through the mayhem. And thanks to regular save-game opportunities, which also replenish your health, you never find yourself having to repeat large sections, as was the case previously. Even the obligatory end-of-level boss encounters are within the realms of sanity, which is good news for most of you.

Another massive improvement in evidence is the total absence of loading during each level. Once you kick off, that's it, and you can roam around the lavish environments without a pause, enjoy the new free camera system, and backtrack without fear of being nailed by respawning denizens. Again, for most of you who enjoy hackandslash titles (or third-person action games in general), this can only be a good thing for your sanity levels, and as you progress through each chapter, the typically hammy story unfolds, concerning a bunch of fiends "trying to resurrect the arch fiend". They're planning to do so by stealing a demon statue, which makes you wonder why more people don't try it.

'Ninja Gaiden II' Screenshot 3

This guy has a serious attitude problem.

Of course, while you're busy smashing things up, 'essence' pours out of your slain foes. As has been the case in every hackandslash game since Onimusha, these coloured blobs serve multiple purposes, with yellow essence acting as the game's currency, blue for health top-ups, and red for NINPO magic. When you've harvested enough cash, you can visit a nearby Muramasa shop and spend your winnings on either upgrading your weapons or some vital health packs for when the going gets tough. Fortunately, the new pseudo recharging health mechanic makes it less of a requirement to constantly top up your health, but enduring repeated damage in combat ultimately reduces the size of your health bar, so it's a reasonable concession to the rather ludicrous recent trend of simply resting to regain all your health.

Without giving away too much, the game continues to drip-feed new weapons (Falcon's Talons, Field's Bane Bow, Incendiary Shurikens) and tons of crazy new abilities - usually involving flesh-ripping attacks of extreme prejudice. That it does so at a sensible pace is to be applauded - it's clear that Team Ninja has really worked on balancing the game every step of the way for a much broader audience. At the default lowest difficulty level (The Path of the Acolyte) you get a fantastic, enjoyable introduction to the game without handing your arse back to you on a plate, and the contrast to the ruthlessly unforgiving approach of the original couldn't be more evident. And yet with a total of four difficulty levels to wade through (Warrior, Mentor, Master Ninja), old-school hardcore players shouldn't feel abandoned. The level of depth and challenge promises to remain for those who demand it, and with the facility to upload your gameplay clips to Xbox Live, it will be interesting to see how the elite fare later this summer.

Ninja Gaiden II is due out exclusively on Xbox 360 on 6th June. Look out for our review very soon.

Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (103) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • boyakoosha #1 4 years ago

    Looking forward to this puppy!

  • cyacomini #2 4 years ago

    Can

    Not

    Wait

  • Dizzy #3 4 years ago

    Finally I can play a real fighting game again after all those years!

    DMC lasted 2h before I fell asleep (yeah check my GT ;)

    /sharpens Katana

  • ParanoidZombie #4 4 years ago

    want want want want WANT

  • anomagnus #5 4 years ago

    i'm gonna lap this up like a thirsty man from his mommas lactating titty (hmm possibly too much just or unjust)

  • asphaltcowboy #6 4 years ago

    If it is indeed more accessible and forgiving than the original, consider me interested. Otherwise it's no purchase from me. I enjoyed NG, but I like being able to see everything I've paid for when I get a game. Oh and please don't put attack and 'action' (open door/chest) on the same button. Seriously, that was one the most stupid button config decisions ever!

  • robg #7 4 years ago

    I'm just playing through the original on the 2nd difficulty level and it's amazing. Been killing bosses using Unlaboured Flawlessness and its runes, so much fun :)

  • betahoven #8 4 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:36:16 17-12-2011

  • lambtron #9 4 years ago

    This will be awesomo.

    That is all.

  • tjlazr #10 4 years ago

    Just thinking the same about the camera, Edge's preview seemed to suggest it was a massive issue and potential game breaker! I really hope it isn't as the rest of the game sounds fantastic. Shame it doesn't appear to have a rock hard first boss to get you warmed up at the start though :)

  • Dizzy #11 4 years ago

    "it will be interesting to see how the elite fare later this summer."

    They will be 1000 million times better than me once again.

    After finishing NG1 I watched some movies of the top Japanese players. Totally crazy. They must have tentacles.

  • krudster #12 4 years ago

    The camera's by no means perfect. I did encounter a couple of times where it went a little bonkers, but no more than dozens of other games (GTA IV included). All told, it's a million times better than having a fixed perspective where you can't even see the enemy you're fighting.

  • Dizzy #13 4 years ago

    "The camera's by no means perfect"

    TBH there is no way to make a camera perfect for these kind of games.

  • ParanoidZombie #14 4 years ago

    NG is so fast, how could the camera be perfectly placed all the time anyway?

  • CUR715 #15 4 years ago

    Not long now!

  • JediMasterMalik #16 4 years ago

    At least they've sorted it out mechanically and technically, now they need to get someone to fix the NG art, it's inconsistent and rather ugly, the story could do with a re-vamp as well. I admit though, after reading this I'm a little bit more excited about it then I was before.

  • Dizzy #17 4 years ago

    "the story could do with a re-vamp as well"

    Dude.. it is NINJA Gaiden. Nobody cares about the story.

  • anomagnus #18 4 years ago

    does anyone know if pirate gaiden is coming out soon?

  • Fairlane #19 4 years ago

    This is my most anticipated pre-order. Even higher placed than MGS4

  • JediMasterMalik #20 4 years ago

    @Dizzy - Clearly, me. Both DMC and GoW, NG's main competitors have managed to tell decent stories, they're not always great, but they're not anywhere near as bad as NG's. Itagaki needs to not look only at the technical aspects of his game anymore, those seem to be just fine and have been from the start, he needs to look at developing his art and story imo. And get some decent VA.

  • Max_Powers #21 4 years ago

    I was very interested in this game, but then I read EDGE's very dissapointing preview (the camera ruins it).

    Good to hear Eurogamer is more positive

  • ParanoidZombie #22 4 years ago

    @Jedi: Are u kidding, DMC4's story is terrible, even NG1's story was "better" than this. It was pure Capcom nonsense all the way. At least, Ryu Hayabusa keeps it quiet, unlike the often embarassing Dante.

  • Dizzy #23 4 years ago

    " Clearly, me. Both DMC and GoW NG's main competitors have managed to tell decent stories"

    That is a joke right?
    Edited by 1 at 07/05/08 @ 10:45

  • space_ace #24 4 years ago

    (afraid of ninja ga||den)

  • Rash' #25 4 years ago

    Yeah, Edge's preview was pretty damning. I'm surprised how divided EG and Edge are on this game. I'll stick with Edge on this game as experience tells me they are usually spot on. (Sorry EG I loved Halo and your review of that game was plain wrong.)

  • asphaltcowboy #26 4 years ago

    That is a joke right?

    Don't know about DMC (haven't played) but I liked the stories in God of War - thought it was very nice how they wove the greek myths into the game!

  • Eighthours #27 4 years ago

    Yeah, Edge's preview was pretty damning. I'm surprised how divided EG and Edge are on this game. I'll stick with Edge on this game as experience tells me they are usually spot on. (Sorry EG I loved Halo and your review of that game was plain wrong.)

    Given the lead-time of magazines, EG's version could well be a few weeks on, with the camera issues sorted.

  • Kormakur #28 4 years ago

    What I want to know is whether or not the European version will be censored like the original was. Whether the blood and gore will only be in the US version (pretty sure it's not in the Japanese one).

  • alimokrane #29 4 years ago

    @Kormakur

    The game is rated 18 in the UK it seens so expect a lot of Blood and gore!

  • muscleblade #30 4 years ago

    This will be GOTY for me. Only Gears 2 will stand a chance against this imo. I dont care about the story, its the gameplay thats important in a game like this. I loved Dark Sector even though i skipped through every cutscene.

  • Rash' #31 4 years ago

    Eighthours, here's hoping. The reviews out next month so all will be explained

  • Lexx87 #32 4 years ago

    GTA needs Ninjas

  • muscleblade #33 4 years ago

    This is why i love achievements. Only the best will get the achievements for completing the game on mentor or higher. The rumoured achievement list is real im sure. So most gamers will get almost all the achievements exept for the 200G for the higher difficultys.

  • LiquidViolence #34 4 years ago

    "Seriously, if you couldn't handle the original then you shouldn't be playing them full-stop. I hate it when people who are too lazy to learn the game mechanics force the developers to make the sequel easier. >_> "


    I think this about the Ghost Recon and Rainbowsix series' but devs sell out for sales.
    Edited by 2 at 07/05/08 @ 11:33

  • penhalion #35 4 years ago

    With the likes of MGS4 and Ninja Gaiden 2. A poster for owning all consoles if ever I saw one....well maybe PS360 ownership if the wha..er I mean Wii isn't quite your cup of tea.

  • gman7714 #36 4 years ago

    Darn it. I thought this was out end of June. I'm on my Stag weekend from the 6th! Looks like my early night on the 5th has just gone out the window!


  • asphaltcowboy #37 4 years ago

    I hate it when people who are too lazy to learn the game mechanics force the developers to make the sequel easier.

    stupidity.


    Even with the higher difficulties available, I'll bet that all the content can be unlocked by just completing it on the easiest difficultly, therefore giving no incentive to us out there who enjoy a skill-reliant game.

    Please explain how someone playing on an easier difficulty destroys your incentive to play the game at the difficulty you want?

  • krudster #38 4 years ago

    By "sell out" you mean "stay in business". Making a game that will appeal to only 10 per cent of your target audience hardly makes smart business sense. I'd say most of NG2's tweaks make it fairer and less frustrating rather than easier. I don't know about you, but I really object to having to repeat lengthy sections of a linear game because the developer thought it was purer to leave out a checkpoint or save game option. Remember, mr hardcore, if *you* want to play each chapter without saves, you can do that.

  • Dizzy #39 4 years ago

    "Please explain how someone playing on an easier difficulty destroys your incentive to play the game at the difficulty you want? "

    Very true.

    I will be opting for a harder setting, but my enjoyment of the game is not diminished because somebody plays it on easy.

  • BooMMooB #40 4 years ago

    Even the crappy save system, and other nitpicks, in the original game wasn't enough to take away the King Crown of Action games that it so rightly deserved.

    Seems like the sequel will be even better. Bring it!

  • mcmonkeyplc #41 4 years ago

    /cum

  • muscleblade #42 4 years ago

    " I will be opting for a harder setting, but my enjoyment of the game is not diminished because somebody plays it on easy. " Agreed.

    I hope these are stackable so i dont need to play it on easy to unlock the achieves for the easier difficultys though. Im not sure if i will start on warrior or mentor difficulty.

    The Path of the Acolyte: 100G
    Clear The Path of the Acolyte

    The Path of the Warrior: 100G
    Clear The Path of the Warrior

    The Path of the Mentor: 100G
    Clear The Path of the Mentor

    The Path of the Master Ninja: 100G
    Clear The Path of the Master Ninja

    Edited by 1 at 07/05/08 @ 11:59

  • asphaltcowboy #43 4 years ago

    By "sell out" you mean "stay in business". Making a game that will appeal to only 10 per cent of your target audience hardly makes smart business sense. I'd say most of NG2's tweaks make it fairer and less frustrating rather than easier. I don't know about you, but I really object to having to repeat lengthy sections of a linear game because the developer thought it was purer to leave out a checkpoint or save game option. Remember, mr hardcore, if *you* want to play each chapter without saves, you can do that.

    The voice of reason!

  • muscleblade #44 4 years ago

    Master Ninja will be extremely hard. Nothing like Insane on Gears or Legendary on Halo 3 i imagine.

  • septimus #45 4 years ago

    Want to get it, but I just hope this version doesn't make me want to lob the controller out of the windows. Both Black and Sigma had that effect towards the end (and middle sometimes).

  • FabricatedLunatic #46 4 years ago

    6th June is sooner than I expected.

    I gave up on NG at the two worms boss. Had the save point been immediately prior to the encounter, rather than a few minutes back, I might have been more inclined to keep at it. If this kind of issue has been addressed in NG2 there'll be little to complain about.

  • Load_2.0 #47 4 years ago

    more accessible. The one phrase that I didn't want to see.

    I appreciate the comments about checkpoints and a wider audience. But to be honest... fuck everyone else. I loved NG and Godhand because they were rock hard but had a fantastic learning curve. Initial frustration just gave a greater sense of satisfaction when I did complete a difficult section.

    I hate having to play through a game and alter the difficulty setting, it feels as though I am not playing the game as it was intended to be played.

    But hey, I am sure it will still be fantastic and is one of my most anticipated games for the 360.

  • Yossarian #48 4 years ago

    TBH there is no way to make a camera perfect for these kind of games.

    Everyone seems to forget that with NG1 they patched in a free, user-controlled camera with the Hurricane Packs, and then nobody used it because it was completely useless given the pace of the action.

    Once you get used to it, NG's camera is about as good as you can hope for, considering the nature of the game.

  • asphaltcowboy #49 4 years ago

    @ Load "$" - so play it on hard or whatever and indeed 'fuck everyone else' - where's the problem? As for fantastic learning curve... er!

  • BobsUncle #50 4 years ago

    I gave up on NG when I met that stupid first boss. Combine that and the fact enemies respawn when you go back into a room made it a total pile of dog shit for me.

    "Ooops, didn't mean to go that way"
    /turn around
    /All the ninjas you just killed reappear
    /get bored
    /switch off.

  • miiiguel #51 4 years ago

    Pre-ordered.

  • Yossarian #52 4 years ago

    I put 120 hours into Ninja Gaiden, according to the game's clock.

    I am hugely excited for this one.

  • Load_2.0 #53 4 years ago

    I guess the thing about NG is that it forced you to play better, to become better, rather than just button mashing through some pretty scenery.

    I shouldn't have to change the difficulty on NG, if I do it alters my sense of enjoyment (odd as that may be!) NG has a reputation as being rock hard. I guess my real concern is that it there is an attitude that accessibility is king and people will cease to produce games that are difficult. Given the vast amount of titles and the disposable way in which people treat games, it feels fairly inevitable.

    A game that I can play through in one sitting is fine but it shouldn't be the case for every game.

  • muscleblade #54 4 years ago

    @BobsUncle

    The first boss was fantastic and not at all difficult compared to the 7th boss Alma first form. The hardest boss in gaming history.
    Took me about 30 tries to beat her on normal.

  • sergeantdisco #55 4 years ago

    @ Load $

    I still don't see the problem, just play every game on the hardest available setting right from the start.

  • muscleblade #56 4 years ago

    The camera didnt bother me in Ninja gaiden so its not gonna bother me in Ninja gaiden 2.

  • asphaltcowboy #57 4 years ago

    @muscleblade - yeah, I got to alma and gave up. fantastic learning curve, my ass!

  • lambtron #58 4 years ago

    "I guess the thing about NG is that it forced you to play better, to become better, rather than just button mashing through some pretty scenery."

    Indeed. This, for me, is why NG > GoW + DMC. You are forced to improve but that is where the true joy of the game lies.

  • Feanor #59 4 years ago

    It's been a long time since a preview made me this excited for a game.

  • Feanor #60 4 years ago

    "Ugh, everytime I read someone saying this is more accessible it puts me off buying it."

    Don't be an idiot. There's four difficulty levels, so if you're very good then just play on the third or fourth hardest difficulty.

  • muscleblade #61 4 years ago

    @asphaltcowboy

    The learning curve is steep but you get better and better every time you play. Its like Guitar Hero in that way. You have to practice a lot to be really good at it. I actually beat Alma surprisingly easy when i played Ninja Gaiden Black about a year later because i had a lot of practice.

  • NickD7 #62 4 years ago

    Probably be my favourite game of this year.

  • Zander #63 4 years ago

    Games are meant to be fun, not hard. Though there has got to be something out there for all those who like to cause themselves pain :-)

  • Malazan #64 4 years ago

    'The first boss was fantastic and not at all difficult compared to the 7th boss Alma first form. The hardest boss in gaming history.
    Took me about 30 tries to beat her on normal. '


    Agreed. The bit that annoyed me the most was having to traipse back to her every time and fighting three ninjas on the way.

  • Khanivor #65 4 years ago

    I will often get frustrated by hard games but NG's learning difficulty was pitched perfectly. This is my most anticipated 360 title of the year and comes out just after my birthday, so hopefully I won't even have to pay for the bugger.

  • patchbox360 #66 4 years ago


    playing cod4 on veteran and halo3 on legendary solo, rainbow6 on highest difficulty was the hardest, most demoralising, most exciting, most exhilarating gaming experiences ever and when you see those credits rolling, its F-ING GREAT!!

  • Madlax #67 4 years ago

    I,v never seen a more positive preview before, i wonder wh......

    Oh its a 360 game. ;)

  • FabricatedLunatic #68 4 years ago

    It actually took me more attempts to beat the first boss than Alma. The difficulty curve, for me, is too steep at the beginning: the first two bosses are more difficult than some later ones and the game's most useful move, the counter, isn't available until the third stage. It got a lot easier after that. Until those fuckin' worms...

  • DAN.E.B #69 4 years ago

    Oh its a 360 game. ;)
    yeah that must be it!
    anyway looking forward to this probably GOTY

    that is all

  • Yossarian #70 4 years ago

    Everyone who has mentioned that it is a game you have to learn how to play is absolutely right. I can't think of any other single title that rewards the player's investment of time and practice as much as NG.

  • dllord #71 4 years ago

    It will be mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Ryze #72 4 years ago

    Wonderful.

    Sounds like they've fixed the camera, the difficulty spikes, the respawning enemies, and made it an excelent an beautiful game to boot.

    I'll be so tempted to get this on launch day, but really shouldn't as it's summertime and I want to go to New York or Greece!

    Gaming expenses aren't helping with my travel and holiday plans!

    /interested!

  • Ryze #73 4 years ago

    @Crofto

    Don't talk shit. Just because you have no life, and can dedicate your entire world to a game to master it, doens't mean everyone else can.

    I'd have been great at NG if I was 13, but I'm not - I'm 28 and spend half of every day managing a Football Club's IT - That, my finances and my friends/family are my priorities.

    Gaming comes next - but if the game has a broken camera and broken mechanics, plus a difficulty curve that spikes within moments while the game leaves you disorientated running round in circles with respawning enemies, then it needs fixing.

    I hate people who are completely unable to consider anything from a perspective other than their own. Fool.

  • Ryze #74 4 years ago

    Sorry guys - I love my gaming, but these days, I haven't got the time to play the same section 50 times over just to learn 50 sequential combos in order to barely scrape a win after 5 hours of trial and error.

    It's be a leap forward for gaming if these type of games would dynamically alter the difficulty from one second to the next depending on how well you're doing, and how hard you want the game to be.

    I like the idea of God of War suggesting a lower difficulty level - I've never once obliged and THAT made me more determined to get better at the game.

    However, if/ when I die at an obviously much more difficult section, I shouldn't have to play the prior 5+ mins of the game to get back to the section, just to be killed again and again.

    I purposely turned off any OCD tendencies within myself a good several years ago, but still want to enjoy a challenging game.

  • actionfitz #75 4 years ago

    this game, while pretty awesome... handed me my ass, giftwrapped :(
    I kinda tuned out after taking out two TANKS ?!?! saving my game on low health etc...
    then being confronted by...
    A FUCKING HELICOPTER! :o
    I gave the fucker hell with my bow and arrows :S ,before - as is worryingly the trend these days - something new and shiny caught my eyes... so I played that instead.
    yes, I fail at life etc.
    sue me :)

  • darkphoenix #76 4 years ago

    Oh, you poor thing...

    I FORGOT to save after those 2 tanks, and had to confrontate the helicopter right away!

    Yes, I defeated it first time.

    Alma, YOU BITCH!!!

  • BathiBoi #77 4 years ago

    i need this game!

  • gamecat #78 4 years ago

    After the copter there's some annoying tower thing with people shooting you, this is the point where I lost interest... I didn't want to play Ninja who shoots stuff with bows and flipping arrows.

  • muscleblade #79 4 years ago

    @Zander

    Games without a real challenge is just boring imo. The bigger the challenge the bigger the feeling of actually accomplishing something.

  • krudster #80 4 years ago

    Your enjoyment won't be reduced.....if you crank up the difficulty. I'm not sure what's so hard to understand about that.

  • asphaltcowboy #81 4 years ago

    I can easily consider other perspectives than my own, however, when it comes to a game like Ninja Gaiden II I don't see why my enjoyment should be reduced due to some people who can't be bothered to learn how to play a game.

    This whole thing still doesn't make any sense, because you can still play it on super-hard if you want. They know they're a 'hardcore' game and they know they have a hardcore audience. That's why there are four difficulty levels. I don't know how to put it any more simply: OTHER PEOPLE PLAYING THIS GAME AT A LOWER DIFFICULTY LEVEL DOES NOT AFFECT YOU OR YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THE GAME.

    EDIT: krudster in before me!
    Edited by 1 at 08/05/08 @ 11:03

  • muscleblade #82 4 years ago

    @Crofto

    The achievements for completing the game on the harder settings is there and should be motivation for playing on a harder setting. I will keep track of your gamertag to see that you complete it on Mentor anyway. So you better!

    I still agree with you though. Ninja Gaiden has always been and should stay a game for the hardcore only.
    Edited by 1 at 08/05/08 @ 11:37

  • asphaltcowboy #83 4 years ago

    It's the principle!

    That just about says it all :)

  • muscleblade #84 4 years ago

    Ninja gaiden 2 has more than a few secret achievements. I bet there are some embarrasing 0G achievements like: Ninja Dog - you died 10 times on the easiest setting.

  • Ranger101 #85 4 years ago

    Is there any word of Ninja Gaiden Online multiplayer deathmatch glory - That's the only thing that stopped it from being the best game ever made.

    Would be awesome to have deathmatches involving people running up walls and ceilings outflanking each other, parrying and shit. It'd be like playing the alien in AVP deathmatch, but (slightly) less disorientating.

    And capture the flag Ninja style? AWESOME.

  • muscleblade #86 4 years ago

    Looking at the achievement list, i dont think there will be multiplayer in Ninja Gaiden 2 unless the secret achievements are for multiplayer wich i doubth.

  • Load_2.0 #87 4 years ago

    "Your enjoyment won't be reduced.....if you crank up the difficulty. I'm not sure what's so hard to understand about that."

    I don't like altering the level. I want to play the game as it was intended to be played, the "normal" setting is the main focus of the team who developed the game. The first NG was a challenging and rewarding game, I loved it. I don't pay 30-40 quid for a game and then give up, because it actually requires some dedication!

    Cranking up the difficulty right from the start tends to unbalance a game. I have never encountered a game where the difficultly setting did anything other than disproportionately alter the damage inflicted by enemies and conversely the damage your character inflicts or simply increase the number of enemies.The AI doesn't become better, the core nature of the game, whether it be jumping a ravine or dodging poisonous flying rabbits is never altered. That is the issue.

    I don't want a game that is easy and I don't want a game that has enemies that simply take longer to kill or can kill my character with one or two hits, because I cranked up the heat.

    I would much rather own 1 challenging game then 10 piss easy games.

    Does that help explain the issue?

  • miiiguel #88 4 years ago

    Crofto, in 10 years you'll have a laugh looking at your gamercard.
    Heck, I do remember living a freaking hell on my couch every time I browse through my CoD2 Vet Achievements. That's what Achievements are to me, too. A photo album!

    On the other hand, I'm pretty sure you wont remember that exp increased 5% if you beat Mass Effect on Hard...
    Edited by 1 at 08/05/08 @ 13:58

  • Load_2.0 #89 4 years ago

    "Yes Load, it explains that you are a selfish elitist jerk with no business sense"

    Thanks for the analysis chum. As for business sense, you're the idiot buying games then not playing them.

    All these people with no time on their hands! Maybe you all need to give up gaming and find a new less time consuming hobby.

  • krudster #90 4 years ago

    This is the gaming equivalent of a band having a hit and all the elitists accusing them of selling out.

  • Load_2.0 #91 4 years ago

    No, this is the gaming equivalent of a rock band having a hit and their fans asking them to produce another great rock album, rather than a pop album.

    This will sell well regardless of the difficulty level. I am not asking for a game that is harder than the original, just for them to produce another great game. NG got a 9/10 from EG and I don't see how making the game easier would be an improvement.

  • asphaltcowboy #92 4 years ago

    ARGH!

  • ParanoidZombie #93 4 years ago

    NG1's normal difficulty wasn't well balanced, and I am glad they fixed it.

    Every true NG fan like myself knew from the beginning that we would have to start NG2 on warrior difficulty, anyway: Even if NG2's acolyte difficulty was as punishing as NG1's normal mode, it would still be a pushover for any serious NG gamer. So why should "normal" players be penalized? You want them to suffer as much as you did when Alma kicked your ass for the first time?

    IMO, hardcore gamers will have no trouble separating themselves from the pack anyway, thanks to the leaderboards + achievements...
    Edited by 1 at 08/05/08 @ 15:55

  • miiiguel #94 4 years ago

    Load, without wanting to be too verbose, but that idea of yours that "normal mode" must be the perfect mode that you want it to be, because you don't feel "right" changing modes is kinda silly, imo. You're not alone in the world, and it's ok to play on Hard (Easy is a bit lame though... lol).

    Take Halo 3 for example, there are too many ppl saying "oh it's so easy", when it has one (if not the most) the most customizable dificulty levels ever. I mean, try to beat it solo, on Lgendary, with all Skulls on.
    A game is the whole package, dificulty modes included, everything. I shouldn't just say "it is supposed to be played in Normal"...
    Edited by 1 at 08/05/08 @ 16:01

  • JonFE #95 4 years ago

    @Load "$":
    "This will sell well regardless of the difficulty level. I am not asking for a game that is harder than the original, just for them to produce another great game. NG got a 9/10 from EG and I don't see how making the game easier would be an improvement."

    How about waiting for it to be released first and then judge for yourself?

    In theory, easier difficulty/learning curve should not affect gamers like you - given that higher difficulty settings are available (which may be handled in a more sophisticated way that the one you fear). On the other hand it would benefit those who don't have the time / determination / skills (you name it) to truly master it, but have every right to enjoy it too.

    Personally, I never finished the original Ninja Gaiden, yet still purchased and played through to the bloody end Ninja Gaiden: Black; don't ask me why I managed the second and not the first, I really don't know...

  • The-Bodybuilder #96 4 years ago

    >"This will sell well regardless of the difficulty level. "

    For someone who claims to be a big fan of NG, you sure aren't aware of the fact that the first one had pretty poor sales BECAUSE of the difficulty.
    You;re stupid, yes STUPID if you expect team ninja to spend millions of a game to cater to just you and some other dweebs.

    Oh, and I finished the game on hard.

  • Zeliard #97 4 years ago

    "back in March 2004, Tom reckoned the Xbox original was "one of the finest action games ever made". But that was then, and plenty of challengers have come along since that have been even more spectacular"

    Such as....?

  • Widge #98 4 years ago

    God Of War I'd say, probably one of the single most consistently impressive games I have ever played (barring a horrific Hades level) in recent times. A hell of a lot more entertaining that Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden.

  • muscleblade #99 4 years ago

    "Take Halo 3 for example, there are too many ppl saying "oh it's so easy", when it has one (if not the most) the most customizable dificulty levels ever. I mean, try to beat it solo, on Lgendary, with all Skulls on. "

    Too bad there wasnt any achievement for completing the game that way. It was easy on Legendary compared to Halo and Halo 2 thats for sure. Legendary difficulty was perfect though because i didnt get frustrated at all playing through it, but it wasnt exactly hard.

  • muscleblade #100 4 years ago

    @Widge

    I dont think youve played Ninja Gaiden tbh. Ninja gaiden Black was in the top five highest rated games in its generation.

  • Widge #101 4 years ago

    Oh yeah, but doesn't mean that I should like it regardless. On a similar tip, I absolutely detested KOTOR but didn't get the fuss and disappointment that people had with Halo 2!

  • muscleblade #102 4 years ago

    @Widge

    "but doesn't mean that I should like it regardless"

    Of course it doesnt.

  • muscleblade #103 4 years ago

    "This is the gaming equivalent of a band having a hit and all the elitists accusing them of selling out."

    Ninja Gaiden was a huge hit wasnt it? I bought the Xbox just to play it. Ninja Gaiden and Halo 2 was the only two games i owned on the Xbox. I was a huge Nintendo fan.

    I know of people that disliked Ninja Gaiden. The only reason was that they died a lot ( they were not very good at games iow).

    To bad MS didnt let them add negative achievements. That would have been hilarious. The 0G achievements will do i guess.
    Edited by 1 at 09/05/08 @ 14:30

  • krudster #104 4 years ago

    No, Ninja Gaiden wasn't a big hit at all. Chart-Track figures for the UK put it at not much over 60,000 for NG and NGB sold all of about 10,000. The perception of it being a big hit is based on how well it did critically, but the public gave it gigantic thumbs down for whatever reason.