13.7.2008

One of the things that really held the first ninja gaiden back was that it had one of the worst plots to a videogame ever AND it was very very badly told at the same time. The developers of the 2nd game however have done themselves proud by actually managing to create a storyline that's even worse than the first one. However, I was able to tune it out becuase I was enjoying the game so much.This is one of the most violent games I have every played. Most people might say that things like Manhunt are about as nasty as gaming gets but NJ2 is different as its action is a lot more heated and less cold bloded than Manhunt is. It's like that bit in Kill Bill where she's in the Japanese bar and dismembering all the Yakuza,you know. It's a ridiculous kind of violence that nobody could ever really take seriously (I mean you wont see a kid armed with bunch a gardening tools hacking folk left right and centre based on this games influence) but I still feel that the 18 certificate is appropriate as it's game intended for adults only.This game is very hard aswell. Not quite as hard as the first one I suppose. This is mainly down to the boss fights being a lot more difficult in the original game. The day to day enemies though are just as challening as they were in the first game. You still have those annoying black ninjas that stick you with about TWENTY EXPLODING SHURIKENS every single second. Plus a few new enemies to mix things up a bit but nothing particularly different from the first game. I enjoy the challenge that ninja gaiden games provide though. I don't know why people complain so much about it so much as it covers up many of the flaws within this game. I found I cared more about killing the giant fire breathing armadillo that attacked me for no reason after I had crash landed my airship, BECUASE it was so difficult to kill. And while we're on the subject, just incase anybody is stuck at this part you have to press BLOCK to survive the explosion after you finish this fight. That's right, you can block an explosion. Not that I'm complaining, I was very relieved after I figured this out, but upon reflection the whole fight was quite daft. Still fun though.Something else that lets the game down a little is the camera. Most of you are probably sick of hearing about this but it is kind of noticable during play. However it does not prevent the game from being functional, it's just one of those annoying little things that will make you wonder why they couldn't have sorted it out before release. I mean they could have made it auto target the nearest enemy or pan back a bit when the screen was crammed with enemies. Simple solutions that would have stopped game reviewers stomping on what is actually just a small defect. What people forget is though is that we've been putting up with this for years and it's about time we learned to deal with the whole manual camera control thing and not expect the game to do everything for us. For instance, look at console first person shooters. Everyone was whinging about how they were never going to be as good as PC FPSs becuase of lack of mouse control but most of us have learned to deal with that so I don't see why THIS is a major problem. So what if can't see every enemy on the screen at once, if that happens just block, then move the camera to your own convenience. That's what I did and for the most part and it worked out fine. I fact if we remember back to the first ninja gaiden you couldn't even do that. Any movement on the right analogue stick would move the camera to the first person perspective and I for once am grateful that this was redesigned for the remakes and the sequel. Anyway...Overall I liked this game. I has it's flaws (most of which I've mentioned, I don't have enough space or patience to go through them all) but it looks nice, it's fast, it's responsive and fun to play. Also it's way better than devil may cry 4. The graphics arn't as good and stories not as good either (not that that's saying much, nor would I wish to say too much as the the storyline in DMC4 is kinda pants, still better than NJ2s though) but the game is nowhere near as slow and the weapons are much better too. Also, devil may crys enemies were just targets that would hit you occasionally if you were too slow to hit them first, whereas ninja gaidens badies are really REALLY agressive. You cut off a guys arm or leg and they'll still be after you. Also I managed to find a use for every weapon I recieved, something that I found quite refreshing. Not the best game I've played this year (MSG4, loved it) but something that I will probably go back to at some point as I'm keen to try it on one of the higher difficulty levels.

3.7.2012

Having completed the first installment on my dreamcast some years back I pretty much had an idea of what I was getting myself into....well that being terrible storylines and ridiculously dougy angles at times. The story as expected is filled with grotesque beings doing some 'evil' things and half naked hentai with gravity defying baps and minge nudity..well no complaints their...well the point here is that if where expecting some sort of complex storyline there'll be some disappointed people.Yes well lets get to the reason why this game earned its stars.GAMEPLAYThe game is fast, fluid and responsive, a total joy to play with. And considering how difficult the game is it is vitally important to get that responsiveness.Truly it is one of the few games I can argue that if your getting your ass handed to you it is probably your own fault(8% chance it may be camera angles).FANTASTIC WEAPEONSNot really a single weak weapon in the armory and there is endless fun to be had exploring different ways to mutilate opponents. All of the weapeons have thier own advantages from defence to range to speed and power,there is certainly a weapeon for everyone.With vast combos for each weapeon there is endless fun to be had experimenting.DIVERSE SCENARYThe developers didn't do a slack job with the stages as all of them vary greatly and are a pleasure to explore. From the Dojos of Japan to the Streets of New York/ Venice/ Moscow, even inside an aircraft and in Vietnam jungles. Lush and rich, you have to resort to different tactics to different enviroments.CLEVER ENEMIESMany may draw similarities to God of War for Ninja Gaiden. Unlike GOW, even the simplest enemies will kick your ass if you give them a single bit of lee way. They will duck and dodge, throw projectiles and flank from behind whenever possible. The Later demons and Mechs are even more of a challenge as they boast whole arsenals of moves. In this game unlike GOW you have to go hard or go home, Ryu must be ruthless at all times, moving like a dog on heat countering and killing opponents as quickly and brutally as possible. The normal opponents alone FORCE you to raise your lvl.A BLOODY CHALLENGEApart from the normal creatures mentioned above, the actual game mechanics is designed to be difficult, this games normal (path of warrior) is like other game's veteran mode... If you have a low tolerance to dieing and to trying again and again numerous times then don't bother as you wont ever complete this game. Getting through some areas and bosses can only be done after finding out the creatures vulnerability through several deaths, its a harsh learning curve and if you do not understand this you wont understand the tough love policy of the game. You must also learn to conserve your precious commoditieis such as heals and ninpo jutsus. The game would get skanky on many occasions, you need to learn some skanky moves of your own to get out of tight situations, lvl 3 your dragon sword asap, as that that sword is the most balanced for attack and defence and the tripple diving swallow is the most powerful attack possible while being unhittable. Do the same for your flame ninpo. A lvl 3 flame will clear the screen while making you untouchable.By the time you hit chapter 10 you should pretty much have levelled all your key favourite gear. Anything not lvl 3 or 4 by then then don't bother as you will need every penny for the insanity to come. bY CHAPTER 10 SAVE POINTS ARE LIKE AN OASIS IN THE SAHARA DESERT. Opponents are without mercy and the boss combinations are just madness. The two lava armadillos followed by the fiend of flames was like pulling out teeth. The fiend ninja followed by the blood fiend is even more brutal. But these two points of gheyness pales in comparison to the final battle of High priest, then Arch fiend normal * 3, then true archfiend with full life, that little combination took me a total of 3 hours retry which you cant quit unless you have to do it all again. After all the pain, after the the finger cramps.. the sense of acheivement once it was all done was almost indescribable. Ive haven't celebrated so hard since Liverpool won the champions league in 2005.NOW THIS IS WHAT A BLOODY GAME SHOULD BE!!!!

2.7.2008

"Ninja Gaiden 2" probably will not be remembered very fondly. A game blighted by terrible camera, cheap difficulty-raising tricks, and a game engine generally hailing from the previous generation of consoles, NG2 nevertheless has enough of the magic dust of its XBOX predecessor to make it a fully worthwhile purchase.Everything about "Ninja Gaiden 2" is intimidating. From the sturm und drang Tecmo video intro sequence to the final boss fight, the game retains the fearsome seriousness and difficulty of 2004's "Ninja Gaiden". That game was possibly the greatest action adventure of the 3D era. To attain success, "Ninja Gaiden 2" has to follow that and add the requisite gloss of current-gen gaming,whilst fixing the original's annoying camera and tweaking the controller-damaging difficulty level. In this regard, NG2 is a failure: the graphics are often bland and barren, the camera sits too close to the player character, and the admittedly lessened difficulty is soured in many places by cheap hikes in difficulty which the player cannot possibly avoid.However, there is a big "but". The gameplay is as thrilling as NG, as beautifully detailed and rewarding as the rest of the game elements are shoddy and perplexing. While the sequel incorporates close-up Obliteration moves to kill wounded enemies and a regenerating health-bar (a nod to making the game more accessible), it is still fundamentally the same game engine as the original...but more. More blood, more fighting, more all-round violence.The point is that the wonderfully fluid and responsive controls actually make the gamer feel in control of a master ninja. It makes you feel proud to have accomplished a tough boss fight or to have countered an enemy attack. This element alone makes this charismatic game worth paying serious attention to. And, having played such cutscene-heavy games as Metal Gear Solid 4 recently, NG2's non-stop action shines particularly brightly for me; the game represents a big gold star in favour of action gaming. Perhaps having realised this, Tecmo have gutted out the often tedious and obtuse puzzles from Ninja Gaiden in favour of added enemies.To be clear, Ninja Gaiden 2 is a deeply flawed videogame. There are plenty of elements to the game which are not really good enough. In keeping with Team NINJA's Mount Fuji logo, the game is either peaks or troughs.. The peaks are fantastic, and the troughs are "fantastic", too. The camera, it must be stressed, is awful, locking up terribly especially in tight corridors and on flights of stairs. Graphically, the game has bland backgrounds, although the detailed character animations make up for this in large part. The story is the usual tosh about armageddon that game developers so love, with demons and devils spewing terrible dialogue -just ignore them. But Ninja Gaiden 2 has the magical charisma of a game which just knows it is special, that can treat you badly because it knows you will come crawling back.

13.6.2008

I only got my first console earlier this year. An Xbox 360. I have played catch up on some of the original Xbox games, one of which was the original Ninja Gaiden.The original has been one of the most enoyable, yet frustrating, games I have every played. Even the slightly dated graphics could not detract from the absolutely brilliant fighting mechanics, which are unrivalled by any other game I have played.When Ninja Gaiden 2 came out, I got it on release day, which is a first for me. From the time the disc went in, I could not stop playing it. luckily I was off work from having an opertation, so got to devote many, many hours to it. Its no let down after the first, though there are some points where its and improvement,and some where it falls a little short.Firstly, the in-depth fighting mechanics are very much the same, which is a good thing. Controlling Ryu is usually a dream. I say usually, because it is let down sometimes by the camera position.While the camera is for the larger part at a good angle and and distance, sometimes when engaged in a boss fight, you might not be able to make out clearly where you or the boss are. Other times you may get sliced up when you run around a corner into an enemy, and the camera has not yet followed you around. Having said that, it's not often that this is a problem.The plot is thin, which is a slight let-down, though no surprise after the first. The game is more about exciting and challening gameplay than story.The biggest problem I had with the first NJ was that it was insanely hard at times, even on the easiest setting. This time around, the difficulty seems a lot more balanced. The first play through I had a went through on its easiest setting, and while it was still challening, it was not so frustrating that I wanted to throw the controller across the room.Also gone are the constantly re-spawning enemies. I think overall this is a good thing, however, on the first game, I used this as a means of building up essence to afford elixirs and such.There do seem to be a few bugs/glitches present in the game, which only once ended in me having to reload a save point. Thankfully though, most ar e minor, and do not detract too much from the game.I am not the sort of person who usually plays through a game more than once, or who bothers trying to fulfill the achievements, but as soon as I had finished this on easy, I started it again on the next hardest setting, and am trying to achieve some of the challenges set. I am enjoying it even more the second time through, and am really concentrating on improving my "skill" in combat.I can't recommend the game enough. Its more an evolution than revolution from the first, but better for that in my opinion. Its good fun, a good challenge, and worth every penny bought new.

18.11.2011

Having played, and been totally blown away by, a demo of Ninja Gaiden III at a games show earlier this year, the logical step was clearly to purchase its predecessor for the Xbox 360, and acquaint myself with the series. To better understand it, and perhaps even outwit it.A fair number of hours in, and I'm in no danger of outwitting anything the game has to throw at me. After a couple of levels on the lower difficulty setting, I made the questionable decision of starting a new game on the more difficult setting: I'm still not entirely sure why I did this, but in spite of the countless 'Game Over' screens and silent moments of fist-clenching frustration, I'm absolutely glad that I did.It's a great game!

26.1.2009

This game is not for the weak of heart !Not only because it contains bucket loads of gore mind you , but because this game will probably reduce you to tears for it's insane difficulty.Even normal mode might as well be called very hard .... lol ... it's called Ninja Gaiden ... maybe it's because you need to be a ninja in real life to have the reflexes to cope and dodge all the randomly crazy attacks thrown at you.This is a hardcore gamers game with old School difficulty and modern looks, which is quite a rare thing to find nowadays.The game is still very fun despite it's hard difficulty , this is a great action game and beautiful in motion (

1.4.2013

I played on acolyte (easy) difficulty as I have heard of the insane difficulty Ninja Gaiden games are famous for, and I want to play a game for fun, not frustration.The game is great for action, makes you feel very satisfied when you finish killing a bunch of enemies and that badass sword flick to get rid of all that blood on your sword at the end of a fight(small addition but makes a difference). The combat didn't really get boring for me as I haven't played NG so every enemy was new and the weapons all play differently and have different combo's (still X and Y attack buttons though).Graphics are alright but nothing to really talk about,

10.8.2008

Fancy yourself as a big time games player? Good. Because nothing can prepare you for the sheer lunacy on offer in Ninja Gaiden 2. Anyone who thought the first game was hard had better not even bother with this. But like anything else, practice makes perfect.1 hour in: Getting hammered! From the very first screen, you're surrounded by enemies. And they just keep coming. Armed with nothing but your trusty sword, you'll need lightning fast reflexes just to keep the enemies at bay, let alone progress through the level. And then there are the bosses. Christ! Expect to be hurling significantly colourful language at the screen.3 hours in: Still getting hammered! Will the pain never end?

9.6.2008

Ninja Gaiden II has put a smile on my face more times than I can count this past week, why? Because it's made up of all the things that used to make scrolling beat `em ups great, and here are few of those things:- Great variation of levels and locals; from the rain drenched streets of New York to Womb/Ribcage like structures filled knee deep with blood, to Ancient Ninja Clan Villages and steaming jungles. All the levels look stunning, and all feel different enough to make progression exciting rather than just another uninspired arena to kick some heads off in. Also the levels are very well set up and full of little secrets and points of interest.- It's not ridiculously hard but challenging

1.11.2008

So brilliant is the combat in Ninja Gaiden 2 is that your end up forgiving its faults, of which there are many. The meat and potatoes of the gameplay, the slashing and dodging, is largely unchanged from the previous outings. It is a lot more bloody and intense but slightly easier due to the fact Ryu now recovers health when he is not fighting. The enemies are brilliantly conceived and there attacks are so quick that you'll be looking at the Game Over screen if you sneeze in mid play. Ninja Gaiden demands your full attention; to process you need to concentrate.The game has faults though especially in the level design. Visually the game has trouble telling the player where Ryu can or cannot go.

13.2.2012

My Brother Came To My House And Said "Buy This Game I Tell Ya" So I Did, And Here I'am With Its Review. Ninja Gaiden 2 Isn't For "The Faint Hearted" If You're Bad That These Kind Of Games...Simply Stay Away, Because "It Really Is Hard" For The Rest Of Us, Simply Buy It And Witness The Best Fighting Game Ever Made.I'll Start By Saying The Graphics Are Very Good. But That Doesn't Really Matter, You'll Be So Busy Fighting Clever Skilled Enemies To Even Take Notice. Well, I Suppose You'll Notice The Great Graphics When You Clear All The Enemies On The Early Levels. The Combat Here Is Fantastic, Especially When You Beat Enemies On Harder Difficulty Levels "It's A Sense Of Achievement" The Melee Weapons Are Excellent,

13.5.2009

I purchased this soon after it was released and played it through on Warrior (2nd most easy). Recently I picked it up again and played through on Acolyte (easiest) to get back into practice. It is flawed; the action slows noticeably when the screen is busy, and the game does seem unfair at times, eg. when you can't see what you are trying to hit.Still, that's nothing compared to the good points. The visuals are stunning and creative; but most important the combat has depth and subtlety, it is not just a button-mash. To succeed you need the right timing, position, and skill; you will be rewarded with spectacular animations. Nothing else I've played matches it for excitement and, when you get it right,

14.6.2008

Bloody, violent, fast, gory...Ninja martial arts game at lighting speed.Be Warned! Skill is required for this game. You can set the game to an easier setting but you will not get the rewards given with skill and timing set on normal & above level - and the satisfaction received for using the skill gained when played on normal/above level.Graphics are good to very good to excellent...Though some backgrounds can be a bit bland there still decent for a next gen system. While the background graphics may not be the best for the 360 it does have great-cool particle effects: splashes of enemy blood, lighting, magic..etc!, all at a smooth 60fps.

25.6.2008

In a nutshell:I simply love this game.I just fell in love because it is truly challenging and does not let you pass, just because you got thumbs like the hulk.so I preordered this game and haven't stopped playing since i recieved it.i"ve read some reviews that imply that team ninja just wanted to make more money, so they turned down the difficulty to get access to a wider range of gamers.I must say that I am not that unhappy about this.I see gaming as a recreation activity and not as my main purpose in life, so I'd rather be seriously challanged than downright frustrated and find myself smashing my controler against the wall...the graphics are not really state of the art,

1.8.2012

I bought Ninja Gaiden 2 after being told my all my friends that it was impossibly hard. 'How hard could it be?', I asked. Needless to say, I found out. Even on the easiest difficulty I found myself having a large amount of trouble and dying alot. This is no bad thing, and finally beating that difficult boss battle is incredibly rewarding. If you're the type who gets angry when they lose then you might want to steer clear of this game though, as some parts (the bosses) are difficult through cheapness rather than genuine difficulty.The graphics are nice, the game looks good and runs at a decent speed (a rarity with Xbox games these days). There is plenty of blood and guts,

Ninja Gaiden 2 (Xbox 360) - Reviews

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