Played on:
Xbox 360
Ninja Gaiden was an astounding entry on Microsoft’s original big, black box; it redefined the action genre with bar-raising visuals and amazing gameplay. Years later, it’s still considered one of the console’s crowning achievements and one of the best hardcore gaming experiences of all time. And as great as it was, it was actually bested by its own enhanced versions—Black, also on the Xbox and, more recently, Sigma on the PS3. Now on the 360, gamepad ninja finally get the true sequel they’ve been waiting for with the aptly titled Ninja Gaiden 2
Once again, Team Ninja doesn’t disappoint with a balls-out, gore-filled actioner, offering a challenge and addictiveness that will gnaw dedicated players’ thumbs to bloody nubs. But more on the blood-soaked goods in a minute. First, as much as it pains us, it’s got to be said that NG2 just doesn’t pack the “wow” factor of its predecessor. In part, this can be blamed on Team Ninja’s excellent track record, specifically the three aforementioned versions of Ninja Gaiden. The original was just so damn impressive that topping it is a near impossible task. Because its visuals were practically a generation ahead of the hardware, it’s difficult to get as excited about NG2’s slightly upgraded presentation. Additionally, rather than delivering a sequel earlier, Team Ninja honed their skills on Black and Sigma. So, advances—both graphical and technical—that could've been saved as sequel surprises, are now the norm because they've already appeared in these NG follow-ups. By delivering such fantastic previous entries, Team Ninja essentially shot themselves in the tabi-booted foot; had we not seen uber-ninja Ryu Hayabusa since the Xbox’s original offering, then we’d no doubt be more struck by his next-gen debut.
Not all of NG2’s inability to leave our jaws on the floor can be blamed on the developers’ previous awesomeness; another issue is that NG2 stubbornly sticks to some old school conventions most current games have moved on from. For example, invisible walls and cheap path blockers are much more noticeable in a generation when even movie-based mediocrity like The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man offer some moderate free-roaming. It just seems a bit odd when Ryu, who can scale an elevator shaft with ease, can’t jump a hip-high blockade. After doing pretty much whatever we wanted in GTA4’s Liberty City, it’s somewhat jarring when Ryu attempts to hop on the roof of an NYC taxicab, and is deflected by an invisible wall. Additionally, Ryu can slice through bone like warm butter with his steely arsenal, yet his blades don't leave a scratch on this same cab; shouldn’t he be able to tear it up like a ginsu through a tin can? NG2's other occasional aggravation is the sometimes difficult camera. In any other game it probably wouldn't be noticable, but because the action unfolds at such a rapid pace, you'll wan't optimal viewing angles at all times. These can usually be achieved, but be prepared to frequently center the camera (with the right trigger) behind Ryu.
You'll be pulled out of the action occasionally by these dated design choices, and you won’t be saying “Holy sh*t, look at that!” nearly as often as you did with the original, but that’s not to say NG2 doesn’t deliver one of the best action experiences the 360 has ever seen. Don’t let the complaints fool you; this one’s still an amazing experience, both in its gameplay and presentation, and a must-own for fans of the franchise. The combat is as beautiful as ever. Ryu’s acrobatic moves make the Prince of Persia’s look like grade school gymnastics, and his finesse with a blade yields a bloody ballet that’s endlessly satisfying to control. The simple combination of light and heavy attacks (X and Y buttons) and left trigger-controlled blocking deliver visually impressive animations almost always resulting in large piles of chunky, blood-spitting flesh. As with the original game, button-mashers will quickly learn that quick hammering just won’t cut it. The block button is your friend, and blink-of-the-eye counter attacks will generally keep your black-clad badass safe.
As you progress through 14 breathless chapters, you’ll gain new abilities, weapons and magic—yup, Ninpo is still your go-to offense if you wish to quickly clear a room. The Dragon Sword is your old stand-by, but some new blood-letters are hard to resist. Our new fave, a sharp set of foot and hand claws, offer an organic fighting experience, as these extensions of your limbs make you feel like Wolverine’s worst nightmare. Ryu’s also equipped with a nice array of projectiles that come in super-handy for those hard-to-reach foes. The default Shurikens are about as damaging as a mosquito bite, but the bow and arrow and exploding throwing knives are highly effective. Using money at the blacksmith’s shop will allow you to upgrade many of your death-dealers, and this is probably the single most important reason to play through the game multiple times. Each weapon offers a truly unique feel and gameplay experience, and although you’ll want to experiment with them all, you won’t be able to max each one out in a single go-round. Don't be surprised if the allure of powering -up your staff to maximum skull-crushing potential lures you back to Ryu's fantasy-meets-sci-fi world.
NG2 also serves up some of the coolest baddies we’ve ever seen. Sure, the boss battles have always been a hallmark of the series (and they don’t disappoint here), but even the low-level menaces are a sight to behold—and a bitch to take down. Every enemy, from the various versions of the Black Spider Clan ninjas to the grotesque hordes of fiends, is an absolute blast to face-off against. Of course, the hardcore challenge is still a big part of the NG experience, so don’t expect—even on the easiest mode—to breeze through this one. Bosses will take up to an hour (an multiple attempts) to defeat, and even smaller enemies bring the pain. In fact, NG2 has given your blade fodder a new defensive tactic to take you out; once wounded, many baddies will charge you or explode in an attempt to take you to hell with them. Being chased by a purple, goo-spewing demon-dragon-thingy—whose clawed paw we’d just severed—was just one of several encounters that had us fearing our downed opponents as much as the able-bodied ones.
Whether you’ve been slaying fiends for years or are just learning the power of Ninpo, it doesn’t matter; Ninja Gaiden 2 is a game all action fans should spin in their 360s. Be prepared for gore like you’ve never seen; blood flows like an over-active geyser and limbs fly like fleshy confetti. The difficulty is also nuts—you will toss your controller…several times. But, if these elements don’t dissuade you, don’t let our earlier complaints keep you away either. It doesn’t pack the knock-your-socks-off punch of the original, and some of the design feels dated, but despite these flaws, NG2 is still an amazing ride.
