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Ninja Gaiden 2

Written by DM on Tuesday, June 10 2008

Ninja Gaiden for the Xbox was released to high-praise, as some even called it the best action game on the MS console. Still, there were some of us who’s voices were drowned out when we claimed it was too difficult for an entire sect of gamers who play games for reasons other than a button-pressing challenge. Then, when Ninja Gaiden Black was released with the promise of an easier mode, we rejoiced. Unfortunately, it did not prove much easier at all, and you had to let yourself be defeated several times before the “Ninja Dog” mode kicked in. Either way, the game was a technical masterpiece in most respects, and it was inevitable that a sequel would be forthcoming.

Of course, the man behind DOA and Ninja Gaiden, Tomonobu Itagaki, has, as of a week ago, left the employ of Tecmo, and specifically, Team Ninja. His last project, Ninja Gaiden 2, may now be what is deemed as his lasting legacy, his epitaph if you will, from his time with Team Ninja. Does the game measure up to “last hurrah” status? Let’s find out.

If you had to pigeon-hole NG2 into a gaming genre, it would likely be considered a hack and slash, as was the original NG. Fortunately, I don’t have to pigeon-hole the game, because it is more than just a button masher. In fact, if you just hop into the action and start mashing attack, you will likely not even make it past the first boss. Ninja Gaiden 2 is a game where you actually have to learn and use all the techniques that the game teaches you as you progress. This means you will really have to use the block button, the sidestep dodge, and the jump attack, that you are taught by reading the scrolls you find on corpses. If you do not learn and master these moves, you will end up with may broken controllers due to frustration, or you will simply end up returning the game for a refund.

The story in NG2 centers on our hero Ryu Hayabusa yet again. The sinister Black Spider Ninja clan is at it yet again, with all their supernatural powers and enemy fiends coming at you with full force. Of course, Ryu is no normal human, he is a member of the Dragon Ninja clan, and can handle himself accordingly. The Black Spiders, as you come to find out (spoiler alert), have joined forces with the CIA (?) in order to resurrect the main man of evil, the Archfiend. Is it your job to stop them, as a member of the Dragon Ninjas, and as the son of Joe Hayabusa, the head of the clan.

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