It's sad to see a potential masterpiece pushed out the door.
First I'm just going to say as a huge HUGE long time Team Ninja fan.This is the most dissapointing game I have ever played from them.
Ninja Gaiden 2 is a revenge story filled with blood bath animations,amazing weapons and so and so graphics.Now a lot of revenge stories can be very well done and interesting.Sadly Ninja Gaiden 2's isn't.There is no depth at all to any of the characters.Thankfully there are some cool cut scenes involving the new Team Ninja babe Sonia.
Let's get right down to what makes Ninja Gaiden 2 a popular game.It's a challenge,and the gameplay is pretty much the best the genre has to offer at the time.Now there is a problem with that.The game gets hard when there are a lot of guys on the screen at once,and as it gets harder the frame rate gos NUTS!Especially on Mentor and Master Ninja difficulties.The game actually feels broken on the higher difficulties,and that's a damn shame seeing as how that's kind of what makes Ninja Gaiden stick out from the other action adventure games out there.Still the gameplay is fun.The weapons are unique and everyone will have there favorite.Unlike playing Ninja Gaiden,Black or Sigma people can actually enjoy the other weapons other than the Dragon Sword.There are 14 levels,the last three are pretty much boss levels with some added fiends..So they feel like filler.The boss fights are pretty fun.But there way easier to beat than ones in NG1.Especially when you get the Scythe.The camera can also be a problem for some levels.It's annoying and that's all there is to it.But most people will get used to it well enough.
The graphics are alright.I mean the combat looks amazing,the game does animate well like Kevin mentions in his full review but some of the characters don't look so good such as the water demons.And the environments are TERRIBLE looking it's kinda sad on the lack of detail NG2 sports.But the blood spilling everywhere thanks to Ryu's kick ass weapon collection more than makes up for it.It reminds me a lot of Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Volume 1.So much blood!!So pretty!
There is a huge lack of replay value to Ninja Gaiden 2.There is single player,leaderboards and Tests of Valor wich are really easy and pretty stupid.Talk about adding features?Not even mission mode returns to Ninja Gaiden 2!It feels like a downgrade for the series.Especially seeing as how nothing really new is added at all.I remember hearing people say how lack of multiplayer or mission mode wouldn't bug them.But when I pay 60$ of my money I want stuff to come back to in the game other than a single player mode.HUGE dissapointment!And it almost feels unacceptable for Team Ninja to think about adding it later and charging us money for it.Costumes are set for July and those cost money.But in Ninja Gaiden Black I can unlock a good amount of costumes for free.In Ninja Gaiden 2 you get some terrible color swaps.I don't know what Team Ninja was thinking here.
Sound is no biggie in this game but still,there is no memorable tune at all.There whole soundtrack is forgetable and typical.The sound effects are not always in match with the animations but generally sound good.Overall it's not a good sounding game,but not bad either.
If you are a fan of Ninja Gaiden.Buy it of course.Otherwise I might just rent it.It may piss other people with it's camera.Fans are used to the challenge and bad camera.I say fans only but I think others have a small possibility of enjoying this title.
