Xbox 360 Game News, Reviews, and Columns - XboxFocus

Ninja Gaiden II Review

by Steve Wysowski June 24th 2008 5:12 PM CDT4 Comments

I apologize for this review being so late, but I follow a personal reviewing policy which prevented me from releasing this earlier. Unlike many reviewers, I like to finish a game before I review it. I have always believed a game should be judged as a complete package, not in tiny pieces to get a "feel" for it. You’d presume Ninja Gaiden II wouldn't be the most time consuming of titles, (due to its linear action-game roots), but it's one of the most difficult games I have ever had the chance to play. The game took me nearly three weeks of trial-and-error to beat. Now that it's done, I'm confident enough that I’ll give it a worthy review.

To say Ninja Gaiden II is a difficult game is like saying Rosie O'Donell isn't the most attractive of woman. The game is painstakingly hard and requires more patience than waiting for Indiana Jones IV's pace to pick up. I do not think I have ever played a game where I failed at my objective so many times, (and please don't assume I simply suck at the game). Some parts need a significant amount of luck to get past, and various points you'll be hoping for a random occurrence to get through a level.


When compared to the original, Ninja Gaiden II is definitely harder, but fortunately its core gameplay is just as fun. The mere challenge of the game isn't what keeps your hands tied to the controller. Instead it's Ryu's basic controls and his combo capabilities that give the game its addictive quality. It keeps you coming back. Stripping off enemies’ skulls, throwing decapitated bodies around like slabs of meat, or just pulling off some sick, fiery combos should amuse anyone with a pulse.

However, to judge whether or not Ryu's latest adventure is worth your money is to decipher the challenge to entertainment ratio. I once read that Ninja Gaiden II is a better game to watch someone else play than it is to play it yourself; and on that front I'd have to agree. It's much more entertaining to watch a friend throw around dead, decapitated bodies before failing to do the same. It not only saves you the frustration of the game, but you still get to watch a bunch of baddies walk around with their limbs severed.

If you're looking for a challenge, then by all means Ninja Gaiden II is for you. The thing is games are meant to be fun. Waking up in the morning is a challenge, and life in general is enough of a bitch to deal with. I don't want to pay another $60 for aggravation. The game is a mix of quality game design and cheap enemy / weapon placement. I don't mind a game being difficult if it keeps pushing me forward, but Ninja Gaiden II seems to be difficult for the sake of being difficult, conflicting with the gameplay the series is best known for.

For example, enemies are placed in spots that are impossible to see or to expect. You have them placed in un-seeable towers (the only time you'll notice them is once you get shot with a flaming arrow right in the ass). On occasion enemies are in their hundreds, just around corners and some opponents spawn behind you, presenting more than you can handle.

At points it feels like they might as well just prance up behind you with a pistol and blow your brains out to oblivion. It would serve the same purpose, but in a quick and effective manner. None of this is offset by the camera, which seems to fight you as much as the sinister killer ninjas around you. The camera floats about wildly, often going underneath Ryu blocking him entirely. It makes simple things, like walking in a straight line harder than it should be. If there is anything you don't need in this game it's any added difficulty.


Sadly, the game doesn't offer any help. When you get stuck at points, there are no hints to tell you what to do resulting in you running about aimlessly trying to figure out the aim, until you eventually die at the hands of a barrage of enemies. This is most apparent in boss fights, where you have little to no idea on how to take down you adversary. One well publicized boss encounter comes towards the middle of the game, in which it blows up after you defeat it. How the hell am I suppose to know it had Martydom perk turned on?

Thankfully the game looks (and sounds) nice enough to have some sensory appeal. The blood splattering and gory sound effects keep you craving for more. It helps you cope with the difficulty level of the game. Nothing sounds better than tearing off an enemies head and hearing the juicy, crunchy sound of a decapitated skull. Nothing. While the game's presentation may seem like something out of the N64 era (what text is that?), overall, the game's visual appeal and silky smooth framerate is enough to keep you attracted to the game.

Honestly, while playing Ninja Gaiden II, I felt like the developers hated me. You'll feel the same way. If you're a gamer who can deal with a challenge, then Ninja Gaiden II is for you. On the other hand, if you're a gamer who prefers entertainment more than a challenge out of your games, then you might want to rent or perhaps pass on the game altogether.