Ninja Gaiden II Xbox 360 Review

Ninja Gaiden II

Xbox 360 Review
Publisher: Tecmo/Microsoft
Developer: Team Ninja
Released: June 3, 2008

The original Ninja Gaiden is still hailed as one of the greatest action games ever made, as it took the first Xbox by storm. Team Ninja is back and at it again with Ninja Gaiden II, the sequel on the Xbox 360. Let me say this right off the bat, those looking for an in-your-face action experience, look no further, you have found your new home.

The game starts you off as the hero Ryu Hayabusa, once again having to go up against the Black Spider Ninja Clan. The game spans 14 stages and is absolutely loaded to the max with action and gore. Every single confrontation will start out with an amazing flurry of action, and end with piles upon piles of blood everywhere.

The biggest downfall of the game has to do with the story, as Ninja Gaiden II is more confusing than even the original game. The plot, to be honest, will not bring down the game one bit though. As confusing and out-there as it is, it really doesn’t matter. Ninja Gaiden is not about telling a story, it is about kicking some tail, and taking names.

You start out your adventure with the Dragon Blade, but quickly expand upon things with a vast array of weaponry at your disposal. Every single weapon allows for extremely quick attacks. These include projectile weapons, magic attacks, and more.

Throughout the game, you can upgrade each of your melee weapons, which will allow you to build upon them, being able to pull off new combos, making them even more deadly.

The way in which the game controls should come to no surprise to fans of the series. At its surface, the controls seem very simplistic as you have a fast and a strong move button, two buttons. But once you get deeper into the game, you realize that it is more about pulling off combos and doing everything in such a sequence that gives you the best possible chance for survival.

One of the coolest additions for the gore fans out there will certainly be the way you can finish off a wounded enemy. By hitting the Y button, you will see some extremely stylish gore fill up the screen, with some spectacular finishing moves taking over.

Beyond all of the enjoyment that is the controls of the game, many have questioned in the past if Ninja Gaiden is simply too hard for the average gamer. Team Ninja has included four difficulty modes here, two of them must be unlocked. Even the lowest difficulty mode though is going to severely challenge an average gamer, as it will take time to master and figure out how to handle everything coming at you.

The game has gotten easier, even on the harder difficulty levels as a lot of button mashing and quick attacks may be able to get you past some scenarios. Others though will still be driving you crazy, as some of the boss fights, and the more difficulty encounters with numerous enemies may have you sending your Xbox 360 controller flying.

Going beyond the game play of the experience, the visuals are truly a sight which needs to be seen by all. To start things off, the backdrops to the action are absolutely gorgeous, as they are filled with tons of detail, exceptional design, and much more.

The same can be said about the special effects that go into the effects, as everything is moving at lightning speed, with blood flying everywhere, colors lighting up your television, and more. Bottom line, the game just looks extremely cool and exciting, as there is just so much to be seen. The only slight issue with the visuals is that there are some framerate issues during big explosions. Beyond that though, great stuff.

In terms of the audio, the music and sound effects do a nice job to really keep you in-tune with what is going on during the game. The musical score, with a mix of rock and other sounds, does a great job of capturing the action and adding to the entire experience. Sound effects are also over-the-top and sound great, with plenty of swords clanging together.

In terms of replay value, Team Ninja has added something called the Ninja Cinema. What this allows gamers to do is to record things in the game, and then upload and share these videos with people over Xbox Live. Leaderboards are also included for those who want to compete for the biggest combo, and most karma points.

Ninja Gaiden II is a fast, deep, in-your-face action game which fits perfectly in anyone’s Xbox 360 library. This is one gory game, but the combination of fast action, great controls, and some startling visuals makes this a must-own for action junkies.

Graphics: 8.8 There are a few minor framerate issues, but the game looks gorgeous. Highly details, and extremely fast.

Sound: 8.5 The musical score does a great job to capture the action, and the sound effects are top-notch.

Gameplay: 9.0 The game plays beautifully, very smooth and rewarding over time.

Replay Value: 8.5 The game will have players coming back to upload videos, rack up bigger combos, and try to beat it on harder difficulties, it is that much fun.

Final Score: 8.8

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