Ninja Gaidenis one of the most popular and longest-enduring ninja game franchises. Ryu Hayabusa’s exploits began in the arcades in 1988 and have continued across numerous console generations. The modern trilogy ofNinja Gaidengames began with the reboot in 2004. The trilogy was re-released a few years ago bundled together asNinja Gaiden: Master Collection.This collection included ports of some of the later iterations of these games:Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Ninja Gaiden II SigmaandNinja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge.It was a decent collection, though many lamented how aside from higher resolution, none of the titles were significantly upgraded. But then, suddenly from out of the shadows,Ninja Gaiden 2 Blacksprung from forth, bringing out what developers state is the definitive version ofNinja Gaiden II.
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It’s been quite a while, but one of the gaming greats of previous generations returns with Ninja Gaiden 4, which sees a dynamic duo at its core.
Back in Black
A year after the events of 2004’sNinja Gaiden,Ryu Hayabusa arrives at the shop of master blacksmith Muramasa in Tokyo. His arrival is too late as CIA special agent Sonia had just been kidnapped moments before in an attack by members of the Black Spider Ninja Clan. Ryu pursues the attackers to rescue Sonia, only to learn the Hayabusa Village is being threatened by the Black Spider Ninja Clan, who wish to steal the Demon Statue. Once again, Ryu is too late in preventing an attack by the rival ninja clan. While the Hayabusas are fighting against the leader of the Black Spider Ninjas, Genshin, Elizébet, Queen of the Greater Fiends and the Ruler of Blood, is able to procure the Demon Statue and escape with it. This begins Ryu and Sonia’s trip around the world to retrieve the Demon Statue. The tale of warring ninja clans with demonic fiends seems over the top and won’t ever be in the conversation for best video game stories, but it does a good enough job of setting the stage for a great action game.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Blackhas legendary dragon ninja Ryu Hayabusa as its protagonist, so it’s only fitting that the game tries to push his ninja skills to the limit. Across the seventeen stages, Ryu will be forced to put his fighting skills to the test against enemy ninjas, military grade weaponry and assorted demons that are not of this world. Mastering the different attack combos and knowing when to rely on Ninpo magic are essential to this, but Ryu won’t live long if he doesn’t master blocking techniques. The very first encounter with rival ninjas will set the tone for what is to come, as Ryu is thrust into a battle with multiple highly-aggressive enemies. As a grade A ninja, button mashing won’t get Ryu very far at all. The player will need to master all the techniques and execute them with split second reaction time. Combat can be grueling, but it’s also what makes it so exhilarating. And the enemies Ryu encounters aren’t going to give up easily. They will continue to fight long after losing arms and legs.
In addition to prowess on the battlefield, there are numerous techniques that are required to navigate the many areas of Ryu’s journey. Jumping in between walls in order to essentially climb them and running across walls to traverse across gaps too wide to jump are some of the feats Ryu will need to master just to get around. These techniques are impressive to watch and help immerse the player in the role of a ninja. But unlike the combat, the platforming sections are one of the weaker aspects ofNinja Gaiden 2 Black, as being off time by a fraction of a section can send Ryu plummeting, forcing the player to redo the section, which quickly gets old. This is further exacerbated by the camera, which at times seems like it’s actively fighting against Ryu.
Ninja Combat
For most of the game, the player controls Ryu Hayabusa, but he isn’t the only playable character. Momiji, Rachel and Ayane briefly take over during some segments of the story campaign, but can take on a greater role in Tag Missions. Tag Missions are special challenges that take place outside the main game. The player chooses two ninjas to be on a team while they must survive a challenge. AI controls the other characters, but the player can switch characters at will. This mode can be an entertaining diversion from the main game, which does have a relatively short completion time.
As one would expect of any ninja, Ryu Hayabusa is a well-armed killing machine. He beginsNinja Gaiden 2 Blackarmed with his Dragon Sword and throwing kunai, but soon has an assortment of weapons at his disposal. From flails, other swords and even a massive scythe, Ryu boasts an impressive arsenal of melee weapons. For dealing with enemies at a distance or flying foes, a bow and arrow and a hand-held cannon also become available. Throw in a few Ninpo magic spells for good measure and Ryu has the means to take on the legions of enemies that Black Spider Ninja Clan will throw at him.
Ninja Gaidengames have always had a reputation for being exceptionally challenging.Ninja Gaiden 2 Blackis based off the rebalancedNinja Gaiden II Sigma,so while it may be easier than the originalNinja Gaiden II,it still presents a challenge on its default difficulty setting. There are four difficulty options to start and a fifth extremely difficult mode that unlocks after completing the game on any difficulty. Path of the Acolyte is the default setting, and while it does present a challenge, those who are familiar with action games andNinja Gaidenwill be able to complete the game on this setting, even though it may get rough at some points. Hero Play Style is an easy mode, and when Ryu is near death he will go into a frenzy where he automatically blocks or avoids attacks. This is a mode for players who just want to get through the game without having to worry about dying. The higher difficulty settings not only make the enemies stronger and require greater precision from the player, but also change the enemy layouts and attack patterns.
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The 2025 Game Awards kicked things off with a bang, as it was announced that a classic franchise would be returning with Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound.
Ninja Master Or Ninja Dog?
Ninja Gaiden 2 Blackis the remaster that was needed to bringNinja Gaiden IIinto the modern age. The difficulty-setting options can make this an approachable game for newcomers or turn it into an unforgiving ordeal for veterans who want to test their mettle. The improved graphics make it easy to forget this was originally a 2008 title, and watching the zoomed in executions and dismemberments of Ryu’s enemies removes any doubt about what a deadly warrior he is. Combat is whereNinja Gaiden 2 Blackexcels, as every weapon Ryu collects is enjoyable to wield. Pulling off deadly combos and deflecting enemy attacks leaves the player with a feeling of satisfaction once the battlefield is cleared. It’s a challenging game, but rewarding when the challenge is overcome.
As exceptional as the battles are, there are issues that do holdNinja Gaiden 2 Blackback from being a perfect game. As stated earlier, the platforming sections could have benefited from more polishing, as they do not offer the same level of thrill as battle and the controls for them seem to be the main issue. This is made worse by the camera, but the camera has an effect on the game as a whole. The player can adjust the camera with the right thumbstick, but that doesn’t prevent it from jumping between perspectives sporadically. The battles are challenging enough and do not need to be made more difficult by frequently switching focus during a heated skirmish. There were several instances during the review process where the camera did an extreme close up on foreground foliage during the battle, so while there were the sounds of weapons clanging against each other, all that was seen were the pixelated leaves with the occasional splash of blood. These issues aren’t enough to ruin the game, but they do hold it back from realizing its full potential for greatness.
As exceptional as the battles are, there are some issues that do holdNinja Gaiden 2 Blackback from being a perfect game.
The graphics inNinja Gaiden 2 Blackhave undergone an incredible facelift to look like they belong on modern hardware. There are still remnants of its previous generation’s origin, but that’s to be expected. The monstrosities that are fought at the end of each level have the signature Team Ninja monster design qualities that have been seen in subsequent games, and fighting each of these abominations was a joy. This remaster was based onNinja Gaiden II Sigma, but not all content made its way into this version. Gone are the boss fights with the Giant Death Worm, the Great Buddha and the Statue of Liberty. Other modes, such as Ninja Race, New Game Plus, Test of Valor challenges and Mission Mode DLC were also removed.
Closing Comments:
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black was intended to be the definitive version of the 2008 classic. With content missing from earlier versions, it’s unlikely that many will consider it such, but that doesn’t mean this still isn’t a great iteration ofNinja Gaiden II.Even with the criticisms about removed content, platforming and the camera, the twelve hours spent playing through the story were extremely fun. Ninja Gaidengames have been successful because of their tough-but-fair difficulty and their intense frenetic battles, and these are the areas whereNinja Gaiden 2 Blackexcels. It may not be the definitive version, but this is still a great version of a great game and is highly recommended to any fan of ninjas or action games in general.
