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Review by Harbinger
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It's been many years since we've seen a new incarnation of the re-imagined Ninja Gaiden series. While there have been several shameless repackaged versions of the original Xbox version, none could be called a true sequel. Many have touted Ninja Gaiden as one of the hardest console games every made, at least from the past generation of systems. It has also been touted as one of the best action games ever made as well. Now that the sequel is on the scene, can it live up to the hype?
Addtions and Subtractions
One of the main criticisms of the original was that it was ridiculously hard and merciless. Having played through the game in it's entirety several times on various difficulties, I would have to agree 100%. It is a hardcore game made for hardcore gamers. Standing still is not an option. Using the same combo repeatedly is not an option. Not blocking is a death sentence, and not mastering your weapons to their fullest potential will have you seeing the game-over screen more often than you see actual game play. Ninja Gaiden 2 has made several variations to the game to help change that.
First, there is regenerating health. During a fight with enemies, you will more than likely incur damage. After the entire group of foes are defeated, your health will regenerate to a certain point of your bar, depending on how much damage you took during battle. Your normal health is in blue, while unregenerated health is in red. It's a great addition to the game, and drastically reduces the amount of healing items you'll need to shell out your hard-earned cash for.
The second addition is the use of obliteration techniques. This addition actually entails two new things about the game. The previous installment had the ability to chop enemies heads off occasionally, but other than that, there was no dismemberment. Ninja Gaiden 2 has dismemberment galore - and it's every bit as incredible as it sounds. Every limb can go flying, as well as torsoes cut in half. Brains are splattered, and blood stains the floors and walls. It's as violent as it gets, and with dismemberment comes "Obliteration techniques". Simply pressing the Y button next to a dismembered enemy will instantly kill them in a pre-set (but extremely cool) animation - during which time you are invincible, which is extremely handy at times. The animations vary depending on the enemy, and which weapon you are using, so they rarely grow stale. One thing to note however, is that enemies will still fight with missing arms and legs. If you let them get close enough to you, they will perform a suicide bombing that will take half your health away - usually when you only have a 4th of your health anyways. So be warned.
Does that make the game easier?
There are several difficulties to choose from before you start the game. There is path of the Acolyte (easy) and path of the Warrior (normal?). Since I'm a grown ass man, I chose path of the Warrior. So do the new additions to the game make it easier and more accessible to less hard-core players? Nope. The game is still harder than a 13 year old boy in a strip club. However, it's less frustrating - and that makes all the difference.
Save points are placed very generously throughout the chapters, so you will rarely have to re-tread old ground. Also, the save points completely heal you the first time you use it. That coupled with regenerating health, and obliteration techniques mean that while you will die - a lot - you will rarely have to repeat anything other than the battle you just died in. Also, if you die at a boss battle, you have the option of continuing at the very beginning of the fight, which you will do. You will do it many times. Which leads me to a few criticisms I have about the game.
Cheaper than a Hooker on Dollar Day
Enemies and bosses in this game are cheap. Not all enemies and bosses mind you, but there are a few out there that will have you chucking your controller (I've found throwing the controller at the couch still feels good, but won't break the controller - you're welcome). Many enemes have grabs that will lead into an extremely long, and extremely damaging animation. It would be fine if they used it sparingly, but there have been times where I would be just out of the ridiculously long and painful combo, only to have it happen to me again immediately. The Ghostfish are also back, but thankfully are not nearly as prevalent this time around (for those unfamiliar, they are the single most annoying enemy in a game since... ever). With suicide bombers, enemies comboing you, bosses that take a minute to finish their devastating and unblockable attack on you, you will die over and over and over again. Also, I hope you like fighting bosses multiple times, because it happens.
Mischellaneous Observations
Ninja Gaiden for Xbox had a minor Adventure element to it. The design was mostly linear, but would require you to explore a bit to find where to go. This time around it is completely linear, which means no exploring what-so-ever. Personally, I find that a bit disappointing, but with action this good, I can't complain for long. The weapon arsenal is larger, with returning weapons being finely tuned to the point of perfection. For example, the Vigorian Flails were incredible in the original. Now they are death incarnate. Also, Ninpo (magic) is perfected, and very handy. In fact, I used ninpo a great deal more in the second than the first. Hurricaine blades used in a group of 15 ninjas may be the most devastatingly beautiful things I've seen in a video-game.
One thing I've forgotten to mention, mostly because its the least important part of the game is the story. A hot chick with big boobs is trying to resurrect the "Arch Fiend". She goes around the globe raising other "greater fiends". The dialogue is a bit hokey, every woman in the game has gigantic knockers, and it's obvious that the story is only there to give you a reason to be fighting in all the different locales. And that's O.K., because the first one wasn't much better.
There are a few glitches I've experienced in the game that, while they don't detract too much, are some what of a nuisance. For example, the audio would go out of sync for me during cutscenes. Also, some times enemies would be stuck in a repeating endless animation loop (which would have killed me otherwise so it's all good), and body parts some times move across the ground for no reason.
Final Comments
Ninja Gaiden 2 is a great game if you're up for the challenge. From what I hear, the easy setting makes the game much more fun for the less skilled gamer. I wouldn't know since I'm a bad-ass. There is a great variation of enemies, a ridiculous amount of weapons that are all extremely, extremely, fun to use, and the Ninpo is devastating. The graphics are very impressive, and the different levels are very fun. The camera (which I'm sure most people have already heard about) is sometimes a pain in the ass, but can easily be reset behind you with the tap of the R trigger. It's not nearly as big a deal as other reviewers have made it out to be.
Though enemies can be cheap, bosses are frequent and very difficult, and the story is outrageous, if you stick with it, you will be rewarded with a game that made you become the best you could be. Most games that you play afterward will pale in comparison to the awesome and blisteringly fast paced action you experienced. It's a long game, taking between 10-17 hours depending on difficulty setting. In that span of time, you will go from being a pathetic wimp, to a Ninja bad-ass who chops enemies into limbless torsoes and laughs about it as you bathe in their blood raining down upon the earth. And it will be good.
alienmastermind on 06/11/2008
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Siraris on 06/18/2008
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