Release Date: 06/03/2008
ESRB Rating: Mature
Genre: Action
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Team Ninja

Is anyone up for a bloodbath? If so, you will find quite a bit of pleasure in Ninja Gaiden 2 for Xbox 360. The level of violence in this game is pretty damn high actually. We are talking gushing fountains of blood and people losing arms, legs, and other body parts like its some sort of murder party. If you are in to that kind of thing then this sequel will be sure to entertain you thoroughly. However, if you are like me you may find yourself a bit disappointed in the game. The combat system is still awesome and well defined, but that doesn’t take away from the game feeling like another predictable fighting game.

Ninja Gaiden 2 isn’t much different from its predecessor other than the fact that is probably 10 times for bloody. Without the combat this game would be extremely plain and most likely found in a bargain bin at Gamestop. The AI of the enemies was refreshing to see though. Instead of them sitting around waiting to be attacked…they willingly initiate combat with you and attack with everything they’ve got. You actually feel like you are defeating enemies and forget that they are just mere artificial intelligence drones walking around the game. The combat system and the feel that it gives you is really what carry’s this game. It isn’t an upgrade from the last Ninja Gaiden, but there was nothing wrong with the first system anyway.

I really wish that Team Ninja would have spent as much time as they did on the combat as they did on every other aspect of the game. If they did that we would be playing one incredible game that would live up to the hype behind the Ninja Gaiden series. Sure the game is about a freaking ninja so you are no doubt going to need a solid combat system, but is it too much to ask for better platforming and exploring? Obviously it is because neither of these aspects were treated as needed additions to the game! You start to feel like you are in a box in your surroundings which is not something I enjoy on a next-gen console. If you have played Ninja Gaiden 2 then you know what I mean. The invisible walls that block you from the backgrounds seem to be everywhere and make it somewhat awkward for you to move around. Sure, the backgrounds are pretty but when you feel trapped within them it really takes away from the game. Also, the strange boxed-in feeling you get when walking near ledges is something I would expect in the old school Ninja Gaiden games…not in one for the Xbox 360.

On top of all this you are given quite possibly the worst camera in the history of 3D gaming. Think Mario 64 camera bad (which was really awful in case you don’t know/remember). The camera really complicates things for you…especially the combat. It seems like it wants to either leave you behind or stay behind. You can fix the camera manually with the controller but who wants to deal with that in the middle of an intense battle? Sometimes I think the camera is literally drunk due to the decisions it makes.

For my last complaints I will talk about the unnecessary backtracking the game makes you do, and the story. It really makes it feel like a chore when you have to backtrack to unlock something that you only found was locked a minute ago. It just doesn’t tie it in very well with everything that is going on. The story is bleh…not bad but not great either. In fact, its really predictable and by the end you already know what is going to happen.

However, you are probably not worried so much about the things I have discussed in this review. Most fans of the series will find a way to like Ninja Gaiden 2 even if they have to make themselves do it. The combat system is truly amazing and can be a lot of fun. For everything else…I’ve seen better.

DeVOTeD 2 Gaming Rating: