Towards the climax of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, there’s an exhilarating moment where you revisit the first level of the original Ninja Gaiden series — only this time, in reverse. Having conquered that stage countless times on a demo disk years ago, muscle memory kicked in as I dodged hazards and approached the boss, Murai, with surgical precision. Yet, the environment in Black tells a story of its own; you can almost see the wear of time in the crumbling structures. The game doesn’t spotlight this decay; Ryu doesn’t make comments, nor does the camera underscore it. This subtlety is quite uncharacteristic for the Ninja Gaiden series. Nevertheless, running through that familiar terrain with a grin felt like a testament to both nostalgia and skill. Despite facing some changes, the slicing action retains its satisfying essence.
This pivotal moment encapsulates what Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is all about. The Unreal Engine 5-driven remake revives the classic 2008 Ninja Gaiden 2, a hallmark of Xbox 360’s action era. Team Ninja portrays this version as the ultimate edition, boasting impressive visual and gameplay balances. Yet, despite its polished appearance and refined gameplay mechanics, it doesn’t wholly achieve the ‘definitive’ status that the ‘Black’ title implies. Much like Ryu’s weaponry, this upgrade has its pros and cons — sharp in places, but underscored by trade-offs.
Before diving into the critiques, let’s address what Ninja Gaiden 2 Black excels at. As a hardcore 3D beat-em-up, this installment remains intensely focused on combat. Set one year after the Xbox reboot, Ryu Hayabusa faces off against the Black Spider Ninja Clan and Greater Fiends who seek to resurrect the ominous Archfiend. Accompanied by CIA allies and friends, his quest is less about storytelling and more about encountering monstrous foes and carving his way through adversaries.
Adding a layer of unexpected entertainment, the game weaves in amusing elements. Greater Fiends deliver Shakespearean lines through the voice of Steve Blum, and you find yourself clashing with a lightning man on the Statue of Liberty. Moments like dueling a four-armed werewolf, Volf, in a Venice colosseum filled with cheering werewolves capture the campy spirit of the series perfectly.
But, let’s not kid ourselves — we’re here for the combat, and 2 Black serves it up generously. This game focuses on disabling enemies through brutal de-limbing, further opening them up for executions. But be warned, injured foes get nastier — they’ll kamikaze into you to ensure their demise is not in vain. Unlike Devil May Cry or Bayonetta, where stylish combat takes the forefront, Ninja Gaiden emphasizes ruthless survival. Enemies are as relentless as they come, stopping only when you do something terrible to them first.
Embodying this fury is Ryu Hayabusa — a martial wrecking ball equipped with an arsenal of weapons, magical abilities, and moves. By journey’s end, you wield an impressive array of tools, mastering various melee and ranged techniques. The visceral delight of vanquishing foes with moves like the Flying Swallow or the spine-crushing Izuna Drop never tires.
Ryu’s capabilities mirror a fighting game character’s depth. His combat strategies involve blocking, sidestepping, counterattacking, executing special techniques, and leaping acrobatics. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black’s combat isn’t about relying on invincibility frames; it’s about positioning, continuous movement, and leveraging your arsenal to dispatch adversaries before they annihilate you.
When at its peak, the gameplay feels like a lethal dance, orchestrated to perfection. You chain blows, dodge deftly, and unleash Ultimate Techniques that eviscerate surrounding enemies. Though at the top, mastering this sequence is immensely satisfying, lag, or missteps can lead to swift demise. This stringent level of challenge propels you towards honing your skills.
Assuaging the difficulty are elements like save statues that replenish health and items for last-ditch survival. True to the series’ form, the gameplay is relentless but not merciless.
Nevertheless, the iconic combat system isn’t flawless. The notorious camera issues linger, and from time to time, it can trap you awkwardly. Being proactive with camera management in tight spaces remains crucial. Another significant critique lies in its boss battles. While some, like Volf, stand out positively, others like the Water Dragon or Nuclear Armadillo are tedious and uninspired, detracting from the intense action vibe.
Level exploration provides a change of pace, rewarding thorough searches with power-ups and other items. Enhanced visuals shine here, showcasing the game’s stunning transformation. Yet, true beauty emerges from the intricate level designs themselves, subtly updated yet still spectacularly ambitious and varied, packed with engaging platforming challenges.
Yet, if Ninja Gaiden 2 Black falls short anywhere, it’s in relying more on the 2009 Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 rather than drawing primarily from the original 360 version. Now, this opens a whole debate for purists — Sigma 2 came with numerous adjustments like altered bosses, new characters, and level tweaks. Nonetheless, the most impactful shift was in enemy density and combat dynamics. The revamped density of enemies significantly alters gameplay, leaning towards fewer foes with greater health — a stark contrast from the overwhelming numbers in the original game.
After diving into this on normal difficulty — previously labeled ‘Easy’ — the difference was palpable compared to the original. Enemies took longer to defeat, offering a less frantic fighting experience, making the original Ninja Gaiden II feel more vibrant in pace and fluidity.
Additionally, combat quirks rear their heads, with attacks not landing consistently between combos—a nuisance in an otherwise sharp and choreographed combat ecosystem.
Despite these drawbacks, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black achieves much, respectably balancing its roots and upgrades. High gore levels return with the weapon upgrade system, requiring strategic choices between enhancements and survival items. Even subtle aesthetic nods to the original outweigh Sigma 2’s changes, imparting nostalgic value.
Discarding inadvisable inclusions from Sigma 2 like large boss battles, 2 Black retrieves beneficial elements such as new levels with Rachel, Momiji, and Ayane. Although they lack Ryu’s depth, they provide welcomed diversions.
Upon completing the game, players unlock additional costumes, albeit fewer than some previous iterations. Chapter Challenges and Hero difficulty add replay value, even in the absence of a New Game Plus option.
However, not all is perfect — glitches and occasional crashes remind us of technical issues. But, these hiccups rarely overshadow the thrill of the ninja experience.
In essence, as visually and mechanically sharp as Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is, its commitment to blending aspects of two storied versions leaves pockets of brilliance — and missed opportunities. While not an all-encompassing triumph, it remains a strong testament to Ninja Gaiden’s enduring legacy.
