You'd figure that with the popularity of FromSoftware games and the Soulslike genre,Ninja Gaiden would have a place in mainstream gaming today. Unfortunately, that isn't the case.
We haven't seen a newNinja Gaidengame release in over a decade. Super ninja Ryu Hayabusa has been, sadly, stuck on the sidelines.
It's a shame, as 2004'sNinja Gaiden is one of the best 3D action games of all time. Its fast-paced action and brutal difficulty challenged players in ways few 3D action games can. The following year,Ninja Gaiden Black acted as a director's cut of sorts, adding in new content and perfecting an already nearly perfect game.
We'd see a proper follow-up three years later:Ninja Gaiden 2 for the Xbox 360. It improved the game's combat and made things more accessible, but it had a few flaws. Like the original,Ninja Gaiden 2would see a follow-up the following year, but it wasn't a director's cut.
Ninja Gaiden 2Sigma added new story content but also introduced some controversial changes: reduced enemy counts and a lack of gore for the PlayStation 3 version.
Finally, 15 years later, Team Ninja is addressing the issues ofSigma.Ninja Gaiden 2 Black isn't perfect, but it borrows the right combination of gameplay features from the two releases and is well worth checking out as we prepare forNinja Gaiden 4later this year.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black Is An Excellent Way to Reintroduce the Series
One ofNinja Gaiden 2 Black's strengths is its combination of quality-of-life accessibility updates and staying true to theNinja Gaidenformula. Now, don't think this game is super easy suddenly. It may not approachDark Souls orElden Ring in terms of difficulty, but it will still test your limits.
TheNinja Gaidenfranchise has always focused more on its fast-paced, high-speed action sequences. Think Bloodborne orSekiro, but with the volume cranked up. If you try to approach combat inNinja Gaiden 2 Black the same way you do as a Soulslike, you will be eaten alive.
Enemies attack fast and furious, even avoiding the popular video game pitfall of waiting their turn. Don't go in expecting enemies to attack you one at a time: they will team up, dodge with purpose, and won't fight fair.
That said, there's still a reduced number of enemies compared to the original release. Is this a make-or-break scenario? That all depends on your preference. You'll still be surrounded by hordes of enemies, especially when the game's difficulty curve gets cranked up out of nowhere.
Personally, I have always been indifferent about this change.Ninja Gaidenis best when you can chain combos and feel like a god. Having said that, sometimes, the game felt a little too unfair.
Ironically,Ninja Gaiden 2 Black's most unfair moments occur in the game's boss battles, when some decide they'll be far harder than anything you've previously encountered. Still, simple trial and error will get the job done, and far quicker than you may be used to if you're coming from the Soulslike genre.
One Of Sigma's Most Controversial Changes Is Gone
Despite the reduced enemy count, Team Ninja made one drastic change: the reintroduction of blood and gore.
It feels similar to the over-the-top glory kills featured in the 2016 reboot ofDOOM. The cinematic action, featuring glory kills by Ryu or devastating attacks from his enemies, were always there. With the game being overhauled in Unreal Engine 5, though, they've never looked better.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black reminds us why the franchise was formerly the gold standard for 3D action. It's fast, furious, and a bloody good time.
Best of all, every weapon has its own animations, and glory kills. You'll go from slicing up your enemy's limbs with the Dragon Sword, throwing them up in the air and slamming them onto the ground with the Lunar Staff, or ripping their heads off with the Kusari-Gama. It helps keep things fresh, especially since different situations will call for different weapons.
They're also pretty well-balanced, too. Depending on your playstyle, you'll certainly have your favorites; Lunar Staff and Kusari-Gama were my go-to weapons.
A Glaring Issue Remains
Despite all the changes, one problem still persists: the game's camera. No matter what the game throws at you, and it will throw the kitchen sink your way, there is no boss harder than the camera.
There were too many times that poor camera placement left me unable to see my enemies, leading to deaths that weren't my fault. Furthermore, several boss battles prominently feature adds that need to be dealt with.
However, the lack of the ability to lock onto enemies, combined with the bad camera system, means that you'll spend so much time trying to find them that you'll forget a giant boss is wailing on your body.
For a game that depends on quick reflexes, it's a huge detriment. Half of your deaths on the more difficult encounters will be completely out of your hands. For a game that's already challenging, it's something that I really wish was addressed.
Old-School 3D Action Can Still Impress Today
The camera isn't the only thing that hasn't been updated inNinja Gaiden 2 Black. This game is still very much a product of its time. Consider similar action games of the mid-to-late 2000s: none come close to comparing in terms of controls, gameplay, and difficulty.
Flash forward a decade, and the game has changed: FromSoftware dominates the land, even if its combat is far slower-paced. Being able to lock onto enemies, feel your parries and blocks, and properly strategize against your enemies makes a world of difference.
The closest comparison of a FromSoftware game toNinja Gaiden isSekiro, but they're ultimately two different things.
I've always viewed combat inSekiro as an elegant dance between you and your opponent. Its heart and soul stem from traditional combat inDark Souls, emphasizing parrying attacks and breaking your enemy's posture. Despite being faster-paced, it's still a marathon.
Ninja Gaidenremains a full-blown sprint to the finish. Yes, you can dodge and block enemy attacks, but your enemies won't let up. They'll try to kill you just as fast as you're trying to kill them.
Even the game's more difficult encounters run on the shorter side. That's not necessarily a bad thing; it's just different. And yes, the downright awful camera and lack of a lock-on system can be frustrating, but I don't think it makes the game unplayable.
Closing Thoughts: Thanks to the return of the infamously poor camera system, it's not the "definitive edition" Team Ninja was hoping for. And yes, there's still a reduced number of enemies compared to the original, but I find that inconsequential. At the end of the day, despite its somewhat dated gameplay, I was still impressed by the time the credits rolled.Ninja Gaiden 2 Black reminds us why the franchise was formerly the gold standard for 3D action. It's fast, furious, and a bloody good time. I can't think of a better way to prepare forNinja Gaiden 4.
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Ninja Gaiden 2 Black
Reviewed on Xbox Series X
- Released
- January 23, 2025
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Koei Tecmo Games Co., Ltd.
- Publisher(s)
- Koei Tecmo Games Co., Ltd.
- Number of Players
- 1
- PC Release Date
- January 23, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- The fast-paced action you know and love is still an absolute blast to play
- Blood and gore are not only back, but fully embraced
- An excellent balance between difficulty and accessibility
- The camera system is still bad
- Some platforming sections are annoying
- The difficulty curve spikes out of nowhere on a couple of occasions
