Ninja Gaiden 2 Initial Reactions
Okay, this technically isn’t about a TV show, but video games show up on my TV screen and since we’re not launching VideoGameSuperNerd Verdict anytime soon, allow me the opportunity to burn some bandwidth with my impressions from my most anticipated game of this console cycle.
Ninja Gaiden Black for the original Xbox is one of my all-time favorite games, so it was with a mix of jubilation and, well, it was just straight up jubilation, when I heard about the sequel hitting the 360 in June.
So I picked it up yesterday and after two chapters, I can safely say it’s everything I hoped for. The reviews haven’t been otherworldly, and I’ll readily admit this type of hyper-paced action isn’t for everyone (read: if you consider yourself a fan of Carnival Games for the Wii), but for those of you–like me–that find video game bliss in single-player hard-core action/adventure, then Ninja Gaiden II is the cat’s pajamas.
The combat is exhilarating and a definite upgrade from the predecessor, the graphics are eye-candy, the blood and severed limbs are copious, the music is perfectly suited to get your heart pumping and the story–well, that still doesn’t make a molecule of sense, but who cares. If violently balletic hacking and slashing is your thing, I suspect Ninja Gaiden II will be for you what has been for me this far–gaming Nirvana.
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How’s the camera in the new game? I heard it limps behind you like a dead dog. I just got a 360 a few weeks ago, and I’ve been playing the old Ninja Gaiden Black on it and having a blast. I see more dismemberments in my future.
The camera’s fine you just have to know when to reset it with the right trigger. The game is also awesome. Even on easy the enemy AI is all over you like white on rice…making taking out a group of enemies super rewarding.
Gao is right. The camera is pretty much the same as in NG:Black. Using the right trigger to center the action is really part of the learning curve, but once you get it, it should be no problem.
The review nitpicks on the camera–that’s low-hanging fruit. Up close and personal is how NG plays. If it didn’t, it would be DMC or God of War, which is fine for those games, but when I’m running around as Ryu–officially now the baddest of all bad-asses in video-gamedom–I want to see the carnage I unleash nice and intimately.
UPDATE: Am in the Aqua City and took a break because God forbid my 360 bricks. The short of it–NG2 is the best action game I have ever played. By far.
I feel like NG2 has lost a lot of elegance from the original game. The first game had this silky smooth elegant quality to it that this one totally lacks from the blocky ugly fonts and horrible dripping blood menus on into the game play. The bad guys have also turned into mutant lunatics and gotten much worse. I’m just barely into the game and hoping it turns around, but it’s also started off way too easy. This about sums it up: Ninja Dogs. WTF, Tecmo?
I love the game… DMC fans RUINED DMC 4 by whining about DMC 3 (my favorite ps2 game of all time, LOVED the challenge!). DMC 4 is so ridiculously easy, made me want to wretch!
NG 2 stays true to the difficulty, and I’m happy to say that I enjoy it even more than the original.
However, on a side note, I can’t understand for the life of me why people keep saying that Ryu is a “badass.” Ryu basically NEVER says anything, walks around, and says “it’s over” a few times every hour or maybe. Oh, and sometimes he says “Doku.” Face it, Ryu is a totally blank slate, and is so utterly androgenous that he becames a mere empty shell for the display of the skill of the player who is controlling him. Kratos, on the other hand, is a badass. Now, I hate God of War’s style… basically the blades fly all over the screen the whole time. I prefer NG, I do, but seriously, Ryu is just a silent guy who thinks revenge is cool and basically says and does nothing out of the ordinary.
Also, the “damsel in distress” cliche is getting VERY old. It needs to be dropped.