Ninja Gaiden 2

[Gamerforlife]

Figured I'd start a topic for this since I didn't see one. There's some reviews and footage out for the game now. I'm not a huge NG fan, but I did play the original. I had a real hard time with it, but after reading a FAQ or two and watching some expert videos I eventually managed to beat the game on very hard and master ninja rank all the stages(though not in a single play through)

I skipped NG Black, I couldn't believe they made it harder than the original. Too much for me. Plus, I didn't like the increased emphasis on offense(you could block all day in the original, but not in NG Black).

I'm curious about the new one. I'm wondering if the difficulty falls in NGB territory or if it's closer to the original, and I'm wondering which version the combat system is closest too. One thing that looks very cool about NG 2 is the new fatality moves. Very cool. Apparently, there's more health and save points, which I think is cool but it may annoy the hardcore crowd. The graphics still look amazing, for the most part. Of course the story will suck, that's a given. Not a big deal to me, though I do miss the old NES games that actually DID have a good story. Can't have your cake and eat it too I guess.

[selfdestroyer]

So far I like NGII. It starts with you on a roof and surrounded by 10 people coming at you. It forces you to learn the controls quick. I haven't got far since I just burned it yesterday but I plan to invest some more time into it tonight.

I feel its going to be another hard NG game.

[Doctor Fugue]

I'm impressed that you aren't a "huge NG fan" but still managed to beat it on very hard! I love the original (the modern original) and I also have Black...I got it to play around with the DL content that I never got and there is an EASIER level to play at...although it makes fun of you for doing so.

I'll definitely be getting number 2, I believe there is a demo up right now too. I have to wait until I finish some other games first, though.

On a side note, did anyone try the DS game? It works amazingly well considering the control scheme and capabilities of the DS. It is MUCH easier than the Xbox game...I haven't died yet and I'm at Chapter 10. For some reason the DS game sold only about 3 copies, I don't know why it isn't more popular.

[Gamerforlife]

I'm impressed that you aren't a "huge NG fan" but still managed to beat it on very hard! I love the original (the modern original) and I also have Black...I got it to play around with the DL content that I never got and there is an EASIER level to play at...although it makes fun of you for doing so.

I'll definitely be getting number 2, I believe there is a demo up right now too. I have to wait until I finish some other games first, though.

On a side note, did anyone try the DS game? It works amazingly well considering the control scheme and capabilities of the DS. It is MUCH easier than the Xbox game...I haven't died yet and I'm at Chapter 10. For some reason the DS game sold only about 3 copies, I don't know why it isn't more popular.

Well I guess what I meant by not a huge fan is that I didn't really bother with the downloadable content, the tournament and Ninja Gaiden Black, and even though I liked NG I had a few complaints about it while the "true" fans seemed to think the game was perfection. Plus, I don't like Itagaki much and I acknowledge the influence of Devil May Cry while some fans seem to think speaking the name of that "other" series makes you the devil.

I tried the NG 2 demo today. The combat system and control are as sweet as ever. I liked the fatality moves and the fact that you can dash away after a guard break(thank god for that or guard breakers would have pissed me off so much). The regenerating health system is very much appreciated as well. Basically, if you can survive a battle you regenerate any minor damage, but if you take a serious hit or just get hit too many times than that health is lost permanently. I like this because it means that you can get away with minor slip ups.

On the negative side, the camera is as crappy as ever. I don't know if they'll ever fix that. It's just a bane of modern gaming in general though.

NG 2 is a game I may pick up someday when the price drops and I have time for it(or maybe a rental). It's taking me forever just to beat Bioshock right now(and get the achievements). I actually enjoyed the demo for NG 2 a bit more than I did the demo for Devil May Cry 4 and while I do think the DMC series is cool in its own right, I'm finding I just seem to have any easier time with the controls in the NG series. Everything seems more fluid. I played Devil May Cry 3 until I beat it, and it just seems harder to get Dante to do what you want him to do than it does in the Ninja Gaiden games. So anyway, thumbs up for NG 2 based on the demo I played. It seems very cool...except for that damn camera

[Flak Beard]

I told myself I was going to wait and pick up NG2 when it got cheap, but I broke down over the weekend and picked it up. So far, it's pretty enjoyable. The reviews are right with enemies being cheap sometimes, but if you're an experienced NG player, you can find a way to handle each situation. I've only been playing Acolyte so far, and it's been a breeze (even the Chapter 8 madness everyone was talking about). I'm sure when I start Warrior I'll be singing a different tune.

They've changed the combat system a bit, and the tuck and roll has been removed. You can only dash now, but I think that's because you get surrounded by so many enemies most of the time, you'll want to dash and combo into a different enemy.

The graphics are lacking a bit, and the engine is showing it's age. However, the game runs smooth as silk most of the time. The camera can be a hassle, but it's not much worse than the first NG game on Xbox.

My only real gripe with the game is the pacing. Enemy placement was way better in NG/NGB. In NG2 you run into an area, fight ten guys, wash, rinse and repeat. It's fun because it's fluid, but can feel a bit tedious at the same time.

I just wish I wouldn't have missed the damn Rod of Trials. Oh well, I'll start a New Game+ when I do all the Tests of Valor.

[Doctor Fugue]

My only real gripe with the game is the pacing. Enemy placement was way better in NG/NGB. In NG2 you run into an area, fight ten guys, wash, rinse and repeat. It's fun because it's fluid, but can feel a bit tedious at the same time.

I haven't played NG2 yet, but it seems like they tried out a few things in the DS version before putting it in NG2...in Dragon Sword there are many rooms where you run in, clean house, and move on...and also the regenerating health (which I think works well) and quick-save system.

I'm not sure why most people complain about the camera in NG...I found it to be better than most games.

[Gamerforlife]

My only real gripe with the game is the pacing. Enemy placement was way better in NG/NGB. In NG2 you run into an area, fight ten guys, wash, rinse and repeat. It's fun because it's fluid, but can feel a bit tedious at the same time.

I'm gonna have to disagree with you here. I HATED the crappy platform based sections in the original. They sucked, NG wasn't designed to be Prince of Persia so there was no need for that stuff. The puzzles and all the backtracking just seemed like afterthoughts. Chores you had to do to get to what you really bought the game for, the action. From what I've read, NG 2 has very linear design and goes from one battle to the next. In other words, a REAL old school action game.

Now I can see how someone can say that makes the game repetitive, but I get the sense that NG 2 has a nice variety of enemies and a ton of bosses. Plus, there's tons of weapons and combos and I'm sure the game keeps finding different ways to challenge you.

[Flak Beard]

My only real gripe with the game is the pacing. Enemy placement was way better in NG/NGB. In NG2 you run into an area, fight ten guys, wash, rinse and repeat. It's fun because it's fluid, but can feel a bit tedious at the same time.

I'm gonna have to disagree with you here. I HATED the crappy platform based sections in the original. They sucked, NG wasn't designed to be Prince of Persia so there was no need for that stuff. The puzzles and all the backtracking just seemed like afterthoughts. Chores you had to do to get to what you really bought the game for, the action. From what I've read, NG 2 has very linear design and goes from one battle to the next. In other words, a REAL old school action game.

Now I can see how someone can say that makes the game repetitive, but I get the sense that NG 2 has a nice variety of enemies and a ton of bosses. Plus, there's tons of weapons and combos and I'm sure the game keeps finding different ways to challenge you.

It's not repetitive in the sense of all you do is fight, but in the fact that you take twenty steps only to be ambushed by a dozen more enemies. It starts to feel plodding, and you soon realize each level is artificially lengthened by increasing the amount of mobs. I'm in chapter 12 now, and I'm starting to see why the regenerating health system was put into place. It would be ridiculous trying to balance item only and checkpoint healing with the amount of enemies you fight.

Also, when I say enemy placement was better in NGB, it indeed felt a little more natural. In NG2 I've actually seen enemies pop-in out of thin air while the camera was spinning wildly. Also, there are levels where enemies will be behind you instantly even when there's no way they could of been there before. It all feels unnatural and a little infuriating at times, especially when you dodge rockets while to take out two rocket guys, only to have two more rocket guys "materialize" behind you. It's a little silly.

In the end though, I still like the game, but it has it's undeniable flaws. Try to get your hands on a copy, and I think you'll see what I'm talking about. You're right though about it being old-school in design. I can dig that, but I think a lot of people were expecting a little bit more next-gen touch.

[Gamerforlife]

My only real gripe with the game is the pacing. Enemy placement was way better in NG/NGB. In NG2 you run into an area, fight ten guys, wash, rinse and repeat. It's fun because it's fluid, but can feel a bit tedious at the same time.

I'm gonna have to disagree with you here. I HATED the crappy platform based sections in the original. They sucked, NG wasn't designed to be Prince of Persia so there was no need for that stuff. The puzzles and all the backtracking just seemed like afterthoughts. Chores you had to do to get to what you really bought the game for, the action. From what I've read, NG 2 has very linear design and goes from one battle to the next. In other words, a REAL old school action game.

Now I can see how someone can say that makes the game repetitive, but I get the sense that NG 2 has a nice variety of enemies and a ton of bosses. Plus, there's tons of weapons and combos and I'm sure the game keeps finding different ways to challenge you.

It's not repetitive in the sense of all you do is fight, but in the fact that you take twenty steps only to be ambushed by a dozen more enemies. It starts to feel plodding, and you soon realize each level is artificially lengthened by increasing the amount of mobs. I'm in chapter 12 now, and I'm starting to see why the regenerating health system was put into place. It would be ridiculous trying to balance item only and checkpoint healing with the amount of enemies you fight.

Also, when I say enemy placement was better in NGB, it indeed felt a little more natural. In NG2 I've actually seen enemies pop-in out of thin air while the camera was spinning wildly. Also, there are levels where enemies will be behind you instantly even when there's no way they could of been there before. It all feels unnatural and a little infuriating at times, especially when you dodge rockets while to take out two rocket guys, only to have two more rocket guys "materialize" behind you. It's a little silly.

In the end though, I still like the game, but it has it's undeniable flaws. Try to get your hands on a copy, and I think you'll see what I'm talking about. You're right though about it being old-school in design. I can dig that, but I think a lot of people were expecting a little bit more next-gen touch.

I'll keep those points in mind. I guess it's to be expected, the original was a good game, but flawed as well. I never did play NG Black though. I'll get around to playing NG 2 at some point. I'm kind of thinking about trying this and Mass Effect eventually. I have a sudden new interest in my 360 lately. I seem to go through phases. My last one being a Sega Saturn phase

[Gamerforlife]

Damn funny shit from Penny Arcade related to NG 2, which reminds me that I really need to download that Penny Arcade game

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/02/20/

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/6/4/