IGN: Ninja Gaiden II Review

sonarus - 576 days 21 hours ago

Wow surprised ign didn't give the game a 9 at least.

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Superfragilistic - 576 days 21 hours ago

The first game was my favourite Xbox title by far and the game is a definite purchase for me. I never expected this game to reach for 10's but I really thought it was a 9/10 game. I certainly consider NG to be a tier higher than DMC and yet the scores do not reflect this. It's the most important title to be reviewed since GTAIV changed the scoring benchmark for all next gen games, so it'll be interesting to see how much of the score is a reflection on the game itself and how much is a result of this post GTAIV environment.

My biggest gripe with the game itself is they seem to have removed much of the platforming/adventure elements of the first and just gone for full blown action. I still consider the gameplay to be the finest of the action genre but the elements in between really helped with pacing and made you appreciate it all the more.

Either way it's still a day one purchase. :)

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Ghoul - 576 days 20 hours ago

@ idontcare

super unnecesary comment

@ superfragilistic

true i loved ng : black and i played through sigma gain,
but hearing they removed almost all of the platforming, didnt fix the camera and left many many wide open spaces without any scene props kinda leaves me to a arena like gameplay that i disliked most in ng.

I was seriously hoping for more environmental action and wallruning, for me the real evolution in the ng genre would have been a fully interactive leveldesign with destructables and platforming parts.

one can dream :)

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sonarus - 576 days 20 hours ago

Sigma was my first time playing but seriously, the combat in that game can't be touched. NG is my best action game after GOW. Only reason i give it to GOW is because of the story, GOw is just more epic. But NG2 easily beats out DMC4 and all the others. My major wish for GOW is they implement a deeper combat system, and the game will be perfect

Taking out the adventure elements might not be so bad, it really depends on how much they took out. Regardless though, for any NG fan, they will find very little to complain about in sigma.

EDIT: @ below, to each his own but i really really enjoy games with a good story so i like reviews that take story into consideration. Story in past NG games have been super lame but the combat and visuals more than made up for it.

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edonus - 576 days 20 hours ago

The industry is really F'd up right now. It doesnt make sense the judging is being done with a slant. Big problem, they judge a games story.....like they're read a novel and are english majors (hey some of them might be but thats beside the point) in a game you dont jdge if the plot is good or not its subjective, what you do judge is whether or not the story is conveyed in a way the gamer can follow and how effective it was. If buy the end of a game you know the name of your character, what the character was doing and why the character was doing it you have succeeded.

They just gave GTA4 a 10, with a subpar online play and repetetive mission styling, launched with freezing issues and glitches. You want to know what real bull.... NG sigma got rated higher, and we already know that this game is atleast that. This is another blow to the game media industry. They are almost as corrupted as the music industry now. Either they are being totally payed off or their reviewing techniques and standards arent worth used toliet paper.

I said it before "I feel sorry for ppl that use reviews to guage what games they will buy because youre about to miss out on a great one and not even know it, and I feels sorry for Tecmo and the 360 for getting raped".

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Superfragilistic - 576 days 20 hours ago

Awesome ideas about the evolving of NG. I can only hope Itagaki betrays his own words and makes a definitive NG III that evolves platforming/adventure in the genre as much as he has the combat.

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RememberThe357 - 576 days 20 hours ago

It is funny how you b*tch about them b*tching about story. I take it your the type who is scared of intellectuals(people who think), and thats OK. Harness that fear, learn from it, and grow from it. lol I'm just f*ckin with yeah. I agree with your idea on how to convey a story so that it is easy to follow, but if that story is some bull sh*t then theres no point.

Anyway(to everyone else who doesn't care what I have to say), I am a little disappointed that this game isn't seeming to turn out as well as it could have. I'm one of those people who loved the combat, of the first, but hate the difficulty (After breaking my controller I decided to call it quits). The combat was so deep, but after getting my ass handed to me and not knowing exactly how it happened, I couldn't keep it up. I hate feeling cheated and there is no other game that made me feel as cheated as Ninja Gaiden. But hey, an 8.7 isn't bad, it's quite good, so live it up fanboys, I'm sure you'll love every second of it.

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The Wood - 576 days 18 hours ago

story is important. as ive aged so story has become even more important just like the films and tv shows i like. Either way 360 owners should get this game if their fans of the series. The reality is both consoles need a few more challengers to this and god of war. Devs need more encouragement. I don't want these games to die out like point n click adventure games did *curses lucasarts*

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CrazzyMan - 576 days 18 hours ago

Thas` why people will wait for NGS2. =))

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edonus - 576 days 18 hours ago

For the record i'm not upset with that score, its actually a very high score, but i'm upset with the things they used to deduct points and get to that score. The story was just one example, and the reason why you dont judge the script as opposed to how its delivered is because whats being said is totally differnt from how its being told. For instance, if I was a master chef and i give you a recipe on how to make Lasagna and my instructions and you follow my instruction perfectly and make a wondeful meal, but you dont like Lasgna. Does that mean that I did my job wrong? You could cook that lasgna and others would love it(unless they dont like Lasgna) that doesnt mean the meal is any less gourmet from a master chef.

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ukilnme - 576 days 18 hours ago

@ edonus

I get your point. The story was still better in God of War though. This is coming from a long time NG fan. I just recently became a fan of God of War.

Edit: NG2 is still a day one purchase for me. NG has always been and should always be a silky smooth, fast paced experience with no framerate problems. I hope the final build is better or a patch is released.

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edonus - 576 days 17 hours ago

I like the story of God of War way more than NG. I mean come on we'vee have been playing Ninja games since the 80s. But NG beats it as far as gameplay goes. That is of coarse if your talking about challenge and skill, actually graphics too(but that should change once GOW3 comes out, it should atleast be on par).

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ukilnme - 576 days 17 hours ago

I must still be drunk because I completely agree with sonarus on this one.

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Mainman - 576 days 15 hours ago

If I had a 360, I would definately get this game.

Hell, I am even considering to buy a 360 for this game.

Edit: What the hell happened to Ryu's amazing "AAAH!!" scream? That was amazing in NG1. I guess if I would get NG2, I would get the Japanese version, there he yells "TOOAAAAH!!!", that is also really cool, hehe.

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Daver - 576 days 15 hours ago

@idontcare

Why dont you just stfu?

Anyway 8.7 is a great score, its good for xbox owners, they will be able to put their hands on a good game. Enjoy

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juuken - 576 days 15 hours ago

Mainman, I'm with you on that. As much as I cannot stand Itagaki, he's done it again. That game looks ridiculously badass. I may take that risk and get a 360. That game looks too awesome to pass up.

And for the people complaining about storyline, seriously NG was never about storyline. It's about honor and revenge. Ryu's way too badass for us to even care about storyline.

This is why I fell in love with NG.

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zypher - 576 days 15 hours ago

i think NG has a slightly better combat system than GOW, but GOW wins hands-down on everything else, making for a better experience on a whole. i'm somewhat surprised by NG2's scores so far. while 8.7 is hardly a bad score, i'm sure many were expecting in the 9.5 range. this, coupled with the 8.1 and 7.0 reviews from other sources, and yeah...well, i'll just say that hopefully more slightly-above average scores will humble Itagaki and his big mouth.

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Omegasyde - 576 days 12 hours ago

Story really impacts a games review especially if the game is solely single player. For $60 bucks a pop (USD) I know I want a game with these features in this order:

Gameplay > Content > Story > graphics > Challenge

Still a 8.7 isn't bad at all, and for people who like action games this should be a day 1 purchase. Personally in my opinion anything above a 8.5 is a game that is definitely worth my time.

@the commentors saying GOW3>NG2:
Why are you people making comparisons? No one knows what GOw3 is going to be about or what it even looks like. The game is probably still on drawing board, yet there are these silly comparisons for a unfinished and unrevealed product.

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fusionboxer - 576 days 7 hours ago

I'll say that I honestly didn't "adore" Ninja Gaiden on the xbox. Sure it was great for it's time, but when I went and tried to replay the improved version on the ps3 I just couldn't get with it. I had just beaten god of war (Late to the party) then tried to complete ninja gaiden sigma (again).

Unfortunately I soon discovered that every puzzle within Ninja Gaiden sigma always involves getting some sort of key to open some sort of door. The problem I had was that they rarely even disguised it. In the early levels of GOWII you had to gain a bow to shoot down Prometheus, to then get another power in order to lift the hands of a titan in order to proceed. It was all those interlocking goals that kept me interested. Ninja Gaiden mos definitely has the better (maybe best) combat system in any fighting game, but it's dragged down by (IMO) boring puzzles and level design.

That's not to say Ninja Gaiden 1 or 2 won't be fun. The reason I liked the game was because it contained that awesome fighting system that rewarded you for getting better. As the game went on I didn't feel like it got easier or less frustrating, but that I as a player was improving and it takes alot for a game to do that without killing you.

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DarK-SilV - 576 days 21 hours ago

never forget GOW3

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ice_prophecy - 576 days 21 hours ago

Actually. I am fairly jealous that ps3 doesn't get this game. However, in my great suckiness, I am still stuck on Ninja Gaiden Sigma!

>.> but what are you trying to say?

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NDN_Shadow - 576 days 21 hours ago

To you perhaps, it will be the best next-gen action game. To others it won't be. That's not to say that it won't be great, I'm sure it will be. However, blatantly stating that NG2 is the best next gen action game period is a little too biased, and certainly isn't fact to anybody but you.

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Ghoul - 576 days 21 hours ago

its funny how people post how they expect that fanboys will post crap,
and by doing so they are the first to flame instead of the feared fanboys :)

anyways gret game, but gow3 cant come soon enough :D

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Lucreto - 576 days 20 hours ago

NG2 never interested me at all. DMC filled that void perfectly. I did play GOW and Heavenly Sword was far better than I expected. I think it is down to my dislike of the Itagaki his attitude and some of his perverted games.

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kydrice - 576 days 20 hours ago

FACT: You do not know the difference between a fact and an opinion.
FACT: You need to stay in school

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yanikins111 - 576 days 18 hours ago

hands up if you got stuck on sigma....
<watches the hands go up>

I hope someone explained the meaning of CURVE to these guys. Sigmas learning curve was pretty much vertical...

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2cents - 576 days 16 hours ago

yes there are some members who struggle with the concept of sensible discussion on both sides of the coin. But if you start a comment like that, you are giving people an open invitation to kick you in the balls, and you lower yourself in the eyes of the wise.

I think anyone who enjoys action games, is going to want to play this. The real question is, can the few negative people overcome their said feelings for a console and break the cycle to enjoy another great game of this generation.

The same goes for when MSG4 comes out. (oh, on a side note Gametrailers have uploaded another retrospective on MGS, story is confusing as hell, great way to recap on previous event in the MGS world though, great vid.)

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heroman711 - 576 days 15 hours ago

ng2 is a good game but it cant beat the badass, Kratos in god of war 3

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juuken - 576 days 15 hours ago

I'm not jealous so I don't know where you get that from. Even though NGII looks awesome, GoW is even more awesome.

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steck67 - 576 days 2 hours ago

Dont get me wrong, but NG2 will be awesome but not the best action game this gen.

...and im a PS3 only owner but I am not jealous for this game lol, although the game looks pretty sweet.

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ISA_Scum - 576 days 12 hours ago

Nothing wrong with an 8.7 for a normal game, but this was Ninja Gaiden. This is a low score.

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Seraphim - 576 days 19 hours ago

DMC and NG are two totally different breeds. And both aren't for everyone. The score is irrelevant when you already know you like the franchise...

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heroman711 - 576 days 15 hours ago

i was expecting at least a 9 or higher but ya 8.7 is close enough

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ISA_Scum - 576 days 11 hours ago

Notice how both complain about the same thing and yet IGN is 1.7 points higher? In fact, the only reason the metascore is over an 8.0 is because of that IGN review.

Now, consider last week when they over-obliterated HAZE in comparison to the 6.0-6.5 media average. hmmmm....underscore a third-party Sony exclusive then overscore a third-party 360 exclusive....

Interesting.

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KillaManiac - 576 days 4 hours ago

Scum got that perfect...Bingo Bango...

Its sad how the NA Reviewers SEEM to be a bit biased.

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DarK-SilV - 576 days 21 hours ago

As if xbox360 funs don't come to see how PS3 exclusives are doing

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2cents - 576 days 16 hours ago

even though he is a PS3 fan, he doesn't express the sentiment that most 360 fans would expect him to feel about this game and its 360 exclusivity.

Bring on friendly conversation, a step in the right direction I say.

Bubbles 2 u

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NDN_Shadow - 576 days 21 hours ago

As is Ninja Gaiden and Devil May Cry. Having played all three franchises they all shine in their own right and they all have something that make them unique and captivating for the certain gamer.

Ninja Gaiden is all about speed.
Devil May Cry is about combos.
God of War is about a sense of "god-like" power and the satisfaction that comes with wielding it.

Whether you prefer a certain type of action game is up to you, but you can't deny that all three franchises are awesome.

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tatotiburon - 576 days 21 hours ago

they are in the same place where the droids, who stated that HAZE was getting a 9+ score, are.

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Thoas - 576 days 19 hours ago

IGN Scores

Ninja Gaiden/ Xbox 360 9.4
Ninja Gaiden Black/ Xbox 360 9.4
Ninja Gaiden Sigma/ PS3 9.3
Ninja Gaiden 2/ Xbox 360 8.7

Please Team Ninja don't port NG2 or any other lame Ninja Gaiden game to PS3 or PSP.

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Montrealien - 576 days 17 hours ago

AngryXbot said..
(Another overrated xbox game
Make no mistake about it, this game is overrated even at 8.7.
Its not even worth a 7)

Yeah ok, said the rabid fanboy troll on N4G...

On topic...

Can't wait for this game, loved the first one and have been enjoying Sigma lately simple to be more into this sucker.

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juuken - 576 days 14 hours ago

tatotiburon, we *droids* weren't the ones hyping the game. u_u

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Pain - 576 days 11 hours ago

Still for the life of a Xbot , Sigma Looks Better in everyway, just MORE Detail, that DVD9 cant store.

Thats the difference Sigma HAS WAY MORE DETAIL... NG2 lacks.. Not the Games Fault bots just DVD9!!!!

but u brainless like Bush... so u cant understand.

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Fat Bastard - 576 days 10 hours ago

It's funny how they gave this game such a good rating even though it has framerate problems, bad camera, and a bad story. Cause that's exactly what they picked at for Haze. Both have good controls, framerate issues, and a bad story, but NG2 somehow got a review twice as good as Haze did. And there's no multiplayer in NG2. Interesting

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zethos56 - 576 days 6 hours ago

Ninja Gaiden isn't known for it's story. And the good gameplay makes up for the framerate issues and camera. Look at GTA (there were glitches but still a 10).

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Mc Fadge - 576 days 21 hours ago

Truly the greatest irony on the planet:

"haze btw is a peice of crap only when its a ps3 game that 8.10/7/10 = a great game if we go by sony standards then 90% of the 360 catalog are AAA games"

http://www.n4g.com/NewsCom-...

Well then, I guess the difference between 8.1 and 8.7 is from crap to the best action game ever :3?

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LenHart - 576 days 11 hours ago

Gamesradar gave it 7/10

hahahah

x360 is finished

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zethos56 - 576 days 6 hours ago

Overhyped? Yes.

Flop? No.

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Herbert tholdpervert - 576 days 15 hours ago

it's better than i expected i mean what were people expecting from a game like Ninja Gaiden ...?!

i really regret buying NGS

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Thoas - 576 days 18 hours ago

Uncharted Drake's Fortune got a 9.1 on the U.S. IGN

http://ps3.ign.com/objects/...

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yanikins111 - 576 days 17 hours ago

Uncharted is a 10. In my mind, nothing tops that game. I played Gears alot. I mean, it didnt come out of the tray for months. Sure the tray was broken and wouldnt eject but damn i played that game alot.

I played uncharted more. Gears was up there with MGS and ff7 as my the best games ever. Games that i think are tens, thru and thru. I played uncharted more than them. Alot more. How you can fault that game is beyond me. It really is.

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LenHart - 576 days 10 hours ago

Uncharted got 9.1 from IGN

and it averages at 90% on GR

BTW

GAmesradar gave NG2 --7/10

hahhaaaaa FLOP

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Mr Playboy - 576 days 17 hours ago

You paid 60$ for HAZE, 60$ for a $hitty game Lol
well you can get a great game for the same amount of money AKA NG2

I feel sorry for you

lol

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yanikins111 - 576 days 17 hours ago

You both fales...

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yanikins111 - 576 days 17 hours ago

Oh dont worry, they'll still try. They like to set themselves up for failure.

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yanikins111 - 576 days 17 hours ago

With like 17 days until MGS4 comes out, I dont think many ps3 fans are jealous of anything. Although im sure IGN will give it a 4-5/10.

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Thoas - 576 days 17 hours ago

LOL NG2 is a flop and Microsoft Game Studios and Tecmo were Co Publishers of this title. Sony Computer Entertainment had nothing to do with the HAZE's development aspect of the game.

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ps360fella - 576 days 17 hours ago

gamedev seriously u wanna bring up the topic of framrate while being such a firm ps3 fan, thats all i have to say about that if haze was actually good 5 out of 6 review for the game wouldnt say its shlt, Thoas your notion that a ps3 game is expected be good only if sony had something to do with the game doesnt really say much for the console bro.

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yanikins111 - 576 days 16 hours ago

Yes all of our exclusives are horrible. Haze (apparently, getting it this week and will judge for myself). Name another that is horrible. That was hyped up and got a 5 or less.

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tgh machines - 576 days 14 hours ago

A horrible AAA game I would say is less then an 8 average, so LAIR.

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LenHart - 576 days 10 hours ago

Hour of Victory --X360's OBLIVION killer got 2/10 from Gamespot

Two Worlds --x360's COD killer got 2/10 from Gamespy

HAze/LAIR are much better than FLOP GAIDEN 2

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zethos56 - 576 days 2 hours ago

Why would the 360 need an oblivion/cod4 killer if those two games are on the 360? It's liking saying KZ2 is supposed to be a Resistance 2 killer.

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zethos56 - 576 days 2 hours ago

So an action game was supposed to be a stealth-game killer?

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