It's with great pleasure that I've received the review code of Ninja Gaiden 2 last Friday and that I've spent some quality time (but not enough) with the game this week-end. You'll find nothing less than 4 720p 60 fps videos of the first level of the game inside, and while waiting for them to download you'll even be able to read my impressions!
Ninja Gaiden 2 can only be described as a direct sequel of the first Ninja Gaiden, implying a lot of good things, but also a few bad ones.
Let's start with what's not so good, and the camera. As you may know the camera here is more or less the same as in Black. Meaning it's better than the one in the first Ninja Gaiden, but still can get in the way quite often. During close quarters fights like in the stairs of the second level, it was sometimes difficult to see anything of the action. The good old right trigger is still here, but I had hoped for more.
Another bad point, the game isn't perfectly smooth. Most of the time it runs at a perfect 60 fps and all is good, but during heavy action scenes I've seen some tearing and even some major slowdowns happens. It's rare thankfully, but still disappointing. Also disappointing, and we've become used to this coming from Team Ninja, the shadowing and lighting is still very basic and doesn't seem to be that much different from the Xbox games.
But still, the gameplay itself is as good if not even better than before. The new life bar system that will replenish itself (but not fully) when a fight ends both adds and remove tension from the game. On one side we don't have to worry as much as before about health bonus, but on the other each fight now becomes a bit more challenging than before, and death can occur very quickly!
Despite its flaws, I've enjoyed my time playing Ninja Gaiden 2 a lot, and I can't wait to get back home tonight for more!
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All comments (116)
Commented on 2008-05-26 10:12:00After watching it...so many Flying Shallows, great move it is really.
You play much better than what IGN and Gametrailers shows, which makes the combat more intense and fluid.
One question Blim...can you switch weapon during a combat (not during an attack)?
But great video Blim, my heart is just gonna go to overdrive watching these videos.
Where is my damn demo!
Commented on 2008-05-26 10:17:16
Commented on 2008-05-26 10:26:02
Commented on 2008-05-26 10:35:17Just a pure guess here but does "Down" bring up your items and "Up" your weapons and ninpos...etc.?
Commented on 2008-05-26 10:47:04
Commented on 2008-05-26 10:50:57 In reply to JohnRamboBlim played with japanese voice overs, yes! I hate Ryu's new English voice.
Commented on 2008-05-26 10:57:09
Commented on 2008-05-26 11:08:58we are holding off for a retail build of the game because the review build discs had some framerate/load time issues that we've been told have been resolved in the retail release. So we wanted to wait to post a review so we can verify this.
I'm surprised other sites posted their reviews already, more so by the ones that even pointed out the load time and framerate issues after we were specifically told about this and that it was something that's supposedly isolated to the review builds only, and NOT the final code.
Commented on 2008-05-26 11:11:15
Commented on 2008-05-26 11:11:29
Commented on 2008-05-26 11:13:46 In reply to JohnRambowe are holding off for a retail build of the game because the review build discs had some framerate/load time issues that we've been told have been resolved in the retail release. So we wanted to wait to post a review so we can verify this.
I'm surprised other sites posted their reviews already, more so by the ones that even pointed out the load time and framerate issues after we were specifically told about this and that it was something that's supposedly isolated to the review builds only, and NOT the final code.
Commented on 2008-05-26 11:14:22I'm dying to play this game so much :D
I'm really glad they included the Japanese soundtrack :D
Commented on 2008-05-26 11:18:27Oh, and apparently this is why it got a 7 on Gamesradar:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1132591...
Wow, Gamesradar would do anything to get hits on their shitty website. Hell, these idiots gave Heavenly sword a higher score then NG2. :| So, WTF WOW.
Commented on 2008-05-26 11:19:46Quote:
Pros: Excellent gameplay; nice variety in the later levels; great difficulty curve.
Cons: Story isn’t all that interesting; camera can get in the way; few framerate hiccups here and there. 9/10
So, yet again, Gamesradar can suck it.
Commented on 2008-05-26 11:30:16 In reply to NeoNemesisWow, Gamesradar would do anything to get hits on their shitty website. Hell, these idiots gave Heavenly sword a higher score then NG2. :| So, WTF WOW.
As for the graphics, they don't quite have the lighting I would have liked, but it's far from horrible looking and it looks to be a nice improvement over DOA4. Environments, at least imo, look better than in Sigma.
Commented on 2008-05-26 11:36:31i mean rayu is cool the gameplay is hard(not for the faint hardet i hope)
and the gaem looks good....yeah good nothing more nothing less.
but WHO THE FUCK CARES,when you being attackt bij ten ninja at a time you not going to look if there is normal mapping on there weapons :p
Commented on 2008-05-26 11:40:38Cant wait to play it.... Thx A LOT for the gameplay videos. Looks awesome :D
Commented on 2008-05-26 11:46:36
Commented on 2008-05-26 11:52:43
Commented on 2008-05-26 12:16:41Theres a funny bit when you have cut one of the guys legs off hes still hobbleing around ... bless
EDIT: Just found this http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/16604/Exclusive-Ninj...
"You may have noticed we have not yet posted our review of Team Ninja's Ninja Gaiden 2. We just wanted to fill you in on why. There were a couple of issues with the review build discs, specifically with the load times and the framerate. We have been told that these issues have been resolved in the retail version of the game. Therefore, we have decided to hold off on posting our review article and score until we are able to get our hands on a retail build of Ninja Gaiden 2 in order to verify this. "
Commented on 2008-05-26 12:27:35I cannot guarantee Meristation will be right about the framerate issues... but its a kinda respected web here (in Spain I mean^^). Although it would´nt be the first time they get something wrong...
Commented on 2008-05-26 12:30:49
Commented on 2008-05-26 12:42:54 In reply to Suil
Commented on 2008-05-26 13:00:24
Commented on 2008-05-26 14:05:49I remember playing the first Ninja Gaiden on Xbox with the duke controller (The first giant xbox controller) and even if I hit the wood frame of bed with it, it damaged the wood rather than my controller.