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How Metascores Are Calculated
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Altered Beast
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
(Also known as "Ninja Gaiden 2") In Ninja Gaiden II, gamers must guide Ryu Hayabusa on a mission to avenge his clan and prevent the destruction of the human race. Armed with an assortment of ninja weaponry, players must help Ryu skillfully maneuver through a world fraught with peril and danger. Ninja Gaiden II features an all-new gameplay engine, a new auto-health regeneration system, levels, adventures, enemies and thrilling combat with an extensive assortment of ninja weaponry, representing a true evolution of the highly popular franchise. Assuming the role of a ninja warrior, players experience an all-new combat system that requires skill and mastery of their full arsenal of weapons, including Obliteration Techniques that allow players to quickly and stylishly finish off an opponent. In addition to the variety of brutal new primary weapons and enhanced versions of previous favorites, Ninja Gaiden II features unique acrobatic combat and attacks used not only by Ryu Hayabusa but also by his formidable enemies. The new auto-healing system in Ninja Gaiden II, featuring semi-permanent damage restored at save points, is the natural evolution of the franchise's distinctive gameplay and introduces a new twist to managing health. With a newly implemented auto-healing functionality and save-point system, as well as an extensive story mode and multiple difficulty levels available from the start of the game, the gameplay of Ninja Gaiden II is both accessible to more casual players and challenging to even the most demanding gamers. [Team Ninja]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 95
Play.tm
NG2 is the perfect fighting-action game, it is the ultimate gaming challenge for 2008, and it's one of the best looking 'gore games' ever created. If you want to know why Master Ninja level NG players give no respect to anyone who hasn't achieved this level of action-gaming perfection, you must become one yourself.
92
Pelit (Finland)
A very good action adventure, which excels in hand-to-hand combat. The fights are tough, but fair. Too bad there's lenghty loading after every death. And there's a lot of dying. [June 2008]
91
90
90
90
90
90
90
90
GameSpy
90
90
89
89
88
88
Planet Xbox 360
Upgraded graphics and improved gameplay solidify it as a legitimate marquee next generation title. For those who are not particularly partial to the hack and slash action genre I would recommend you hold out. Ninja Gaiden fans should purchase Itagaki-san’s last chapter immediately and those who do fancy the genre should do the same.
88
88
88
87
85
Gameplayer
So no, Ninja Gaiden II hasn’t remedied some of the oddities that plagued the Xbox original. It has, however, completely refined, waxed, polished, and shined its peerless combat engine. Along with its trademark difficulty and balls-to-the-wall ninja action, it’s an essential buy for fans of the original and anyone else willing to put their hands up for a stiff challenge.
85
85
85
85
85
85
84
Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
As true a game as you're ever likely to see - it's a merciless, but fair, must. [Aug 2008, p.72]
84
84
80
80
80
G4 TV
If you’re a Ninja Gaiden fan, or even just someone who loves action games, don’t let the camera woes scare you off. This is still one of the most expertly designed combat systems around, and gamers looking for a true challenge in this era of games designed to be beaten by anyone with enough time on their hands will appreciate Ninja Gaiden II for what it is – One of the last games around that values skill over perseverance.
80
360 Gamer Magazine UK
No matter what your skill level, you’ll receive constant gratification from the mainstay slice ‘n’ dice gameplay on offer here, but then you’d have to be a fool to not notice how ‘unfun’ its boss encounters really are. Add a camera system that doesn’t even make geometry translucent when it’s in the foreground and you’ve got a beautiful arcade experience that’s marred by some obvious but not insurmountable flaws.
80
80
80
Official Xbox Magazine UK
Still, there's no denying that Ninja Gaiden II has tons going for it, and when the combat works, which it does for most of the game, it can be a beautiful ballet of blood and steel with you at the centre, devising and scrapping split-second plans as you rip your way from alamo to alamo. If you've got the stomach for it, Ninja Gaiden will reward you. They just could have been a little less mean.
80
80
80
Edge Magazine
Ninja Gaiden II is a fascinating and hugely replayable game that shows Team Ninja has a gift beyond the vast majority of developers in that genre. [Aug 2008, p.92]
80
80
80
Maxi Consolas (Portugal)
Visceral action supported by one of the best combat systems that you can find. But it fails to offer anything new which, alongside the lack of polish and a better balance of the difficulty, makes this sequel pretty much more of the same. [July 2008]
80
80
Gamervision
Ninja Gaiden II is essentially a much prettier version of Ninja Gaiden with a few tweaks and a slightly less punishing challenge level (at least on the normal difficulty levels – there are two unlockable difficulties that give me nightmares). For fans of the original, there’s nothing here to prevent you from loving this one as well.
80
Eurogamer Portugal
The unreliable camera and the enemies brutality mean that few will be able to appreciate the game fully. Even so, the lower difficulty, coupled with the life recovery mechanics will allow people that aren't very skilled to get to the end of Ryu's plight. On the other hand, fans of the genre will have their hands full, and should seriously consider the purchase.
80
79
79
79
77
Jolt Online Gaming UK
For the die-hards who take their games like they take their women – angry, violent, unforgiving, underdeveloped and occasionally gratifying – Ninja Gaiden 2 is a fine follow-up, especially with its punishing achievements and four difficulty settings (Very Hard, Insane, Chuck Norris, Double Chuck Norris). For everyone else Ninja Gaiden 2 is an exercise in futility that’s just not as polished, balanced or enjoyable as its predecessor.
75
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Despite the addition of execution moves and a recharging life guage, the series' renowned(and reviled) difficulty is left mostly unchanged. [Aug 2008, p.80]
75
Game Revolution
No bones about it, this game is incredibly hard, and it will frustrate you to no end. The thing is, the game’s at its best when it’s pushing you to play it on expert. Ninja Gaiden 2 on easy is a bland experience by comparison, and sucks the life out of the title: It’s a chili dog without the chili; a martini without vermouth.
75
GameShark
The real problem with the camera lies in how it behaves during obliteration techniques. When you're finishing off a foe, you have absolutely no control over the camera as it zooms in and out of the scene. More often than not, the camera positions itself awkwardly behind some object, obscuring view and putting you at risk of damage upon finishing the kill. This isn't just annoying, it's utterly unacceptable.
75
75
Worth Playing
It says something about the original Ninja Gaiden that Ninja Gaiden II being a merely good action game is such a letdown. Ninja Gaiden II's graphics are fantastic and the action flawless, but this perfection is marred by a jerky, awkward and terrible camera and a difficulty level that's the product of the camera and enemy positioning, rather than an actual challenge.
72
70
X360 Magazine UK
Beyond being easier and ‘more accessible’ Ninja Gaiden hasn’t really evolved these last few years. Not the game we had hoped for. [Issue#34]
70
Games Master UK
An exhilarating but fatally flawed action game that falls short of the brilliant original. [Aug 2008, p.67]
70
70
Level7.nu
Ninja Gaiden is back, bloodier and more brutal than ever before. With flawless controls and a superb fighting system this is truly a fantastic action game, just like its predecessors. Unfortunately some awkward camera angles punishes the player far too often and the overall design fails to impress. The lack of innovation and some annoying flaws makes this title a lesser game than its predecessors.
70
Games Radar (in-house)
So those of us who aren't down with the difficulty level are going to want to play a game that utilizes the Xbox 360's potential with a balanced difficulty level that compliments the solid gameplay - and thereby restore self esteem - leaving Itagaki's insatiable bloodlust to the hardcore crowd that loves it so.
70
70
games(TM)
Things haven't progressed enough and, it has to be said, "DMC4" is the better game. [July 2008, p.114]
68
67
67
60
DarkZero
An acceptable update in terms of presentation, but regretfully somewhat lacking in the new gameplay features the move to a new generation should demand. Regretfully, it is far from the spectacular game many hoped it would be when it was first announced. It grasps on too tightly to what came before, refusing to give gamers the freedom other games in this generation have offered.
60
Phil G gave it a9: Thomas L. gave it an8: [Anonymous] gave it a0: Tim C. gave it a10: Trevor gave it a7: David O. gave it a6: Jacques N. gave it an8: |
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