Ninja Gaiden II

 Xbox 360
  • Publisher: Tecmo
  • Release Date: Jun 3, 2008
Ninja Gaiden II Image
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 74 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 342 Ratings

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  • Summary: (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(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]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 60 out of 74
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 74
  3. Negative: 0 out of 74
  1. Play.tm
    95
    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.
  2. Kikizo
    90
    Ninja Gaiden II is not perfect but it's one of the best action games since the original and an absolute joy to play.
  3. Planet Xbox 360
    88
    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.
  4. Gamer 2.0
    80
    Ninja Gaiden II is a fun, brutal and violent game.
  5. Destructoid
    80
    Fans of high-speed action titles can't go wrong; in fact, they'd be foolish to look anywhere else for anything better this generation. It's just disappointing that Ninja Gaiden II -- which is said to be the last in the series -- isn't quite the flawless masterpiece I’d hoped for
  6. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    75
    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]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. DarkZero
    60
    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.

See all 74 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 69 out of 103
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 103
  3. Negative: 15 out of 103
  1. TommasoT.
    Jun 18, 2008
    10
    The God of the action games; it's a perfect game by gameplay and artistic game and level design, and after all they are the most The God of the action games; it's a perfect game by gameplay and artistic game and level design, and after all they are the most important things for an action videogame. Killer application, for me it's the best game (only for) on Xbox360.… Expand
  2. wafelkill
    Jun 20, 2011
    10
    THE BEST ACTION GAME ON XBOX 360!!
    60+ houers and still playing!
    Blood,Fast Action,Many Wepons,Massive Combos,Story is **** but its not story    THE BEST ACTION GAME ON XBOX 360!!
    60+ houers and still playing!
    Blood,Fast Action,Many Wepons,Massive Combos,Story is **** but its not story you want from that kind of games.
    PURE FUN:)    … Expand
  4. JamesF.
    Jun 5, 2008
    9
    Wow and I thought the first one was hard. This entry into they series wont revolutionise anything but it is a faster paced game. The weapons Wow and I thought the first one was hard. This entry into they series wont revolutionise anything but it is a faster paced game. The weapons and moves little lone the enemies make it insane. That aside the difficulty and akward camera means this game isnt for every one but if you liked the first one you will most likely enjoy Ryu continuing adventure.… Expand
  5. NinjaDave
    Mar 16, 2017
    9
    I first got my Xbox 360 in 2007 and I had Bioshock but I didn't enjoy it at the time so I barley played it. a few months pass and I get NinjaI first got my Xbox 360 in 2007 and I had Bioshock but I didn't enjoy it at the time so I barley played it. a few months pass and I get Ninja Gaiden 2 as I loved the first one on the original Xbox.

    Ninja Gaiden 2 still holds up today. at first it seems like a hack and slash and that may get you through most of the game at first, its when you start playing the later levels and playing on a harder difficulty is where you realise that its a lot more than a hack and slash. The amount of weapons you get really keeps the gameplay fun and switching between then to slice tons of enemies at once is satisfying. The game is difficult but the combat and A,I are great so if you die, its your fault. Collecting the Skulls and beating the game on different difficulties with each weapon is also great for replay ability.

    If you still have a 360 and haven't played it just buy it. the price for this game is next to nothing and the game may come backwards compatible for the Xbox One so get it for if that happens as well. You can also get Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 for PS3 which is a different version of the game and is arguably better than the 360 version.

    If you're a fan of the Devil May Cry or God of War series you really need to play this game.    … Expand
  6. JacquesN.
    Sep 6, 2008
    8
    I really dont know where some people get the idea of this game being lame or boring. This game has a lot of interaction and makes you want to I really dont know where some people get the idea of this game being lame or boring. This game has a lot of interaction and makes you want to keep on playing even though the game is not forgiving. it is a serious challenge and hard to play but a lot of fun. great story and the camera is the only let down down how ever you get use to pressing the right trigger to reset the camera. problem solved. This is a really addictive game and can not be put down until finished.Not even because you want to finish it again with new weapons and new difficulty.… Expand
  7. JohnF.
    Jun 14, 2008
    7
    Some major problems with this game. The camera is every bit as bad as critics say it is, maybe even worse. It's the worst camera Some major problems with this game. The camera is every bit as bad as critics say it is, maybe even worse. It's the worst camera I've seen in years. The challenge often isn't fair and gets worse and worse as the game goes along. You'll be blindsided on a consistent basis by enemies who are outside of the camera. You'll be hit with fireballs, missiles, and whatever from enemies that are all the way across the screen while you are trying to fight hordes of enemies at melee range. You'll be hit and thrown to the ground by unblockable, unseeable attacks by one enemy while in combat with another enemy. Not to mention many of the enemies are extremely annoying as many of them explode when they die. You'll encounter some of the worst boss fights you'll ever see, with almost all of them sharing the same boring strategy and some of them including adds of those same missile-throwing exploding trash mobs. The game is not fun more often than not and doesn't compare in quality to its smooth, more polished predecessor. The game has a lot of cool combat qualities and fast action, so if you are looking for a challenge and don't mind being constantly bombarded with cheap shots, give this one a try. The higher difficulties in this game are about as hard as a video game gets, and only the very best and most patient will be able to complete the Master Ninja difficulty, so it is good for those looking to put their abilities to the test. But if you are the type that is easily annoyed and likes a fair fight, you might want to stay away.… Expand
  8. HansG.
    Jun 2, 2008
    0
    Just like SIgma, nothing new. Graphics look dull. Don't buy it, buy sigma.

See all 103 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2008
15
#15 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2008
33
#33 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2008