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Taking after Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw I've decided to start reviewing games that I have played in the past. So without further ado let's get to it.
Ninja Gaiden 2 is the sequel to Tecmo's re-envisioning of the original NES game of the same name. The fact that this is a sequel is a change from Tecmo's earlier strategy of remaking the remake of an old game. And while I'm on the subject I will be comparing this instalment to Ninja Gaiden: Black, which I can't play since my XBox is currently bricked.
The reason this is a first impression than a full review is because I only had one hour with the game on a pay-to-play ticket at the Virtual Ambush gaming lounge in Asheville, NC. Since I only had one hour I was determined to get as far as I could which turned out to be to the second chapter, but in that time I noted quite a few improvements to the old formula from previous installments.
Firstly, the load times that plagued the first game and ruined the pacing have been ironed out making game play very smooth and fluid when moving from one area to the next. The beginning of the game is very well put together and accessible to both newcomers and veterans alike. Ryu's abilities, powers, and techniques are introduced in quick succession and are short and to the point without being uninformative, this is a relief for the ninja masters and sufferers of ADHD (like myself) who won't be furiously ramming on the buttons ranting, "I beat the game on Hard mode I know how to [censored] block!!!!"
Dismemberment makes a gloriously bloody return, only this time the gore factor has been cranked up to level ten. In addition to the instant kill decapitation you can now hack off the arms and legs of the hapless victims in your path. But don't relax just yet. Just because Generic Ninja #24 can't play the piano or kick a ball anymore doesn't mean he's any less deadly. Your adversaries will change their attack patterns depending on which limb is currently missing and resort to kamikaze attacks which do a surprising amount of damage. This new addition to combat adds a whole new dimension to Ninja Gaiden's already impressive combat system.
On a purely cosmetic note, I thought it was awesome that Tecmo added blood decals on the weapons. Now when you kill a number of enemies your equipped weapon becomes covered in blood and you are given the choice whether to clean it off or leave it on to get that crazed killer feel to it.
In short, what little time I had with NG2 I enjoyed immensely and has made me consider making room on my game shelf.
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