Ninja Gaiden 2
Team Ninja/Tecmo
Xbox 360
4 stars (out of 5)
Review by Simon Kemp
Titles like Ninja Gaiden 2 appeal to a certain type of gamer - the masochistic type.
The first Ninja Gaiden was the follow-up to a highly successful Xbox game, and the next generation version was one of the best presented action games on the Xbox 360.
It was also one of the most difficult.
It wasn't just a bit tricky in places, it was really hard. Really, really hard.
Throw the controller on the floor and sulk like a child hard.
But it wasn't unfairly difficult - if you spent time learning how to defeat a certain opponent, with practice, you could beat them.
This made progressing through the game, past seemingly invincible bosses, incredibly satisfying.
The good news is that Ninja Gaiden 2 is just as good to look at, incredibly violent (it easily justifies its R18 rating) and just as difficult.
You return as Ryu Hayabusa, a ninja warrior from a long line of ninja warriors, who's sole purpose in life is to prevent the destruction of the human race by power-crazed lunatics - normal day-to-day hero stuff.
From the moment the initial story setting cutscene finishes you are thrown head-first into the action.
There is a tutorial to get you started, and after that you're on your own.
Unlike many action games, the control system is easy to learn and a joy to use; two buttons for attack, one to defend and one, the Y button is used to deliver a final execution move to wounded enemies.
The graphics, especially the backgrounds, may not be up to the high standards of Devil May Cry 4 but most of the time you'll only notice this if you are watching someone else play; the action is so intense that your eyes will be permanently fixed on Ryu and the oncoming hoards.
Battling through the levels is tough, with the difficulty level increasing steeply as you progress though the game.
You have to fight on land, at sea and - at one point - in the air.
But the boss battles are where the real action is; from giant spiders and crazed werewolves to armoured armadillos, you have to fight them all - and none are easy!
One of the major improvements over the first game is that the save points are both more frequent and better placed.
There's always one just before a boss fight so if you die - and you will - you no longer have to repeat half a level to start again as you did in the original.
Unfortunately, the game is let down quite frequently by the camera.
Often when you are midway through a 10-man brawl the camera decides to shift to show you from below, or above, or anywhere apart from where you want it.
You get used to resetting the camera but it's an annoyance that shouldn't be there.
As is the fact that occasionally you find yourself being attacked by distant, unseen assailants who are able to damage you from afar with seemingly no comeback.
The game is hard enough without having to resort to underhand tactics.
Both of these take a little bit away from what is, flaws excepted, a very good, very difficult but very satisfying game.
