Ninja Gaiden II

Ninja Gaiden II is the sequel to Ninja Gaiden released worldwide on Xbox 360 in June, 2008. It was developed by Team Ninja and published by Microsoft Game Studios, marking the first time a Team Ninja developed game was not published by Tecmo. While sharing the same number as the Nintendo Entertainment System game Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos, it is not a conversion of that older title. The game will not be released in Germany, due to lack of a USK rating.

Gameplay

Ninja Gaiden II keeps most of the core elements of its predecessor, Ninja Gaiden. Protagonist Ryu Hayabusa (voiced by Josh Keaton) engages the world in a third person over-the-shoulder perspective, beginning the game with basic, low-level abilities and weapons that can be upgraded as he progresses by discovering or buying items. Ryu can interact with the game environment by running along and jumping off walls, swinging from pole to pole, or running across water. Unlike its predecessor, which used a city designated as a hub, Ryu travels around the world, ranging from New York, Tokyo, the familiar Hayabusa Village, the Aqua Capital (with an environment similar to the canals of Venice), and regions of non-human origins, such as the Northern Purgatory, Lifeblood Shrine and Niflheim in a progressive stage-by-stage setting, reminiscent of the style of the original Ninja Gaiden platformers. Aside from fighting enemies, Ryu will need to find keys and solve puzzles in the various environments, so as to progress through the game.

In-game cut scenes serves as the narrative to the story, and dragon busts can be used to save player progress, permitting gameplay to be resumed at a later time. Certain busts enable the player to record films of gameplay and upload the videos onto Xbox LIVE for users to download and watch. Ninja Gaiden II uses the same scoring system, based on the player’s speed in clearing encounters, the number of kills achieved, the number of unused magic spells (or ninpos) remaining at the end, and the amount of essence collected. Players can compare their scores on online ranking boards.

The Story Mode for Ninja Gaiden II consists of four difficulties: Path Of The Acolyte being the easiest, followed by Path Of The Warrior, Path Of The Mentor, and Path Of The Master Ninja being the hardest.

Combat system

Ninja Gaiden II’s new combat system allows Ryu to dismember his enemies, severing their limbs and tearing their bodies apart. Compared to Ninja Gaiden, the sequel contains more gore and graphic violence. Dismemberment will weaken or immobilize an enemy, depending on if an arm or leg is severed, but not necessarily kill them. In fact, an injured enemy will be prone to use suicide tactics such as pinning you down and planting an incendiary shuriken on you, forcing the player to quickly finish off his opponents using new, brutal Obliteration Techniques before they can get the upper hand.This new mechanic can also be triggered in the presence of boss characters.

Aside from his standard melee techniques, Ryu can absorb nearby essences in combat. These colored globes of energy are released from the bodies of slain enemies, and absorbed into Ryu’s body when he comes into proximity with them. Essences have an important role towards general gameplay, acting to heal Ryu, restore his ki, or increase his cash. However, the player can cause Ryu to deliberately draw in essences, which can then be used to unleash powerful attacks known as Ultimate Techniques. For Ryu’s defense, Ryu can stand still and attempt to block attacks, though enemies can break his guard, leaving him vulnerable to attack, or dodge by dashing away in a maneuver called “reverse wind”.

Ryu will use his signature Dragon Sword in combat, but new weapons, such as the Eclipse Scythe, Blade Tonfas, Kusari-gama and the Falcon’s Talons, will allow the player more variety in enemy encounters. Ryu’s new magical spells, in the form of ninpos, includes the Art of Phoenix Flames and the Art of Piercing Void. However, previous weapons and ninpo from Ninja Gaiden will return, in the form of the Lunar Staff and the Vigoorian Flails. The returning Windmill Shuriken and bow, renamed the Fiend’s Bane Bow, can now draw in essences like all of Ryu’s melee weapons.

Story

Six months after Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword, master blacksmith Muramasa is setting up shop in Tokyo. A CIA agent named Sonia enters the place and asks for Ryu Hayabusa’s whereabouts, until members of the Black Spider Ninja Clan attack the shop and kidnap her. Enter the Dragon Ninja Ryu, who fails to stop Sonia’s kidnapping and makes haste around the Tokyo skyscrapers and rescues the agent, who informs him of an attack on the Hayabusa Village by the Black Spider Ninjas, who wish to steal the Demon Statue they possess and protect. Ryu returns to his home and finds his father, Joe Hayabusa dueling with Genshin, leader of the Black Spider Ninja Clan. Unfortunately, the Demon Statue is taken away by Queen of the Greater Fiends and the Ruler of Blood, Elizébet, and Joe urges his son to retrieve the statue at all costs. Ryu travels around the world with Sonia, in pursuit of Elizébet and the Demon Statue, while encountering legions of Black Spider Ninjas, Fiends and three other Greater Fiends: Alexei, the Graceful Ruler of Lightning; Volf, the Invincible Ruler of Storms; and Zedonius, the Malevolent Ruler of Flame.

Ryu tracks Elizébet down to South America, who offers the Demon Statue to Infernal High Priest Dagra Dai, in order to resurrect the ancient Archfiend, Vazdah. Elizébet duels with Ryu and he defeats her, but Elizébet proclaims her return. An overlooking Genshin explains the Archfiend will emerge from Mount Fuji back in Japan and states that is the place where Ryu shall die. Ryu returns home, cautioning Sonia not to follow him. As Ryu overlooks the fire-brimming Mount Fuji, Ayane enters with the Eye of the Dragon, a gift from Joe Hayabusa, and Ryu equips the relic onto his Dragon Sword, forming the True Dragon Sword again. Heading to the mountain’s summit, Ryu finds Genshin waiting for him at the crater’s entrance and the two ninjas fight to the death. Genshin falls and Ryu leaps into Mount Fuji.

Ryu fights past hordes of Fiends and singlehandedly defeats Alexei, Volf and Zedonius, and rescues a captured Sonia. Even a resurrected Genshin returns, transformed into a Fiend, but Ryu easily dispatches him. The mortally wounded Genshin hands him the cursed Blade of the Archfiend to use, and dies without regret for having allied with the Fiends. A furious Elizébet appears, and chastises the Black Spider Ninja for losing, even with his power and Ryu finishes her off, claiming the overlord had more to live for than she ever will. Traveling deeper into the mountain, Ryu confronts Dagra Dai, who is nearly finished with the Archfiend’s resurrection. Ryu confronts Dagra Dai, defeating him. As a last resort, the Infernal High Priest offers his life to Vazdah, and the Archfiend is reborn. Ryu takes down the monstrosity and heads to the surface with Sonia, but a drop of his blood from an open wound accidentally spills on the fiend and revitalizes Vazdah, who ascends to the summit in its true form. Amidst an erupting Mount Fuji, Ryu squares off with the Archfiend in a climatic duel to decide humanity’s fate and wins.

In a post-credits scene, amongst a field with countless number of blades embedded into the ground, Ryu plants Genshin’s Blade of the Archfiend into the ground and bows in respect for the Black Spider Ninja. The Dragon Ninja takes one last look before taking off into the fog.

The retcon story is then continued by the NES series: Ninja Gaiden (NES), Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos and Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom.

Characters

Humans

Ryu Hayabusa

Joe Hayabusa

The father of Ryu Hayabusa, Joe has returned from training in distant lands to resume his duties as the leader of the Hayabusa Ninja Clan, only to be injured in one of his many battles against the forces of evil. He lays in rest at his home in the Castle of the Dragon, unaware that the evil shadow of the Black Spider Ninja Clan slowly descends upon the Hayabusa Village. He is voiced by Keone Young.

Genshin

Overlord of the Black Spider Ninja Clan, Genshin’s lust for power is matched only by his hatred of the Dragon lineage. Hoping to gain an upper hand in the struggle for ninja superiority, Genshin enters into an uneasy allegiance with the Fiends. He will stop at nothing to destroy Ryu and put an end to their clans’ centuries-old feud once and for all. He is voiced by Neil Kaplan.

Sonia

A CIA agent, Sonia is searching for Ryu to help him stop the Black Spider Ninja Clan from obtaining the Demon Statue, posessed by the Hayabusa Ninja Clan, to resurrect the Archfiend. She is voiced by Kari Wahlgren.

Muramasa

A legendary blacksmith, Muramasa returns from Ninja Gaiden and Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword to aid Ryu by providing weapons, items and upgrades in person or via statues of himself. Muramasa himself is aware of the events surrounding the Archfiend and personally joins the fight against the Black Spider Ninja Clan and the Fiends. Despite his old age, Muramasa is shown to be a master swordsman who can dispatch a group of ninjas with no harm to himself. He is voiced by Paul Eiding.

Fiends

Elizébet

The Ruler of Blood and Queen of the Greater Fiends, Elizébet is tasked with retrieving an important ancient artifact from the ancestral Hayabusa Village, setting into motion the events that threatens the very existence of mankind. Her name and title suggests she is derived from Elizabeth Bathory, also known as the “Blood Queen”. She is voiced by Grey DeLisle.

Volf

The Ruler of Storms and one of the Four Greater Fiends, Volf is a vicious, four-armed warrior who seeks an opponent worthy of himself. He and his Lycanthrope underlings have taken over the canal-lined streets of the tranquil Aqua Capital, as he sits on his throne in the castle above, waiting for the one who can defeat him. In his battles with Ryu, he wields a large two-handed scythe. He is voiced by Daran Norris.

Alexei

The Ruler of Lightning and one of the Four Greater Fiends, Alexei’s hatred for humankind knows no bounds. He has taken the city of New York in his evil grasp and waits perched atop the Statue of Liberty, challenging Ryu Hayabusa to come and face him. He is voiced by Robin Atkin Downes.

Zedonius

The Ruler of Flame and one of the four Greater Fiends, Zedonius has nothing but contempt for human life, often addressing them as “apes” and “monkeys”. He descends upon the capital of a once-great military superpower, threatening humanity with an ultimatum: submit to the will of the Fiends or die. Ryu must ascend the city’s clock tower to put an end to his fearsome reign. According to Zedonius, it was he who bestowed the gift of fire upon humans centuries ago. He is voiced by Steven Blum.

Dagra Dai

Originally a human philosopher, Dagra Dai gazed into the eyes of the Archfiend Vazdah and became a Fiend himself. Now known as the Infernal High Priest, he has taken leadership of the Greater Fiends and waits patiently for the Demon Statue he needs to resurrect the Archfiend. He is voiced by Peter Renaday.

Vazdah

One of the ancient and calamitous Archfiends, Vazdah and its Greater Fiends were sealed beneath the earth by the Dragons millenia ago. Now, with the aid of its servant Dagra Dai, the destructive creature stirs beneath sacred Mount Fuji. In-game texts suggest Vazdah is somehow related to Vigoor.

Ninja Gaiden II Unlockables

Achievements

Complete each achievement to get the allotted gamerscore.

Unlockable	How to Unlock
Mastered Reverse Wind (5)	Successfully performed the Revers Wind Technique
Mastered Furious Wind (5)	Successfully performed the Furious Wind Technique
Mastered Shadowless Footsteps (5)	Successfully performed the Shadowless Footsteps Technique
Mastered Flying Swallow (5)	Successfully performed the Flying Swallow Technique
Mastered Flying Bird Flip (5)	Successfully performed the Flying Bird Flip Technique
Mastered Obliteration Technique (5)	Successfully performed the Obliteration Technique
Mastered Ultimate Technique (5)	Successfully performed the Ultimate Technique
Mastered Ultimate Guidance (5)	Successfully performed the Ultimate Guidance Technique
Mastered Counter Attack (5)	Successfully performed the Counter Attack Technique
Mastered Unrivaled Soaring (5)	Successfully performed the Ultimate Soaring Technique
Mastered Invisible Path (5)	Successfully performed the Invisible Path Technique
The Art Of Inferno (5)	Successfully performed the Art of the Inferno Ninpo
The Art of the Wind Blades (5)	Successfully performed the Art of the Wind Blades Ninpo
The Art of the Flame Phoenix (5)	Successfully performed the Art of the Flame Phoenix Ninpo
The Art of the Piercing Void (5)	Successfully performed the Art of the Piercing Void Ninpo
Vanquished Alexei (15)	Defeat Alexei in battle
Vanquished Volf (15)	Defeat Volf in battle
Vanquished Zedonius (15)	Defeat Zedonius in battle
Vanquished Elizébet (15)	Defeat Elizébet in battle
Vanquished Genshin (15)	Defeat Genshin in battle
Way of the Acolyte (100)	Complete the game on the Path of the Acolyte
Way of the Warrior (100)	Complete the game on the Path of the Warrior
Way of the Mentor (100)	Complete the game on the Path of the Mentor
Way of the Master Ninja (100)	Complete the game on the Path of the Master Ninja
Karma of the Warrior (20)	Obtain 10 Crystal Skully
Karma of the Mentor (20)	Obtain 20 Crystal Skulls
Karma of the Master Ninja (20)	Obtain all of the Crystal Skulls
Feat of a hundred Slashes (20)	Achieve a 100-hit combo with any weapon
Feat of a Thousand Obliterations (20)	Defeat 1000 enemies using Obliteration Techniques
Feat of Ultimate Destruction (20)	Defeat 1000 enemies using Ultimate Techniques
Dragon Sword Master (5)	Complete the game using only the Dragon Sword
Lunar Staff Master (5)	Complete the game using only the Lunar Staff
Falcon’s Talons Master (5)	Complete the game using only the Falcon’s Talons
Dual Katana Master (5)	Complete the game using only the Dragons Claw and Tigers Fang
Kusari-gama Master (5)	Complete the game using only the Kusari-gama
Eclipse Scythe Master (5)	Complete the game using only the Eclipse Scythe
Tonfa Master (5)	Complete the game using only the Tonfa
Vigoorian Flail Master (5)	Complete the game using only the Vigoorian Flail
Finished Chapter 1 (10)	Finished Chapter 1, “Sky City Tokyo”
Finished Chapter 2 (10)	Finished Chapter 2, “The Castle of the Dragon.”
One of White (15)	Purified the site of the the first Test of Valor.
Finished Chapter 3 (10)	Finished Chapter 3, “Thunderclap of Catastrophe.”
Two of Black (15)	Purified the sit of the the second Test of Valor.
Three Of Blue (15G)	Beat the third Test of Valor
Four Of Green (15G)	Beat the fourth Test of Valor
Five Of Yellow (15G)	Beat the fifth Test of Valor
Six Of White (15G)	Beat the sixth Test of Valor
Seven Of Red (15G)	Beat the seventh Test of Valor
Eight Of White (15G)	Beat the eight Test of Valor
Nine Of Violet (15G)	Beat the last Test of Valor
Completed Chapter 5 (10G)	Clear Chapter 5, The Aqua Capita
Completed Chapter 7 (10G)	Clear Chapter 7, The Flying Fortress Daedalus
Completed Chapter 9 (10G)	Clear Chapter 9, Heart of Darkness
Extinguished The Flame (15G)	Defeat Zedonius for the second time
Silenced The Storm (15G)	Defeat Volf for the second time
Diffused The Lightening (15G)	Defeat Alexei for the second time
Staunched The Blood (15G)	Defeat Elizébet for the second time
Ended The Infernal Reign (15G)	Defeat High Infernal Priest, Dagra Dai
Redeemed Genshin (15G)	Defeat Genshin for the last time
Indomitable Spirit (5G)	Choose to continue the game 100 times.

Unlockables

Unlockable	How to Unlock
Old Film Filter	Beat the game.
Red Ninja Outfit	Complete the game on Acolyte
Camoflauge Ninja Outfit	Complete the game on Warrior
Gamerpic.	Collect all 30 crystal skulls
Black Jaguar Costume	Complete Path of Mentor
Music Test	Clear the game on any difficulty
Golden Ninja Costume	Complete the game on Path of The Master Ninja
Gamerpic of Ryu	Complete the game on Path of the Master Ninja
Path of the Mentor	Beat Path of the Warrior
Path of the Master Ninja	Beat Path of the Mentor