The Ninja Gaiden II Mega-Hype Thread (56k) | NEW: The Weapons of Ninja Gaiden II

Ninja Gaiden II Mega-Hype Thread

This thread is intended to be a spider-ninja-slaying, all-in-one thread for all things NGII. I will regularly update this topic with news, screenshots, videos, and other information as they arise.

Reviews:

(forthcoming)

Latest Updates:

May 13, 2008: 360 Spring Showcase trailer

• Lone Warrior

May 12, 2008: New NG2 videos galore!

• Elizebet Cinema
• Volf Cinema
• Alexei Cinema
• Genshin Cinema
• Muramasa Cinema
• Zedonius Cinema
• Joe Hayabusa Cinema

May 8, 2008: Three new gameplay videos released:

• Walkway Battle Gameplay Trailer
• Corridor Battle Gameplay Trailer
• Environmental Showcase: Venice

Apr. 10, 2008: New reader Q&A from IGN; lots of good info: link.

Apr. 5, 2008: New section added: The Weapons of Ninja Gaiden II! Check it out to see the badass tools in Ryu's repertoire.

Apr. 4, 2008: New video released featuring never-before-seen character Sonia. link

Apr. 3, 2008: Birth of the Ninja

Latest News:

Mar. 27, 2008: Ninja Gaiden II demo coming in May source

Quick Facts:

Developer: Team Ninja

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios

Genre: Action/Adventure

Platform: Xbox 360

ESRB Rating: M for mature

Check it out:

• the-very-best's Grand Theft Auto IV Kickass Hype Thread!
• The Metal Gear Solid 4 Mega-Hype Thread

Table of Contents

I. Overview

II. Videos

III. Screenshots

IV. The Weapons of Ninja Gaiden II

Overview

What is it?

Ninja Gaiden II is the latest installment in a long-running series of action-packed slash fests. You are Ryu Hayabusa, a lone ninja who single-handedly took on the Vigoorian empire and shattered the Dark Dragon Blade which was stolen from your clan. The game is developed by famed designer Tomonobu Itagaki and his Team Ninja development studio.Born into a new console generation, Ninja Gaiden 2 will focus on enhancing the viscerality and intensity of combat by speeding up the gameplay and turning up the gore. To put it succinctly, where Ryu treads, heads will fall.

What is the setting of the game?

Ninja Gaiden II is set in a fantasy world based on real-world locations where traditional Japanese settings clash with modern Western elements. From beautiful, feng shui vistas to medieval European castles, from dark, haunted caverns to dazzling New York City, Ninja Gaiden II is an almagamation of East and West, modern and ancient, that reflects a truly unique environment.

What is the story?

The story of Ninja Gaiden 2 revolves around a feud between the Hayabusa clan and a rival clan led by a man named Genshin. Genshin is a ruthless leader who doesn't hesitate to execute his own underlings for failing a mission. Ryu Hayabusa must take down Genshin and preserve the sacred honor of his clan.

When will it be released?

Ninja Gaiden II will be released on June 3, 2008.

What's the gameplay like?

Following the tradition of its predecessor on the Xbox, Ninja Gaiden 2 will offer a skillful, rather than brute-force gameplay experience through a refined control scheme and a vast variety of movesets masterable through an array of precise button combinations. In this game, timing will be everything. The central design philosophy of Ninja Gaiden is that every enemy is out to kill you, no matter its rank or skill level. In Ninja Gaiden II, enemies will be more fearsome than ever before--maimed Black Spider Ninjas will grab onto you as they're about to die and blow themselves up to damage you. Surviving this epic adventure will require eagle-eyed observation of your enemy's movements and behavior, tactical maneuvering, and an ability to strike at the opportune moment without hesitation.

Key gameplay features:

• Presentation. 60 frames per second, don't-blink-or-you'll-die, lightning-fast action.
• Combat. An expansive and scalable combination-based combat system that emphasizes timing and skill.
• Finish Him. New "obliteration techniques" allow you to slice and dice your enemies beyond recognition.
• Gear. New equipment, such as bladed boots to increase your lethality.
• Toys. Clas*sic weapons like the Dragon Blade, the bow, and the lunar return, along with additions like the twin blades (Dragon's Claw and Tiger's Fang) from Ninja Gaiden Sigma.
• Newer and Deadlier. All-new weapons, many of them unconventional, including the sythe, the tonfas, the talons, and the kusarigama.
• Customization. Four difficulty levels, from easiest to hardest: Path of the Acolyte, Path of the Warrior, Path of the Mentor, and Path of the Master Ninja.
• Enemies. Smart enemy AI and enemy combinations that will test your ability to predict their movements.
• Gore. Enemy body parts stay visible on the ground after you've chopped them up.
• Health Regeneration. A new health system akin to Halo's that allows a limited amount of health restoration for a more seemless gameplay experience and less health item scavenging.
• Variety. A myriad of different stages with varied environments. Revealed stages include: Sky City Tokyo, Castle of the Dragon, Lightning Necropolis, Captive Goddess, Lifeblood Shrine, Niflheim, Northern Purgatory, Aqua Capital, and the Temple of Sacrifice.
• Community. A new Master Ninja Tournament provides a fresh opportunity to Master Ninjas to display their skills to one another.
• Shared Experience. An all-new recording feature allows players to capture their most brutal moments and upload them to Xbox Live.
• Magic. All new ninpo attacks, such as a wind-based one that slices your foes with gusts of air, make Ryu more unstoppable than ever. Enemies will react in pain to certain attacks (i.e. running in circles when on fire).

Resources:

• Ninja Gaiden II Official Site
• Ninja Gaiden Campus Tour

Videos

• Sonia Debut Cutscene: SD
• TGS Teaser: SD | HD
  
• Day of the Ninja Trailer: SD | HD
  
• Day of the Ninja Trailer 2: SD | HD
  
• Day of the Ninja Trailer 3: SD | HD
  
• Day of the Ninja Trailer 4: SD | HD
  
• Tomonobu Itagaki Interview: SD | HD
  
• Claws Gameplay: SD | HD
  
• GDC 2008: The Temple of Sacrifice: SD | HD
  
• Courtyard Gameplay: SD | HD
  
• GDC 2008: On Stage Gameplay Demo: SD | HD

*credit dadodil on GT forums for links

Screenshots

Click the thumbnails for full-screen images

Added April 3

Prior to April 3

The Weapons of Ninja Gaiden II

NG II will feature a host of weapons with which to mutilate your foes, each with a specific moveset so that players can master them individually. Versatility is one of Ryu's greatest assets, and players would be wise to harness it. But beware: each weapon has its own strengths and weaknesses, so take care when choosing which tools to use against different enemies.

• The Dragon Sword

Swift and precise, the Dragon Sword is Ryu's most trustworthy weapon and is useful in almost every situation. When in doubt, rely on this weapon. The Dragon Sword also supports one of Ryu's most diverse movesets.

• Dragon's Claw and Tiger's Fang

While slower than the Dragon Sword, Dragon Claw and Tiger's Fang are good for clearing crowds of smaller enemies, and for pulling off moves like the Izuna Drop. Plus they look straight-up badass.

• Eclipse Sythe

The sythe is undoubtedly one of the most brutal weapons in the game. A curved blade attached on the end of an extended handle, this weapon allows Ryu to lop off any protruding body part with ease.

• Falcon's Talons

The Falcon's Talons are claw-like weapons that Ryu can wield dual-handed. The relatively short length of these tools means that Ryu must get up and personal with his foes--a dangerous requirement given the skill and lethality of the enemies he has to face. The upside of the talons is that they allow Ryu to move extremely quickly, and their associated obliteration technique looks positively sadistic.

• The Lunar Staff
  

The Lunar is a pole weapon with dual spears on the ends when fully upgraded. While harder to defend with, its combinations are virtually unstoppable once initiated. The lunar in Ninja Gaiden II is slower and heavier than its Ninja Gaiden Black counterpart, but more powerful and devastating per stroke.

• The Tonfas

The Tonfas are baton-like weapons that Ryu can use to batter his enemies senseless. Like the talons, Ryu must get near his enemies in order to use the tonfas effectively. However, the tonfas are sturdier and pack more blunt force than the talons.

• Fiend's Bane Bow
  

Modelled after the Strong Bow in Ninja Gaiden Xbox, the Fiend's Bane Bow and arrows are useful for knocking down mounted enemies or eliminating distant targets.

• The Bladed Boots

Somebody's head in your way? Don't politely ask them to sit down, just kick it off.

• The Kusari-gama

The Kusari-gama is a short sythe on a chain, balanced by a spiked weight on the other end. Traditionally, the chain was used to entangle the opponent's sword or spear, and then the user would rush in with the sythe and finish the job. But Ryu Hayabusa is able to swing both ends while grabbing the middle, a technique that only a master Kusari-gama user can pull off.

• The Shuriken (not pictured)

Shuriken are throwing stars that Ryu keeps handy. Weak but fast, these projectiles are primarily used for taking down smaller flying foes or for disrupting the movement of larger enemies prior to a combination from Ryu's primary weapon.

• The Incendiary Shuriken (not pictured)

The incendiary shuriken are a modified version of the shuriken with a timed explosive tip

• The Gatling Spear Gun (not pictured)

The Gatling Spear Gun fires exploding projectile spears, though its ammunition is underpowered compared to Ryu's main weapons.

I'm definetly getting the game..still Ryu Hyabusa doesn't look right with a scythe. Not very ninja like, ya know?

TC, I deleted my first post. You should've typed it all out and previewed it first before posting.

Woo!

Picking up Black on VC, before I get this.

Looking god.

Needs Ninja Dog difficulty, for people like me :D

I'm definetly getting the game..still Ryu Hyabusa doesn't look right with a scythe. Not very ninja like, ya know?

TC, I deleted my first post. You should've typed it all out and previewed it first before posting.

majadamus

Naw, it's b/c gamespot doesn't let you reply immediately over two times. So if you post twice, you have to wait a minute before posting again.

That means that if I want to reserve 5 or 6 slots, I have to have a short period of time when no one replies in order to have my posts all link up. It's a hassle, I know. But thanks for doing that.

Thanks for deleting your replies, aka_aj03 and majadamus :)fuzzysquash

Best action game ever.

period.

Looking god.

Needs Ninja Dog difficulty, for people like me :D

Pietrooper

Path of the Acolyte is supposed to be easier than Ninja Dog.

[QUOTE="Pietrooper"]

Looking god.

Needs Ninja Dog difficulty, for people like me :D

Sparky04

Path of the Acolyte is supposed to be easier than Ninja Dog.

Day....one....purchase....

And that is saying a lot for B^2.

Day....one....purchase....

And that is saying a lot for B^2.

Blackbond

What is B^2?

Another great thread! :)

However, this game doesn't really interest me. It barely differs from the previous game - nothing about it really makes me giddy. I may pick up some somewhere down the line.

[QUOTE="Blackbond"]

Day....one....purchase....

And that is saying a lot for B^2.

Cute_Red_Panda

What is B^2?

• BlackBond
• B^2
• B-Squared
• BB
• B2

What I loved about the first game was that it seemed impossible at first but once you learn how to play it you can beat it without losing hardly any energy and then you learn how to beat it while doing awesome combos but losing a lot of energy then finally you can do awesome combos without losing hardly any energy.

I would feel these moments of exultation in the first game I have never gotten out of any other game. Usually when I had the flails wrecking stuff.

Thanks for the hard work Fuzzy.

What I loved about the first game was that it seemed impossible at first but once you learn how to play it you can beat it without losing hardly any energy and then you learn how to beat it while doing awesome combos but losing a lot of energy then finally you can do awesome combos without losing hardly any energy.

I would feel these moments of exultation in the first game I have never gotten out of any other game. Usually when I had the flails wrecking stuff.

Thanks for the hard work Fuzzy.

JiveT

you should add the pictures in this thread new NG2 pics

direct link to pics: http://www.jeux-france.com/blog_Blakguy_2

you should add the pictures in this thread new NG2 pics

direct link to pics: http://www.jeux-france.com/blog_Blakguy_2

opex07

[QUOTE="Cute_Red_Panda"]What is B^2?

Blackbond

• BlackBond
• B^2
• B-Squared
• BB
• B2

:P

after what happened to dmc4 I'd go with 8.5.Shinobishyguy

Ninja Gaiden Sigma got AAA status and it was just an HD version of Ninja Gaiden Black. Ninja Gaiden II is just...action perfected.

looks very averageC_BozkurT_C

you must be new to gameing, NG is anything but average

btw this game looks great

[QUOTE="Blackbond"][QUOTE="Cute_Red_Panda"]What is B^2?

II-FBIsniper-II

• BlackBond
• B^2
• B-Squared
• BB
• B2

:P

and hes speaking in the third person. someone thinks his video game account is online royalty or something lol.

Do you even own a 360 fuzzy?therealmcc0y

lol, of course I do.

I wouldn't make a thread to hype a game and get myself excited only to tease myself for not having the console capable of playing that game, would? :P

[QUOTE="fuzzysquash"]Thanks for deleting your replies, aka_aj03 and majadamus :)aka_aj03

Fuzzy for Mod! :P.

[QUOTE="fuzzysquash"]Thanks for deleting your replies, aka_aj03 and majadamus :)aka_aj03

haha, naw, I could never be a mod.

Mods have to be "neutral"...or at refrain from saying certain things b/c they have to at least appear to be neutral. Also, they put up with a ton of crap from posters, even though they're volunteering their own time to help the community.

I appreciate their service, but I could never join their ranks.

XD

Fuzzy does it again. Getting us all hype for games that are far away:cry:

Games looks gret btw. Can't wait to try it out. Hopefully there will be a 360 price drop over the summer. I'll still get to it though.