Don't ask us how, but we managed to lay our hands on the coveted Ninja Gaiden II demo today. Sure, we could have used it solely for selfish purposes. We could have kept it to ourselves to play over and over again (which, come to think of it, we already have). But no! Rather than hog the demo, we've encapsulated our impressions in a new episode of X3F TV. Check out our impressions in the video above (hint: Ninja Gaiden fans will be pleased).
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Thanks for the video, Richard. I'm glad they upgraded the weapons, the bow & arrow in particular. I never had a problem with the camera from the 1st one to be honest, so this should be great!
I never played ninja gaiden on xbox (was a big fan of the SNES 1-3 tho). I was always under the impression that it was one of the best games out there, I just never even looked into it ebcause it was so old by the time I got my xbox and was really only playing halo at the time.
This is my first time watching actual gameplay and im extremely dissapointed. I was expecting some sort of game which would be like the originals. Instead Im seeing kill 4-8 enemies, advance to next area, rinse repeat. All with a combat system that looks like I would be playing 99 nights except with less focus on numbers and more focus on the limbs/animations and killings.
Im not even looking forward to downloading the demo now :(
You go into a room with 4 enemies, each of which can easily kill you if you let your guard down. You have to constantly block, while trying to find an opening in their defenses so that you can strike. It's alot more skill based than people tend to give it credit for.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but this footage was shot in the "Acolyte" mode right? Sometimes it seemed like they were giving you a little too much time to charge up the special attacks. If I'm wrong, then maybe the difficulty in the demo is designed not to destroy the players sense of ability, and help them sell the game (couldn't blame them for that).
Kinda jealous that you guys managed to find your way around the region lock. Tons of Americans with Japanese accounts tried to download the demo, only to be told that they can't (did Microsoft implement some new Reverse-DNS region checking to make sure a Japanese person is really Japanese? If so, why the trouble?). Oh well, only a few more days to wait. Thanks guys.
Let me tell you, its not that easy in hard mode. Even with the health regen system, you don't even feel it. In any given room, there are about 6+ enemies that will destroy you, like a previous poster said, if you don't block. Having the full version, I will say that the bosses aren't that bad, died a couple of times though. It's a pretty wild experience. Haven't really run into any problems. Definitely a challenge.
As posted above, only the Easy difficulty mode is available in the demo (I couldn't even access hard after multiple playthroughs), so I'm not sure how smart the AI *really* is. I can say that enemies will definitely attack you from behind and interrupt your combos. They will also pelt you with shurikens from long distance.
One change is that you can still charge Ultimate Techniques while taking damage. Which is good, because doing the instant karma grab when landing from a jump is much harder this time around.
I can tell you that even in hard mode your charges sometimes will not be interrupted. Doesn't happen a lot but on occasion, there have been times in which I have been hit from nearly 5 enemies yet somehow I mange to pull off a Ultimate Technique thus saving my behind. I'm not sure how it works, but I do know that, at the time, I was not holding the Y button down for long, yet I manage to pull of the UT.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Zoot Suit Jedi @ May 30th 2008 8:39PM
Nice piece Richard.
Now. Where ise ze demo?
Xav de Matos @ May 30th 2008 10:49PM
Should be hitting Xbox Live next week.
ryan @ May 30th 2008 8:42PM
oh, lol. i just gave my impressions in your other topic.
The HolyKoraan @ May 30th 2008 8:48PM
Thanks for the video, Richard. I'm glad they upgraded the weapons, the bow & arrow in particular. I never had a problem with the camera from the 1st one to be honest, so this should be great!
webster1990 @ May 30th 2008 8:54PM
whats up with the graphics, there are next to no textures on anything.
Xav de Matos @ May 30th 2008 10:48PM
To be fair our video capturing isn't the hottest around.
mike @ May 30th 2008 8:55PM
I never played ninja gaiden on xbox (was a big fan of the SNES 1-3 tho). I was always under the impression that it was one of the best games out there, I just never even looked into it ebcause it was so old by the time I got my xbox and was really only playing halo at the time.
This is my first time watching actual gameplay and im extremely dissapointed. I was expecting some sort of game which would be like the originals. Instead Im seeing kill 4-8 enemies, advance to next area, rinse repeat. All with a combat system that looks like I would be playing 99 nights except with less focus on numbers and more focus on the limbs/animations and killings.
Im not even looking forward to downloading the demo now :(
Astral_Vapor @ May 30th 2008 9:33PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlbU_R7e8Vc&feature=related
dont they play the same????
BananaBoat @ May 30th 2008 11:33PM
You've got it wrong...
You go into a room with 4 enemies, each of which can easily kill you if you let your guard down. You have to constantly block, while trying to find an opening in their defenses so that you can strike. It's alot more skill based than people tend to give it credit for.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but this footage was shot in the "Acolyte" mode right? Sometimes it seemed like they were giving you a little too much time to charge up the special attacks. If I'm wrong, then maybe the difficulty in the demo is designed not to destroy the players sense of ability, and help them sell the game (couldn't blame them for that).
Kinda jealous that you guys managed to find your way around the region lock. Tons of Americans with Japanese accounts tried to download the demo, only to be told that they can't (did Microsoft implement some new Reverse-DNS region checking to make sure a Japanese person is really Japanese? If so, why the trouble?). Oh well, only a few more days to wait. Thanks guys.
Insomnious @ May 31st 2008 7:31AM
Repetitive? Yes.
Fun? Very yes.
Addictive? Well, I constantly played the original through a torrent of dirty disc errors, replaying the same unsaved sections and loved it.
Seriously, give it a shot, at least. Defeating an entire group of enemies is very satisfying.
Any word on achievements?
Richard Mitchell @ May 31st 2008 12:19PM
Yes, it was on the Path of the Acolyte mode. Path of the Warrior is shown on the title screen, but it won't let you select it.
I really, *really* wish I could have played it on the normal difficulty at least, but I guess they figured it would turn too many people off.
Ed @ May 30th 2008 9:29PM
Gah! Why didn't they fix the freak'n camera!
ryan @ May 31st 2008 1:28AM
ain't nothing wrong with the camera dude:
http://blogs.pcworld.com/gameon/archives/007014.html
waynski1457 @ May 30th 2008 9:38PM
I feel like such a tool asking, but can anyone here who has the demo please send me a recommendation on live for it? My gt: Monkeyz Rool.
I really wanna play it!! *tear*
Xav de Matos @ May 30th 2008 10:49PM
It's only available via the Japanese Xbox Live Marketplace right now.
ryan @ May 31st 2008 1:30AM
it's actually locked for everyone right now. i'm hearing even people with IP addresses in Japan can't download it. : (
KingOfGods @ May 31st 2008 12:17PM
It's only available to gold members in Japan. That's why no one with a fake japan account can download it, they are all silver.
Adorada @ May 30th 2008 11:52PM
Let me tell you, its not that easy in hard mode. Even with the health regen system, you don't even feel it. In any given room, there are about 6+ enemies that will destroy you, like a previous poster said, if you don't block. Having the full version, I will say that the bosses aren't that bad, died a couple of times though. It's a pretty wild experience. Haven't really run into any problems. Definitely a challenge.
Peff @ May 31st 2008 12:56AM
Hey Rich, hows the AI?
Richard Mitchell @ May 31st 2008 12:22PM
As posted above, only the Easy difficulty mode is available in the demo (I couldn't even access hard after multiple playthroughs), so I'm not sure how smart the AI *really* is. I can say that enemies will definitely attack you from behind and interrupt your combos. They will also pelt you with shurikens from long distance.
One change is that you can still charge Ultimate Techniques while taking damage. Which is good, because doing the instant karma grab when landing from a jump is much harder this time around.
Peff @ May 31st 2008 12:39PM
alright, thanks man.
john paul @ May 31st 2008 2:48PM
@Rich
I heard that only in the Acolyte mode can your charges not be interrupted.
Richard Mitchell @ May 31st 2008 3:42PM
Ooh, if so, then pulling off Ultimate Techniques will definitely be more difficult.
I can't wait to play the retail version :)
Adorada @ May 31st 2008 4:03PM
I can tell you that even in hard mode your charges sometimes will not be interrupted. Doesn't happen a lot but on occasion, there have been times in which I have been hit from nearly 5 enemies yet somehow I mange to pull off a Ultimate Technique thus saving my behind. I'm not sure how it works, but I do know that, at the time, I was not holding the Y button down for long, yet I manage to pull of the UT.
Brook @ May 31st 2008 6:41PM
this is probably the first game i am craving to play, especially after beating sigma for the second time today im ready for the next challenge!
Matthew Moore @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:17AM
I hope the demo comes out soon. I know it's this week, but I am crossing my fingers for Monday or Tuesday.