Ninja Gaiden II demo slashes North America

by Dustin Burg { Jun 7th 2008 at 10:00AM }

After one too many broken promises, the previously Japanese exclusive bloody ninja demo goodness has finally made its way overseas and not a moment too soon. Today, U.S. and Canadian Xbox Live members are being treated to a new'ish Ninja Gaiden II demo that's available for download right this ninja-second via the XBLM. You'll also be excited to hear that the demo comes complete with the option to view Japanese or English subtitles! W00t! And, for those of you who'd like to view our take on what the demo has to offer, be sure to check out our Ninja Gaiden II demo impressions video while waiting for your 858MBs to download. Miss you Itagaki ...

Tags: ng2, ninja-gaiden-2, ninja-gaiden-ii, team-ninja, tecmo, xblm

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neuromancer @ Jun 7th 2008 10:05AM

I guess I'll try this game just on account of the hype, can't really see myself getting into it though. Not sure why.

SadisticHam @ Jun 7th 2008 10:05AM

Game is flipping amazing, on chapter 8 right now. Enjoy the demo.

Magic Whiskey @ Jun 7th 2008 10:48AM

Had held off on purchasing the game until I tried the demo. Man, it's slick!
It'll be hard not to have this on my mind for a while, and very tempting to just go freakin' buy. I was really surprised at how much fun the demo is; I expected much less quality.

BananaBoat @ Jun 7th 2008 2:07PM

The demo makes me want to buy, even though I'd rather support Itagaki and not buy it. Gamefly still hasn't sent it...and I'm getting itchy....mmmm....

DemonGSides @ Jun 7th 2008 11:30PM

Go buy it. I've only gotten a little time to play it, but the Falcon talons or whatever are seriously one of the best video game weapons ever.

Also, SPOILER:

Kusarigama. Thats all I'm saying.

Big Filth @ Jun 7th 2008 10:54AM

I bought the game even tho I was pissed at this demo situation. The game is really awesome.

but fuck MS and whoever else was responsible for taking so long to give us americans the demo!

Lord Bowser @ Jun 7th 2008 11:03AM

Broken camera is broken.

NummNutts @ Jun 7th 2008 11:27AM

The camera is broken. It wasn't such a problem in NGB because most environments were wide open. In NG2, you often fight in confined areas, plus the obliteration techniques constantly switch the camera around. It requires some blind slashing once in a while, but it's still awesome.

That being said, I still really enjoy it, but I still think NGB is a better experience - although I'm only on chapter 3, so...

Lord Bowser @ Jun 7th 2008 11:45AM

I played the demo: every five seconds you have to press R trigger. But that's not that bad if the game was actually fair; it's almost as if the camera is an enemy unto itself.

Example: you're walking, fighting ninjas, and all that. Suddenly, there's a ninja duo hiding behind a wall. Ok, I'll press R so I can see them. But then the camera gets stuck in a wall.

???

What's up with that? Meanwhile, the enemies have slashed away three or four times at me leaving Ryu with critical health. I'm not saying it's a bad game, in fact I'll probably buy it when the price drops, just don't expect to have fun in small enclosed areas. I would even argue that Ninja Gaiden Black had a better camera.

Gamertag: GOPAL892005 @ Jun 7th 2008 12:13PM

try it without pressing RT - the camera's fine IMO - gets stuck occassonally but an RT will sort that out.

my major issue is the difficulty levels of the bosses - it doesnt seem to be in keeping with the rest of the game - ie. bosses are extremely hard [even on Acolyte] & all other enemies are easy to beat.

Homer 918 @ Jun 7th 2008 12:33PM

The camera is broken end of discussion. Yuu can argue other things make up for it but for me it's enough to forgo even renting the game.

BananaBoat @ Jun 7th 2008 3:07PM

The camera is probably about as good as it could possibly be. It's a tradeoff...you get frenetic action, at the expense of a camera that you have to fight at times. If only it could switch to an infront view when you enter a new room (so you could see yourself coming in, and the enemies that were waiting). Oh well, the game is still ridiculously awesome.

Someone else was correct in saying that the camera isn't any worse from the original, but that the indoor environments make it stand out more as a problem.

All of that said, the camera is customizable in the menu before you start the game (in-game when you could see the changes you've made in action would have been a nice design choice...but...whatever). So you can absolutely try to tweak it to your personal preferences. I'll admit that you shouldn't have to, but Ninja Gaiden is still the premiere (IMO) game out of the three juggernauts in it's genre (Devil May Cry and God of War being the other two).

Mike @ Jun 7th 2008 4:17PM

"The camera is probably about as good as it could possibly be."

No, it's not even close. It's constantly too low to see where you're going in the first few chapters (causing me to miss quite a few jumps since I couldn't tell there was a hole in the ground), random objects on the side of the level keep obscuring your view (like the fence posts at the beginning of the first level), and certain wall jump areas have the camera completely freak out and glitch through walls and stuff.

If you want to see how good the camera *could* have been with a little more time in the oven, play through the end of chapter 4 and marvel at how many of the special platforming areas have unique camera angles built-in. The camera is significantly better in chapter 4 than it is in the first three chapters.

BananaBoat @ Jun 7th 2008 4:58PM

The menu has an option to move the camera higher. I know it's inexcusable for them to think people will quit out of their game, go back to the menu, and then to options, to toggle the setting that makes it happen, but it's atleast an option.

First complaint I've heard about the camera being too low, but I guess team ninja thought that some might feel that way, and added the menu setting. For me, I'd have liked some way for the game to hold off on sending enemies your way till you can actually see inside the room you've just entered, but I thought the height of the camera was fine. All in all, NGII's camera seems more zoomed into Ryu by default than the original (maybe it's just my imagination).

Arnon @ Jun 8th 2008 2:09AM

I thought you could switch the camera just by pressing the back button and going into the system menu lol.

Mike @ Jun 8th 2008 7:09AM

"The menu has an option to move the camera higher"

Really? Man, I should have used that earlier.

And yeah, the camera is definitely closer to Ryu in this game. I guess they wanted to show off all the extra detail!

BananaBoat @ Jun 8th 2008 8:55AM

This is the part where I bang my head into the wall. Why the hell is that not in the start menu? Who would think "Oh! Maybe the back button brings up a menu!" Gahhhh.

ryan @ Jun 9th 2008 2:07PM

if it's so broken why hasn't it been fixed in 2 games and 2 expansions?

Adam @ Jun 7th 2008 12:28PM

This game is the best i have played this year.The action is non stop and it never gets repetitive like dmc4.The graphics are A+ as well im really impressed.As far as the other gaidens go i like this one and the first the best.

Finally a game thats challenging.

Kelvin @ Jun 7th 2008 3:34PM

This game rocks running out and buying it. Nice way to cool off in this NYC heat!

ANt @ Jun 7th 2008 8:44PM

Did you play GTA IV??

Big Filth @ Jun 7th 2008 12:55PM

you know what? I have had NO problems with the camera to be honest. I have been destroying people noooo problem. If you suck, dont blame it on the camera. :)

RedSonRising @ Jul 4th 2008 4:14PM

i think the camera sucks; its just terrible.. i can see whats going on 60% of the time but in small rooms, hallways, corners or anywhere that isnt wide open, enemies got lost off screen behind walls, up stairs or ladders, behind pillars, its ridiculous. its not quite enough to ruin the game for a hardcore user but its MORE than adequate to discourage a new player from even renting it..

i dont think ive seen a worse camera in a 'modern' video game (i dont count sigma, that was last gen material)

gechidan3000 @ Jun 7th 2008 1:07PM

i was one of the ones that just went and bought it cuz i knew i would love it....and i do i cant stop playing it and about the camera its about the same as ngb to me but the game just moves so much faster soo i went into the options and put the camera speed all the way up and try to use the right sticck a lil more......AWESOME GAME team ninja I I hope we get some DLC SOON

SadisticHam @ Jun 7th 2008 1:55PM

Lol @ camera comments. Seriously what the hell? What are you guys doing wrong? It works fine for me - i have NEVER been killed due to the camera so far.

Occasionally You'll get jumped off screen, it's just a matter of block then dodge and you can kick some butt again.

NukeAssault @ Jun 7th 2008 2:09PM

I havent had any (major) problems with the camera...

Dom @ Jun 7th 2008 3:01PM

LOL, the only people that have problems with the camera are dumbfuck Sony Fangirls. The game is amazing. If you're a NG fan or an action fan this is a must buy!

Haohmaru @ Jun 7th 2008 7:26PM

Sony Fangirls? *facepalm* How can you not realize how moronic this comment makes you sound? At any rate, I agree. The camera can be finicky at times, but it's not a gamebreaker by any means. Good game.

Triforceowner @ Jun 7th 2008 3:19PM

A lot of people don't know this, but ninja-seconds are actually slower than normal seconds. See, they refer to what a ninja can do in a normal second but are actually the time it takes a normal person to do those things.

Miguel @ Jun 7th 2008 5:22PM

Why must silver members be locked out on all the fun? i pay live in small increments because of my no-job status, and no that i dont have gold, i am not obliged to download the demo. Gold should be just for enabling online play, i know the xbox 360 has the most marketplace content then other contenders but still keeping silver members waiting on new and cool stuff like this NGII demo is really a bummer.

Haohmaru @ Jun 7th 2008 11:36PM

I feel your pain, but let me assure you that the game is SO worth buying. There's absolutely no need to wait for access to the demo; you NEED this game.

OTAM @ Jun 7th 2008 7:06PM

I bought it yesterday and am already on chapter 4 in about 1 sitting. This game is fucking ACE.

The ones who complain about the camera,I have one question. Have you ever played Ninja Gaiden Black? The camera is almost identical. I'm having no problems with the camera whatsoever,it follows behind you and you hit R to pull it behind you if you need to turn around. Is it really that difficult?

Haohmaru @ Jun 7th 2008 11:38PM

You're only at chapter 4. The camera IS finicky at times, but NGB veterans, like you said, won't have as much of a problem.

Arnon @ Jun 8th 2008 2:14AM

I love how people are complaining about this game. "It's too hard and unforgiving" or "The camera has issues."

1. Itagaki has never been known to give you an easy gaming experience.

2. If the camera worked to your liking, then it would make it too easy, and let you see every enemy around you, giving you the advantage.

Remember, this game is for the hardcore. Reviewers, and gamers shouldn't just pick this game up, saying things like "Meh... probably nothing new." This game has kept me on edge for all of the 9 levels I have been through so far. Every time I open a door, I hit the guard button and look around cautiously. This is, by far, the best action game to date.

BluesmanTLU @ Jun 8th 2008 3:13AM

I think the camera is slightly worse than it was in NGB, but just barely. It doesn't really affect gameplay anyway, at least once you get the hang of it. If you stand still for two seconds in either game you get raped, so you should be flying around, and since attacks intelligently target enemies you won't be missing because of it.

The stages and weapons are much more interesting this time around. Many more bosses too. And so much more carnage. If this game came out two or three years ago instead of NGB, IT would be the masterpiece. It's just a matter of firsties.