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XBLM Deal of the Week: Ninja Gaiden II DLC

by Dustin Burg { Mar 1st 2009 at 11:10PM }

The latest content inducted into the recently revived XBLM Deal of Week program is the Ninja Gaiden II Mission Mode DLC, which will be available for 560

($7). A $3 savings off the normal price.

According to a comment made by Major Nelson on his official blog, the Ninja Gaiden II DLC will be available for purchase off the XBLM at the cheaper price beginning Monday, March 2 and will remain discounted until Sunday, March 8.

As is with all Deal of the Week offers, only Xbox Live gold members can purchase the marked down content. Something that may have bothered Live silver members last week when Braid was only $10, but probably not so much this time. Seven smackers for the Mission Mode DLC is still mighty expensive. Especially for a game whose all-star ninja has been off the gaming radar for quite some time.

Gallery: Ninja Gaiden II

Zero Punctuation takes a katana to Ninja Gaiden 2

by Richard Mitchell { Aug 6th 2008 at 3:15PM }

It's been a while since Zero Punctuation's Yahtzee has loosed his venom on an unsuspecting Xbox 360 game. It's been far too long, really. Thankfully, Yahtzee's latest review is for none other than the Xbox 360's would-be premier action game, Ninja Gaiden 2. Expecting the worst, as we tend to do with ZP reviews, it turns out that he actually likes it ... to a degree, citing strengths (gameplay) and weaknesses (glitches and uneven difficulty). Frankly, we think it's a perfectly rational way to feel about the game (except for his preference of the claws, which pale in comparison to the double katanas). Check out the review after the break.

Continued →

The cutest badass: Ryu Hayabusa Munny

by Richard Mitchell { Jul 10th 2008 at 2:00PM }

Continuing the tradition of turning badasses into Munny dolls, one Justin Baldwin has created the best cute / deadly hybrid yet, a Ryu Hayabusa Munny. Just look at him! He's adorable ... all soaked in blood like that. He comes complete with the Eclispe scythe and Falcon's Talons from Ninja Gaiden II. He even has little bitty shuriken strapped to his leg. Frankly, the combination of killer and cuddly is a little confusing. We imagine Munny Ryu uses that to his advantage as he systematically dismembers people.

[Via TheBBPS]

Confirmed: NG2 'Mission Mode' DLC on July 25th

by Dustin Burg { Jul 10th 2008 at 1:30PM }

Thanks to some Xbox Live Marketplace advertising, we've already known about the latest Ninja Gaiden 2 downloadable content headed our way this month. Well, today Microsoft officially confirmed its existence and some DLC details announcing a new NG2 Mission Mode pack of DLC.

The Mission Mode DLC will release later this month on July 25th and include 25 various mini-challenges where players are tested to stay alive the longest, kill with certain weapons and other tasks. And, of course, all high scores will be tracked via online leaderboards. The new game mode will not come cheap though, as it's slated to release for an "ouch" inducing 800 Microsoft points. Then again, NG2 fanboys should be used to expensive DLC by now anyway.

Rumor: Ninja Gaiden II receiving Mission Mode July 25

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jul 3rd 2008 at 10:27AM }

Ninja Gaiden 2 will receive Mission Mode as DLC on July 25, according to a post on NeoGAF. Mission Mode, if similar to the original iteration introduced in Ninja Gaiden Black, drops Ryu into an arena setting and lets him go on a flippin' awesome ninja killin' spree. There is currently no price attached to the new Mission Mode DLC.

The possibility of a Mission Mode should come as good news to NG II players who don't find dressing up Ryu like a Ken doll a worthwhile activity. But, let's be honest, if it's anything like the original Mission Mode, shouldn't it have been shipped with the game or, and we're hoping this is the case, at least be free?

[Via X3F]

Gallery: Ninja Gaiden II

Rumor: NG2 gets worthwhile DLC July 25?

by Terrence Stasse { Jul 2nd 2008 at 6:45PM }

Thank you sharp-eyed forum posters, you may have spotted something that could mean Ninja Gaiden 2 will actually get some content worth paying for. Mentioned over at NeoGAF, and spotted somewhere on the XBL Marketplace, was the mention that NG2 will get a downloadable mission mode on the 25th of this month.

The mission mode that was in the original iteration was incredibly popular among the franchise faithful for its focus on the game's main strength: pure combat. There are of course no details on how the implementation will work, but as long as it isn't just more of the Tests of Valor (we're really tired of that environment) we'll be ready to shell out the points if this hits on the 25th. Anyone else out there spot this on the Marketplace yet?

Ninja Gaiden 2 Costume Concept Art

by Terrence Stasse { Jul 2nd 2008 at 4:45PM }

To go with the overpriced and and relatively pointless downloadable costumes for Ninja Gaiden 2, we've got even more relatively pointless stuff for you. Why would we do such a thing you ask? Because cheap as the actual DLC is (we're really opposed to it more on principle) this relatively pointless stuff is absolutely free, that's why. And while we've seen one of the DLC concepts before, the shots are now hi-res and great for some backgrounds or wallpaper. What're ya waitin' for? Right-Click -> Save Picture As already!

Gallery: Ninja Gaiden DLC Concept Art

Too expensive Ninja Gaiden II costume DLC now available

by Dustin Burg { Jul 2nd 2008 at 12:00PM }

Just as was promised a few months back, the Itagaki-less Team Ninja and Microsoft Game Studios have partnered to release three chunks of new Ninja Gaiden II downloadable content to the XBLM. Content that we've previously compared to Oblivion's legendarily overpriced horse armor, because for comparative purposes, that's what it is. The NGII DLC comes in the form of three costume packs that allows you to cloth Ryu in five color variations of either Biometal, Shadow Walker or Fiend Hayabusa duds (all viewable here). The rub, each costume variant will cost you 200 Microsoft points. Ouchy! Ouchy indeed.

Biometal Hayabusa Costume Pack - 200
Shadow Walker Hayabusa Costume Pack - 200
Fiend Hayabusa Costume Pack - 200

[Photo via GameSpot forums]

X3F TV -- Points>Life: Lazy Ninja Technique

by Xav de Matos { Jun 10th 2008 at 3:30PM }

Each week, X3F tips gamers to the tricks of the trade of Achievement hording in Points>Life. Every week a new achievement is unlocked to help you continue your unhealthy obsession with the Xbox 360 meta-game.

In honor of our brand new Ninja Gaiden II page, Points>Life is tackling an achievement from Xbox 360's Summer mega-action release, Ninja Gaiden II. Having difficulties landing a 100-hit combo? That wonky camera got you down? Just want 20 random points? You've come to the right place!

Check out the video above for a few helpful tips and if you have any tricks of your own, make sure to leave them in the comments!

Also, make sure to check out our retrospective features on Tomonobu Itagaki and the Ninja Gaiden Series itself.

Music: "Ninja Gaiden" by minibosses

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Introducing the Ninja Gaiden II page

by Richard Mitchell { Jun 10th 2008 at 12:00PM }

Ladies and gentlmen, fanboys and girls, Xbox 360 Fanboy presents the Ninja Gaiden II page. This is our first page dedicated to a single game (you may have seen similar pages on Joystiq). On the page you will find all the major Ninja Gaiden II news stories, every Ninja Gaiden II screenshot, and all the Ninja Gaiden II features compiled into a single, bookmark-friendly page. The page will be updated as time goes on to include other features and stories as well (including an upcoming episode of Points>Life). This is only the first dedicated game page on X3F. Expect more to show up in the future. With major 360 exclusives right around the corner (Gears of War 2, Fable 2), there's plenty to cover.

For all things Ninja Gaiden II, check out the page right now.

Sharpen your swords for a Weekend of Vengeance

by Dustin Burg { Jun 9th 2008 at 4:30PM }

Hopefully you've perfected your ninja skills playing the Ninja Gaiden II demo, because the ninja lessons you've learned will be tested come Friday when Xbox Live hosts a Weekend of Vengeance.

Celebrating the release of Ninja Gaiden II, this Weekend of Vengeance which runs from June 13th through June 15th will feature an Achieve and Win sweepstakes where a few NGII themed Xbox 360s will be up for grabs as well as three XBVM ninja movies (Ninja Hunter, A Life of Ninja and Ninja in the Deadly Trap) will be available for download. For free! Finally, if you haven't been keeping track, all seven Live exclusive Ask a Ninja episodes will be downloadable as well. This weekend, be vengeful, be a ninja and be deadly ...

Deals: Cheap MS points and get Mass Effect free

by Dustin Burg { Jun 9th 2008 at 9:45AM }

This week we're all business, because we have an overly long list of retail deals to ramble off. So, we'll forgo the fluffy intro and just get to it.

Starting with Best Buy, all this week they're giving away a copy of Call of Duty 3 with the purchase of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars and a free $10 gift card with purchase of The Incredible Hulk. Best Buy also discounted a few accessories, offering the Messenger Kit for $20, Wireless Headset for $50 and Vision Camera for $30. Heading over to Circuit City, you can snag a free $10 gift card with the purchase of either NASCAR 09 or Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit, get the Rock Band bundle for $155 and BioShock or Mass Effect for $32. They're also offering Burnout Paradise for $40, Frontlines: FoW or MX vs. ATV for $48, Need for Speed Carbon for $24 and our favorite CC deal of the week, 1600 Microsoft points for $15. Next up is Target, where they're giving away a FREE copy of Mass Effect with the purchase two of the listed Xbox 360 titles including Ninja Gaiden II ($60), RSV2 ($40), Scene It? ($50), Gears of War ($40), NASCAR 09 ($60) or Assassin's Creed ($40). And finally, because we love our Canadian readers so much, we hopped on over to Best Buy Canada and discovered they're offering two free games with any Xbox 360 console purchase (selection based on one of four game bundles) and a 12 Month Xbox Live subscription card for $50. Now run along and have a spectacular time shopping.

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 ...

Tomonobu Itagaki: A Blood Splattered History

by Ross Miller { Jun 5th 2008 at 4:25PM }

Now that Ninja Gaiden 2 developer Tomonobu Itagaki has departed from Tecmo and Team Ninja (and left a lawsuit in his stead), our friends at X3F have compiled a retrospective on Itagaki's career with the company. From his beginnings as a programmer for Tecmo Bowl, through Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden and all the way to his departure, everything is covered.

Join us as we take a stroll through memory lane and examine the games, the controversies and the impending future of Tomonobu Itagaki. Click here, get educated.

Tomonobu Itagaki: A Blood Splattered History

by Xav de Matos { Jun 5th 2008 at 3:00PM }

With the news of his recent departure and the release of his final swan-song to the Ninja Gaiden series, Tomonobu Itagaki has had an amazing career.

We've already tackled the history of Ninja Gaiden in our previous retrospective, A History of Violence, but this time we're going back to look at one of Ryu's most influential allies.

In this special feature we look back at the history of the man and how he helped re-shape Tecmo in the early 90s to the company they are today. Join us as we take a stroll through memory lane and examine the games, the controversies and the impending future of Tomonobu Itagaki.

Continue reading Tomonobu Itagaki: A Blood Splattered History