Ninja Gaiden II Black (PC) Review

All these ports and variations can admittedly get a little confusing when it comes to the Ninja Gaiden series, so anyone can be forgiven for not understanding which versions are "better" or the preferred ones to play. With Ninja Gaiden II, we would be here all day talking about every single change, but some of the main differences with the Sigma 2 version are that the game was made a lot easier, many enemies were removed, chapters were a bit more linear, new bosses were added while others were removed, new characters were playable in their own unique chapters (Ayane, Momiji and Rachel), and most of the gore and limb dismemberment features were removed.

Ninja Gaiden II Black aims to be the definitive Ninja Gaiden II experience, but is more of a merging of the best of both the original game and Sigma 2. By basing itself on the Sigma 2 version and meeting both titles halfway, Ninja Gaiden II Black attempts to return to its roots by reintroducing the gore and challenge, while keeping specific aspects such as the extra chapters that feature the aforementioned female characters.

Although other modes that were present in previous editions, such as Ninja Races and co-op play, don't carry over, the focus has gone on making Ninja Gaiden II Black a much truer single-player hack and slash that trims the fat and brings back what made the original so good. Arguably, the female chapters are inferior to Ryu Hayabusa's sections, and it can feel a little disjointed to force new combat styles onto players after spending so long with him as the main character, but it also would have been a loss to not have these additional characters at all.

It is important to note that by using Sigma 2 as the base, this isn't quite the true Ninja Gaiden II title purists may be hoping for. Weapons like the windmill shuriken are not present, and the challenging "defeat all enemies" Tests of Valor do not make the cut. Level designs are from Sigma 2, but positive changes exist with the removal of the annoying giant statue bosses and the switch to a weapon upgrade system that reflects the original Ninja Gaiden II.

Undeniably, this new release looks stunning, with the updated character models providing a tease of what a potential new Dead or Alive title could look like. There are some graphical issues, though, with even max settings not producing the best image, needing to be reduced slightly, while cutscenes appear to stutter in parts. Actual gameplay segments are fluid and look the part, however, especially with every splatter of blood drenching Ryu and his weapons.

Despite Ninja Gaiden II Black being more Sigma 2 than the Xbox 360's original Ninja Gaiden II, this is a belter of a game that blends both titles to craft something that will massively appeal to those looking for their next great hack and slash action game. Multiple weapons that can be upgraded offer a variety of satisfying combat possibilities with all manner of cool moves, and chaining kills together through precise dodges and attacks feels incredibly rewarding.

Combat thrives in linear, focused environments, and being close to the action provides even more gratification. That isn't to say there aren't camera problems, however, because this is an area that frustrates a lot. Bosses being rather tanky and bland in their movesets means those fights aren't the best parts of the game, either.

It might be a shame that this isn't exactly the Ninja Gaiden II remaster many hardcore fans are hoping for, but Team Ninja has done incredibly well to utilise the Sigma 2 version in a way that will satisfy most people. More could have been done to add content from the original, but regardless of that, Ninja Gaiden II Black is a stellar action game that should not go overlooked by anyone craving challenging gameplay - and yes, there are difficulty modes that allow for an easier time if desired. Hopefully, this refined version is a good indicator of what to expect with Ninja Gaiden 4.