Anyone looking forward to this? I know I am.

+1

hells yea. looks absolutely sick.

I dunno, I never finished the fist one as I just wasnt having fun. On the other hand it looks pretty cool, so we will see.

Anytime you can decapitate and dismember Werewolves, the game is an instant winner.

Ninja Gaiden 2? What game is this?

I never finished Sigma on the PS3, but im getting this one anyways :D

Ninja Gaiden 2? What game is this?

Battletoads sequel.

I still have Sigma, and Im not gonna consider NG2 until I beat that one.

of course

it's the next contestant for GOTY

watch out for those still moving limbs :cool:

Yup. Most anticipated game this year (and generation) for me.

Sweet. Glad to see all of the support. I can't wait. But Niko will have no choice but to wait this out.

preordered

Is that wench Alba returning? If so, count me out. Gave up after the 200th time killing her. :confused:

Does a bear #@%$@# in the woods? Of course I'm getting this masterpiece!

Is that wench Alba returning? If so, count me out. Gave up after the 200th time killing her. :confused:

Yes she was nasty. You can finally get the best of her once you learn her pattern.

The first few times fighting her, I felt as helpless as a one legged cat trying to cover turds on a frozen pond.

Is that wench Alba returning? If so, count me out. Gave up after the 200th time killing her. :confused:

Which version were you playing? NJ or NJ Black?

Which version were you playing? NJ or NJ Black?

the first one. And all I hear about her is "just memorize the pattern", but I would just get killed

the first one. And all I hear about her is "just memorize the pattern", but I would just get killed

Don't play NJ: Black then :D OH MY GOD DON"T PLAY NJ: BLACK

Can I get a HELL YEAH!!!???

I finished NG the original. But NJ black was too hard for me to finish once I got to the fire dragon. I will be getting this one just to see what it looks like in HD.

Can't wait. I'll buy this the day it comes out, but probably won't open it because of Grid.

I'm probably one of the only people to beat NG Black on master ninja. Yes I know if any of you have tried it you would understand how crazy hard it is. I swear if only that game were x360 and had achievements I could prove it. And hell yeah I'm gettin this game haha. I'm worried its going to be too easy now though with the recharging health thing. Oh well though its probably a good thing cuz 360 controllers are way more expensive to replace than the xbox ones :)

Definitely getting this. Ninja Gaiden was one of the games for Xbox I'd seen and always wanted to play, but just never got around to it. Now I'm 100% for sure getting the one for 360.

Defintaly a rental. The violence looks great!!!

NG seperates the casual weaklings from the hardcore gamers.. I remember playing ng1 when I was a kid. That opening duel mesmorized me. I loved the game before I even hit start..

waiting for this one since 2004!!!

If it looks as amazing (comparatively) as Black did on the original xbox, this thing is going to be friggin beautiful! You just know the controls are going to be perfect... I actually fired up sigma the other day in anticipation.

I'm probably one of the only people to beat NG Black on master ninja.

http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/8/24215581010.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic/6469676)

i think i'm gonna pass on this one, didnt care for black.

I remember playing ng1 when I was a kid.
Man, now I feel old. NG1 wasn't that long ago, was it? 4 years or so, right?

I never made it all the way thru the first one. I liked it, but... I'm sitting on the fence about this one. It looks like a million bucks. But the first game seemed more like an exercise in pattern recognition and fast-twitch button combos, which combined with the crushing difficulty (at least, until you learned the patterns) made me tire of the gameplay. I'm not sure this looks any different.

Man, now I feel old. NG1 wasn't that long ago, was it? 4 years or so, right?

I never made it all the way thru the first one. I liked it, but... I'm sitting on the fence about this one. It looks like a million bucks. But the first game seemed more like an exercise in pattern recognition and fast-twitch button combos, which combined with the crushing difficulty (at least, until you learned the patterns) made me tire of the gameplay. I'm not sure this looks any different.

I think he was talking about the NES game not the Xbox 1.

As for the first game, you definitely had to do all that but its called "skill". The game was definitely about fast reflexes, learning the enemies, learning the game systems, and so forth but this is not a flaw. The game was never really cheap or unfair. It is how a hard game should be and Tecmo never said the game was for button mashers or newbies. Ninja Gaiden 2 will definitely be the same way.

I'll need to play the demo first.. slashers and button mashers really arent my type of thing.. It seems the action gets old and unvaried after a few minutes.

http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/8/24215581010.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic/6469676)


ROTFLMAO!

absolutely. probably an extra controller too because odds are high this game may make me break one.

F*** You Ghost Piranha!!!

Buying Day 1

Yes, I was talking about the ng1 for nes.. =)

I never made it all the way thru the first one. I liked it, but... I'm sitting on the fence about this one. It looks like a million bucks. But the first game seemed more like an exercise in pattern recognition and fast-twitch button combos, which combined with the crushing difficulty (at least, until you learned the patterns) made me tire of the gameplay. I'm not sure this looks any different.

Pretty much my experience with NG on Xbox as well. The visuals were stunning but I found the gameplay vastly overrated and to this day I marvel at how the game got a free pass on issues that reviewers would routinely rip other games to shreds over (ie: endlessly respawning enemies, lousy camera, absurd difficulty, boss battles reduced to pattern memorization). I got thru about half the game before I realized that even though I was making steady progress, I wasn't having any fun.

I can not wait to yell "NINJA GAWDAMN" at my tv while some cheap enemy beats my ass for the hundreth time.

I think he was talking about the NES game not the Xbox 1.
That would certainly make a lot more sense. :)

As for the first game, you definitely had to do all that but its called "skill". The game was definitely about fast reflexes, learning the enemies, learning the game systems, and so forth but this is not a flaw. The game was never really cheap or unfair. It is how a hard game should be and Tecmo never said the game was for button mashers or newbies. Ninja Gaiden 2 will definitely be the same way.
I didn't say it was "cheap" or "unfair"... just... not as much fun as it could have been. Once you learned the patterns, previously impossible enemies became pretty easy, provided you had the timing down.

There was a lot to like about the last one, but... right now, I'm leaning towards "rent, if anything" for NG2.

Loved the first one on the xbox, looking forward the pain of the sequel.

I had the first one on the Xbox, and never finished it, but it was still fun (and hard as hell) the whole way... My roommate accidentally saved over my game though, that was pretty annoying.

Jacquio gave me some problems for a while, but after 75 dr. peppers I managed to beat him

Battletoads sequel.

zomg finally something worth hype!

I going to play NGS for PS3 first and then get NG2 for 360 if I like it.

I'm probably one of the only people to beat NG Black on master ninja.

Hardly. + Mission Mode 100% complete on Master Ninja

I remember the first NG for NEC, the game was addicting and was more adventerous than going to the arcade and dishing out $ for games that sucked...the x-box version was my idea of an ideal arcade game...it was fast, dynamic and kept the original game theme perfectly, if I could still play the game I would, never finished it though. On the subject...does anyone kow if it is feasibly possible to play x-box / 360 games on a PC?...is the video code completely different than a PC?...Or would it just be hacking into some files that would allow games to be played back on a pc?..I mean the 360 still uses cpu's and a graphics card as does a pc, so how differnt could it really be?

I had the first one on the Xbox, and never finished it, but it was still fun (and hard as hell) the whole way... My roommate accidentally saved over my game though, that was pretty annoying.

It wasn't all that hard once you learned the boss patterns. I hope they don't dumb this one down for all the whiners. I liked the challenge. So few games of this type give you a challenge anymore.

*waits patiently for Prince of Persia 4*

http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/8/24215581010.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic/6469676)

NAILED IT!!!!
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l269/vancouver_03/imagephp4.gif

I'm looking forward to NG2 also. Although it's going to be a love/hate thing for me. The 2004 NG left me frustrated many times. During the difficult points of the game after dying for the millionth time. I'd cry, turn off the system, and vow never to play again. Of course eventually I crawled back and eventually finished the game in about 2 months. And also, I never did find all 30 scarabs in the game, so I didn't unlock the 3 Ninja Gaiden games from the NES. And I didn't want play through the game again.

Anyways, yeah, i'm looking forward to NG2

It wasn't all that hard once you learned the boss patterns. I hope they don't dumb this one down for all the whiners. I liked the challenge. So few games of this type give you a challenge anymore.
agreed. games are way too easy now a days. i enjoy games that make me want to throw my controller out the window.

I think there should be varying amounts of difficulty. Ninja Pwner for you tough guys out there who can master Guitar Hero with one hand; Ninja ***** (cat) for those of us who can barely turn a console on. :o

Already ordered from amazon :)

ign gave it 8.7
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/876/876569p1.html

ign gave it 8.7
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/876/876569p1.html
I can't wait to go to the other forums and read how this game "bombed" because it only got an 8.7.

Well, it didn't bomb, but it certainly did not meet expectations for a whole lot of people. It is perplexing that Itagaki would let a broken camera system into the final code of the game. I will probably still buy the game, but not right away. Still need to play Sigma.

According to the review, the reviewer said that his review build had framerate problems which leads me to believe that there's a possibility that the game in retail stores may have aleviated some of these issues (I hope :D).

I wish the reviewer indicated what output resolution he was using when he encountered the framerate slow down. If the game is encoded at 720p, I wonder if the framerate issues can be avoided by forcing the Xbox 360 to output at 720p, and letting your TV do the upscaling to 1080p. So far, my TV seems to do a much better job of scaling than the Xbox 360.

The reviewer says the camera isn't as bad as the original Ninja Gaiden for Xbox, but then proceeds to give it a lower score mostly because of camera issues? Doesn't make sense to me.

I think there should be varying amounts of difficulty. Ninja Pwner for you tough guys out there who can master Guitar Hero with one hand; Ninja ***** (cat) for those of us who can barely turn a console on. :o

They have that. It is called i-ninja. ;)

The reviewer says the camera isn't as bad as the original Ninja Gaiden for Xbox, but then proceeds to give it a lower score mostly because of camera issues? Doesn't make sense to me.


I think the reviewer was rightfully punishing the developer for not adequately fixing a known issue with the original in the sequel.

This is a must buy for me. The camera from the first game didn't bother me too much and there is nothing in the review that would give me reason to question the purchase.

I agree with vpn75. It was very easy to cover all angles with the weapons in NG, the only time I had difficulties was with the part with the zombie archers when you had to platform your way out of the cathedral.

Im in.

I may bet getting it.. But since I cannot beat the first one (that damn flying woman/beast thing) is it smart to move on to part 2?

I may bet getting it.. But since I cannot beat the first one (that damn flying woman/beast thing) is it smart to move on to part 2?

Damn I would say you are getting your money's worth with the challenge the first one is giving you. Based on that alone I would hold off until you beat the first if you are still trying otherwise if you gave up already I would hate to hear your not getting passed the first boss on #2.

Who has the best pre-order special (currently)?

Who has the best pre-order special (currently)?

best buy gives you a free wall cling, you get the halo legendary pack for free from circuit city, $10 gift certificate from amazon.com and a free wall scroll from walmart

Demo is up on Japan Marketplace! You need a Gold account so if you have a 30 day trial left over from any of your games (GTA4) use it!

Impressions:
-Cheesy Story: CHECK!
-Lead character is double time badass: CHECK!
-Over the top violence that is just beautiful to look and initiate: CHECK!!!
-Badassness to the max: Double CHECK!

Never has killing been so satisfactory. There just a sweet way you can feel it building up right before they get their final dismemberment. You have to play it to understand! It's the first level of the game. You can only pay on the easiest difficult.

Demo took me about 35mins of taking my time. You get 4 weapons.
Sword
Wolverine Claws
A giant sycthe looking thing. Really, its' HUGE!
A staff with ball and chain at the end. This was my favorite once I got it.

The action is very fast paced. The camera is fine as long as you condition yourself to use the right trigger and reset it as needed. The gameplay is really really smooth and sweet. I should sleep now...(3:42 am) Can't wait for tuesday I'm not really into these sort of games (NG1/DMC/GoW/HS) but there's just something appealing about this. Maybe it's because you're a Ninja?

It ships Tuesday and should be available Wednesday.

I am a Xbox noob. How do you access the Japan Marketplace?

No idea about accessing the demo, but there's a video of the demo on Xbox360fanboy.com

He seems to be fighting the camera just a little more than I remember in the original, but I'm sure I'll get used to it.

Don't bother trying to get the Demo from the Japanese MP unless you feel like jumping through hoops to do it. Seems as if they've banned all US IPs from downloading the demo, regardless of whether or not you have a gold account.

The demo is region locked

I may bet getting it.. But since I cannot beat the first one (that damn flying woman/beast thing) is it smart to move on to part 2?

The purple one in the church? If so, that's where I got stuck...three years ago. Haven't played it since.

I think I'll eventually buy Ninja Gaiden II even though I didn't beat the first one. Did the same thing with The Two Thrones and Warrior Within...which, now that I think about it, I didn't finish because I got stuck fighting a female boss character...which is also why I've taken a 6 month break from playing Mass Effect (the blue minister/emperor woman).

A strange pattern, if you ask me.

The demo is region locked

Weird, considering the game itself supposedly isn't.

had this pre-ordered for over a month now . . . already called the shop to see whether it was going to be a tuesday or wednesday delivery (wednesday, sadly) . . .

beating the first one was seriously one of the greatest highlights of my years of gaming. i still throw it out as a personal accomplishment to people who could care less and have no idea what i'm even talking about. so much anger and frustration and outright ninja fun finishing that thing off . . . i quit after the very first boss fight for a couple of months myself - the horse guys - then forced myself to pick it up again and actually LEARN what i was doing. it still took several weeks of dedicated playing to get to the end.

now you're gonna ramp it up with MORE weapons, MORE violence, MORE bad-assery (LIMB AMPUTATION FTW), and all in what will probably be a much better looking package thanks to next-gen processors?

i've been more excited about NG 2 than any other game in recent memory including GTA 4. give me katanas over ak's any day of the week.

I don't think I can play this game... Even as someone who's a die-hard gamer, the difficulty level of the first game was just surreal. I felt like I needed some sort of super-human level reflexes in order to survive even the first boss fight. It's easy to say "Well then you just suck!", but I just couldn't quite get the knack of it, for whatever reason, even though I can generally play action games with at least some level of skill. I wouldn't choose to play them on the hardest difficulty level by default, but still.

Well not everyone is cut out to be a Ninja. Don't worry we are still buddies.

Well not everyone is cut out to be a Ninja. Don't worry we are still buddies.

Yeah what he said.

I don't think I can play this game... Even as someone who's a die-hard gamer, the difficulty level of the first game was just surreal. I felt like I needed some sort of super-human level reflexes in order to survive even the first boss fight. It's easy to say "Well then you just suck!", but I just couldn't quite get the knack of it, for whatever reason, even though I can generally play action games with at least some level of skill. I wouldn't choose to play them on the hardest difficulty level by default, but still.


I actually didn't find the first game too difficult and I'm not the most skilled gamer in the world. Certain parts were definitely challenging, but there are some semi-exploits you can take advantage of to make things easier.

I remembered there were certain spots where bats would re-spawn and they would make easy kills allowing you to rack up huge amounts of essence. With that you could easily upgrade all your weapons and max out your potions.

You also get an amulet that allows you to regenerate health and I would use that after each battle to heal up and save my potions for the boss battles.

I also used online strategy guides to help me get past some of the tougher bosses. I was able to complete the game at the normal difficulty level, but I'm sure I would have had a much tougher time at the higher difficulty levels.

From all accounts I've seen, NG II should be a bit easier with the regenerating health bar. Hopefully the save points are generously spaced out as well.

I actually didn't find the first game too difficult and I'm not the most skilled gamer in the world. Certain parts were definitely challenging, but there are some semi-exploits you can take advantage of to make things easier.

I remembered there were certain spots where bats would re-spawn and they would make easy kills allowing you to rack up huge amounts of essence. With that you could easily upgrade all your weapons and max out your potions.

You also get an amulet that allows you to regenerate health and I would use that after each battle to heal up and save my potions for the boss battles.

I also used online strategy guides to help me get past some of the tougher bosses. I was able to complete the game at the normal difficulty level, but I'm sure I would have had a much tougher time at the higher difficulty levels.

From all accounts I've seen, NG II should be a bit easier with the regenerating health bar. Hopefully the save points are generously spaced out as well.

With NG2 there is an Easy mode. I never had Live and had the original Ninja Gaiden, not Black (which as far as I know included the Live "Hurricane Pack" updates but that was the only difference). The original disc at least did not have an Easy mode, though the updates may or may not have added it.

I'm trading in GTA4 for this tomorrow(If it's available tomorrow that is), and playing it on the hardest difficulty available.

I got to Chapter 4 and have become bored with it NG2. Besides the bosses, there's hasn't been much variety with enemies and it's becoming too repetitive for me. Just not my cup of tea. Slicing up guys is fun for awhile but I just wasn't feeling the story or caring enough to keep going. Going to try Lego Indy next for a change of pace.

Ninja Gaiden II Demo Coming Tomorrow, 6-3-08

5 A demo for Ninja Gaiden II will be available from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace early tomorrow in all regions (excluding Germany), at 0200 PT

http://www.gamingbits.com/content/view/4179/2/

No demo for the US or Canada tomorrow.

LINK (http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/878/878635p1.html?RSSwhen2008-06-02_224900&RSSid=878635)

Sorry if this has already been posted. It was news to me, though.

Of course, got my copy preordered @ Amazon!

1up gave it a B- stating the camera was one of the worst they'd basically ever used. I'll pass. They made some reference to it feeling like it was being drug around like a dead dog or something. It was quite funny actually. I tried Sigma on PS3 and that was unplayably bad too. This isn't the PS1 or N64. We can handle the camera ourselves thanks.

The camera was never an issue to me. You can click the right trigger to have the camera reset behind you. But I also had over 360 hours on NG, and about 95 on NGB. Can we start a thread to link our best combo videos tomorrow?

The camera was never an issue to me. You can click the right trigger to have the camera reset behind you. But I also had over 360 hours on NG, and about 95 on NGB. Can we start a thread to link our best combo videos tomorrow?

Why bother with that when if you turn on the camera option, you can record every segment in-game and upload your favorite via Live?

Why bother with that when if you turn on the camera option, you can record every segment in-game and upload your favorite via Live?

Whoa? +1 who wasn't aware of that feature. Thanks.

I want to show off my skills to everyone in here. You know that ninjas only make money by doing missions. I am marketing my skills to everyone here so they hire me when it is time to do some dirty work.

I'll have it tomorrow, hopefully bad camera or not it's entertaining enough slaughter to last me until next week.

Wow. I just can't imagine spending $60+ on a game I only plan on playing a week. If I won't get a good month out of a game at least, I don't purchase it.

I'll assume that the game will have unlockable costumes along with other secrets like the first, along with Master Ninja rankings, so the game should keep me busy for a while (which is very difficult to do these days, I must admit).

I dunno, if you invest enough time in this game and learn the pros and cons of the moves, various weaponry, and attack patterns of enemies you MIGHT beat the game on the Warrior difficulty in OVER a week. Hell I've had the game since yesterday morning and so far I'm on chapter 5, I must've seen the GAME OVER screen at least 40 times. My buddy couldn't even get past the second boss, he was extremely pissed lol. Might I also say this game looks BEAUTIFUL on the Samsung 71F series!

I'll assume that the game will have unlockable costumes along with other secrets like the first, along with Master Ninja rankings, so the game should keep me busy for a while (which is very difficult to do these days, I must admit).

I believe there's one or two unlockable costumes, but most are going to be sold on the marketplace.

I picked it up yesterday and played through to Chapter 6 on Warrior. It's an awesome game. Only one or two framerate issues, and the camera is just like NGB (i.e. just fine).

Of course, I'm highly biased towards NG, so YMMV. Anyway, there are so many awesome moments in this game.

Does anybody want impressions?

mine's out in the car waiting for me to get sick around 2:30 this afternoon (here's looking at you grocery store deli sushi!) and have to leave early.

if only there were some sort of trigger to clear my stomach . . . something involving ultra-violent removal of body parts and weapons, bodies, and the environment splattered in blood and gore. and by gore, i mean a noun, not an adjective.

i'm not really concerned about the camera really - the first one was tricky with it as well, but you're a ninja - sight is only what, like 5% of your power, and you can see like an eagle! 5%! i'd rather move faster than the camera than the camera move faster than me, anyway.

i plan on hating this game quite a bit myself over the next several weeks/months, screaming at it, punching myself in the face, etc. can't wait. to. get. home.

Only on chapter 1 so far but the camera isn't awful (could get worse later on?) The carnage is great fun especially the slow motion executions =P

Only on chapter 1 so far but the camera isn't awful (could get worse later on?) The carnage is great fun especially the slow motion executions =P

So far my biggest trouble with the camera was Ch1 in the narrower hallways. I'm on Ch 3 now and its been better in the wider open areas.

You know what my issue with reviews are, they are all inherently wrong most of the time. Look at NG2, by its reviews you think it was a lesser game than the first and no where near being the definitive action game it was promised to be. But after four hours of playing, I can honestly say **** you to most of the reviewers who reviewed it and that idiot here who reviewed it, he should perform Seppuku before I find him because he is an idiot. This game is ****ing mind blowing, imagine everything you liked about NGS and NGB magnified a 1000X, and you might get close to the greatness of this game. It is an sublime experience, looks ****ing and utterly amazing in motion (it makes NGS look like a last gen game, Those who say it looks no different are on crack), and the action it paints is a canvas of bloody delight. Smashing an opponent against a wall with the Lunar staff and then doing an Obliteration Technique covering said wall in chunky blood, is pure gaming nirvana. Best Action game ever, Oh yeah, best XB360 game ever, you know it, best game this gen so far, its close.

You know what my issue with reviews are, they are all inherently wrong most of the time. Look at NG2, by its reviews you think it was a lesser game than the first and no where near being the definitive action game it was promised to be. But after four hours of playing, I can honestly say **** you to most of the reviewers who reviewed it and that idiot here who reviewed it, he should perform Seppuku before I find him because he is an idiot. This game is ****ing mind blowing, imagine everything you liked about NGS and NGB magnified a 1000X, and you might get close to the greatness of this game. It is an sublime experience, looks ****ing and utterly amazing in motion (it makes NGS look like a last gen game, Those who say it looks no different are on crack), and the action it paints is a canvas of bloody delight. Smashing an opponent against a wall with the Lunar staff and then doing an Obliteration Technique covering said wall in chunky blood, is pure gaming nirvana. Best Action game ever, Oh yeah, best XB360 game ever, you know it, best game this gen so far, its close.

You didn't have to tell me that this game was going to be a knock out because NG1 is my fav of all time! So this is a must have game for me! As far as the critics and negative reviewers.....what do they know....right, lol! Just enjoy this masterpiece of a game! Glad to hear you love it as well :D!

I was thinking at first how I sort of missed the map feature from the first game, but basically to paraphrase something from I forget what site, just look for the areas that don't have blood all over them yet, and thats where you haven't been.

Also, if anyone is on my list, check out the leaderboard and view my video if you want to see the first Test of Valor (pretty much 7 minutes of enemies coming at me like crazy.) I definitely had to get a little cheap during it at times to stay alive.

Gamertag is the same as my name here.

I've only played the demo, no where around here had it, even though they said they would. That was a great demo though, and the game looks and runs beautifully. Return of the ****** IGN reviews I suppose.

I started the game on Warrior difficulty. Is it just me, or is the game way easier than the first NG? The obliteration technique (Y button instant kill) is too powerful. However, I found the dogs on the second level to be hard as hell, because of how fast they attack, coupled with their ability to use explosive grenades.

I'm surprised that the game does not run smoother, and the fact that it isn't 720p is also apparent from the blurrier-than-expected textures.

BTW, the golden rod that you get on the second level...I thought that was the item that allowed you to enter the Test of Valor. Is it what you get when you COMPLETE the Test of Valor?

I started the game on Warrior difficulty. Is it just me, or is the game way easier than the first NG? The obliteration technique (Y button instant kill) is too powerful. However, I found the dogs on the second level to be hard as hell, because of how fast they attack, coupled with their ability to use explosive grenades.

I'm surprised that the game does not run smoother, and the fact that it isn't 720p is also apparent from the blurrier-than-expected textures.

BTW, the golden rod that you get on the second level...I thought that was the item that allowed you to enter the Test of Valor. Is it what you get when you COMPLETE the Test of Valor?

The first Test of Valor is in Chapter 3, but you do need the rod for it. As for the difficulty, I think its pretty much the same as the first one, but at this point, I know what works and doesn't work when fighting so it might come a little easier to me now. I'm sure once I get further into it it'll be tougher. Its not easy now though, I've still probably died about 15 times so far. And I agree about the dogs, they were annoying. Bats can be pretty annoying now too.

hopefully my free copy comes by the end of the week. it shipped today.:D

can't wait to play this game this weekend!!!

I've only played the demo, no where around here had it, even though they said they would. That was a great demo though, and the game looks and runs beautifully. Return of the ****** IGN reviews I suppose.

The reviews all say it's pretty much like the other games. So they weren't thrilled with it....who cares? They told you it's more of the same and if you like that, you'll like the game. It gets the job done.

Havne't decided yet I'll rent it on Gamefly first....I don't think it has much reply value after you beat it or get to a certain level just like Devil May Cry 4.

I don't see what the problem is with the camera when you have a trigger that allows you to reset the camera back behind Ryu. None of the reviews like X-play ever mention about the easy fix to reset the camera but showed a weird angle that I never ran into myself. If anyone is coming from the first NG from Xbox then I can see the issue. If you are coming from Black and Sigma and you had no problems with the cam, then you won't have any problems here. Playing on Warrior here and loving it myself. I died for the first time fighting the second boss. Still hard as hell but thats how I like to play all my games on the hardest setting available.

This game is 100% sheer awesomeness. I got this and The Bourne Conspiracy yesterday, and I don't know if my 360 can handle the mind-shattering awesomeness of those two games together.

*faints from awesomeness*

I bought it. I also bought indiana jones (lego) and hot shots golf 2 (PSP).

This game is 100% sheer awesomeness. I got this and The Bourne Conspiracy yesterday, and I don't know if my 360 can handle the mind-shattering awesomeness of those two games together.

*faints from awesomeness*

I bought Conspiracy also. The load times are not as bad as the demo and the QTE do not happen as often as it was in the demo. The game is pretty good so far.

Anyone find the Tonfa's yet? I have lvl 3 Dragon Sword and Lunar. Lvl 2 claws, and lvl 1 sickle and chain. Please everyone, get the lvl 3 Lunar and do the UT that involves 360 degree motion and Y. Absolutly crazy. Also with the lvl 3 Lunar, I find that the chain extensions are so cool and unique compared to NGB. Press X,Y,Y,Y,Y and Ryu will amaze you with his Flag Girl skills. He puts Meg Griffen to shame.

Anyone find the Tonfa's yet? I have lvl 3 Dragon Sword and Lunar. Lvl 2 claws, and lvl 1 sickle and chain. Please everyone, get the lvl 3 Lunar and do the UT that involves 360 degree motion and Y. Absolutly crazy. Also with the lvl 3 Lunar, I find that the chain extensions are so cool and unique compared to NGB. Press X,Y,Y,Y,Y and Ryu will amaze you with his Flag Girl skills. He puts Meg Griffen to shame.

I just found them last night. Chapter 2, I was playing late last night when I got them. The area had two houses you can go into and in one of the houses after fighting a couple of enemies you have to go to the back and right. Reset the camera on Ryu facing back to the entrance and you will see the Tonfa's.

Thanks for the info, I will grab them on my next run.

Crap, the second level had the claws AND the tonfas? I only got the claws. I'm a completionist so I may start over, but I really don't use anything other than the Dragon Sword. I wish I could get the sword to level three already, but a 7-day work week is making that difficult. Looks like it's time to call out.

Yea same here as far as work is concerned. I am also in school which doesn't make life any easier. But I have a paid day off tomorrow. I will wake up and play for a couple of hours, do some homework. Then play for the rest of the weekend.

What are everyone's weapon of choice? I love the Lunar, it is very fast and powerful. The dragon sword is like a scalpel in the hand of a plastic surgeon. Many times I was able to dispatch groups of enemies with very direct acurate cuts instead of wild button mashing. I need to hone my skills a little more before I start recording.

sometimes i think "yeah wow, this really isn't that hard" - blue orbs seem easier to get than on 1, the save points are more strategically located and a lot more plentiful, and the level design seems to be a linear unlike 1 - specifically that whole "city maze' part on 1 which had you going all over the place, etc. energy refill, etc.

then i realized . . . i'm only through 3 chapters after 6 HOURS OF PLAY. i died at the second fight. not the second boss fight. the second group of guys. twice. then i got to it to the third group, and died there.

then died at the second group again on the next try. AWESOME!

they weren't kidding about the desperation of the maimed.

i had to fight genshin (chapter 2 boss) about 25 times before i beat him.

this game is actually HARDER and i think itagaki is actually showing MERCY on us by giving the aforementioned help - energy refill, blue orbs, etc.

the conflict of spending $60 on a game which may or may not pay dividends in time invested is answered here. you will be playing this for long time because you HAVE to. i missed the tonfas myself. didn't even see them. i'll be playing through it again anyway. even if i got them, i'd still be getting handled enough that i'm not going to steam through this in a weekend. the game WON'T allow it.

i had to quit last night because my thumbs were raw and my fingers had lost their sense of direction like you'd just said the word "stencil" thirty times in a row and it no longer meant "stencil".

my generally non-gamer (and absolutely non-action gamer) wife said "wow this looks like an arcade game - and arcade games are hard - is this hard?"

my neighbor came over to watch. he refused to even try to play it. he just wanted to watch.

we cheered when genshin finally died.

or is he really dead? who knows.

I just found them last night. Chapter 2, I was playing late last night when I got them. The area had two houses you can go into and in one of the houses after fighting a couple of enemies you have to go to the back and right. Reset the camera on Ryu facing back to the entrance and you will see the Tonfa's.

I think I may have missed those, how far into Ch2 are they? I'd better backtrack before I get any further.

Great game, this is so refreshing after playing COD2, RSV2, etc. Graphics are very impressive and gameplay is just a blast. Well worth the $60 and well worth the wait. I put in about 4-5 hours last night... sore thumb today:p

Apparently Tonfas look sort of like police nightsticks according to Wikipeidia. I must have missed them too. I just beat Chapter 4 last night, and I've got the level 3 Dragon Sword, level 3 Lunar Staff, level 2 claws, level 1 dual swords, plus the shurikens, bow, and incendiary shurikens. I almost walked right by the dual swords as well actually.

ahhh wait a sec - i think you are talking about the hand/foot claw weapons here - tonfas are like police nightsticks (SHAOLIN STICKS OF DEATH FTW).

but yeah the foot/hand claws are brutal.

Don't start over if you miss a weapon by the way, apparently you can buy them later on.

I can't remember where I stopped last night but I don't think I'm too far. Can't you do level select after you've completed a level?

Also does anyone know if there is a hidden weapon like that one from the first NG? I think it was like a large throwing star that returned... (ala Krull)?

Yea, I missed the dual blades, but I did see them in the shops inventory. I am still mastering the Lunar though. At the moment it is working better than lvl 3 dragon sword. I wonder when we get the amulet to make it the true dragon sword?

I can't remember where I stopped last night but I don't think I'm too far. Can't you do level select after you've completed a level?

Also does anyone know if there is a hidden weapon like that one from the first NG? I think it was like a large throwing star that returned... (ala Krull)?

Yes, I missed that boomarang/chinese star/ala krull myself. I never went back for it either. I like the nun-chucks the best.....I was ridiculously good with them :D

I picked my copy up on the way to work. Awesomeness starts tonight!

I picked my copy up on the way to work. Awesomeness starts tonight!

I'm picking mine up as soon as I get outta here from work at 5. I have a good friend who gets a 10% discount at FYE and said I could just use his name and cell # when I go to the store. I'll most likely save on tax with that :rolleyes:

picked this up on impulse yesterday considering thsi could be itagaki's last game for a while. Anyways I never beat NG1 for xbox and when I attempted top beat sigma on my friends ps3 the difficulty made me weap. anyays took about 1.5 hours to beat the first level(taking my time and hunt for secrets). I reserve final judgement for later buta s fo right now I'm very satisfied. Love the new tweaks. obliteration allows me some extra redemption when some baddie gets a good shot in. POwer up attacks a bit easier and extra brital. aanyways yeah no major qualms here.

Crap, the second level had the claws AND the tonfas? I only got the claws. I'm a completionist so I may start over, but I really don't use anything other than the Dragon Sword.

Wow, they put the weapons in multiple places in the game? That's awesome. I didn't get the Tonfas until Chapter 7 in a chest. That is awesome, and they are the best weapon against the Incendiary Spider Clan.

Re: Reviewer camera
I've read reviews where people were complaining about dying when using the third person camera (on the right stick). LOL

Re: Favorite Weapon
Claws, no doubt. Scythe, then Tonfas, then DS.

Re: OT overpowered
No freaking way. I'm praying in every single fight to lop off an arm or a shin, so that I can get a blessed Obliteration. It's not overpowered, it's absolutely integral. What's even better is that, when a baddy really gives you a hard time, you can do an over kill OT on a body that's dead (i.e. no head). So good. Need to see all the OT's for the bosses, too.

Those weren't tonfas in chapter 2, those were the claws.

I never played NG1 or Black until a few days ago, I bought the game for 360 over live and started playing it. I got NG2 just yesterday and honestly I don't think the graphics are much different. It really looks like NG2 was made for xbox 1, everything is square. The bit in new york, where I quit last night, just looks crappy. To compare, look at GTA4 city and look at the city in NG2. Sure NG2 has sharper edges and brighter colors, but the thing just looks too cartoony and last generation to me.

Those weren't tonfas in chapter 2, those were the claws.

I never played NG1 or Black until a few days ago, I bought the game for 360 over live and started playing it. I got NG2 just yesterday and honestly I don't think the graphics are much different. It really looks like NG2 was made for xbox 1, everything is square. The bit in new york, where I quit last night, just looks crappy. To compare, look at GTA4 city and look at the city in NG2. Sure NG2 has sharper edges and brighter colors, but the thing just looks too cartoony and last generation to me.

Wow, did you just compare GTA4 to NG2?!?! I honestly and truthfully think there is no comparison. Perhaps you don't have your display hooked up properly?!

My apologies. Yrd is correct I got the claws and not the Tonfas. I am looking forward to play with those. I keep switching between this and Comspiracy.

Wow, did you just compare GTA4 to NG2?!?! I honestly and truthfully think there is no comparison. Perhaps you don't have your display hooked up properly?!

x2

I only put in about 4 hrs on GTA4 then sold it on eBay but the NG2 graphics are top notch. Halo looks a bit animated too but that is the style of the game, graphics are still very very nice IMO.

Sony 52" XBR3 @ 8'

GTA is definitely not the graphical leader of any games, but when you compare the entire city environment, the detail and amount of things that look as real as they do. Then look at the cartoony, square version in NG2, you gain an appreciation for all the detail in GTA. At least I do, if you think NG2 looks better by looking less real, fine.

I just think they are trying to pull a fast one on us by saying this game was built from ground up on 360. It looks like they just added a little more detail and raised the resolution of xbox1 engine.

GTA is definitely not the graphical leader of any games, but when you compare the entire city environment, the detail and amount of things that look as real as they do. Then look at the cartoony, square version in NG2, you gain an appreciation for all the detail in GTA. At least I do, if you think NG2 looks better by looking less real, fine.

GTA to me looks too blurry. They blur the image to give it a soft look so it can come close to looking like its real. I LOVE games that have crisp/sharp edges that make the graphics 'POP'. GTA graphics don't pop to me and I don't like the fact that they blur the image to try and attain a realistic look. Now, if you said COD4 looks better than NG2 because NG2 looks too cartoony.....then I'd give that to you. I guess we can agree to disagree here with what will like in graphics :).

It's really apples and oranges. COD4 looks very real but that does not mean Halo3 or NG2 don't have graphics that are also tops. It's like saying that the image quality on Ratatouille BD is not as good because it doesn't look as real as No Country BD or something of the likes. Display should make a big difference too but what it all really boils down to is enjoying the gameplay so as GrooveRite said, agree to disagree.

btw - if anyone comes across a hidden weapon or item like the boomarang/chinese star/ala krull thingy from NG please do share! That was a fun item to have (though it could have been a tad more powerful:p)

I guess if you like "pop" it's great. I just think it could have been much better.

I think the combat in NG2 is far superior to the first, but it is missing a lot of the magic from its predecessor. I know that the story wasn't particularly epic in the first game, but it felt like a genuine effort that complemented the gameplay. In NG2, things feel like they're randomly happening just to roll things along.

I really despise the fact that they didn't use any CG for the cinematics. The choreography from the first was AMAZING (which was sadly ruined by the horrible compression job done on the video).

BTW, does anyone know what is inside the Relic Room (locked door on the second level)? I'm thinking the Dark Dragon Blade?

Looks like someone does not understand the differences between artistic direction and graphical complexity.

NG2 is absolutely gorgeous.

When you get in the relic room you will find the windmill star.

Looks like someone does not understand the differences between artistic direction and graphical complexity.

NG2 is absolutely gorgeous.

Whatever, look at NG1 and NG2 and tell me there's a huge difference. Add 1080p res to NG1 and it's nearly identical. The graphics are so last generation it's painful really. I bet he made this game with intent to release on xbox1 and changed it to work on 360. I could pick almost any game on 360 and it will look better than NG2, now that I've spent a little more time with it. That dragonball Z game looks better.

I don't like Itigaki's female models in games, he's obsessed with fake, giant breasted and barely nubile women. I'm not a fan of anime, but I'm a fan of action games. To me it's just an average game.

Whatever, look at NG1 and NG2 and tell me there's a huge difference. Add 1080p res to NG1 and it's nearly identical. The graphics are so last generation it's painful really. I bet he made this game with intent to release on xbox1 and changed it to work on 360. I could pick almost any game on 360 and it will look better than NG2, now that I've spent a little more time with it. That dragonball Z game looks better.

I don't like Itigaki's female models in games, he's obsessed with fake, giant breasted and barely nubile women. I'm not a fan of anime, but I'm a fan of action games. To me it's just an average game.

and yet the only negatives you mentioned is graphics and teh game is still extremely smooth. I';m not demanding you like just that you point to something other than graphics as a negative.

Okay, I have a question about an item I missed in Chapter 5 for anyone who got that far.


So there's a bridge at some point probably halfway through Chapter 5, where you shoot two things to lower it. I started to go to cross the bridge, and it was showing a tutorial, so I figured that was the way the level continues, so I dropped down into the water below to explore for any items. As it turns out, I had it completely backwards, and should've crossed the bridge first, because now I can't go back. Apparently there was an item across the bridge, that I missed out on and already saved past that point. Can anyone tell me what the item was that I missed, for curiosity's sake?


I just got a weapon that is pretty awesome, so I don't think its another (fell 4 hits shy of the damn 100-combo for the achievement with it.) Actually now that I think of it, I just got a melee weapon, a projectile weapon, and a ninpo.

Where do you find the Sycthe? I have the Claws and Dragon sword upgraded to Level 2. I'm at the level 3 boss by now but I need sleep.
God damn, this game rocks. Btw, I'm a total noob and playing on Acolyte and it's no joke. Esp. that level 2 boss :(

and yet the only negatives you mentioned is graphics and teh game is still extremely smooth. I';m not demanding you like just that you point to something other than graphics as a negative.

My negatives so far are the walls that taunt me to jump on to something and realise there's an invisible wall blocking me. Then the fact that trying to run up or along the wall seems to be a pain in the ass to sort out when I want one the other one happens.

After finishing the test of valor and seeing so many guys on screen at once it becomes hard to differentiate who and what is going on. There were times they were putting me in a throw and I didn't realize it was me being thrown until I'm on the ground.

My negatives so far are the walls that taunt me to jump on to something and realise there's an invisible wall blocking me. Then the fact that trying to run up or along the wall seems to be a pain in the ass to sort out when I want one the other one happens.

After finishing the test of valor and seeing so many guys on screen at once it becomes hard to differentiate who and what is going on. There were times they were putting me in a throw and I didn't realize it was me being thrown until I'm on the ground.

With all due respect Yrd, I don't think this game is for you. There are many here who clearly enjoy it and can play it w/o having the issues you are with the game. Sell the game and wait for something better to come along is all I can tell you. Happy gaming :)!

Anybody know how to avoid the little lightning spawns of the metallic worm boss in NY? I must be missing something obvious; I fought him over 10 times last night. And this is from someone who practically did the first Valor with his eyes closed.

Anybody know how to avoid the little lightning spawns of the metallic worm boss in NY? I must be missing something obvious; I fought him over 10 times last night. And this is from someone who practically did the first Valor with his eyes closed.

That boss was seriously pissing me off last night. I found that if you charge a shot with your bow and hit the spawns before they get to you most of them will drop. Also make good use of the fire ninpo, I could not have beat him without it.

I actually started over after realizing I missed a couple things. I opted for the manual save and found it is a much safer route that allows you to use different slots so you have no regrets about missing an item or a bad choice on your first upgrade.

btw - Does anyone know if there is a level select option that will open up after game completion? I saw the level select when they were doing a game demo and was really hoping this would be an available feature for replay value.

Whatever, look at NG1 and NG2 and tell me there's a huge difference. Add 1080p res to NG1 and it's nearly identical. The graphics are so last generation it's painful really. I bet he made this game with intent to release on xbox1 and changed it to work on 360. I could pick almost any game on 360 and it will look better than NG2, now that I've spent a little more time with it. That dragonball Z game looks better.

I don't like Itigaki's female models in games, he's obsessed with fake, giant breasted and barely nubile women. I'm not a fan of anime, but I'm a fan of action games. To me it's just an average game.



I own both NGS and NGB, and NG2 looks fa better than both. I think your either crazy r have one POS set-up, because on mine NG2 ooks heavenly. And do you know what nubile means, it means sexually attractive or giving of a strong sexual vibe, something those big breasted chicks do.


Anyway, after playing up to level 6 so far, I have too say the game seems pretty easy compared to the first. So far only the Level 3 boss and his cheapness and the Level 5 Valor test have given me issues, using the level 3 Talon blades almost feels unfair, its a Werewolve Ass-owning tool of complete destruction, they fall like leaves before you. . The game is fun as hell though and IMO better than NGB, its just wierd that you can get hammered by the Train Worm Thing boss level 3 and die about 5 times before beating it, but then get to the next two bosses and face utterly no challenge at all.

Only reason I bought it was to get a new action game, I love action games. If the Afro Samurai game doesn't suck I'll get that, looks better imo.

Anybody know how to avoid the little lightning spawns of the metallic worm boss in NY? I must be missing something obvious; I fought him over 10 times last night. And this is from someone who practically did the first Valor with his eyes closed.

I just beat that boss last night, I hated it. It was the worst boss I've seen so far and just wasn't even fun on warrior difficulty. I was so frustrated last night, I never once managed to hit the little ones before they hit me. Then the giant blue face...

Before that boss, there was a section filled with demons right after the test of valor and some ninjas. That part killed me about 10 times.

anybody know if you get anything by collecting crystal skulls???

anybody know if you get anything by collecting crystal skulls???

You get to be Indy's new sidekick?

You get to be Indy's new sidekick?

so I googled, and it seems that all it is are achievements, which is gay IMO

So it makes Ryu homosexual? That's a brave choice.

So it makes Ryu homosexual? That's a brave choice.

At the end of the last game he totally dissed that hot chick, soo....maybe.

I just picked this game up and am currently playing Chapter 3. The new blood and ninpo animations are cool, but overall I am disappointed with the graphics. There is no way in hell that this game is HD. I think many chapters in Ninja Gaiden Sigma have better resolution, detail, and colors. I am sitting about 6ft away from a Pioneer PRO-110FD. I have both my Xbox and PS3 connected via HDMI. NG2 is fun to play, but I don't believe for a second that this is even 720p graphics. For example, compare the Hayabusa ninja village in chapter 2 of both NGS and NG2. NGS just has more detail in the texture maps, trees, flames, enemies, etc.

I'm on level 5 and this game is all sorts of awesome! This might get me to buy NG:Black off Xbox originals after I'm done.

It's not a perfect game all around by any means but that game play is so damn sweet and satisfying, I can easily overlook the shortcomings.

I just got it last night and I'm LOVING IT!! Its like visiting a really good old friend. The gameplay and moves came back to me immediately. I started on warrior and I'm slicing these guys up pretty easily.....so far, lol!

So it has a total of 4 difficulties? I guess you have to beat the game to get the other two? I want to play this on the hardest setting.

So it has a total of 4 difficulties? I guess you have to beat the game to get the other two? I want to play this on the hardest setting.

masochist :(

Wow. I think I can officially say that the giant fire turtle is the gayest boss in all of Ninja Gaiden history.

If there's one problem with NG2, it's that the bosses seem to lack any actual or practical strategy. Remember the worm bosses from NG, and how you could beat them without getting hit once you figured out what to do with your jumps and arrows? There seems to be none of that here. In NG2, you just have to hope that you don't get hit, and that you are well equipped, because everything seems random.

Just wait until that stupid ass turtle, who just decides that it's ok to fart and blow fire rocks everywhere for over an hour so you can't attack in any practical manner.

I just picked this game up and am currently playing Chapter 3. The new blood and ninpo animations are cool, but overall I am disappointed with the graphics. There is no way in hell that this game is HD. I think many chapters in Ninja Gaiden Sigma have better resolution, detail, and colors. I am sitting about 6ft away from a Pioneer PRO-110FD. I have both my Xbox and PS3 connected via HDMI. NG2 is fun to play, but I don't believe for a second that this is even 720p graphics. For example, compare the Hayabusa ninja village in chapter 2 of both NGS and NG2. NGS just has more detail in the texture maps, trees, flames, enemies, etc.

It's actually 585p, or something.

I agree that NG2 does not look quite right. The game just doesn't look sharp or focused; it looks like it is upscaled, which is exactly what is going on.

Can't wait for Ninja Gaiden II Sigma in 1080p.

I wonder how big this game is on the disc. If it's 585p, I imagine it wouldn't even fit on a DVD if it was 1080p.

I wonder how big this game is on the disc. If it's 585p, I imagine it wouldn't even fit on a DVD if it was 1080p.
Where's the smiley???

I own NG2 and Sigma, and NG2 clearly looks better. It's not a huge leap, but it's obvious, IMO.

I don't see the unfocused or upscaled look going on at all.


Can't wait for Ninja Gaiden II Sigma in 1080p.
Well, they say Microsoft's next system is shooting for a winter 2010 release, so maybe it'll happen then.

I wonder how big this game is on the disc. If it's 585p, I imagine it wouldn't even fit on a DVD if it was 1080p.

That's not how it works...

Wow. I think I can officially say that the giant fire turtle is the gayest boss in all of Ninja Gaiden history.

If there's one problem with NG2, it's that the bosses seem to lack any actual or practical strategy. Remember the worm bosses from NG, and how you could beat them without getting hit once you figured out what to do with your jumps and arrows? There seems to be none of that here. In NG2, you just have to hope that you don't get hit, and that you are well equipped, because everything seems random.

Just wait until that stupid ass turtle, who just decides that it's ok to fart and blow fire rocks everywhere for over an hour so you can't attack in any practical manner.

I completely agree with you, that I is why I think God of War 2 is superior to this game. Just wait till you have to fight TWO of those fire turtles at the same time. There really isn't much skill involved, it's just maybe I'll get lucky this next time. At least the first game was hard for a reason, this one is just cheap for no reason.

Wow. I think I can officially say that the giant fire turtle is the gayest boss in all of Ninja Gaiden history.

If there's one problem with NG2, it's that the bosses seem to lack any actual or practical strategy. Remember the worm bosses from NG, and how you could beat them without getting hit once you figured out what to do with your jumps and arrows? There seems to be none of that here. In NG2, you just have to hope that you don't get hit, and that you are well equipped, because everything seems random.

Just wait until that stupid ass turtle, who just decides that it's ok to fart and blow fire rocks everywhere for over an hour so you can't attack in any practical manner.

I thought that was pretty easy, and I had no healing items at that point. I pretty much just ran up to it and beat the hell out of its head with the scythe (level 3) though I've read incendiary shurikens work even better.

Immediately after you beat it though:

Be prepared to block. I didn't and was about to throw the controller across the room after that.

I own NG2 and Sigma, and NG2 clearly looks better. It's not a huge leap, but it's obvious, IMO.

I don't see the unfocused or upscaled look going on at all.


What display/projector are you using? What resolutions are you running your PS3 and Xbox 360, and what is your viewing distance? Are you using component or HDMI?

It's actually 585p, or something.

I agree that NG2 does not look quite right. The game just doesn't look sharp or focused; it looks like it is upscaled, which is exactly what is going on.


I wonder if this is why they delayed releasing the demo until after the game shipped.

Also in the NG2 looks way better than Sigma camp. I just played the demo but it really did look very good IMO.

The problem with Sigma was that as a game it just didn't look that great. Only a few areas seemed to get a comprehensive makeover. For example the first level, which was good marketing more than anything (since that's whats in all the comparison videos). The rest just look like an Xbox 1 game with some unspectacular lighting effects.

Proof that there are things more important to making a game look good than resolution.

Also in the NG2 looks way better than Sigma camp. I just played the demo but it really did look very good IMO.

The problem with Sigma was that as a game it just didn't look that great. Only a few areas seemed to get a comprehensive makeover. For example the first level, which was good marketing more than anything (since that's whats in all the comparison videos). The rest just look like an Xbox 1 game with some unspectacular lighting effects.

Proof that there are things more important to making a game look good than resolution.

It would be great if you could provide what display, resolution, connections, and viewing distance you are using.

It would be great if you could provide what display, resolution, connections, and viewing distance you are using.

I have played all the versions of NG and just traded Sigma in for NG2.

As far as display goes. I have a a 70" XBR2 1080p and a 60" XBR1 1080p. HDMI Halo 3 360.

number1laing hit on what he already said. The full version as you go on. Compared to the previous versions you have so many more characters to fight. You are fighting eight at a time onscreen with 4 difficulties at once compared to just 4 in previous versions. Not 8 of the same characters, you got flying dragons and claw ninjas and some 4 legged monstors all at once. Damn right I am enjoying the new game here. The weapons have been upgraded. Shooting arrows in mid-air even in the middle of moves is a welcome addition and powering up your arrows and exploding shurukins have also been added. My recomendation to anyone is at least rent it. This is not a button masher by any means. You can try and play it like that but don't bitch about the difficulty because you can't be patient to block and move like a ninja. :D

Anyone getting any slow down or freezing/pausing when playing?!?! ......or is my 360 giving signals of the inevitable (RROD or the like)??? Damn it!!!

Anyone getting any slow down or freezing/pausing when playing?!?! ......or is my 360 giving signals of the inevitable (RROD or the like)??? Damn it!!!

I get that as it's loading between rooms. Quite annoying...

I would say that the most hideous instance of slow down that I've encountered is during the first level, right near one of the bottom passages where you run by a waterfall. Another significant instance was in the Venice level; the part where you kick through a door and there's a purple demon baddie right in front of you. The game actually froze the first time I went through, since I tried to run back into the room I came from.

Anyone getting any slow down or freezing/pausing when playing?!?! ......or is my 360 giving signals of the inevitable (RROD or the like)??? Damn it!!!

The frame rate slow down is a known issue. I have also had the game lock up once. I am pretty sure that this is an issue with the game and not my 360.

I have played all the versions of NG and just traded Sigma in for NG2.

As far as display goes. I have a a 70" XBR2 1080p and a 60" XBR1 1080p. HDMI Halo 3 360.

number1laing hit on what he already said. The full version as you go on. Compared to the previous versions you have so many more characters to fight. You are fighting eight at a time onscreen with 4 difficulties at once compared to just 4 in previous versions. Not 8 of the same characters, you got flying dragons and claw ninjas and some 4 legged monstors all at once. Damn right I am enjoying the new game here. The weapons have been upgraded. Shooting arrows in mid-air even in the middle of moves is a welcome addition and powering up your arrows and exploding shurukins have also been added. My recomendation to anyone is at least rent it. This is not a button masher by any means. You can try and play it like that but don't bitch about the difficulty because you can't be patient to block and move like a ninja. :D

I agree with you about the improved combat, weapon selections, and animations. It is extremely cool!

BTW, you can shoot arrows in mid-air in Sigma.

I'm pretty sure they had exploding Shurikens in the last one also. Can't wait to play this in HD.

That's not how it works...

That's not how what works?

It would be great if you could provide what display, resolution, connections, and viewing distance you are using.

Umm... Samsung LNS4096D, about 5-6', everything is set to 1080P (I don't fiddle around with these things for individual games). 360 is hooked up via component, PS3 via HDMI.

Like I said, NG2 just looks better. Its like if the entire game was made to look like the Sigma first level.

What display/projector are you using? What resolutions are you running your PS3 and Xbox 360, and what is your viewing distance? Are you using component or HDMI?
360 via component PS3 via HDMI both outputting @ 720p to Toshiba 50HM66, sitting about 7 feet away.

That's not how what works?
Whether it's rendered @ 1080p or not has nothing to do with the size of the game.

I finished path of the warrior this morning. Path of the mentor has rocket and tech solders at the first level. I am also getting ridiculous slowdowns now as well.

You know, I wonder what games like this would look like if they were even at 720p. It's getting kind of old hearing that so many games aren't rendered at the lowest HD standard. Oh well.

I had my first lock up which was pretty frustrating. I had finished the first level and looking at my stats when the game froze. I thought that it didn't matter but when I restarted playing it again it put me back at the end of level 1 to fight the spider boss again. Only this time he was way harder than first time I beat him.

But overall the game has met my expectations. They kept the same baseline while adding more weapons and some more tweaks. Graphics seem pretty good so far in SD. Hopefully future lockups are pretty rare.

I have yet to have a lock up or slowdown. When and if I do beat it sometime in the near future since I am playing it on the hardest setting available right now, I will try the more difficult setting and see if I get the same thing cesslinger is dealing with.

I honestly feel that this game gets worse and worse as it progresses. There seems to be, well, a lack of imagination this time around. Apparently, Team NINJA's philosophy towards a challenge is placing people with rocket launchers as much as they can. Also, I am getting extremely sick of the dark and murky environments. It's funny how any instance of sunshine in the game will only last for 5 seconds.

I honestly feel that this game gets worse and worse as it progresses. There seems to be, well, a lack of imagination this time around. Apparently, Team NINJA's philosophy towards a challenge is placing people with rocket launchers as much as they can. Also, I am getting extremely sick of the dark and murky environments. It's funny how any instance of sunshine in the game will only last for 5 seconds.

Sell it and move on. Being that the theme of Fiends is a "dark period in time" What movie or game setting do you think is going to have some sort of sunshine setting when something similar reminds you of Hell? In addition you obviously haven't played that far. Why don't you try chapter 5.

I have yet to have a lock up or slowdown. When and if I do beat it sometime in the near future since I am playing it on the hardest setting available right now, I will try the more difficult setting and see if I get the same thing cesslinger is dealing with.

I know what you mean, I'm on Path of the Mentor now and the fight vs Genshin at the end of Chapter 2 is horribly lagged. At the very beginning when it's only Genshin on screen its fine but then some incendiary kunai ninjas jump in and the framerate takes a huge dip until you kill all of the ninjas and its just you and Genshin again.

Mentor is a HUGE jump in difficulty from Warrior its like going from Normal to Very Hard in the first Ninja Gaiden, I definitely wasn't expecting that.

I honestly feel that this game gets worse and worse as it progresses. There seems to be, well, a lack of imagination this time around. Apparently, Team NINJA's philosophy towards a challenge is placing people with rocket launchers as much as they can. Also, I am getting extremely sick of the dark and murky environments. It's funny how any instance of sunshine in the game will only last for 5 seconds.
Ninja's typically don't hang out in broad daylight much.

Sell it and move on. Being that the theme of Fiends is a "dark period in time" What movie or game setting do you think is going to have some sort of sunshine setting when something similar reminds you of Hell? In addition you obviously haven't played that far. Why don't you try chapter 5.

Yeah, chapter 5 has sunny conditions for a majority of the chapter. I just got there yesterday and all I gotta say is.....damn, this chapter was kickin my Ar$$e last night.....sheeeshhh!! I'm on warrior mode.

That part with Genshin on path of the mentor was a pain in my thumb. I keep trying it over so I could defeat him without using any potions. I think the Izuna spinning pile driver has been my best friend against bosses on path of the mentor. Absolute carnage if you connect. Then do an on landing UT and watch the blood pour.

I am a NG newb. I DL'd the demo to check out the 'hype' behind the NG series. I know, I know, where have I been right? Anyhow, the demo had me hooked from minute 1. I bought the game last night. Looking forward to my first NG experience.

The one thing I liked about Black/Sigma, was all the little getting yellow essence cheats, like if you just wanted to go in and out of the same room for hours and kill things, you could get tons of yellow essence, and then pimp out all your weapons, get 3 talisment of rebirths. I really haven't found any areas like that in this one, I am on Chapter 6 now. I don't know. I like things about this new one, and I like things about the old one.

Farming essence is not necessary. If you use the UT at least once per encounter you will have plenty of cash to get everything you need. On path of the mentor I was able to max all the potions and get the dragon sword up to level 3 by the middle of chapter 2. Please note on path of the mentor you need 15000 for level 2 and 35000 for level 3. The small potions are 4000, large 6000, talisman of rebirth... 40000.

Farming essence is not necessary. If you use the UT at least once per encounter you will have plenty of cash to get everything you need. On path of the mentor I was able to max all the potions and get the dragon sword up to level 3 by the middle of chapter 2. Please note on path of the mentor you need 15000 for level 2 and 35000 for level 3. The small potions are 4000, large 6000, talisman of rebirth... 40000.

Man, I use a UT quite often, and my essence doesn't seem THAT high, I don't know, maybe my next playthrough will be different.

Well I beat it last night on warrior. I can say the graphics get a little better once you get to the later levels. Whatever chapter it is that has you fighting Elizebet, that's when the environments start to look more like x360 stuff.

When I was climbing the stairs to reach the last section they send pretty much the remaining population of the spider ninja clan and it became a slow motion cinema event. I think my favorite weapon was the sickle/chain. Works real well on mobs..

Man those dogs in NY are the toughest things out there. I tried to leave the dog alone thinking that it was hurt and next you know there's a pack biting my *ss.

I'm on chapter 12 now. There is a major slow down in chapter 10 going up the stair case fighting a hundred soilders. This part is just down right epic. The slowdown isn't stuttering. If you watched the movie 300, how they slow down the battle to show you certain hits. That's about the pace. For the first time you can actually see all of Ryu's motions in combos. It's actually quite cool!

This is quite a cool game and being new to the series, I'm finally starting to grasp it. A person earlier called this a button masher. You can try that but you won't last very long. It's quite technical actually. The Level 3 sycthe is all sorts of own but I do miss the tripple flying swallow of the dragon sword.

I have a 150k of essence farmed up but I'm too cheap to spend any! I got the dragon sword at level 4, scythe at 3 and claws at 2. Anything else worht upgrading? What ninpo's are the best? I got blades of wind at 3 and can still upgrade another one to the max. Piercing void? should I do that one?

Well I beat it last night on warrior. I can say the graphics get a little better once you get to the later levels. Whatever chapter it is that has you fighting Elizebet, that's when the environments start to look more like x360 stuff.

When I was climbing the stairs to reach the last section they send pretty much the remaining population of the spider ninja clan and it became a slow motion cinema event. I think my favorite weapon was the sickle/chain. Works real well on mobs..

YRD,

How the hell do you beat that damn water horse. All I did was run all accross the water then those ghost pirannas got to me :D

Ok, spent some good time with it over the weekend and just wanted to share a couple thoughts.

I would say half for the levels feel like I've been there before with the last game. I really wish they were a bit more original but I did really like the aqua city and wolf castle. Some of the rooms and halls just look so familiar even with similar colors:confused:

What's the deal with the out of place bosses? It's like how many can we squeeze in here and it doesn't seem to matter how random they are. Just drop one in here and here and here... etc. It kind of takes away from the climax of reaching a boss and they don't seem to have much to do with the story.

Yes, ninja's with unlimited rockets, bullets, etc. and guns that need no reloading are seriously lame and the dogs that jump and dart with knives and incendary shuriken are an even worse idea.

The camera is problematic and I've gotten slowdown with lots on a screen. I can't tell who is where and even were I am sometimes. It can be irritating.

On the plus side the gameplay is great fun and the weapons are a blast. I'm on level 8 and found that the claws, dragon sword, and Scythe all on level 3 are super effective against most enemies. I'm debating on upgrading the Tonfa's or kusarigama next but not sure which would be the best choice. There certainly seems to be a shortage of health in these later levels.

YRD,

How the hell do you beat that damn water horse. All I did was run all accross the water then those ghost pirannas got to me :D

Stand on the pillar you start out on and charge up arrows. When he tosses the ice projectiles at you use a ninpo for defense or block/dash left right.

Well I beat it last night on warrior. I can say the graphics get a little better once you get to the later levels. Whatever chapter it is that has you fighting Elizebet, that's when the environments start to look more like x360 stuff.

When I was climbing the stairs to reach the last section they send pretty much the remaining population of the spider ninja clan and it became a slow motion cinema event. I think my favorite weapon was the sickle/chain. Works real well on mobs..

Glad to see you had a change of heart :).

This game requires lots of timing and patience. If you don't have that, you won't like this game. When you master the moves....this game seriously becomes ridiculously fun and rewarding when you plow through what seems like the impossible!

To the people experience major lag and slow-down, maybe because you've inadvertently or not turned on the replay recording function? Heard that can really cause performance problems in the game.

To the people experience major lag and slow-down, maybe because you've inadvertently or not turned on the replay recording function? Heard that can really cause performance problems in the game.

I had mine turned on with no slowdown but I turned it off around chapter 3. That might just be the issue for some. Not going to show my vids right now. I got to get my skills up some more. Ninja my ass. Yet I am looking forward to playing the higher difficulty?

Stand on the pillar you start out on and charge up arrows. When he tosses the ice projectiles at you use a ninpo for defense or block/dash left right.

Thanks.

To the people experience major lag and slow-down, maybe because you've inadvertently or not turned on the replay recording function? Heard that can really cause performance problems in the game.

I get it mainly when there is A LOT going on and I'm causing MAJOR destruction! I don't mind the slow down because I can see the moves better. I just don't like the pausing and freezing that occurs from time to time. It kills the flow of the game when that happens.

You guys think this slow down is because NG2 is working the hell outta the 360? If this is the case, I'm most def getting Star Wars Force Unleashed for the PS3. I think the 360 won't be able to handle 3 engines in one game that well.

I get it mainly when there is A LOT going on and I'm causing MAJOR destruction! I don't mind the slow down because I can see the moves better. I just don't like the pausing and freezing that occurs from time to time. It kills the flow of the game when that happens.

You guys think this slow down is because NG2 is working the hell outta the 360? If this is the case, I'm most def getting Star Wars Force Unleashed for the PS3. I think the 360 won't be able to handle 3 engines in one game that well.

Is the freezing happening shortly after you just saved the game?

Is the freezing happening shortly after you just saved the game?

Its just happened twice to me so far. Once in chptr 2 and another time in chptr 4. It just seems to me like my 360 is struggling to keep up with the pace of the game at times. I really hope its the game and not my system though, lol.

I get it mainly when there is A LOT going on and I'm causing MAJOR destruction! I don't mind the slow down because I can see the moves better. I just don't like the pausing and freezing that occurs from time to time. It kills the flow of the game when that happens.

You guys think this slow down is because NG2 is working the hell outta the 360? If this is the case, I'm most def getting Star Wars Force Unleashed for the PS3. I think the 360 won't be able to handle 3 engines in one game that well.

Personally im surprised there are so many evident frame rate problems in ninja gaiden 2. If anything, in a comparison between xbox 360 and ps3, i've always thought the 360 was a lot smoother. If you've played alot of the same game on both consoles then I think you'll know what i mean.

Personally im surprised there are so many evident frame rate problems in ninja gaiden 2. If anything, in a comparison between xbox 360 and ps3, i've always thought the 360 was a lot smoother. If you've played alot of the same game on both consoles then I think you'll know what i mean.

I have and know what you are saying. The reason the games were better just a few month/years ago from my understanding is because developers didn't have readily available dev kits for the PS3 when it first launched. 360 dev kits were so they made it for what was available at the time. They developed for the 360 first and then ported over to the PS3. Thats not the case anymore and since the PS3 is known to be the system to be harder to develop, they are starting with it first and then porting over the game to the 360. So most future multi-console titles will most likely be first developed for the PS3.

PS: I still haven't bought a game for my PS3. It might be force unleashed though.

Sell it and move on. Being that the theme of Fiends is a "dark period in time" What movie or game setting do you think is going to have some sort of sunshine setting when something similar reminds you of Hell? In addition you obviously haven't played that far. Why don't you try chapter 5.

And why don't you try Ninja Gaiden Sigma.

Also, you guys want slowdown city? Use level 3 Kurisama on the bugs in the Amazon trial.

And why don't you try Ninja Gaiden Sigma.

Also, you guys want slowdown city? Use level 3 Kurisama on the bugs in the Amazon trial.

I did and traded it in for NG2.

You can also smack the crap out of the water dragon by water running over to its back and slashing the crap out of the dorsal fin. Then you may get an opportunity to do an OT on the beast. The OT's on the bosses are really cool. Not as cool as Nero's devil trigger boss grabs though. Those are on a league of their own.

Glad to see you had a change of heart :).

This game requires lots of timing and patience. If you don't have that, you won't like this game. When you master the moves....this game seriously becomes ridiculously fun and rewarding when you plow through what seems like the impossible!

Still haven't changed my mind about the graphics, they still aren't what I think they should be, very limited pallete, limited structural design. The environments look very simple and boxy. As far gameplay goes it's fun for the most part. A little aggravating dealing with bosses. Particularly the forced bow battles. I hate the bow and arrow bosses. Other bosses that are half flying and half ground. 90% of the time when they fly you can't do anything other than dodge crap for 10 minutes until they decide to land.

YRD,

How the hell do you beat that damn water horse. All I did was run all accross the water then those ghost pirannas got to me :D

I used I think the sickle and possible the scythe. I don't remember now that I think about it. I didn't use the bow once on him. I kept advancing until I could get to his side, when you get near his back you can get onto his back, sort of. Until he shakes you off. I just button mashed my way past that boss.

To the people experience major lag and slow-down, maybe because you've inadvertently or not turned on the replay recording function? Heard that can really cause performance problems in the game.

The only lag I encountered was the section travelling up the steps in chapter 10 or so when it's about 20 ninjas on screen at once. Aside from that just the aggravating load screen every now and again after loading a game and trying to zip to the part that just killed me or getting to the pause menu. I just attributed the load screens to been freshly loaded.

Well this game can now be officially be added to the dust collectors pile until I can get my hands on a game guide. This game is just way too tough for me on Acolyte. Which leads me to believe that I won't learn much more skill wise that will allow me to beat it on any other harder setting. I don't remember the first NG being so hard. But the same thing happened to me on NGB. It's too bad because I was looking forward to playing this game in HD.

Well, back to completing SSBB......

Well this game can now be officially be added to the dust collectors pile until I can get my hands on a game guide. This game is just way too tough for me on Acolyte. Which leads me to believe that I won't learn much more skill wise that will allow me to beat it on any other harder setting. I don't remember the first NG being so hard. But the same thing happened to me on NGB. It's too bad because I was looking forward to playing this game in HD.

Well, back to completing SSBB......

I'm brand new to the NG series and action games like this in general. I'm playing on the Acolyte also.

My suggestion. Don't get overwhelmed. Instinctively you'll want to hack n' slash along with mashing buttons when you a lot of guys on the screen trying to attack you. Avoid just that. Instead make the block button your best friend. Then use the dash to move away. So hold down block and move with the left stick. Then use your light attack (X) to start out most combos.

How far you get before you gave up on it?

I'm brand new to the NG series and action games like this in general. I'm playing on the Acolyte also.

My suggestion. Don't get overwhelmed. Instinctively you'll want to hack n' slash along with mashing buttons when you a lot of guys on the screen trying to attack you. Avoid just that. Instead make the block button your best friend. Then use the dash to move away. So hold down block and move with the left stick. Then use your light attack (X) to start out most combos.

How far you get before you gave up on it?

I got to the final boss on stage 3. You know after getting my but whooped on stage 1 at the very, very beginning, block, counter-attack and dash became my best friends very quickly.

The thing that I liked about NG was that as you progressed through the game, it introduced enemies that forced you to adapt and improve your game and try getting good at the new weapons. The same thing seemed to be happening with NGB and NG2. But there always seems to be some boss that I get to with no type of discernable weakness. This is coming from a guy that beat NG on all the hardest settings. Not quickly or easily but with perserverance and applying all the techniques I had learned previously.

I spent a half hour running around that giant steel fish, not getting hit or anything waiting for it to flip upside down so I can attack it. Then when it finally does it's so far away I don't have time to any decent attacks against it.

I do appreciate the words of encouragement. I may give it a shot after getting some sleep and going at it fresh tomorrow. It's so often that you get a negative response from some when your opinions don't align with their's. :)

You don't even need to attack it early on with melee weapons. Just use max charge bow shots to head. Use the lunar staff XXX combo to deflect the fish that come at you or just block dash them. Eventually it'll turn upside down with low hp and stay there. Go up and take your rage out on it.

Since I didn't play NG1 I can't compare but I think the bosses have a unique technique to them. Not all of them respond well to the basic attacking skills no matter how good you are at them. Once you figure out their weakness, you go "wow, that was easy..." but they can be a bitch upto that point! esp that level 3 boss. Funny enough, the Level 2 boss has been the hardest for me so far (i'm on level 12 now) because I wasn't friends with block/dash/counter technique :)

I do appreciate the words of encouragement. I may give it a shot after getting some sleep and going at it fresh tomorrow. It's so often that you get a negative response from some when your opinions don't align with their's.

That is exactly what I have to do when I get my ass handed to me. during the day that I tackle NG. I play another game or go to the gym to change pace. Then I eventually get passed whatever stage I was stuck at. As far as for the first to NG's, they all play this way.

The chapter 3 boss made me want to choke small animals, but I figured out a easy pattern...

As soon as the fight starts, equip the bow, grab some arrows off the corpse and make sure you have some inferno ninpo (not needed, but makes the fight way easier). Run in the direction of the worm along the opposite side of the tunnel. As soon as he passes by you, hit the right trigger to re-align the camera and hold B. the camera adjustment will cause Ryu to automatically aim in the direction of the worm. Fire off max charged arrows at it's body. When it turns to face you, fire off a single max charged arrow into it's face, and then run towards the worm along the opposite side of the tunnel, and repeat the above. It will be tempting to stand your ground and shoot another arrow at it's face- don't. The key is to always be behind the worm so he can't hit you with blue fireballs, and constantly use the right trigger to keep it in sight. When he releases the fish at you, use the inferno ninpo- it'll roast the fish before they can touch you. If you're out of ninpo, you can spam Y with the Lunar Staff.

I used the above tactic on Warrior and finished him off fairly quickly. The max charged arrows to the face do a big chunk of damage.

You don't even need to attack it early on with melee weapons. Just use max charge bow shots to head. Use the lunar staff XXX combo to deflect the fish that come at you or just block dash them. Eventually it'll turn upside down with low hp and stay there. Go up and take your rage out on it.

Since I didn't play NG1 I can't compare but I think the bosses have a unique technique to them. Not all of them respond well to the basic attacking skills no matter how good you are at them. Once you figure out their weakness, you go "wow, that was easy..." but they can be a bitch upto that point! esp that level 3 boss. Funny enough, the Level 2 boss has been the hardest for me so far (i'm on level 12 now) because I wasn't friends with block/dash/counter technique :)

Fighting bosses that are in somewhat human form are little bit easier for me to fight. I usually will get killed several times learning what to do in anticipation of their moves. This usually tons of patience, lots of blocking, and quick counter attacks. Getting some or half of the boss' energy before dying means that I just need to tighten up my game. Dying with little or no energy taken from the boss usually means bad news. I'll try the arrows thing again. I was trying that at first (the dead body with the supply of arrows kind of gave me a hint) but they weren't taking any energy off of him.

That is exactly what I have to do when I get my ass handed to me. during the day that I tackle NG. I play another game or go to the gym to change pace. Then I eventually get passed whatever stage I was stuck at. As far as for the first to NG's, they all play this way.

Yeah, I'll hit the gym again to see if that clears the air.:o

Wait until you get to all the guys with the rocket and mortor launchers... they never reload and have unlimited ammo! What I wouldn't give to borrow a bubble shield from Master Chief and a force push from Obi-Wan:p

I'm a little overwhelmed with all the available combos, can anyone tell me what the button sequence is for the one where you take an enemy up in the air and spiral down head first? Also which would be a better choice for a level 3 upgrade... the Tonfa's or kusarigama?

I'm a little overwhelmed with all the available combos, can anyone tell me what the button sequence is for the one where you take an enemy up in the air and spiral down head first? Also which would be a better choice for a level 3 upgrade... the Tonfa's or kusarigama?
It is overwhelming, no doubt. Only played some of the demo, but many of the moves are the same as in the original. The move you're asking about is the "izuna drop" and must be mastered. It'll kill pretty much any enemy that you can perform it against. X, Y (this sequence throws an enemy up), then I believe it's X, X, X, Y. The Xs will do a bunch of slashes, the Y will do the slam.

jeff

made it to the room right before the boss werewolf last night. the group of red wolves before i fight him took me out about 10 times. three times i got down to the very last one and as i jumped/moved in to deliver the death blow, i'd get punched out of the sky, side-stepped and then punched, or a piece of bodypart thrown at me.

so cheap, i love it.

i really respect that there is no hand-holding in this. i feel like a ninja having the freaking underworld thrown at me - because that is what is happening. that is the story. i also enjoyed the surprise spider ninjas showing up again in the wolf castle - i had been merrily going along lunar'ing everything and all of a sudden there's a couple of floors of lightning-fast, grenade-shuriken throwing idiots jumping around my staff like nothing. had to do a quick strategy change - can't just spam the same weapon throughout.

even my wife is congratulating me when i'm beating a boss or a trial of valor. and then i explain to her that yeah, that wasn't the level boss, just a mini-boss.

i will agree that once you find the weakness, the bosses can definitely be surprisingly easy. ie the boneyard skeleton thing . . . could only get about halfway down its energy with one weapon, switched up, and then beat it the next shot through on a 100+ hit combo while i had the thing sittin on its butt like a big crying baby (yes i was screaming a variation of that at the tv while fighting it).

i have a feeling i've missed some weapons . . . looking forward to playing through this again. new game+ ftw.

i have a feeling i've missed some weapons . . . looking forward to playing through this again. new game+ ftw.

Any weapon you miss, you get the option to buy it from the old man at his overly expensive store. Same goes for items.

I posted earlier that the Izuna drop may be one of the best attacks against the bosses. Some might say the fights are more difficult with fodder ninjas running around during a boss fight. I call those guys "ammo". Seriously though. The izuna drop will jack up any boss. I imagine that if my best friend/comrade was pile drived into me, it would hurt on many levels.

Any weapon you miss, you get the option to buy it from the old man at his overly expensive store. Same goes for items.

See I like this when I miss things, but it also gives a ton less incentive to actually explore, so that bothers me a bit too.

Wait until you get to all the guys with the rocket and mortor launchers... they never reload and have unlimited ammo! What I wouldn't give to borrow a bubble shield from Master Chief and a force push from Obi-Wan:p

I'm a little overwhelmed with all the available combos, can anyone tell me what the button sequence is for the one where you take an enemy up in the air and spiral down head first? Also which would be a better choice for a level 3 upgrade... the Tonfa's or kusarigama?


There's a list of all the techniques in the start menu if you go to the weapon you want and hit Y. The throws are labeled as throw.

One of my favorite moves for my favorite weapon, the sickel and chain, is a throw. From a stand tap X X X , and hold forward and hold X while it hits a guy he tosses the chain at them and it pulls them in, he turns around and launches up in the air with the guy on his back and drops him on his head like the izuna drop move.

I've found the Dragon Sword's Ikaruga to be particularly awesome (X, X, Y, -> Y). 100% guaranteed dismemberment. It's funny doing one obliteration after another against the wolves.

The Scythe at level 3 owns all. The amount of damage is does to the bosses is ridiculous compared to other weapons. I love that damn thing.

Tip: When you get to the level 12 you'll have to fight 2 of those giant aramdillo things. The problem here is that the level is all red and yellow. They blow out giant red balls of lava and basically you can't see a damn thing! turn the colors down on your TV and basically make it into a black n white and it makes it a bit easier.

Try using the exploding shuriken on the armadillos. You will be pleasantly surprised if you hit them on the noggin.

Well I finally beat the damn level 3 boss by being cheap using Ninpo. But I have a save right before that boss so I'm gonna redo that again. What's crazy is that I was ranked Master Ninja after having no Ninpo but on all the other stages I was ranked Head Ninja not having used Ninpo once throughout the whole stage.

my free game arrived today but i havent had a chance to play it yet since there was a lakers game

woohoo! beat the game! Level 12-14 is no joke. Very difficult but do able. Just make sure you have plenty of money to buy healing items and ninpo charges. You'll need em.

I'm trying to go through the game again on mentor and wow, I've died so many times, I'll probably reach a million deaths if I ever manage to finish this difficulty. So far the mini boss battles all have exploding shuriken ninjas running around with them, so it's hilariously, rediculously, stupid trying to do anything. You barely have any time to do anything because you're bouncing around everywhere. You either dodge or block or jump or whatever, but they always get 50 darts in you. That and every level so far has the missile launcher/bazooka ninjas which are so unbelievably cheap.

"Hey look have some missiles, I know you're standing in front of me and splash damage would probably kill me too, but I've go my special missile repelant spray on today."

I'm only up to the burning dragon ninja tower with the spider demon boss. I've managed to kill him a couple times but I die right afterwards from some stupid ninjas.

i just experienced some major slowdown during chapter 2 where that huge dragon thing is

I'm trying to go through the game again on mentor and wow, I've died so many times, I'll probably reach a million deaths if I ever manage to finish this difficulty. So far the mini boss battles all have exploding shuriken ninjas running around with them, so it's hilariously, rediculously, stupid trying to do anything. You barely have any time to do anything because you're bouncing around everywhere. You either dodge or block or jump or whatever, but they always get 50 darts in you. That and every level so far has the missile launcher/bazooka ninjas which are so unbelievably cheap.

"Hey look have some missiles, I know you're standing in front of me and splash damage would probably kill me too, but I've go my special missile repelant spray on today."

I'm only up to the burning dragon ninja tower with the spider demon boss. I've managed to kill him a couple times but I die right afterwards from some stupid ninjas.

Well at least you beat it. I'm still stuck at the 2nd Test of Valor.

I'm only up to the burning dragon ninja tower with the spider demon boss.

That's what she said :cool:

made it past chapter 8 last night, gave chapter 9 one life and decided that was enough for one day.

usually on a game like this, once i've realized i'm 6 chapters away from the end, just over half-way, i'd usually kind of start getting antsy about the experience coming to an end soon. with this, i still feel like i'm going up the mountainside. and i'm looking forward to coming back down the other side in the form of new game+ with maxed weapons and the twitch reflexes of a crackhead epileptic in a strobe light factory.

gotta say though - the bosses seem to be pretty easy for the most part. 6, 7, and 8 all went down pretty easy. 5 was tricky until i figured the rhythm out, 4 was surprisingly simple (he's lightning, stay "grounded" and it's over pretty quickly) . . . 3 was a pain, and 2 was the hardest one so far, i'd say.

the trials of valor keep getting progressively harder as well. it's quickly becoming about crowd control - which segement do i kill of first? the rocket launch spammers, or the machine gun exploding personal tank guys? i find i'm using my health/life of the gods in these instead of the boss fights - btw, using life of the gods as an emergency life refill is a great tip.

indomitable spirit achievement ftl.

using life of the gods as an emergency life refill is a great tip.

Indeed! I've been saving mine for the tough fights so not to use my limited health. I just started 10 last night and am happy to be back fighting monsters instead of those damn ninjas with the rockets. The Scythe on Lvl 3 is serious ownage!

I finished the TOV 1 on mentor yesterday. The day before I couldn't win if I used 2 large potions, 1 talisman of rebirth, 2 small potions, and 3 ki potions. Yesterday I killed it using one small potion. It felt great.

Oh yea, I only used the level 3 dragon sword as well. Trying to get the weapon achievements.