Ninja Gaiden 2 Black Reviews
Fewer enemies with more health may mean Ninja Gaiden 2 Black isn't quite the definitive version, but it's a definite and gorgeous improvement over its Sigma 2 release, and still an excellent action game all around.
While the name may be slightly misleading, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a fantastic way to experience one of the best action games ever made.
Even with the confusing cut content that hopefully gets added back in at a later date, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is the perfect way for newcomers to get into the series with its most action-packed and visceral entry. Veterans are still likely to prefer the ridiculous cruelty of the original game, but most fans are just going to be happy to see Ryu return and right most of Sigma’s wrongs.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a great remastering of a genuinely superb game, and will raise a smile in fans and new players alike.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is not perfect. It tries to make up for the dastardly mistakes made by the Sigma series, but it succeeds only partially and fails to replicate that perfect intensity that Tomonobu Itagaki managed to get right in 2008. It remains, however, the best version of the game currently available on modern systems, thanks in part to Unreal Engine 5, which enhances its aesthetics to excellent levels. It may not be entirely worthy of the Black suffix, but this Ninja Gaiden 2 still deserves your attention as you await the fourth chapter.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black isn't the most definitive version of the classic but it will remind you why it's so well-regarded in the first place.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a solid recreation of the original game, offering improved visuals and additional features. While it stays true to the challenge and feel of the original, some minor graphical issues and the high difficulty level may deter some players. Overall, it's a must-play for fans of the series and newcomers alike.
They don't make games like that anymore, and Ninja Gaiden 2 Black shows that this is a game with roots that go back almost 20 years. It's overly bloody, overly provocative, but it suits the game. Just like the dynamic action gameplay that won't let you breathe a sigh of relief. What's more, there's still a decent level of challenge to keep you going and motivated to improve. It's just a shame that, after all this time, the developers haven't tried to tweak a few things.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
With it not doing enough to be like the original and not having everything Sigma added this might seem like wasted potential, but in the end this is the best current version of a classic and a game that can stand on its own against the newest of action titles.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Ryu Hayabusa returns with a good remaster operation, maintaining the intense and brutal combat system of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2. The difficulty is more accessible and the new graphics made in Unreale Engine 5 are great, but there are still historical issues like the camera and some content missing compared to Sigma 2.
Review in Italian | Read full review
NINJA GAIDEN 2 Black is a beautiful game that runs flawlessly on Sony's console. Completely remade with Unreal Engine 5, the title features redesigned scenarios, effects, lighting and characters. The game is also now more inclusive, with the addition of a more accessible difficulty mode for casual players or those unfamiliar with the franchise.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a phenomenal remaster that successfully restores the best entry in the series whilst making it more gorgeous than ever… you know… in that limb-slicing, blood-shooting-everywhere kind of way. The combat remains fast, fluid, and punishingly satisfying, whilst the visual upgrade ensures that every battle is as gorgeous as it is brutal. Admittedly, the storytelling is all over the place and the camera can be frustrating, but the sheer depth of the brilliant gameplay more than makes up for it, with Ninja Gaiden 2 Black living up to the spectacle of the original game with this wonderful remastered release.
If you had doubts about Ryo Hayabusa's condition, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a great way to test the Team Ninja warrior's form. The return of this action game icon is still enjoyable in almost all its aspects (except for the camera issues), with its frenetic and satisfying gameplay delighting fans of demon-slaying action. Despite its high price and the controversial use of the Sigma version, these minor issues do not detract much from the quality of a production that remains a milestone in the genre, even 17 years after its original debut.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is undoubtedly a good option, even if for purists the Xbox 360 version of Ninja Gaiden 2 played on the Xbox Series X is still the preferred method of time travel. It is a reminder of an essence that was feared lost, a violent game in which dismemberment is part of the game strategy, in which you are punished mercilessly if you fail with the controls.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black reminds us why the franchise was formerly the gold standard for 3D action. It's fast, furious, and a bloody good time. I can't think of a better way to prepare for Ninja Gaiden 4.
Ninja Gaiden II Black takes an already solid entry into the series and gives it a modern and bloody coat of paint that signals the return of the legendary franchise.
Purists may lament that this isn't a true update of the original Ninja Gaiden II, as Ninja Gaiden II Black uses the Sigma 2 port as its base, but what has been put together here is still an incredibly fulfilling hack and slash action game that absolutely is one of the best in the genre. In a time where more and more franchises are going down the open and freer route, this is a reminder that a more linear and confined approach works wonders for this type of game.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a pleasant surprise for gamers who have been following the Tayabusa clan since the old Tecmo games of the 80-90s. A remastering at the height of the original title that offers about 13-15 hours of fun filled with extreme combat, frenetic action and many game modes as a reward after completing the campaign. The visual and performance improvements allow us to play at 4K 120 FPS turning the game screen into a spectacle of blood, gore and severed limbs.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a must-play for all beat 'em up, hack-and-slash fans. With exceptional combat mechanics, a great story, and a classic gameplay formula, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black smashes it out of the park in my books.