Ninja Gaiden 2 Black Review – A Brutal and Beautiful Return

If you are a devoted gamer and have been putting efforts into the gaming world since 2000, then you have undoubtedly heard about Ninja Gaiden. In 2008, the sequel “Ninja Gaiden II” came into the limelight, attracting many players. 

A remastered version of Ninja Gaiden II was released on 23rd January 2025, which blends the original game with the Sigma 2, is titled “Ninja Gaiden 2 Black”. The release was for Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S players, whose buzz has been still in headlines. 

Do you want to know how your favorite “Ninja Gaiden” title performed till now? If yes, then you can go through this unbiased review of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. 
 

What Makes Ninja Gaiden 2 Black Worth Trying?

The title is about the life of Ryu Hayabusa and shows the events take place after a year when the Xbox’s version of Ninja Gaiden ended. Here, you will find plenty of threats ready for Ryu to deal with to proceed forward in the challenging journey. Below are the areas where Ninja Gaiden 2 Black has managed to fulfill gamers’ wishes, turning them satisfied. 
 

A Great Combat Mechanic

The improved combat system of Ninja Gaiden Black 2 facilitates players to harm enemies badly, even tearing their bodies and soaking the weapon and nearby things with blood. The best part of this game is the fast-paced combat, allowing you to slice off the opponents while invading through the rooms. 

If you analyze Ryu, you will find his moves and combos extremely complex, unique movesets and a special counterattack ability aligned to the weapon. Additionally, he has fantastic defensive tools that will help you greatly sweep out even greater foes easily. 

Interestingly, blocking enemies is super-easy, whereas countering and dodging will take time to get optimum benefits. Overall, players seemed extremely satisfied with the quality and mechanics of Ninja Gaiden Black 2’s combat system. 
 

Improved Graphics Makes The Title Visually-Appealing

While the combat system makes the game interesting, the graphics portion was very well handled, adding as an icing on the cake for the players. Additionally, Ryu’s attractive green eyes are an unexpected treat to the eyes with slight improvements to the UI. 

The crystal-clear and detailed graphics make the game even more attractive and enjoyable experience. If you analyze the graphics deeply, you will notice that texture upgrades and lightning moderations make the surroundings even more realistic and tempting. 
 

How The Game Could Be Better?

The Ninja Gaiden 2 Black carries out all the above stuff gracefully, but still, it has a few shortcomings that players noticed. Mostly, long-time players have expressed their concerns on minor issues, but anyone playing the game for the first time will enjoy the adventurous journey.
 

Dead Enemies Makes the Game Tougher

Well, as we know already, games, whether action-adventure or survival, are incomplete without enemies. The prime job of these enemies is to test the patience of the players and create a wall for them to proceed ahead. Enemies can be of different forms, from four-legged to flying beasts, making the game more gripping. 

Similarly, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black has plenty of enemies with distinct powers scattered within different regions. However, here comes the downsides since the injured enemies are more dangerous than the living ones. They will jump on and attack you and leave no stone unturned to harm you in any possible way. 

Unlike many games, the foes of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black will not wait for your move, rather they will quickly come towards you to scare you off. So, you should be cautious while dealing with such opponents as they will be extremely furious and want you dead. 

In these scenarios, your ultimate goal should be to attack them while defending yourself too. Dealing with enemies doesn’t always mean attacking blindly, as here, you need to focus on your survival. 
 

Boss Encounters Aren’t Much Engaging

Another major flaw is within the quality of boss confrontations. Some opponents are a blend of tough and fun, while a few are a balance of these two. 

However, some encounters, like with Nuclear Armadillo, will result in a plain flight where you will be forced to engage, reducing the battle fun. 
 

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black- Hit or Flop?

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is not an exact copy of either of the two sequels, but it can be considered as a bridge connecting them. The result of the blend has created a unique piece that got tremendous positive reactions from the critics. 

The 2 Black seems to be a great improvement of the Sigma variant as it fixes several troubling errors. In short, one can consider it as a fabulous version of the series to date. 

If you are a beginner to the series, you will get an absolute treat for your gameplay experience. The Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is still beautiful, even with its shortfalls, attracting loads of players even after days of release. 

The exact verdict on whether the game is successful or not is challenging to decide. It is up to the players to conclude and choose to play the game, but, until now, it’s getting immense appreciation globally. 

The Final Words

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black mostly accumulated favorable feedback where players seemed to appreciate fast-paced combat and high-end graphics. However, a few players raised enemies-related issues, reducing game retention and excitement. 

Have you liked the Ninja Gaiden 2 gameplay and combat system? Don’t hesitate to comment down your views regarding the action adventure in the comment box.