'Defense is important' in Ninja Gaiden II

by Ludwig Kietzmann { May 26th 2008 at 7:30PM }

See? It's not just about flipping out and killing people and slashing enemies into the air and tossing shurikens into their faces and lopping off limbs and doing totally sweet combos like that one where you kick the guy in the head before chopping him into pieces and then running up the wall because you're the ultimate unstoppable mammal. Sometimes you just have to calm down and defend yourself. If the sage advice conveyed by the above video isn't enough, you have until June 3rd to view the clips after the break and get educated on the ways of the ninja.

Remember: Ninjas fight ALL the time.

Tags: Itagaki, Microsoft-Game-Studios, Ninja-Gaiden-2, Team-Ninja

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

RobLink (Return of the McElroy Defence Force) @ May 26th 2008 7:46PM

Not all the time. Not if they're performing frisbee seppuku

Benny @ May 26th 2008 7:49PM

I look forward to painting the town red.

aristokrat @ May 27th 2008 12:39AM

I look forward to it as well, but my thumbs are shaking in fear. I still have and X/O/triangle/square superimposed image embedded in my thumb from playing through Sigma. Talk about working out your thumb muscles.

ViagraFiend @ May 27th 2008 10:11AM

Does anyone else notice how much the graphics have taken a step back compared to Sigma? The gameplay looks pretty much the same, but the graphics are decidedly worse.

Yeah, it may be a new story, but I'm not expecting too much depth in the story.

Just compare videos, its pretty noticeable.

Slayer @ May 26th 2008 7:59PM

I couldn't agree more. The first one was a bit difficult if you didn't stop and slow down now and then. Spamming attacks will get you nowhere.

tmacairjordan87 @ May 26th 2008 8:00PM

It got me to the credits of the first game...

RobLink (Return of the McElroy Defence Force) @ May 26th 2008 8:09PM

It got me to the horse-riding boss. Seriously, that's it. I sucked at that game, and have now come to terms with it.

Noshino @ May 26th 2008 10:36PM

none of the 3 biggest "hack n slash combofest" kind of games (DMC, GoW, NG) were ALL about spamming.

DMC:
The fastest paced one, it was attack-dodge-attack.

GoW:
Almost as fast as DMC, but there were many segments during combat in which you had to do different actions and thus would slow down the fighting (on top of that, the fact that whenever you would defend it would go into slow-mo also affected the pace)

NG:
Fast while in combat, at times even faster than DMC, but like many have stated, if you don't stop and defend, you'll die in no time.

JerJerBinks @ May 26th 2008 8:16PM

God, can you see to it that Ninja Gaiden 2: Sigma makes it to the PS3? Oh, and I want a pretty pink pony too!

Mr.ESC @ May 26th 2008 8:19PM

What

JerJerBinks @ May 26th 2008 8:20PM

What part of pretty pink pony didnt you understand?

RobLink (Return of the McElroy Defence Force) @ May 26th 2008 8:21PM

The pretty part. Also, the pink.

Oh, and the pony too.

HighFiveJesus @ May 26th 2008 9:30PM

that would be "rediculous". the very idea of ninja gaiden 2 on the ps3 is a "loss" of their soul and anything involved is tainted. if it ever became reality, it would be "no good".

el serpiente @ May 26th 2008 9:32PM

No thanks. It looks like TMNT the arcade game with horrible camera angles and more blood.

JerJerBinks @ May 26th 2008 9:39PM

Their "soul" is making entertainment for money, and there is more money to be made multi-platform than via exclusivity. Actually, it doesn't make any sense to me that a 3rd party developer would continue to make console exclusive games. Yes, this includes MGS4 and FF.

Frankly, they also said Ninja Gaiden: Sigma was "no good," and if that is their idea of no good, give me 6 more servings of it.

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ May 27th 2008 12:00AM

You know I bought Sigma because I missed NG the first time around ... It was a fun game but not really my style ... I have always preffered DMC and Onimusha for my hack n slash action ... I will pick up NG eventually but its not on my must buy list for June ...

As for a Sigma II on PS3 -

If Itagki really believes that shit he spews I have no desire to give him my hard earned money!

Dude is an eccentric prick in every single sense of the word ..

Vcize @ May 27th 2008 10:53AM

"No thanks. It looks like TMNT the arcade game with horrible camera angles and more blood."

But Heavenly Sword is the best thing ever. Amirite?

SoulBlade @ May 26th 2008 8:18PM

Not as important as offense and goring your opponents in a variety of ways.

Cutty @ May 26th 2008 8:21PM

It wasn't important in the first game? You were dead in seconds if you didn't defend.

t_m @ May 28th 2008 9:46AM

Yeah. I hated that game for a day or so until I realised that you actually had to block about 90% of the time, and then attack in the gaps.

I had such a hard time even getting through the training level until I realised how important blocking was.

Mr.ESC @ May 26th 2008 8:22PM

I never played this game before but if it’s anything like God of War or Devil May cry the phrase "the best defense is a good offensive" totally applies.

I never used my skill points on defense techniques in DMC or God of War since it got me no where. I rather killed hordes of enemies with sick combos.

StrangeBum @ May 26th 2008 8:47PM

No no..this game is nothing like that. Defense is a very important factor in your survival of this game. There really is no other way to play.

And it doesn't necessarily make it not fun, because it still kicks ass, but it definitely increases the difficulty factor to a new level.

ScottyGEE @ May 26th 2008 8:26PM

That boss looked easy due to the amont of damage Ryu can do.

Also the little enemies look like they do little damage.

:(

Richard Mitchell @ May 27th 2008 10:38AM

If I had to guess, I'd say the GameVideos eds were playing on the easy difficulty setting. Even minor enemies did boatloads of damage in the first Ninja Gaiden.

Brook @ May 26th 2008 8:29PM

defense has always been completely necessary in every version of the game otherwise u were toast...the combos didn't flow 100% theres always at least a 1-2 second period between combos that you couldn't attack but you could block.

Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ May 26th 2008 8:49PM

I want to know why they would post THIS story but not the one I sent tips in about.

http://blogs.pcworld.com/gameon/archives/007014.html

Basically a blogger claiming controlling the camera is part of the challenge factor in Ninja Gaiden...

ApolloIV @ May 26th 2008 8:54PM

Probably because it is assumed. I mean the last Ninja Gaiden game the camera was a problem for me. So telling me that in this game the camera sucks, it doesn't suprise me.

The Doctor @ May 26th 2008 9:00PM

Because one's a new video of amazing gameplay, the other is an opinion piece describing why the author thinks some gameplay element is a good change?

Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ May 26th 2008 9:10PM

I don't know, I've NEVER read a review where the player had to constantly control the camera as a plus because it "adds to the challenge and was intentional."

That's a new one.

Vcize @ May 27th 2008 10:49AM

I'm going to make a blog and post about how My Little Pony is a great game with an epic story that blows Bioshock's out of the water.

That way, Fidlious can reference it whenever a story about Bioshock comes up.

ApolloIV @ May 26th 2008 8:53PM

I don't get why you people post all these complex comments on this game. All it needs is,

Damn....

Jhongerkong @ May 26th 2008 8:59PM

Screw that! The only defense an action game needs is another attack button. Defense in action games are as useless as braking in Mario Kart.

PyrosNine @ May 26th 2008 9:01PM

From the looks of it, unless you're really quick with spamming the attacks and know what you're doing, you've got to defend or you'll get claws tearing you a new one.

The enemies can quickly build up a deadly combo on you, sometimes in unison, and some of the attacks the enemies use in their free form fighting can easily catch you off guard and lay on the hurt.

When he's fighting the big beasty on the bridge, he's whacking it in the groin, and it retaliates by just collapsing to the ground....and crushing him!

Got to hand it to Team Ninja for making such intelligent enemies and such an awesome fighting system!

JetPogi @ May 26th 2008 9:15PM

It's a sure thing that I'm going to buy this game what bothers me is the camera from the beginning (when he was going up stairs) and during the fight scene you can't see some of your enemies. This has been the only problem although not that big for the first game.

Wii60Warrior @ May 26th 2008 10:06PM

IGN gave it an 8.7

Benny @ May 27th 2008 7:10AM

Cue the "Who cares about IGN?!" brigade.

xFenixKnightx @ May 26th 2008 10:34PM

Bottom line is, the game looks insane. Did the first one have a camera problems? Yes. Did I care? No. Will I care if NG2 has camera problems as well? NOOOOOO!

All I know is that from previews I've seen is that the camera isn't as bad as the first one this time so thats good enough for me. Stop trying to find flaws with a game just because its 360 exclusive and quit your bitchin already. :)

xFenixKnightx @ May 26th 2008 10:35PM

Ahhh this was for FiddyW.

Noshino @ May 26th 2008 10:43PM

Fenix, clearly you haven't read the article, now you are in FULL control of the camera.

The first one had problems with the camera (as reported) and I guess Itagaki couldn't really fix it so he just said to himself "you know what, fuck it, let's give full control of the camera to the gamer, and if they ask us why, instead of saying that we couldn't fix it, let's tell them that it is to improve the challenge of the game!"

from the previews I can tell 3 things

1: Combat system looks amazing

2: The one playing on all of these previews knows how to control the camera

3: Everything is glossy as fuck

xFenixKnightx @ May 26th 2008 10:58PM

Actually I did read it. The guys defending it and he has good reason to. Unless you're looking for reasons to disagree like you're doing at the moment.

Ohhhhhhh, so you spoke with Team Ninja and Itagaki eh? Good to know. Damnit this game is too glossy, NOW I'm not buying it. Actually the only thing that looks glossy is Ryus outfit which is supposed to look like that. Or did you not notice in Sigma? lulz.

Good night Stiqers.

Cyro @ May 27th 2008 12:13AM

Im pissing my pants in excitment for this game man!! This is going to be awsome!

I loved the First one. Even though I almost died from a heart attack from trying to beat it in hard.

I know I will atleast break 2 controllers now in fury with NG2. lol! I just love the challenge.

PS: DMC4 was way too easy for me man.

Noshino @ May 27th 2008 12:30AM

Actually Fenix, his reason isnt a good one, the fact that they couldn't improve the camera is still there, the guy just seems to want to spin that and make it look as if it was meant to be a challenge, don't take my word by it, all the other reviewers seem to think that way.

One thing would have been that they had a great camera and on top of that allowed you move it at free will and a complete different is to not be able to improve on the camera and so instead just give you full control of it.

When did I say that the fact that the game is glossy is earth shattering?...it just funny to point it out as fanboys seemed to point it for GT5P. Oh, and yes, I noticed it in Sigma, but since it isn't supposed to be good (right Itagaki?) I don't mention it.

Cyro,

Yah, the first was amazing, but if I was you I wouldn't be too excited about this....it seems there are some "problems" with it, one of them being mid game loading...

and yes, DMC4 was way too easy, after finishing it I had to go play DMC3 to remind me that DMC still a good franchise....

Cyro @ May 27th 2008 9:57AM

@ Noshino: Talk to me about loading problems when you actually get the game and play it. I for one, will give my opinion once I have played the game.

Vcize @ May 27th 2008 10:51AM

I agree that a fixed camera with the option to free move it would be ideal, but I'd rather have a totally free cam than a totally fixed one that I can't adjust. I loathe not being able to move the camera in these types of games.

kagai @ May 27th 2008 12:32AM

What the hell just happened?

Rob Accomando @ May 27th 2008 12:41AM

God of war = easy button masher, imo.

Ninja Gaiden = perfectly challenging

Cannot wait for part 2

ExMcloud @ May 27th 2008 7:47AM

Remember the camera in the first game was inconsistent and felt like a challenge in its self....Now saying they did it on purpose..I call BS...But hey to each his own I played and loved NG Black and the camera issues (which I saw in the vid) are exactly the same so the guys complaining must not have played the 1st one. NG 2 staill looks better than the prior 3 games in every way