Ninja Gaiden 2 demo finally flips out of Japan tomorrow, not to US or Canada [Update]

by Christopher Grant { Jun 2nd 2008 at 10:45PM }

Put down that Dragon Sword and peel off that ninja mask; despite a heretofore unexplained absence of the Ninja Gaiden 2 demo outside of Japan, you won't be forced to make do with your own ninja action. Xbox Live gatekeeper Major Nelson gives us a demonstration of real ultimate power by cracking enough skulls to get to the bottom of the mystery: the Ninja Gaiden 2 demo will be released worldwide (except Germany, verzeihung) at 5am tomorrow, Joystiq Time. Until then, let X3F take you on a tour of the Japanese demo to satisfy your ninja-fueled bloodlust, okay?

Update: Major Nelson has updated with an apology and a note: the demo will be available everywhere except India, Germany, US or Canada. (Via X3F)

Tags: demo, Ninja-Gaiden-2, XBLA, XBLM

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Nicholas @ Jun 2nd 2008 10:51PM

but... the game releases tomorrow. Better late then never, I suppose.

ChooChooCharlie (MK 0430-8740-2222) @ Jun 2nd 2008 10:55PM

For my area the ship date is tomorrow, but technically the release isn't until Wednesday. I'm not sure why they even announce the ship date, it's not like it does me any good.

Moorio - XBL: peacebyanymeans @ Jun 2nd 2008 10:53PM

May I ask what 'Joystiq Time' is?

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jun 2nd 2008 10:58PM

Joystiq time is a certain kind of dance move, quite similar to Hammer time. but like Hammer time, anytime it's used it shall cause immediate embarrasment and disgust in the opposite sex.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:01PM

Or same sex, if that's what you're into.

deaftly @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:19PM

or eastern, same thing

BananaBoat @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:53PM

Microsoft loves to put crap out at ungodly hours of the night. It's part of their plan to punish paying customers by making them stay up late if they want to play. Remember teh Haloz Beta? Middle of the night. COD4 Beta? Middle of the night.

Let us sleeeeeeeeeeeep ;_;

(disclaimer - Neither of those beta's may have happened during the middle of the night. My memory isn't that good, so I can't remember. I think they were though.....)

OmegaVader @ Jun 2nd 2008 10:55PM

I'm no expert, but "0200 PT" seems like 2:00AM to me. Which would be 5:00AM EST. Don't know where you get the 5:00PM, but then, maybe I just don't understand Major Nelson's timing scheme.

ChooChooCharlie (MK 0430-8740-2222) @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:00PM

Yeah, you're right. It's definitely 5am, not pm.

DesertPyrate @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:02PM

The game is fun difficult as all hell but fun, a lot like the first one except its WAY, WAY gory, I'm talking last 20 mins of the last Rambo movie gory. Like Grindhouse type stuff. Graphically its on par with a DMC4, if you liked the first you'll like this one, if you liked the first enough to buy Sigma on the PS3 you'll love this one.

Prasada @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:19PM

I made a Japanese silver account on my 360 and downloaded it with that earlier last week. Learned that trick when the Rainbow 6 Vegas demo landed in Germany.

deaftly @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:19PM

Tomorrow shall be gloriously red!

Cyro @ Jun 3rd 2008 1:16AM

Amen.

Patrick @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:21PM

Thank you God in Heaven

ScottyGEE @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:41PM

Fuck yeah!
At least I get the demo for a week or two before the game comes out here: 12 June. It might be hard getting into the stores though with MGS4 coming out the same day...Lucky bastards.

Spartan 1308 @ Jun 3rd 2008 12:20AM

Check back at majornelson.com. He updated the post and says that the US and Canada will not get the demo tomorrow.

ChooChooCharlie (MK 0430-8740-2222) @ Jun 3rd 2008 1:09AM

Lame.

BananaBoat @ Jun 3rd 2008 1:19AM

Hear that Tecmo/MSoft? That's the sound of a freaking sale flying out your window. Jerks.

BananaBoat @ Jun 3rd 2008 1:31AM

Edit: Whoever decided this thing should be Japan first, while screwing everyone else over, is a jerk. Not Major Nelson. It's nice that he owned up atleast...instead of leaving us hanging till morning.

fawazr @ Jun 3rd 2008 2:00AM

It sucks that this will be the last Itagaki produced NG game.

svenhoek @ Jun 3rd 2008 2:03AM

OK so this game is 360 exclusive, the 360 is HUGE in the US. It sucks over in Japan. So lets release the demo for our 360 exclusive game in Japan first, then everywhere except America next! Its genius marketing.

Superstar90 @ Jun 3rd 2008 10:04AM

It actually is a smart move. They want Japanese owners to get to try out the demo ASAP, so they will closer to buying it.
The original NG on Xbox was a hit in the US, but not so much in Japan.

Jean @ Jun 3rd 2008 2:32AM

meh. Nothing about the video makes me want to download this demo... looks lame/last gen.

BIGGEN (LIVE-PSN: BIGGEN1103) @ Jun 3rd 2008 7:46AM

wow! how'd you get it?!! you're so awesome!

is that the reaction you were looking for?

on a side note, the demo is non existent.

BIGGEN (LIVE-PSN: BIGGEN1103) @ Jun 3rd 2008 7:50AM

i see now where it has been updated.....AGAIN!

Prasada @ Jun 3rd 2008 9:41AM

If you guys really want the demo, just sign out of Live from your normal account and make a new account with a Japanese address. The only thing that needs to be accurate is the postal code, and here's one to use: 170-3293. Just put in gibberish for the rest, go to the Live store, and browse to the Ninja Gaiden subpage. You can download the demo from there. It's even in English. The only snag I ran into was that the game doesn't show up in Spotlight Demos, but just keep paging around until the Ninja Gaiden banner ad pops up and click that. Easy peasy, and you can play the demo and flip out and kill dudes with claws on your hands AND feet.