Ninja Gaiden 2 Black

At the end of the day, despite its somewhat dated gameplay, I was still impressed by the time the credits rolled. 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.

If you're looking for an elaborate plot, you won't find it, but if you're looking for intense action, violence and gore, impossible jumps and incredible feats, stick with this game, because you won't go wrong.

Thanks to its entertaining and challenging gameplay, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a great way for those unfamiliar with Ryu Hayabusa to dive into this saga. However, long-time fans may consider this version incomplete due to the missing additional content.

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.

Visually incredible, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is still the great game it was at the time. It suffers from not having updated some things that do feel obsolete, because otherwise, it would be impeccable.

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is an excellent opportunity for new players to discover this action gem, while veterans can relive the challenge with a fresh coat of paint. However, the design decisions inherited from Sigma 2 mean that this is not the definitive version that many were hoping for.

Its camera might remain somewhat skittish and the upgrades here aren't exactly seismic, but Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, rebuilt using Unreal Engine 5, certainly looks the part and delivers immediate, lightning-fast ninja action, replete with buckets of blood and viscera. It was, and still is, excellent.

If you enjoy a solid action game, do not pass this up. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a must-play and some of the most fun you can have as the legendary Ryu Hayabusa – even if certain aspects of the design feel dated and select content is missing. This is a great way to kick off the 30th anniversary celebrations of developer Team Ninja. Now, bring on Ninja Gaiden 4!

Even if you've played Ninja Gaiden II before, this is the perfect opportunity to take it for another spin. And if for some reason you've missed this newer generation of Ninja Gaiden altogether, Ninja Gaiden II Black is the best place to start.

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, while sitting between a remaster and a remake, remains a challenging and enjoyable game with enhanced visuals, new adjustments, and additional content. These changes eliminate most of the issues that frustrated fans of the Sigma version, making this possibly the best edition of the game to date.

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is neither Ninja Gaiden 2 nor Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, but instead a secret third thing that mixes both versions together to create something that is wholly unique and by far the most beautiful version of this excellent action game yet. While I have a hard time calling it the definitive release because I prefer the original’s “more dudes who are more aggressive but die faster” approach, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a definite improvement over the Sigma 2 release, fixes several long-standing issues, and unlike the original, isn’t trapped on the Xbox 360. It isn't the version I was hoping for (get on it, modders), but it is still an incredible game and I'm happy it exists. If this really is it for Ninja Gaiden 2, it will at least go out on a high note. This trip through time reminded me that while you can't go home again, and nothing will ever truly be like it was, that doesn't mean something can't still be beautiful. Ninja Gaiden 2 is remarkable, even with its flaws, and it's good to finally have it back in Black.

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black brings back the second, iconic installment of the Team Ninja-branded with redesigned graphics in Unreal Engine 5 that nonetheless were simply applied to the Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 layout, retaining the same animations and an approach to geometry that obviously does not match today's standards. Camera quirks aside, however, the gameplay remains surprisingly solid, frantic and challenging just as we remembered it.

Between the original and Sigma, this remake is the best version of the game since the Itagaki's one, the best entry for newcomers and a good appetizer to wait Ragebound and Ninja Gaiden 4.

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.