Ninja Gaiden II (Xbox 360 Game)

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Ninja Gaiden II
Developer(s)	Team Ninja[1]
Publisher(s)	Microsoft Game Studios [2]
Designer(s)	Tomonobu Itagaki
Platform(s)	Xbox 360
Release date	NA June 3, 2008 EU June 6, 2008[3]
Genre(s)	Action-adventure, Hack and Slash
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	ESRB: M OFLC: MA15+ BBFC: 18 OFLC(NZ): R18+
Media	DVD-ROM
Input methods	Xbox 360 Controller

Ninja Gaiden II is an upcoming sequel to Ninja Gaiden for the Xbox 360, due for release in June 2008. It is being developed by Team Ninja and published by Microsoft Game Studios exclusively for the Xbox 360. This is the first time that a Team Ninja developed game will not be published by Tecmo. While sharing the number as the NES game Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos, it is not a conversion of that older title. The game will not be released in Germany due to lack of a USK rating.^[4]

Contents 1 Development History 2 Characters 2.1 Ryu Hayabusa 2.2 Joe Hayabusa 2.3 Genshin 2.4 Sonia 2.5 Elizebet 2.6 Volf 2.7 Muramasa 2.8 Alexei 2.9 Zedonius 2.10 Momiji 3 References

[edit] Development History

Images of Ninja Gaiden II have surfaced on the Japanese official Xbox 360 website. After the pictures surfaced, they were removed from the site within a matter of hours.^{[citation needed]} The screens tell what appeared to be new weapons such as a scythe and a pair of three-bladed claws and bladed shoes on Ryu Hayabusa's person. New locales were also shown, though they were of a more Eastern origin than the previous game. The game was shown at the Tokyo Game Show 2007.^[5] The scythe and 'talons' have since been confirmed, in the first trailer released. Ninja Gaiden II was previewed at Microsoft's Tokyo Game Show Press Conference and was confirmed as an Xbox 360 Exclusive. Itagaki was quoted during the event as saying "Now please enjoy the world's best action game, running on the world's best hardware".^[6]

The official page on the Xbox 360 website was at first a page with a Japanese archway and lanterns with the phrase "Brutally Fun" and a countdown. At 11:00 P.M. PDT the official page launched with screenshots of Ryu fighting various enemies, mostly with his new weapons and series creator Tomonobu Itagaki revealed the game at Microsoft's pre-Tokyo Game Show press conference. Locations were also revealed ranging from a city much like Venice, Italy, Japan, and New York. The official web page also mentions a new health system with semi-permanent damage restored at save points, improved iterations of previous weapons as well as new ones, a 30-hour-long story mode, and a new installment of the Master Ninja tournament. A trailer was also shown with Ryu kneeling among a field of swords stabbed into the ground before hearing approaching footsteps and readying his scythe.

Stages shown in the at the Tokyo Game Show conference include Aqua Capital, Northern Purgatory, Lifeblood Shrine and Niflheim.

At the Game Developer's Conference(2008) many new features have been confirmed. Tonfas, a scythe, and the Falcon's Talons were shown as new weapons, while the Lunar, the Dragon's Claw and Tiger's Fang dual blades, and the bow return. Like melee weapons, the bow can now be charged with essence to fire essence-powered arrows. Players may now save films of gameplay at save locations to upload and show their friends. On March 27, the Ninja Gaiden 2 official website announced that exclusive content will be released on April 15, however it has been delayed until April 22.^[7] The demo which was hinted by Tomonobu Itagaki, has been announced to be released in May.

The game will consist of four difficulties: Path Of The Acolyte being the easiest, followed by Path Of The Warrior, Path Of The Mentor, and Path Of The Master Ninja being the hardest.

The game features more gore and graphic violence than the previous installment, as several screen-shots show Ryu decapitating his enemies as well as cutting off their arms and legs and ripping their bodies apart.^[8] Dismemberment will handicap or immobilize an enemy, but not necessarily kill him, except when he is decapitated.^[9] This has been confirmed to be a Mature rated title.

A new female character named Sonia was recently shown. She apparently works for the CIA and is looking for Ryu due to the Arch-fiend's revival as well as a demon statue. On May 5th, videos from IGN showed a new character named Genshin, the overlord of the Black Spider Ninja Clan. He will stop at nothing to destroy Ryu, including making an uneasy alliance with the Fiends. Another video showed another new character, Elizabet, who's task is to steal an important artifact from Ryu's village that, in turn, sets off a motion of events that will threaten the very existence of the human race.

New released screens show a kusarigama as a new weapon, a troll-like boss and black ninja dogs as new enemies.

New videos on official site show Vigoorians Flails and Windmill Shuriken return; also they show Ultimate Techniques for Windmill Shuriken, Incendiary Shurikens and Fiend's Bane Bow and new Art of Phoenix Flames and Art of Piercing Void.

There is currrently no release date for the demo.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Ryu Hayabusa

The current leader and protector of the Dragon Sword which is use to kill the master of dragon and the Hayabusa village. He was the sole ninja responsible for the destruction of the Vigoor Empire and all of its leaders, including Doku and Murai.

[edit] Joe Hayabusa

The father of Ryu Hayabusa, Joe has returned from training in distant lands to resume his duties as the leader of the Hayabusa Ninja Clan, only to be injured in one of his many battles against the forces of evil. He lays in rest at his home in the Castle of the Dragon, unaware that the evil shadow of the Black Spider Clan slowly descends upon his village.

[edit] Genshin

Overlord of the Black Spider Ninja Clan, Genshin's lust for power is matched only by his hatred of Ryu Hayabusa and his bloodline. Hoping to gain an upper hand in the struggle for Ninja superiority, Genshin enters into an uneasy allegiance with the Fiends. He will stop at nothing to destroy Ryu and put an end to this centuries-old feud once and for all.

[edit] Sonia

She apparently works for the CIA and is looking for Ryu to stop the Black Spider Clan from obtaining the Demon Statue, possessed by the Hayabusa Ninja Clan, in order to resurrect the Arch-Fiend.

[edit] Elizebet

Ruler of Blood and Queen of the Greater Fiends, Elizébet is tasked with retrieving an important ancient artifact from the ancestral village of Ryu Hayabusa, setting into motion a sequence of events that will threaten the very existence of the human race.Her name and the fact that she is the Ruler of Blood is probably derived from the murderous Elizabeth Bathory also known as the Blood Queen.

[edit] Volf

Ruler of Storms and one of the Four Greater Fiends, Volf is a vicious warrior who seeks an opponent worthy of himself. His Lycanthrope underlings have taken over the canal-lined streets of the tranquil Aqua Capital as he sits in his throne in the castle above.

[edit] Muramasa

A legendary blacksmith who first appeared in Ninja Gaiden (2004), and then in Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword. In the game, it is shown that he is an accomplished swordsman as well.

[edit] Alexei

One of the Four Greater Fiends, and Ruler of Lightning, his hatred of humankind knows no bounds. He has taken the city of New York in his evil grasp and waits perched upon the Statue of Liberty, challenging Ryu Hayabusa to come and face him.

[edit] Zedonius

One of the four Greater Fiends and Ruler of Flame, Zedonius has nothing but contempt for human life. He has descended upon the capital of a once-great military superpower, threatening all humankind with an ultimatum: submit to the will of the Fiends or be burned by infernal flames. Ryu must ascend the city's clocktower to put an end to his fearsome reign. He claims that he bestowed fire upon the humans centuries ago. He has a habit of calling humans "apes" and "monkeys".

[edit] Momiji

A kunoichi who trained with Ryu in the past during Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword. Possessing the Eye of the Dragon within her, she returns after her long journey, stronger than before, to help Ryu unlock the True Dragon Sword and assist in defeating the enemies that threaten the entire world.

[edit] References

v • d • e Ninja Gaiden video games First series Ninja Gaiden  · Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos  · Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom Stand-alone games Ninja Gaiden (arcade)  · Ninja Gaiden (Game Gear)  · Ninja Gaiden Shadow  · Ninja Gaiden (Master System) Second series Ninja Gaiden  · Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword  · Ninja Gaiden II Characters Ryu Hayabusa  · Ayane Related games Dead or Alive series