The Xbox 360 version of the Ninja Gaiden II released world wide on June 2008 is the sequel to the Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword. The game retains almost all the core features of its predecessor. The protagonist Ryu Hayabusa begins the game with basic low level abilities, which can be upgraded as the game gradually progresses and he discovers or buys new items.
Unlike its predecessor, where the entire game was contained in a city, Ryu travels around the World and also his home, the Hayabusa village and other places of non human origin in the Ninja Gaiden II.
The story revolves around Ryu Hayabusa who’s settled in Tokyo, when a Sonia, a CIA agent comes looking for him and is kidnapped by the Black Spider Ninjas. Ryu rescues Sonia and comes to know from her that the Black Spider Ninjas leader Genshin wishes to steal the Deamon statue possessed by the Hayabusa village. The story is about Ryu’s pursuit along with Sonia around the world in the search of the statue, which ultimately leads him to Archfiend whom he has to slay and decide humanity’s fate.
The new improved combat system in Ninja Gaiden II allows Ryu to dismember his enemies, tearing their bodies in pieces and severing their limbs. Compared to Ninja Gaiden, the sequel has a better story line. The graphics is improved a lot with some focus on character detailing, and so is the graphic violence that has become much more gore. Dismemberment does not necessarily kill an enemy but will immobilize or weaken, depending on what limb is severed. In fact, an injured enemy becomes prone to use suicide tactics to kill Ryu. But Ryu can use the new and more brutal Obliteration Techniques to quickly finish off his enemy before they get the upper hand.
The climax finds Ryu fighting the Archfiend amidst the erupting the Mt. Fuji. After Ryu’s victory in the brutal fight, he is found on a field with innumerable swords in the ground. Ryu plants Genshin’s Blade of the Archfiend into the earth and bows in respect.
