Home / Reviews /Ninja Gaiden 2 Black review ByRichard Seagrave 6 February 20256 February 2025
There simply aren’t enough character action games these days, and I blame the popularity of Soulslikes. So, imagine the joy on my face upon the announcement of Ninja Gaiden 4, a new entry in the long-running series co-developed by Team Ninja and PlatinumGames. And on top of that, we’ve also been treated to a remaster of Ninja Gaiden 2, stealth-dropped like only a master ninja could pull off. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black plays pretty much exactly how you remember. But with a snazzy makeover thanks to Unreal Engine 5, it looks stunning.
While casual gamers probably won’t give two hoots, those serious about Ninja Gaiden will probably have some reservations about Ninja Gaiden 2 Black from the outset. You see, this “definitive” version of the game aligns itself more with Ninja Gaiden 2 Sigma than the original release. That means there are less enemies per encounter, but each enemy you do face off against has more health. There are numerous gameplay tweaks, too, and there are additional levels inserted into the story where you play as a trio of female characters: Momiji, Ayane and Rachel.
The core of the game remains the same, though. Primarily playing as legendary ninja Ryu Hayabusa, you’ll find yourself travelling across the world, battling against other ninja as well as fearsome creatures including werewolves and demons. And it has to be said that while this isn’t a soulslike, it’s far from being a walk in the park. Even on standard difficulty many will find Ninja Gaiden 2 Black challenging. The enemies here hit fast and hit hard. Fail to block or dodge enemy attacks and you’ll find yourself quickly cut down. Even worse, when injured, many foes become particularly dangerous, willing to grab onto you and sacrifice themselves to cause massive damage.
The key to success in Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, then, is to stay on the move and use your varied moveset to pick apart your enemies skilfully. Then, once they’ve been de-limbed, be it an arm or a leg, you can move in to perform a fancy execution, taking them out of the fight for good. Needless to say, this is a gory, violent game. In fact, this remaster is perhaps the most goriest and violent Ninja Gaiden has ever been. But it simply adds to the spectacle. There’s something rather rewarding about gracefully avoiding the attacks of a screenful of ninjas while slicing and dicing your way through them, ultimately leaving the arena of battle a bloody mess decorated with body parts.
You’ve got lots of options when it comes to decimating your enemies, too. While Ryu Hayabusa starts this adventure with just his trusty katana, he gains access to an increasingly varied arsenal over time. These include a giant two-handed sword, a pair of tonfas, dual katanas, and last but not least, my favourite, a nasty combination of nunchaku and blades called the Vigoorian Flail. Each of these has its own moveset, which can be expanded by upgrading the weapon with orbs earned as you play. Throw in shuriken and a bow to help you deal with ranged enemies, as well as various magic spells that can help you get out of a tight spot and deal massive damage, and you have a combat system that remains entertaining from beginning to end.
Being a straight-up remaster of Ninja Gaiden 2 Sigma with some tweaks and massively improved visuals, there are some issues that disappointingly haven’t been addressed in this release, however. For a start there’s the game’s camera, which feels like it’s actively working against you at times. The stages where you play as Momiji, Ayane and Rachel are unfortunately the weakest of the game, too, with these characters just not being as fun to play as as Ryu. And sometimes, the difficulty here veers a little into cheap territory, with some enemies having attacks that feel a tad unfair, especially when paired with the game’s camera. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself swearing at your screen from time to time, especially if you’re playing on a harder difficulty.
But despite these issues, it’s hard to not love Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, especially if you’re a fan of the genre. Considering this is a game that is more than a decade and a half old, it’s amazing how well its gameplay still holds up. And now, with its fantastic makeover, it has another chance to shine, perhaps drawing in new fans while also electrifying those who have been slaying as Ryu for as long as they can remember. It may not be perfect, then, but for those that want some fast-paced action alongside gorgeous visuals, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black isn’t to be missed.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black Review
Being a remaster that primarily just makes a classic a hell of a lot prettier, there are some issues here that remain unaddressed. If you can tolerate a camera that sometimes feels like it's working against you, however, then chances are you'll have a very good time with Ninja Gaiden 2 Black overall.8out of 10
We like…
- Looks stunning
- Lots of weapons to acquire and upgrade
- Combat remains as thrilling as ever
We don’t like…
- Camera can be a bit of a pain
- Some enemy attacks can feel cheap
This review of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is based on the PS5 version, with a code provided by the game’s publisher. It’s available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
