Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos is everything the original Ninja Gaiden set out to be but more. A wilder story, more unique Ninja powers, more level and enemy variety, but also all the issues of the first game mixed in and amplified. It makes for a much more mixed experience, one that feels like it's taking a step forward from the first game while firming rooting a foot two steps back.
Bad enemy placement and clumsy level design is more pronounced here than it was in the first game, and some of the newly introduced level gimmicks are just atrocious. Trying to navigate Ryu through a level where wind currents can push him towards and away from platforms would be difficult to manage as it is, but throw in some abysmal enemy spawns and you've essentially created a torture device disguised as a game.
Ninja Gaiden II is all around much harder than the first. The difficulty kicks up rapidly, and the final boss fight is not only an intense three phase gauntlet, but one that sends you completely back to the start of the level if you die, which you almost certainly will. The developers apparently account for this because they do throw you a bone: each time you get back to the boss it starts on whatever phase you progressed to last. That's... considerate, I guess? I think it would've been better if they dropped a health item between phases considering each one is already incredibly tough, but it's better than sending you back and starting you out at phase 1, so that's nice. Thank you, Tecmo!
Yet, despite my grievances, it's more Ninja Gaiden, and I'm gonna keep playing this crap. There's still plenty of moments where the game feels just as good as the first, even if it is overall a more uneven experience. Definitely not my favorite in the series and one I tend to skip over when I replay these games, but I can't find it within me to say it's a bad game.
Bad enemy placement and clumsy level design is more pronounced here than it was in the first game, and some of the newly introduced level gimmicks are just atrocious. Trying to navigate Ryu through a level where wind currents can push him towards and away from platforms would be difficult to manage as it is, but throw in some abysmal enemy spawns and you've essentially created a torture device disguised as a game.
Ninja Gaiden II is all around much harder than the first. The difficulty kicks up rapidly, and the final boss fight is not only an intense three phase gauntlet, but one that sends you completely back to the start of the level if you die, which you almost certainly will. The developers apparently account for this because they do throw you a bone: each time you get back to the boss it starts on whatever phase you progressed to last. That's... considerate, I guess? I think it would've been better if they dropped a health item between phases considering each one is already incredibly tough, but it's better than sending you back and starting you out at phase 1, so that's nice. Thank you, Tecmo!
Yet, despite my grievances, it's more Ninja Gaiden, and I'm gonna keep playing this crap. There's still plenty of moments where the game feels just as good as the first, even if it is overall a more uneven experience. Definitely not my favorite in the series and one I tend to skip over when I replay these games, but I can't find it within me to say it's a bad game.
Relentlessly energetic, challenging, and bombastic. A true NES classic and a testament to the system's ability to produce intricate action games and lavish narratives.
Whenever anyone brings up Ninja Gaiden on the internet, you will more likely than not hear them talk about the original, or maybe the modern games (and maybe even Dead or Alive if you are one of THOSE people). Which is a shame too, because the other Ninja Gaiden games, for the most part, still hold up pretty well, even if they may not be as good as the original, at least, in terms of the original series.
After the success of the original Ninja Gaiden on the NES (and not so much the arcade version), a sequel, Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos, was released two years later, and I am happy to say that it is a great follow up to the original. I wouldn't say that I like it more than the original game, because that one I have more memories with, but on an objective level, I would say this game is better than the original, but only BARELY.
The story is once again pretty complex for an NES game, once again helped out by the cinematics, which are just as great as the original game, the graphics are still pretty good, even if they are practically identical to the original game, the music is once again a banger, the control is practically the exact same as the original, and the gameplay is more of the same fantastic, fast, and frantic ninja gameplay we come to expect from this series.
If I were to describe this game, I would say it is Ninja Gaiden again, except with more stuff to mess around with. Not only are there more stages, bosses, and different level hazards to put the player to the test, such as wind, flashing lights, and ice (by the way, fuck ice physics), but there are also new weapons and power ups that you can mess around with, such as one where you can make up to two clones that follow you around and attack things at the same pace as you. All of this make the game much more enjoyable, fun, and yes, difficult then the original game.
This game, in terms of difficulty, is even more difficult then the original. Not by much, but it is a noticeable increase, and once again, it can get annoying, but not enough to make me give up. And again, like the last game, whenever you die at the bosses in the last act, you get sent back NOT to the beginning of the act, but the second part, which isn't as bad, but considering that the final act has five parts, it is basically the same punishment. So it is good to see that nothing has changed between installments.
Overall, while I still prefer the original over this, I would consider this a fantastic follow up of the original game that in some instances is even better than the original, with plenty of threats and challenges to take on that the original made so iconic.
Game #55
After the success of the original Ninja Gaiden on the NES (and not so much the arcade version), a sequel, Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos, was released two years later, and I am happy to say that it is a great follow up to the original. I wouldn't say that I like it more than the original game, because that one I have more memories with, but on an objective level, I would say this game is better than the original, but only BARELY.
The story is once again pretty complex for an NES game, once again helped out by the cinematics, which are just as great as the original game, the graphics are still pretty good, even if they are practically identical to the original game, the music is once again a banger, the control is practically the exact same as the original, and the gameplay is more of the same fantastic, fast, and frantic ninja gameplay we come to expect from this series.
If I were to describe this game, I would say it is Ninja Gaiden again, except with more stuff to mess around with. Not only are there more stages, bosses, and different level hazards to put the player to the test, such as wind, flashing lights, and ice (by the way, fuck ice physics), but there are also new weapons and power ups that you can mess around with, such as one where you can make up to two clones that follow you around and attack things at the same pace as you. All of this make the game much more enjoyable, fun, and yes, difficult then the original game.
This game, in terms of difficulty, is even more difficult then the original. Not by much, but it is a noticeable increase, and once again, it can get annoying, but not enough to make me give up. And again, like the last game, whenever you die at the bosses in the last act, you get sent back NOT to the beginning of the act, but the second part, which isn't as bad, but considering that the final act has five parts, it is basically the same punishment. So it is good to see that nothing has changed between installments.
Overall, while I still prefer the original over this, I would consider this a fantastic follow up of the original game that in some instances is even better than the original, with plenty of threats and challenges to take on that the original made so iconic.
Game #55
Banger
Easily the best Ninja Gaiden out of the NES trilogy.
- Enemy placement is a lot better.
- On a casual playthrough, boss fights are more interesting than in the first one -where a lot of them basically consisted of spamming the attack button and tanking the damage-, this is true but for the last fight in which case NG1 has a better final boss (NG2's final boss is basically copy pasted from 1 lmao)
- The gameplay mechanics were improved and now you can climb walls -which was really awkward in the first one- plus you have the clone ninja ninpo (which is awesome btw) and controls feel more responsive.
- Found the enemy design to be more interesting.
- Enemy placement is a lot better.
- On a casual playthrough, boss fights are more interesting than in the first one -where a lot of them basically consisted of spamming the attack button and tanking the damage-, this is true but for the last fight in which case NG1 has a better final boss (NG2's final boss is basically copy pasted from 1 lmao)
- The gameplay mechanics were improved and now you can climb walls -which was really awkward in the first one- plus you have the clone ninja ninpo (which is awesome btw) and controls feel more responsive.
- Found the enemy design to be more interesting.
Hadn't tried any of the Ninja Gaiden sequels so this was a new experience for me. And holy hell does it lean into the narrative of difficulty surrounding the original game with reckless abandon. If not for save states this would not have been something I got very far in. Unlike the original game which has a pretty solid difficulty curve, this one immediately throws you into what I feel is the most difficult section, where you are forced to platform and fight with constant wind pushing you every which way. The environmental hazards in general were a feature of this entry which I never could enjoy. Enemies seem placed in some of the cheapest possible spots to further frustration, and the issue of constant respawning still exists. Enemies are significantly faster and less predictable as well, making on-the-fly reflexive strategizing feel impossible at times. None of the issues would be there, however, if not for the game's hit detection. Compared to the first game, Ryu's hitbox is absolutely massive and I was constantly being hit by enemies nowhere close to touching a single pixel on my body. Similarly, enemy hitboxes seem to have shrunk to a severe degree, as I found myself whiffing direct hits on enemies, only to take damage due to this. I don't see much discussion on this when I research so maybe it was an emulation issue? Either way, it ruined the experience. I think the game would've been fun if not for this, but it happens to be a fairly crucial part of the action platforming genre, so that's a shame. 2/6
This was really good the story and the cutscenes were great this was a lot more difficult than the first one still a great game though.
a technical marvel for the nes. a bit too gimmicky and inconsistent, but still a worthy follow-up to ninja gaiden
This game is quite an ambitious follow-up to the original, with new additions such as stage hazards which I found to be a fun enough novelty, and the shadow clone power up, which was fun at times but quite difficult to control. The cutscenes and story is just as awesome as the original, with some breathtaking shots, and this game boasts a soundtrack just as good as the original.
Unfortunately, the hit detection in this game is much worse than the original. I have not found much information on this topic (for some reason, not many people talk about this???), and what information I did find online does not come to a consensus, but to my understanding Ryu's hitbox was made larger but either his sword's hitbox is smaller than in the first game or the enemy's hitboxes are smaller. Either way, what this results in is loads of instances where an attack that would have made its mark in the first game ends up whiffing here, leading to a lot of unfortunate situations. I really don't understand why the hitboxes needed to be messed with. A perfect example of consistency within a series in terms of hitboxes is the Castlevania series. In Castlevania 1-3, the hit detection is pretty spot on with the whip from title to title, so you don't really need to mess with your timing or muscle memory. You could make the argument that its fine and you just need to learn and adapt to Ninja Gaiden II's style, but I just really don't see why things could not have remained consistent within the series, especially since we have examples like Castlevania to look at.
I can't finish my thoughts on this game without mentioning the absolute insanity that is the final boss. In classic Ninja Gaiden fashion, the final boss has three forms, and if you die on one form you are booted back to the beginning of 7-2, but if you make it back you get to start on that form. Fair enough I guess, but the absolute bullshit comes when you find out that if you try to beat all three forms in one go, THE GAME DOESN'T REFILL YOUR HEALTH IN BETWEEN FORMS. So if you have one bar of life left after beating the first form, you start the second form with one bar!!! Absolute horseshit. The first game's trio were punishing but AT LEAST on your first try they had the courtesy to refill your health after each form. I have completed Ninja Gaiden's final boss, all three forms, in one go before, but I have never been able to do the same with Ninja Gaiden II.
All of this, combined with enemy placement and level design that can get absolutely insane and unhinged, makes an experience that in my opinion is a measure more difficult than the original (people apparently think this is easier than the original and I honestly just don't see it at all). This game has many elements I love, mainly stylistic, but its ultimately hampered by the many issues above. If not for the unlimited continues and me being a whore for really hard NES games, Ninja Gaiden II would be rated much lower.
Unfortunately, the hit detection in this game is much worse than the original. I have not found much information on this topic (for some reason, not many people talk about this???), and what information I did find online does not come to a consensus, but to my understanding Ryu's hitbox was made larger but either his sword's hitbox is smaller than in the first game or the enemy's hitboxes are smaller. Either way, what this results in is loads of instances where an attack that would have made its mark in the first game ends up whiffing here, leading to a lot of unfortunate situations. I really don't understand why the hitboxes needed to be messed with. A perfect example of consistency within a series in terms of hitboxes is the Castlevania series. In Castlevania 1-3, the hit detection is pretty spot on with the whip from title to title, so you don't really need to mess with your timing or muscle memory. You could make the argument that its fine and you just need to learn and adapt to Ninja Gaiden II's style, but I just really don't see why things could not have remained consistent within the series, especially since we have examples like Castlevania to look at.
I can't finish my thoughts on this game without mentioning the absolute insanity that is the final boss. In classic Ninja Gaiden fashion, the final boss has three forms, and if you die on one form you are booted back to the beginning of 7-2, but if you make it back you get to start on that form. Fair enough I guess, but the absolute bullshit comes when you find out that if you try to beat all three forms in one go, THE GAME DOESN'T REFILL YOUR HEALTH IN BETWEEN FORMS. So if you have one bar of life left after beating the first form, you start the second form with one bar!!! Absolute horseshit. The first game's trio were punishing but AT LEAST on your first try they had the courtesy to refill your health after each form. I have completed Ninja Gaiden's final boss, all three forms, in one go before, but I have never been able to do the same with Ninja Gaiden II.
All of this, combined with enemy placement and level design that can get absolutely insane and unhinged, makes an experience that in my opinion is a measure more difficult than the original (people apparently think this is easier than the original and I honestly just don't see it at all). This game has many elements I love, mainly stylistic, but its ultimately hampered by the many issues above. If not for the unlimited continues and me being a whore for really hard NES games, Ninja Gaiden II would be rated much lower.
Although I appreciated the wall climbing, clones and other additions; the level gimmicks mostly fell flat, and the game generally less memorable than the first.
Good but a bit too gimmi-Fuck it! Best damned action-platformer on the system. It fixes the few things wrong with the first game and enhances the good.
Improves on every aspect of the original, and though it's more difficult it's a lot less frustrating due to the overall better design. It's not without its faults though; there's still a couple of difficulty spikes (7--2 is a nightmare), and there are still a few questionable design choices, like sending you back to the beginning of the stage after dying to the final boss and not replenishing your health between the final boss stages. Still a damn good game, and one of the best on the NES.
Gave me everything I wanted from the first game, aside from the scaled down difficulty. Fast paced action platforming through beautifully animated levels accompanied by an adrenaline pumping score and fun gimmicks that help keep the levels fresh. Sprinkle in an over the top story with campy, B-movie vibes, and this game has won me over.
Definitely an improvement from the last one. Aside of the more detailed scenarios and new weapons, Ryu has a much better control (like FINALLY being able to attack when hanging from a wall). The story is slightly worse for me, but it has also a more fair difficulty I'd say. I'd say it's more fun than its predecessor.
Better than the first game by a decent margin, with deeper and more coherent level design and more balance as far as HP consumption and Ninpo retention go, but the hitboxes seem a little wonkier at times and the last phase of the final boss is really dumb. I had this at 5 stars but I think recognizing those flaws warrants docking a half point.
I think this is an improvement over the first game. It shares the totally miserable enemy placement that brought the original down most of all, but as a whole it looks better, sounds better, and it feels like a game you can learn. This one is very gimmicky, it likes to fuck around with your movement a lot, but there's some things to actually learn and figure out here in comparison to the first game where you just go along and hope you don't get killed by birds. I guess since the birds are still an issue it's just more problems depending on who you ask, but I think it makes this one more interesting. I can definitely see finding this one worse, but I don't know. I prefer this.
Ninja Gaiden II is a sequel like any other NES Mega Man sequel, in the sense that it doesn't innovate in practically nothing and the only thing it does is to have better graphics and new powers, however, something that makes it totally superior to the first one is that the level design is better.
Although there really isn't much to talk about since my first paragraph sums it all up very well, I'll talk about this game in detail anyway.
For starters, let's talk about the story. The intro is great and the background music raises the hype a bit. But in general, the story of Ninja Gaiden II is just as good as the previous title in the way it is told and how it tries to emulate a movie, however, I think that also plays against it a bit, as it feels like they are trying to repeat the story of the previous game instead of presenting something new. Also, I'm not sure, but I liked the pixel art portraits of the first Ninja Gaiden better.
The levels, are very good, especially because now the positioning of the enemies and that of the platforms make Ninja Gaiden 2 a more balanced and reasonable experience, plus the addition of the shadow clones and that now you can climb on any wall and not only those with stairs, there is even what I call "bounties with trap", I mean, there are objects that are obtained in a very difficult way, but that often are not worth it, so yes, many times it is more convenient not to try to destroy all the lamps and see what they drop, sometimes it is better to ignore. On the other hand, perhaps something that could be considered bad is that this game is not very friendly to beginners, as it expects you to know how to play Ninja Gaiden beforehand, or that's how I perceived it, because from the first levels the difficulty is somewhat demanding, but if you are familiar with controlling Ryu it won't be much of a problem. I liked how some levels implemented some gimmicks, and it's something that makes this game never feel too repetitive and makes the levels more notable and distinguishable from each other.
Conclusion
I think it's too ironic to say this, but Ninja Gaiden II is one of the best platformers for the NES, and the only thing it had to do different from the first one was to have better level design, since from the first Ninja Gaiden the good gameplay was already there.
I can see myself replaying this game possibly in the future as it was an enjoyable experience, well, only until just before you get to the final boss fight, as it's too difficult for my liking and I would recommend avoiding it. But outside of that, the other 95% of the game is genuinely one of the best NES platformers due to how frantically paced the game is and how great it plays, I mean, very few NES games accomplish this.
Although there really isn't much to talk about since my first paragraph sums it all up very well, I'll talk about this game in detail anyway.
For starters, let's talk about the story. The intro is great and the background music raises the hype a bit. But in general, the story of Ninja Gaiden II is just as good as the previous title in the way it is told and how it tries to emulate a movie, however, I think that also plays against it a bit, as it feels like they are trying to repeat the story of the previous game instead of presenting something new. Also, I'm not sure, but I liked the pixel art portraits of the first Ninja Gaiden better.
The levels, are very good, especially because now the positioning of the enemies and that of the platforms make Ninja Gaiden 2 a more balanced and reasonable experience, plus the addition of the shadow clones and that now you can climb on any wall and not only those with stairs, there is even what I call "bounties with trap", I mean, there are objects that are obtained in a very difficult way, but that often are not worth it, so yes, many times it is more convenient not to try to destroy all the lamps and see what they drop, sometimes it is better to ignore. On the other hand, perhaps something that could be considered bad is that this game is not very friendly to beginners, as it expects you to know how to play Ninja Gaiden beforehand, or that's how I perceived it, because from the first levels the difficulty is somewhat demanding, but if you are familiar with controlling Ryu it won't be much of a problem. I liked how some levels implemented some gimmicks, and it's something that makes this game never feel too repetitive and makes the levels more notable and distinguishable from each other.
Conclusion
I think it's too ironic to say this, but Ninja Gaiden II is one of the best platformers for the NES, and the only thing it had to do different from the first one was to have better level design, since from the first Ninja Gaiden the good gameplay was already there.
I can see myself replaying this game possibly in the future as it was an enjoyable experience, well, only until just before you get to the final boss fight, as it's too difficult for my liking and I would recommend avoiding it. But outside of that, the other 95% of the game is genuinely one of the best NES platformers due to how frantically paced the game is and how great it plays, I mean, very few NES games accomplish this.
its ok but they totally stole that lightning gimmick from spectre knight's stage in shovel knight
why did i think this game was harder than 1 as a kid? the stage hazards aren't really hard at all. shadow clones are a godsend and can destroy bosses if you can get to them without dying, and the final boss doesn't fucking send you all the way back! graphics are superb for the NES, and dont get me wrong this game's still hard, but this is a lot more manageable then the first game.
its fun when the sword actually hits the enemies
While still very fun to play and look at, something about this just didn't feel right even with the new Clone power up.
Like, either the enemy placement or level design just felt annoying at points, tho I'll give it that the wall climbing is pretty neat.
Oh, the fact that it doesn't heal you between the final boss "phases" is stupid, and they do the fakeout thing twice is like, bruh.
Like, either the enemy placement or level design just felt annoying at points, tho I'll give it that the wall climbing is pretty neat.
Oh, the fact that it doesn't heal you between the final boss "phases" is stupid, and they do the fakeout thing twice is like, bruh.
I remember back in 2021 I thought about playing this game since I played the first game in 2020 but that just never happened. I almost didn't do it this year either but I watched a video about the game and said it was one of the best for the Famicom (and also the peak for the entire franchise) so I thought why not.
Sadly the game just doesn't do it for me. Don't get me wrong it's a good game but I'm starting to think this series just isn't for me. I still hate the sword you have in these games, I swear the hitbox on it is awful. Though you do get some nice sub weapons to use and they even improved the fire wheel this time around. I also really love the shadow clone item you can get.
I wish I could say I love the level design but its hit and miss for me. It might have been better to play the NES version because the Famicom one is harder apparently. I also still don't really care for the enemy placement and respawn for them either, it's still pretty bad.
The game's presentation is still top notch as Tecmo was improving even more since the first game and there's still those cool cutscenes though I've seen them in the past already so I went and skipped them for my playthrough. I also really like the music in this game.
In the end, I guess maybe I could give it another try someday but I still wish I could rate it higher, I almost feel bad giving it only a 7/10. This is still a better game then the first in my opinion but it still wasn't as fun as I was hoping. I will say though it's odd how this game never seems to get rereleased anymore. It wasn't chosen for the NES/Famicom Classic and it's also still not on NSO. Odd.
Sadly the game just doesn't do it for me. Don't get me wrong it's a good game but I'm starting to think this series just isn't for me. I still hate the sword you have in these games, I swear the hitbox on it is awful. Though you do get some nice sub weapons to use and they even improved the fire wheel this time around. I also really love the shadow clone item you can get.
I wish I could say I love the level design but its hit and miss for me. It might have been better to play the NES version because the Famicom one is harder apparently. I also still don't really care for the enemy placement and respawn for them either, it's still pretty bad.
The game's presentation is still top notch as Tecmo was improving even more since the first game and there's still those cool cutscenes though I've seen them in the past already so I went and skipped them for my playthrough. I also really like the music in this game.
In the end, I guess maybe I could give it another try someday but I still wish I could rate it higher, I almost feel bad giving it only a 7/10. This is still a better game then the first in my opinion but it still wasn't as fun as I was hoping. I will say though it's odd how this game never seems to get rereleased anymore. It wasn't chosen for the NES/Famicom Classic and it's also still not on NSO. Odd.
Cool game but it’s a complete pain in my ass and I hate it.
I’ll say this the first half is very good and even better than the first. Interesting level gimmicks while still being challenging and enjoyable. To me the game is both more fair and fun than the original. Beautiful graphics as well. It felt like I was being tested in some pretty enjoyable ways instead of just having a bunch annoying enemy patterns thrown at me all at once. That is for the first half. The first half offers some good set ups for the story and some fun action stages that rely less on the bullshit enemy placement of the original and more on interesting set pieces. The second half is when the god awful enemy placement returns. It’s pretty fucking aggravating late into the game and it quickly loses a lot of its fun factor. As for the story I commend them for the cutscenes and presentation because that’s all great. The story itself is very lazy and just a boring retread of the first but less interesting. Same exact set ups and plot beats. Sure the original is no masterpiece in storytelling but for the time it’s entertaining and gets the job done. They could’ve taken in further in the sequel but they unfortunately got lazy. Still I don’t hate this game. It’s extremely well made and fun to play. And tbh the first half is very fun and special. But the moment you get to the second half the game design gets even lower than the low points of the original and it’ll make you wish you were playing that game instead. Also that final boss can fuck off. Again it’s basically the same shit as the original. It literally repeats 2 of the 3 forms from the first games final boss but it’s just unfair in this game.
I’ll say this the first half is very good and even better than the first. Interesting level gimmicks while still being challenging and enjoyable. To me the game is both more fair and fun than the original. Beautiful graphics as well. It felt like I was being tested in some pretty enjoyable ways instead of just having a bunch annoying enemy patterns thrown at me all at once. That is for the first half. The first half offers some good set ups for the story and some fun action stages that rely less on the bullshit enemy placement of the original and more on interesting set pieces. The second half is when the god awful enemy placement returns. It’s pretty fucking aggravating late into the game and it quickly loses a lot of its fun factor. As for the story I commend them for the cutscenes and presentation because that’s all great. The story itself is very lazy and just a boring retread of the first but less interesting. Same exact set ups and plot beats. Sure the original is no masterpiece in storytelling but for the time it’s entertaining and gets the job done. They could’ve taken in further in the sequel but they unfortunately got lazy. Still I don’t hate this game. It’s extremely well made and fun to play. And tbh the first half is very fun and special. But the moment you get to the second half the game design gets even lower than the low points of the original and it’ll make you wish you were playing that game instead. Also that final boss can fuck off. Again it’s basically the same shit as the original. It literally repeats 2 of the 3 forms from the first games final boss but it’s just unfair in this game.
oynadığım en zor oyun
Technologically speaking, it’s hard to argue that Ninja Gaiden 2 is anything but superior to the first game. It looks better and controls much more smoothly, with new level gimmicks and a more fleshed out story to keep the experience fresh. The tradeoff was that with all the fancy new additions, the tight focus on action with momentum was lost. Falling platforms, wind effects, or levels lit only by flashes of lightning are neat to see on the NES, but gimmicks like these should serve to enhance the core gameplay rather than supplant it. Unlike Ninja Gaiden, caution is a very viable strategy, with new power-ups that are strong enough to let you brute force most challenges as long as you can avoid falling into a pit. Again, these power ups are cool and fun to use, but once the novelty wears off, it doesn't give you the same level as the first game. It may have its strengths, but there’s a reason why this isn't known as the Mario 3 of its franchise.
I thought this was slightly easier than the first, but I'm not sure if it's because they toned the difficulty down or because the game was just designed better. I think it's the latter.
I owned this one as a kid. Didn't get very far but I still liked it. Really liked the city stage at the start. Playing it now I still like it although I think I prefer 1.
Has slightly better balancing and design than the first game, and slightly less janky enemy spawning.
Just slightly though, still very much that archaic memory-trumps-skill design.
And once again, we have a final boss with 3 phases that send you back to the beginning of the previous stage if you die once. Oh, and all 3 phases must be done in one life bar.
Still better story-telling than the 3D games.
Just slightly though, still very much that archaic memory-trumps-skill design.
And once again, we have a final boss with 3 phases that send you back to the beginning of the previous stage if you die once. Oh, and all 3 phases must be done in one life bar.
Still better story-telling than the 3D games.
This is my absolute favorite, #1 on any list game.
The first game was good, but man…they cranked it up with the sequel.
The pulpy atmosphere, the lush (by NES standards) cutscenes, the fun new power ups (orange ninja clones!).
The bad guy is fun and appropriately villainous, with a face only a Cobra Commander could love.
This was the first game that I really took notice of the soundtrack. I even ended up buying the OST on vinyl a couple years ago.
All this to say this game is bad ass. Go play it!
The first game was good, but man…they cranked it up with the sequel.
The pulpy atmosphere, the lush (by NES standards) cutscenes, the fun new power ups (orange ninja clones!).
The bad guy is fun and appropriately villainous, with a face only a Cobra Commander could love.
This was the first game that I really took notice of the soundtrack. I even ended up buying the OST on vinyl a couple years ago.
All this to say this game is bad ass. Go play it!
Una mejora considerable del primer juego, al tener un diseño de niveles mejor planteado y variado, un combate más sustancial gracias a los nuevos power ups, jefes más divertidos de enfrentar y una abismalmente mejor presentación y apartado artístico. La narrativa sigue sin ser especialmente buena (por no decir que llega a ser peor que la del primer juego culpa del cambio forzado de antagonista y una carencia de nucleo emocional en el conflicto), y que el respawn infinito de enemigos sigue presente, pero en general es una secuela superadora que hace bien muchas cosas que el juego anterior hizo mal.