Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos was created for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the second installment in the original NES Trilogy of Ninja Gaiden.
The text is as follows: “Assessing the plot, it appears that the events of the first game are being followed. Ashtar sends out a spy to check on the ninja dragon Ryu Hayabusa. No suspicions have arisen yet. He proceeds with a plan to rule the world and plunge it into chaos. After dealing with Jaquio from the previous game, Ryu begins his journey once again. He has a new challenge to fight and prepare for. He must save the world once again.”
Ninja Gaiden II is not graphically different in terms of the sprites, as the characters remain like before.
The gameplay closely mirrors the first game. In terms of genre, it falls into platformer category. It features familiar abilities like the windmill star and the flame. It also includes the fire wheel which grants invincibility. Unlike the first game, players can use this multiple times depending on the amount of available magic.
When transitioning from one part to another, provided it is not at the boss, the timer will reset to 250 seconds. The timer continues when fighting the boss, creating a greater sense of urgency. Progressively, the challenges increase, and it requires the use of strategy.
One could utilize strategy in the form of shadow images to continue attacking the enemy while engaged in an attack, risking potential hits or having to dodge with precise timing. This approach is most effective when all elements are in place and attacking from a single spot.
Ninja Gaiden II is worth playing. Though the game is hard, it offers unlimited continuation. Initially, it was available on the Virtual Console but hasn’t appeared on the Nintendo Switch Online as of today. If you have a functioning old NES, you should consider playing it if you enjoy challenging games.
