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Ninja Gaiden 2 is slated to be released in another two months or so, but
lucky us-we got to play it much before its official launch. Microsoft called us
to experience the beta version, and let me say right at the start-this game is
awesome. The original Ninja Gaiden was one of the coolest games to grace the
console platform. Its hack-and-slash gameplay was loved by all and it received
rave reviews from the gaming fraternity too. Ninja Gaiden 2 keeps the glory
alive. It puts you in the shoes of the protagonist Ryu Hayabusa once again; and
the Shadow clan is trying to bring the Archfiend back to life. Hayabusa has to
stop them. He's as agile as ever, has the same destructive moves and the enemy
AI is aggressive as hell. Even after you've severed their hands and legs,
they'll still somehow try and crawl towards you and attack. And if that doesn't
work, they'll blow themselves up like suicide bombers, just to cause some
damage. The game features all the regular weapons that we have seen in the past:
the swords, lunar staff, bows and arrows, but what especially grabbed my
attention are the falcon talons, which make close combat fights really
entertaining. They kinda reminded me of Wolverine's claws in X-Men! I felt as if
I was using my own hands and legs with blades attached to them. The graphics
were breathtaking; landscapes, skyscrapers, fighting grounds, indoor
environments, fire effects, and sparks, everything is just beautiful. The player
models are crafted with full detail; though being a beta version a few glitches
were visible, but we don't expect them in the final version for sure. The movie
sequences with detailed graphics and a compelling storyline will ensure that you
are in for a visual treat. The in-game sound also lends itself to the treat; the
slashing effects, enemy cries, explosions and even the dialogues are done very
well. What separates this game than the rest is the amount of gore and blood
that you'll see. I personally love the whole blood spilling and splashing
everywhere; hands, legs, heads and other body parts float around and dead bodies
pile up on the floor. It was enough to get me hooked, but seeing that it's rated
'M' or mature, it's not suitable for younger players. Given the awesome
graphics, compelling storyline and replay value, I'd say it's currently one of
the best combat games for the XBox 360.
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