- Ninja Gaiden II
- Available on: Xbox 360
- More information: wikipedia
- Cover scans: mobygames - covergalaxy
- FAQ's/cheats: gamefaqs
- Press reviews: ign - gamespot - gamespy - teamxbox - gametrailers
Content review for this game:
Pertaining to content listed in the upper left corner of this site.
Blood and gore: The blood in this game is as bad as it gets. But, it has a more arcade-like feel, as it is shed in more quantities than a living being could ever lose. It flies in spurts and sprays everywhere, in totally impossible quantities, and it even stains/lingers in water. Blood also sticks to walls and floors and stays there permanently. It never disappears, even the main character's sword is stained with blood until he flings it off. Same goes for the bodies (and parts). Which brings me to dismemberment...you can lop off enemies' arms, legs, heads, and cut them in half. When you do, you will see every detail in what remains of the stumps, like muscle tissue, and as I said, everything stays, so the environment is literally a bloodbath. Also, many of the enemy monsters shed green blood more slimy in consistency. There is no option to turn off or tone down blood in this game.
If you use a blunt or large weapon, like the Lunar Staff, enemies will explode into large bloody chunks of flesh each time you hit them (though the chunks linger for less time). They also explode in this way if you throw incendiary shurikens (throwing stars) or if they rush you in a suicide attempt. When they rush you in a suicide attempt (who are mostly humanoids), they will jump you, stick their sword in your gut, and explode, resulting in the effects mentioned above. Enemies will still fight you, even if you've cut of their arms and legs, when this occurs, they are even more vicious. To finish them off (which you will be doing constantly) you press the Y button, and the main character will (depending on the weapon you use) take his weapon, slash them in the back and execute them by cutting off their head.
Specific scenes of blood & gore:
The beginning scene shows the main female character ambushed by enemy ninja. She shoots a couple in the head, with very bloody results. But, as she's escaping, the enemy catch her. The main playable character shows up, slashes an enemy in the back, throws a shuriken in another enemy's face, and finally cuts the last enemy in half diagonally, all with very bloody/gory results.
In a brief scene, the main character shoots a flying monster in the neck while it's in the air. He then jumps on it, lands it roughly to the ground, and lops it's head off with bloody results.
One scene shows a werewolf fighting what appears to be a human gladiator, whom the werewolf soon rips apart. The werewolf leader gets bored and tears apart many of his own werewolf followers. He then tells who's left to find him a man that can give him a challenge in a fight. The werewolves run through the city streets maiming, mauling and destroying civilians (with very bloody results). The main character then shows up and cuts a werewolf from top to bottom, with you seeing every bloody, gory detail.
A later level shows the main female villain usher what appears to be blood raining from the sky. While you are running through this level, blood rains down and floods into waterfalls, lakes, down rocks in streams, and pools into puddles that you soon run through. You then enter a wide open cave that looks a bit hellish, with it, too, having blood flow like water.
In a later scene, when you defeat the main female villain and give the final blow, blood spurts from her back, as she then falls into a wading pool full of blood. The pool then drains down a large pipe with her still in it.
One scene near the end of the game shows an old man (one of the main characters) dispatch about a dozen enemy ninja by severing them through the waist (and diagonally), chopping off heads and severing multiple arms and legs, all (of course) with over-the-top blood effects.
The very last level also looks very hellish, with blood flowing everywhere and pooling into puddles. There are trees that are burning eternally, and many of the walls writhe with life and appear to be made of flesh.
Intense violence: You'll be fighting hundreds of enemies ranging from vampire bats, humanoid ninja, a variety of monsters, dragon-like birds, werewolves (who throw their fellow's corpses at you), etc., with weapons like a couple different swords, scythes, bow & arrows, claws, throwing stars, etc. The combat is intense, with heartpumping, near impossible odds, and the feeling you could die any minute (which you can). The bosses themselves are also very large, scary--very, very HARD, and overall bizzare.
