Ryu Hayabusa returns in the sequel to the famous Ninja Gaiden franchise reboot. Ryu goes on a race against time to avenge his clan against the Black Spider Ninja Clan to avert the Archfiend’s resurrection and the destruction of the human race.
He has access to new skills and gameplay elements. One is auto-healing, an all-new fighting system that requires mastery of a whole armory of weapons and upgrades to weaponry from the previous game. Combat is bloodier than ever, as Ryu can amputate opponents’ limbs (making them even more lethal) or finish them off with an obliteration attack. New powers and weapons can be gained and upgraded, starting with low-level movements. As in the previous game, Ryu absorbs essences that heal ki or provide cash by fighting adversaries. These can also be deliberately pulled in to launch more powerful strikes. Although fast-paced, the player must utilize a strategic approach, including blocked positions and running away.
Ninja Gaiden II also includes a new save point system, several levels of difficulty, leaderboards to display combos, attacks, and high scores, and a replay tool to share and upload online to show player fighting techniques. There are four difficulty levels, and the plot progresses through cutscenes. There are also minor puzzle components, such as locating routes or keys.
