The user interface is different than the one shown at the tokyo gameshow. This time, theres a little more effort put into the tutorial. People didn't really like the whole tutorial guide crap in the beginning of the game. So this time it'll be made to be more user friendly and noob friendly. Game tips will also be posted when you die. Something about you can see movies of the tutorial in the "secret book", which I'm assuming is something that is in your menu. It uses the kurosawa movie style shaders.
You can only recover your life once from save statues this time. This is to prevent the game from being dull if you just stay at one point and try to mass grind money [essence farm]. Now if you reach a save point, you can use the life recovery and move onto the next save point. You will gain a "stock" of full life recovery. Kind of like an e-tank from megaman i guess. This time there's auto and manual save, so that you can save it at different points of the game in different files, kind of like in Final Fantasy so you can re-visit those spots again easily
This game isn't going to be like the last where you're always going back to Tairon. Instead the game is more like an "always moving forward" type of game, although you will return to Tairon at some points, they're a little more rare this time around. Even with that said, the game is not a completely straight forward go from level 1 to level 10 to clear the game type of game. Each area is made to be pretty "fresh," in the sense that it'll be a pretty detailed world that maybe eerie.
This time, the enemies will chase Ryu Hayabusa around by running on walls and using consecutive asuka-gaeshi's (whatever this is). During areas where there are enemies like this, it may become a circumstance where it'd be better off escaping. However, trying to just freely run towards the goal rather than going backwards will be tough. If you happen to escape through where you came from, enemeis may keep chasing you and some considerations to render the murasama shop useless that was once on the same road.
This time around they don't want to make the battle areas so restricted. They don't want to make it like those other games where you can't exit an area until you defeat all of the appearing enemies. In most instances, if you can outsmart your opponents you should be able to run away. Although of course if you're really skilled at fighting, you may do that as well and find it easier to do. Basically they're giving you options.
When you receive damage from enemies, there are parts that can't be healed through auto healing. This is called the necrosis system. You can only hold 6 items this time around. One bad aspect about the last game is that there were too many healing items made available to use.
Certain damaged areas can only be healed through items.You can only hold 6 items this time around. One bad aspect about the last game is that there were too many healing items made available to use. They basically went back to its roots of life management for the game so that you can't overheal against bosses. Also, they're going make you think more about using potions. For example, do you use a healing item that recovers 50% life when you're only down 30? You can't really waste your healing items as much in this game.
This time when you try to use items with the d-pad, the game will pause momentarily so that you can think about which item(s) to use wisely, since you can only carry 6 this time. This time you can't waste your game over-recovery talisman. You can't do what you did in the last game and just use it up and then reset the game. Basically, the talisman will come with strings attached to prevent that.
There will be 4 difficulty levels. Level 2 will be recommended for those who cleared the first game. Level 3 for those pretty skilled and huge fans. Level 4 is made to be really hard. They're thinking about possibly altering how much damage you take and how many items you can carry depending on the difficulty. Those who have played the last game may find the lowest difficulty (shinobi no michi) [Ninja Dog] a little disappointing. In the last game I mean. But this time around it'll be more enjoyable and interesting [funnier] than the last game's "ninja dog".
