Support NeoGAF

[Alex]

There are still dismemberment and decapitations and blood all over the floor and spraying out in my demo.

It's not as over the top, but that's ok, after the first 3D Ninja Gaiden, it felt kind of out of place anyway, and I like the stylish looking mist. It makes a little more sense in God of War, if they simmered down the gore in God of War I could understand it feeling less intense, given its setting and style, but not so much for this.

Some people make the parallel to Mortal Kombat, but Mortal Kombat was a completely awful game that wouldn't have been given the time of day if it wasn't attracting pre-teens and pissing off the media with it's gore, so it's not a very apt road to take. And no, Mortal Kombat 2 wasn't good just because you could do that cuty thing with Baraka.

Sigma 2 feels like a half-step between Black and 2 for me, which I really like, myself. That and the fuck ton of actual gameplay and visual improvements that actually matter to the normal person. :lol

 

[ezekial45]

I'm really glad i decided to wait before getting NG2. I had a blast with the demo and i loved how you got to unlock stuff in it. Which is a rare thing for demo.

I got my ass handed to me in the Warrior team mission, and i loved every minute of it.

 

[Epic Tier 3 Engineer]

I can completely understand the outrage over the lack of blood. Sometimes even the smallest noise or visual cue can act like a Pavlovian trigger when playing games. That slight pause before you lay the smackdown in The Wind Waker, followed by the rising musical notes for consecutive hits, made beating the crap out of the same enemies that much more interesting. And half the reason I loved No More heroes was because the game made killing people (in the simplest way imaginable) so visceral.

Is it a dealbreaker? No. But it sucks.

 

[Mrbob]

yea to anyone that played NG2, it would be an obvious point to address. especially if they went back and fixed some other frame rate issues.

makes me nervous about the quality of the port.....

I'm not trying to bag on your comments, but do you have a PS3 because there is a demo available. If you play the demo you realize the game looks gorgeous. Looks much better than the 360 version and the frame rate is pretty solid. So there is no issue on the quality of the port.

 

[ultim8p00]

I'm not trying to bag on your comments, but do you have a PS3 because there is a demo available. If you play the demo you realize the game looks gorgeous. Looks much better than the 360 version and the frame rate is pretty solid. So there is no issue on the quality of the port.

This is not true. The loading times are longer in Sigma 2, and there is noticeable screen tearing. The slowdown we still don't know about, but at this point it might be at about the same levels as those in NG2. What you should be considering if you want to double dip is the extra content, online, graphics bump, and re-balancing (aka no more projectile spam). That's what makes it worth it for me at least.

 

[rainer516]

Just played the demo and I really liked it. I will probably get it when I have time to play it.

Sigma 1 had load times and screen tearing as well, and I liked that quite a bit. It may not have been as good as Black, but it sure was prettier.

 

[Kintaro]

I haven't really been paying attention to the game much. Just looking out for it when it hit. Is there zero blood now or is everything toned down from NG2?

 

[Bearillusion]

-Slowdown was my number one gripe with the first one, you literally had to slow down your button presses to play the game at times. I hope the final version has improved performance in this regard, because the demo was slowing down quite often, including the first fight where you are surrounded. It's quite noticable just about every time you go for an Izuna Drop.

My PS3 must be magic has I haven't had any slowdown and I've played through the demo a number of times now.

 

[rainer516]

I haven't really been paying attention to the game much. Just looking out for it when it hit. Is there zero blood now or is everything toned down from NG2?

It's a bit more than NG1 level of blood, but not fountains everywhere like in the x360 NG2. Those fountains were pretty sweet by the by, and I'll miss them.

 

[Mrbob]

This is not true. The loading times are longer in Sigma 2, and there is noticeable screen tearing. The slowdown we still don't know about, but at this point it might be at about the same levels as those in NG2. What you should be considering if you want to double dip is the extra content, online, graphics bump, and re-balancing (aka no more projectile spam). That's what makes it worth it for me at least.

Who cares about loading, go make a sandwich. :lol

It is not that big of a deal.

No one knows how the slowdown issue is, but it would be tough to have more slowdown than there is in some sections in the 360 game. I'm honestly expecting it to be the same.

I see screen tearing in both versions so like I said before, its about the same to me with a big graphical bump on PS3.

I was directing the quality of the port comments. It really can't be worse when it looks so much better.

 

[indigo-cyclops]

I noticed minor tearing in the demo but framerate on my machine remained pretty solid. Never felt choppy honestly. Slowdown maybe towards the end of the demo level (Ryu) and during one of the mission modes but nothing detrimental. Not sure where everyone is getting this "issue with quality of port" stuff. The game is a significant visual overhaul of NG2 and looks *fucking fantastic*, and runs great to boot (considering the improvements).

The gore was quite hilarious in NG2, but enough is going on already which makes it difficult to keep track of my character; glad there isn't limbs flying every which way to make it even harder.

My PS3 must be magic has I haven't had any slowdown and I've played through the demo a number of times now.

Exactly, fucking exactly.

 

[Angelus Errare]

Ninja Gaiden 2's claim to fame was its over the top brutality and central focus on combat by Itagaki's own admission.



That's because it wasn't the focus. Regardless, I'm sure there were more than a few that were disappointed with the censored versions.



NG1 was a good mix of gameplay elements. NG2 was battle after battle.



It was there for a reason. It was axed because somebody made a lousy decision.



Yeah obviously! If you're going to be a one trick pony, excite me and do it very very well. Don't mask what the original intent was by censoring the shit out of the game.



But he doesn't get it. The adventure elements were all but removed. The combat became the focus. The blood and gore was included as visual oomph. It was meant to be brutal, not purple and a lot less red. How am I missing the point when things were so obviously changed going from part 1 to part 2? How are YOU not missing the point? It's mind boggling.

And I'm totally fine bitching about it because it's my way of making it clear that I don't and never will enjoy the censoring of the graphics. Purple smoke is just dumb.



The essence of NG1 wasn't lost. The essence of NG2 is.

And by the way, I'm perfectly fine playing games without gore. Just look at my avatar for an example. That doesn't mean I enjoy watching R rated movies on regular network stations. I prefer the noncensored versions.



Mine too.

And like I said before, I suggest you go play Mortal Kombat. Hayashi gets it, he knows what the NG franchise is SUPPOSE to be about, hence him making NGS2 less like the lesser NG2 and more like the amazing NG1.

NGS2 does not make NG2 magically cease to exist, if the lack of blood is THAT much of a bother to you, I suggest you buy this http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/splash/n/ninjagaiden2/

 

[ultim8p00]

Who cares about loading, go make a sandwich. :lol

It is not that big of a deal.

No one knows how the slowdown issue is, but it would be tough to have more slowdown than there is in some sections in the 360 game. I'm honestly expecting it to be the same.

I see screen tearing in both versions so like I said before, its about the same to me with a big graphical bump on PS3.

I was directing the quality of the port comments. It really can't be worse when it looks so much better.

Going by Sigma's track record, I would say it isn't that tough to imagine. As for screen tearing, there is practically no screen tearing in the 360 version compared to the PS3 version. The main draw of the Sigma versions of NG has always been the bump in graphics and the extra content. I was simply saying that this is what he should base his decision on, and not technical improvements because the last Sigma actually introduced technically problems into NGB that weren't there in the first place like screen tearing, longer load times and mid-battle loading, and Sigma 2 at least doesn't seem to be making improvements to NGII's technical problems so far.

 

[bobbytkc]

I noticed minor tearing in the demo but framerate on my machine remained pretty solid. Never felt choppy honestly. Slowdown maybe towards the end of the demo level (Ryu) and during one of the mission modes but nothing detrimental. Not sure where everyone is getting this "issue with quality of port" stuff. The game is a significant visual overhaul of NG2 and looks *fucking fantastic*, and runs great to boot (considering the improvements).

The gore was quite hilarious in NG2, but enough is going on already which makes it difficult to keep track of my character; glad there isn't limbs flying every which way to make it even harder.



Exactly, fucking exactly.

Their issue with the quality of the port is that so far, it is better than NG2. If it was a lousy port, they wouldn't have any issues.

 

[Mrbob]

Well I think it goes without saying the extra content is the main draw to the game. You are preaching to the choir since I said the same thing a page or two back.

 

[Durante]

I'm not much into this genre but I just tried the demo for this on a whim and had a blast. I may have to get this at some point -- how long is the full game?

 

[Loudninja]

I'm not much into this genre but I just tried the demo for this on a whim and had a blast. I may have to get this at some point -- how long is the full game?

IGN said like 13 hours

 

[bobbytkc]

Yes, but nobody seems to be talking about the new content and everybody is talking about blood and tearing.

What the hell is wrong with people nowadays.

 

[Lyte Edge]

And like I said before, I suggest you go play Mortal Kombat. Hayashi gets it, he knows what the NG franchise is SUPPOSE to be about, hence him making NGS2 less like the lesser NG2 and more like the amazing NG1.

NGS2 does not make NG2 magically cease to exist, if the lack of blood is THAT much of a bother to you, I suggest you buy this http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/splash/n/ninjagaiden2/

They toned down the gore so that the game wouldn't get a Z rating in Japan. Now it has a D rating, which means better placement in stores. Since this doesn't really matter for most other countries, it means everyone else gets to play the game with toned-down violence. Does this really matter? No, at least not to me. But it was clearly changed for this reason; saying that "Hayashi gets it and knows what the NG franchise is supposed to be about" just reeks of fanboy-ism.

Were there any issues with Ninja Gaiden II in Germany?

 

[bobbytkc]

IGN said like 13 hours

Probably longer than that if you play online.

 

[bobbytkc]

No, at least not to me. But it was clearly changed for this reason; saying that "Hayashi gets it and knows what the NG franchise is supposed to be about" just reeks of fanboy-ism.

Were there any issues with Ninja Gaiden II in Germany?

I think he meant that Hayashi 'gets' it because he knows the main draw of Ninja gaiden is not blood, but balanced and challenging gameplay. And he did just that, by trying to add more balance and adding more ways to play.

 

[ultim8p00]

And like I said before, I suggest you go play Mortal Kombat. Hayashi gets it, he knows what the NG franchise is SUPPOSE to be about, hence him making NGS2 less like the lesser NG2 and more like the amazing NG1.

NGS2 does not make NG2 magically cease to exist, if the lack of blood is THAT much of a bother to you, I suggest you buy this http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/splash/n/ninjagaiden2/

There's nothing "lesser" about Ninja Gaiden II from a conceptual point of view. If Ninja Gaiden II didn't have its technical flaws, it would have been a masterpiece in its own right, and not because it merely copied the NGB formula. What many people were hoping was that Sigma 2 could fix these flaws. The problem with trying to return to the NGB formula from NGII is that NGII just isn't designed like NGB. Just Ryu's moveset alone would have to be changed and become more restricted like it was in NGB in addition to reducing enemy count. As it is now, the game feels too easy, because you have like a mishmash of both NGII and NGB and it's not working out very well. You have the NGII combat system which was made for dealing with a massive amount of enemies as quickly as possible, but then you have the NGB style of enemy numbers. I think even the devs realized this, as they decided to give enemies more health and make them do more damage per hit.

With the exception of maybe Master Ninja, NGS2 with level 3 Lunar or level 3 Eclipse Scythe will probably play like Dynasty Warriors.


This is actually my bigger concern. The blood issue sucks, but it is not a deal breaker and the extra stuff pretty much makes up for it.

 

[Unknown One]

It's a bit more than NG1 level of blood, but not fountains everywhere like in the x360 NG2. Those fountains were pretty sweet by the by, and I'll miss them.

I always thought the fountain make the game look worst. Going from the blood quality from Gears to NG2 didn't help.

If the blood was in better quality hell yeah I'd like it.

 

[Angelus Errare]

They toned down the gore so that the game wouldn't get a Z rating in Japan. Now it has a D rating, which means better placement in stores. Since this doesn't really matter for most other countries, it means everyone else gets to play the game with toned-down violence. Does this really matter? No, at least not to me. But it was clearly changed for this reason; saying that "Hayashi gets it and knows what the NG franchise is supposed to be about" just reeks of fanboy-ism.

Were there any issues with Ninja Gaiden II in Germany?

Would be a valid argument if they didn't go back in tweak every encounter (did you even play the demo before posting?) This game feels much closer to NG1 than NG2 did.

So yeah.....it's because Hayashi does get it. Does it suck the gore is gone? Sure I guess. Is the combat still intact? Yeah. Is most of the BS that made NG2 suck ass in comparison to NG1 gone? For the most part.

Like I said in the other thread, I'd much rather fight 4-5 ninja who actually pose a threat on their own than a shitload of DMC style cannon fodder who pose no threat at all, and rely on the spamming of projectiles / IS complemented by more cannon fodder jumping me from off screen because the camera was so close to Busa.

But hey I'm weird like that, I prefer gameplay to superficial graphics =(

 

[indigo-cyclops]

Their issue with the quality of the port is that so far, it is better than NG2. If it was a lousy port, they wouldn't have any issues.

Haha, so true!:lol

Excitement for this one is 5x that of NG2 - love playing as Ayane. People should just enjoy it for what it is !

 

[Lyte Edge]

Would be a valid argument if they didn't go back in tweak every encounter (did you even play the demo before posting?) This game feels much closer to NG1 than NG2 did.

I played the demo, yes. But I didn't play Ninja Gaiden II, so I don't know about tweaks and such. From what I've read, though, it sounds like they made the game a bit easier.

I decided not to play NGII and wait for Sigma II, so I am quite pumped for the game's release next week.

So yeah.....it's because Hayashi does get it.

So no.....it's because they wanted to avoid that Z rating. If you don't know, a Z rating might as well be the equivalent to porn in Japan. Some stores won't carry Z-rated titles, and many that don't give the games prominent displays.

That is the only explanation for why they toned the gore down. All that "tweaking" stuff has nothing to do with the violence.

But hey I'm weird like that, I prefer gameplay to superficial graphics =(

Do you really think the people whining about the toned down gore only want to play the game for the violence?

Sigma II has been toned down from the original. But hey, they added more titties, so maybe Hayashi does "get" what Team Ninja's all about! :lol

 

[ultim8p00]

Would be a valid argument if they didn't go back in tweak every encounter (did you even play the demo before posting?) This game feels much closer to NG1 than NG2 did.

So yeah.....it's because Hayashi does get it. Does it suck the gore is gone? Sure I guess. Is the combat still intact? Yeah. Is most of the BS that made NG2 suck ass in comparison to NG1 gone? For the most part.

Like I said in the other thread, I'd much rather fight 4-5 ninja who actually pose a threat on their own than a shitload of DMC style cannon fodder who pose no threat at all, and rely on the spamming of projectiles / IS complemented by more cannon fodder jumping me from off screen because the camera was so close to Busa.

But hey I'm weird like that, I prefer gameplay to superficial graphics =(

Has the enemy AI in Sigma 2 changed? I was under the impression that they just throw less projectiles at you than before. MNM was pretty fucking easy so I don't think the AI is more of a threat now than it was before.

 

[Loudninja]

Has the enemy AI in Sigma 2 changed? I was under the impression that they just throw less projectiles at you than before. MNM was pretty fucking easy so I don't think the AI is more of a threat now than it was before.

Reviews have stated its just as hard.

 

[DR2K]

So no.....it's because they wanted to avoid that Z rating. If you don't know, a Z rating might as well be the equivalent to porn in Japan. Some stores won't carry Z-rated titles, and many that don't give the games prominent displays.

OK, but why is it also toned down in the US version where it's more than acceptable to have that level of gore?

 

[Kabuki Waq]

Do you really think the people whining about the toned down gore only want to play the game for the violence?

Sigma II has been toned down from the original. But hey, they added more titties, so maybe Hayashi does "get" what Team Ninja's all about! :lol

:lol

 

[Canova]

holy shit

new thread, new page, same shit :lol

carry on...

 

[ultim8p00]

I played the demo, yes. But I didn't play Ninja Gaiden II, so I don't know about tweaks and such. From what I've read, though, it sounds like they made the game a bit easier.

I decided not to play NGII and wait for Sigma II, so I am quite pumped for the game's release next week.



So no.....it's because they wanted to avoid that Z rating. If you don't know, a Z rating might as well be the equivalent to porn in Japan. Some stores won't carry Z-rated titles, and many that don't give the games prominent displays.

That is the only explanation for why they toned the gore down. All that "tweaking" stuff has nothing to do with the violence.



Do you really think the people whining about the toned down gore only want to play the game for the violence?

Sigma II has been toned down from the original. But hey, they added more titties, so maybe Hayashi does "get" what Team Ninja's all about! :lol

It's SIXAXIS titties, not just titties. When you shake the controllers, her titties bounce to distract enemies. It's almost like it's own Ninpo. Hayashi doesn't just get it, he goes beyond it.

 

[Angelus Errare]

I played the demo, yes. But I didn't play Ninja Gaiden II, so I don't know about tweaks and such. From what I've read, though, it sounds like they made the game a bit easier.

I decided not to play NGII and wait for Sigma II, so I am quite pumped for the game's release next week.

So no.....it's because they wanted to avoid that Z rating. If you don't know, a Z rating might as well be the equivalent to porn in Japan. Some stores won't carry Z-rated titles, and many that don't give the games prominent displays.

That is the only explanation for why they toned the gore down. All that "tweaking" stuff has nothing to do with the violence.

Not even sure what you're talking about, see bobbytkc's post.

[Bobby]
I think he meant that Hayashi 'gets' it because he knows the main draw of Ninja gaiden is not blood, but balanced and challenging gameplay. And he did just that, by trying to add more balance and adding more ways to play.[/Bobby]

Again, Hayashi getting it isn't about the gore, it's about the gameplay tweak, had you actually read my post correctly, and played NG2 you'd understand that.

Do you really think the people whining about the toned down gore only want to play the game for the violence?

Clearly they must, because other than that the combat remains, had you play NG2 you'd know that. Only thing that was taken away was the blood. Now if they took out dismemberment altogether, I'd see why all the bitching was needed and I may have even bitched as well.

Sigma II has been toned down from the original. But hey, they added more titties, so maybe Hayashi does "get" what Team Ninja's all about! :lol

At least you agree.

 

[Kabuki Waq]

Not even sure what you're talking about, see bobbytkc's post.





Clearly they must, because other than that the combat remains, had you play NG2 you'd know that. Only thing that was taken away was the blood. Now if they took out dismemberment altogether, I'd see why all the bitching was needed.



At least you agree.

holy fuck. You are hopeless. Yes the combat remains......but the effects of that combat would be more satisfying with blood. Including sense of impact and accomplishment.

 

[Angelus Errare]

holy fuck. You are hopeless. Yes the combat remains......but the effects of that combat would be more satisfying with blood. Including sense of impact and accomplishment.

You're the hopeless one, the shit isn't going to be in the game. GET OVER IT!

You can spam I need my blood until your fingers are nubs, the shit ain't gonna be in there. So either gtfo over it.

Not that hard at all, I along with many others are just tired of the whining.

 

[Kabuki Waq]

You're the hopeless one, the shit isn't going to be in the game. GET OVER IT!

You can spam I need my blood until your fingers are nubs, the shit ain't gonna be in there. So either gtfo over it.

Not that hard at all, I along with many others are just tired of the whining.

yes blood is not going to be in the game and that does have a negative effect on the game. you just seem to be dismissing the complaints from the get go. I will question why blood is not in the US version of the game. Clearly ps3 could handle it so why not?


oh btw you dont have to reply.

 

[karasu]

My PS3 must be magic has I haven't had any slowdown and I've played through the demo a number of times now.

Same here. The game is silky smooth. Too fucking fast, but silky smooth.

 

[lorddarkflare]

yes blood is not going to be in the game and that does have a negative effect on the game. you just seem to be dismissing the complaints from the get go. I will question why blood is not in the US version of the game. Clearly ps3 could handle it so why not?


oh btw you dont have to reply.

It is not that the lack is not in issue, it is that people treat it as THE issue.

Okay the game does not have blood, and you do not like that, we get it. But that is such a weak complaint to be going on and on about.

 

[d0c_zaius]

I'm not trying to bag on your comments, but do you have a PS3 because there is a demo available. If you play the demo you realize the game looks gorgeous. Looks much better than the 360 version and the frame rate is pretty solid. So there is no issue on the quality of the port.

The sequence in particular that I am talking about occurs near the end of the game, so I doubt the demo would show how they handled it, or if they even addressed it at all.

If you played NG2 then you know how bad it was. Should have never made it to final with that in there.

EDIT: Also demos arent made when the code is final, so obviously they cant represent the final product.

 

[Victrix]

Hay guys, let's talk about blood

 

[WilyRook]

I wonder if the (literal) bloodbath is going to be censored.

 

[Pachinko]

the bloodbath you speak of was one of the team mission areas so my guess is that it's still in there... if you are ;however, refering to the blood rain in the 2nd amazon jungle level , I don't see why it wouldn't be there still. It always looked mor elike koolaid there anyway.

 

[WilyRook]

Yeah, that's right. I guess I was thinking of the cutscene before the fight.

 

[RoboPlato]

I really enjoyed the demo. I never played NG2 and have only actually played the demo for NG1 because I just keep hearing how hard it is. Maybe I'll pick both of them up and just play them on the easiest settings. Combat is really satisfying and fun in the demo and I didn't have too much trouble with it.

 

[WilyRook]

I really enjoyed the demo. I never played NG2 and have only actually played the demo for NG1 because I just keep hearing how hard it is. Maybe I'll pick both of them up and just play them on the easiest settings. Combat is really satisfying and fun in the demo and I didn't have too much trouble with it.

Totally get them, I say. They're so much fun.

Don't worry about the difficulty. Everything clicks at some point and you'll be slaughtering fools. That said, I'm only now finally making my way through the first game on the hardest difficulty setting, and I've been playing all the incarnations of Ninja Gaiden since their respective day-ones

 

[kuYuri]

Good God, on PotMN, throws from enemies takes off all your life. The damage is ridiculous. :lol

 

[sixteen-bit]

Good God, on PotMN, throws from enemies takes off all your life. The damage is ridiculous. :lol

real talk, I want to just play on PotMN from the start

I imagine it will be a fuckton harder too because you won't have upgraded weapons right off the bat like in the demo.

 

[Siyou]

There are still dismemberment and decapitations and blood all over the floor and spraying out in my demo.

It's not as over the top, but that's ok, after the first 3D Ninja Gaiden, it felt kind of out of place anyway, and I like the stylish looking mist. It makes a little more sense in God of War, if they simmered down the gore in God of War I could understand it feeling less intense, given its setting and style, but not so much for this.

Some people make the parallel to Mortal Kombat, but Mortal Kombat was a completely awful game that wouldn't have been given the time of day if it wasn't attracting pre-teens and pissing off the media with it's gore, so it's not a very apt road to take. And no, Mortal Kombat 2 wasn't good just because you could do that cuty thing with Baraka.

Sigma 2 feels like a half-step between Black and 2 for me, which I really like, myself. That and the fuck ton of actual gameplay and visual improvements that actually matter to the normal person. :lol

so is it better than black??

 

[kuYuri]

One thing I hate about the AI in Team Mission is that they take my essence.

Also, just found out Enma's Fang has Izuna Drop. So awesome.

real talk, I want to just play on PotMN from the start

I imagine it will be a fuckton harder too because you won't have upgraded weapons right off the bat like in the demo.

Indeed.

 

[DR2K]

so is it better than black??

Based on my time with NG2 and NGS2 demo, it's safe to say it is.