The Ninja Gaiden series had been quiet for years, but out of nowhere, we got a wave of announcements, including Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. This is a full remake of the second Ninja Gaiden game, built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5. While it doesn’t fully live up to the “Black” title in the way fans might have hoped, it still offers plenty of reasons to dive back into the game with a fresh, modern look.
I’m not the biggest Ninja Gaiden fan, but I’ve always had fun with these games. The first two entries are often considered some of the best character action games ever made, known for their brutal difficulty and tight gameplay. The third game, though, didn’t quite hit the same mark and ended up being divisive, which led to the series going dormant. But it seems Team Ninja has taken those lessons to heart, as seen with the announcement of Ninja Gaiden 4 and the release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. This remake feels like a step in the right direction, bringing the classic action and challenge of the series back with a shiny new coat of paint.
While FromSoftware is often praised for their punishingly difficult games, old-school fans like me remember just how unforgiving Ninja Gaiden used to be. I’d put it in the same league as the original Devil May Cry. Even with its fixed camera angles, the game delivered fast-paced, chaotic combat that demanded quick reflexes and precision. It was all about trusting your instincts to unleash devastating combos and drench the screen in your enemies’ blood. The tight platforming sections, which might frustrate today’s players, were a defining feature of the series back then.
It’s fantastic to see Ninja Gaiden 2 Black make a comeback as a full remake, but some of the decisions behind this release are puzzling. The original Ninja Gaiden Black on Xbox was considered the definitive version of the first game, so fans expected this remake to follow suit. However, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black cuts some content, which makes the “Black” title feel a bit misleading. It’s still a better version than Ninja Gaiden 2 Sigma, but it carries over some of the same difficulty adjustments and restrictions. On the plus side, the gore is back, and weapon upgrades are no longer a hassle. The game also offers a higher difficulty for veterans and a more accessible normal mode for newcomers.
That said, the lack of additional gameplay modes and missing costumes makes this version feel less complete compared to the Xbox 360 release. Considering there’s no modern way to play the original versions outside of Xbox, these omissions are even more confusing. While the remake brings some welcome improvements, it doesn’t fully capture what made the original Ninja Gaiden 2 so special. Still, it’s a solid way to experience the game for those who missed it the first time around.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black picks up where its predecessor left off, but don’t worry if you haven’t played the first game—it’s not essential. Like Devil May Cry, you can jump into any entry in the series and enjoy it for what it is: over-the-top character action at its finest. The story here is just a vehicle to send Ryu Hayabusa on a globe-trotting mission to take down the Black Spider Clan. It’s full of clichés that feel dated now, but honestly, the narrative isn’t the focus. What truly shines is the gameplay and level design, which have aged remarkably well.
The updated visuals bring the game up to modern standards, and the art style really pops. Slicing through enemies leaves behind satisfying pools of blood, and the kills feel as brutal as ever. The level design, already a standout feature, looks even better now with improved textures and lighting. The fixed camera angles, while old-school, give each area a cinematic feel, and the revamped cutscenes are a treat to watch. While the original game wasn’t bad-looking by any means, this remake elevates it to a whole new level, especially on PC.
That said, there are some downsides. To fully appreciate the upgraded visuals, you’ll need a powerful PC. The game runs smoothly on mid-to-high-range systems, but with ray tracing and higher textures enabled, you might encounter some stuttering—a common issue with Unreal Engine games on PC. Still, the port is well-optimized overall, and I was pleasantly surprised to see support for modern GPU features like Frame Generation and DLSS/FSR right out of the gate, at least on Steam. It’s clear the developers put effort into making this a solid PC experience.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black Game Information
- Price: $49.99
- Publisher: Koei Tecmo
- Developer: Koei Tecmo
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
