I was a big fan of the original Ninja Gaiden so naturally I had high expectations for this one also. For the most part I was satisfied.

Story:
Not too much to talk about here. The story is really just a way to move the game along, and is not given much thought. It does that well enough, and the CGI cutscenes are nice to look at. The story is weak, but in a game like this it does not bother me.

Gameplay:
Ninja Gaiden 2 has the most intense gameplay in any game ever. This is the main feature of the game, and boy does it deliver. The combat is so fluid and seamless, and the environments and weapons have great variety. It is also important to note that this game is extremely challenging. You will die, a lot, but that is just part of the game. There is one problem in the gameplay department, the camera can sometimes get in the way. The new weapons are a welcome addition, especially the scythe. Unlike in the orginal Ninja Gaiden the other weapons besides the dragon sword are effective. One thing lacking thought is online, Ninja Cinema and leaderboards are cool, but co-op would have been great.

Graphics:
You can tell this is running of the same engine as Sigma, because they look similar. That's not a bad thing but I had hoped for a game that was as technically as impressive as Ninja Gaiden for the Xbox was back in the day. It doesn't quite look that good, but it is still a great looking game, and the graphics are nothing to complain about.

Sound:
Definitely up to Ninja Gaiden standards. Lightning strikes, limbs slicing off, and monsters shrieking all sound great. Also the little story the game has is voiced well. The sound side of Ninja Gaiden delivers.

Overall:
A excellent game that doesn't change too much from its orginal, but adds just enough to keep it fresh. Hands down the best action game this gen. 9.2/10