Parents' Guide to

Ninja Gaiden II

By Brett Molina, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Tough and very violent hack-and-slash adventure.

Game Xbox 360 2008
Ninja Gaiden II Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

Community Reviews

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age 17+

Based on 3 parent reviews

peatorama
peatorama Adult
May 3, 2012
age 17+

A Great Gore Feast

Ninja gaiden 2 is a great game but only for mature teens. It contains excessieve blood and gore, also a breif minute of nudity in chapter 10 or 11. This is a great game anyway so if you like challeging gameplay and NINJAS!!! you will love this game

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
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vfghdghfddg Parent of 16-year-old
August 23, 2009
age 17+

good for older kids but not for anyone younger than 16

It's a good game with an interesting plot but extremely gory and containes scenes were there is partial nudity so it shouldn't be played if you can't handle any of that

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
See all 3 parent reviews

What’s It About?

Ryu Hayabusa returns to the Xbox in NINJA GAIDEN II, a challenging hack-and-slash adventure for the 360. Ryu's goal in the latest chapter of the long-running series is straightforward: Save the world. He'll accomplish this by defeating a series of demonic fiends scattered across the globe. The game takes players through a variety of locales, from canals in Europe to the metropolises of New York and Tokyo.

Ryu vanquishes enemies -- ranging from ninjas to werewolves -- with a flurry of combos executed by linking together light and heavy attacks. You'll start out with a sword, but can upgrade to staffs, scythes, and \"talons\" fitted to your hands and feet. Ryu also has a secondary attack in the form of throwing stars, bow and arrows, or exploding knives. If enemies overwhelm Ryu, he can use Ninpo -- magical attacks in the form of fireballs or whirlwind blades -- to thwart his foes.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (5 ):

The combat in Ninja Gaiden II is intense, and incredibly violent. It's common to see opponents' heads, arms, and legs chopped off. Blood soaks the landscapes after heavy battles. With certain weapons, chunks of flesh fly as you pummel enemies. Enemies are also relentless. During a couple scenarios, enemies with their legs cut off would crawl toward Ryu, grab him, and deal heavy damage with a suicide blast. The action is dizzying, especially for the camera, which struggles to keep up. After a quick flurry of attacks, the camera settles into an awkward view, leaving you prone to blindside attacks. Fortunately, this setback is easily forgiven when you consider the game's robust combat system and variety of difficult foes.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the history of the Ninja Gaiden series, which started on the Nintendo Entertainment System. What has made this franchise so successful? Do you prefer the older versions or the series' latest reincarnation? Also, why do you think ninjas are popular figures in movies and other video games?

Game Details

  • Platform: Xbox 360
  • Available online?: Available online
  • Publisher: Microsoft
  • Release date: June 3, 2008
  • Genre: Action/Adventure
  • ESRB rating: M for Mature
  • Last updated: November 4, 2015

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