Few series summon the same mix of reverence, fear, and slightly trauma-tinged nostalgia as Ninja Gaiden. Whether you have fond memories of the original NES game or instead grew up with the Xbox 360 instalments, it is a franchise that spans generations. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is the definitive version of the original 2o08 action-adventure game, taking the updates from Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 and taking things even further. If you’ve yet to try this game, Fanatical is offering it at a steep 51% discount this Black Friday weekend – but only for one day.
For players who never touched the series in its heyday, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a kind of spiritual boot camp. It’s stylish, punishing, snappy, and tests the belief that you’re stronger than you think… but only if you’re willing to sweat for it. You will rage-quit the game more than a few times. If you’re not afraid of pain, then step into the tabi boots of Ryu Hayabusa, a man who treats the laws of physics as vague suggestions (like a lot of video game characters, to be fair, little wink to the OG Tomb Raider), and carve your way through demons, fiends, and increasingly deranged boss fights with balletic brutality. The animations still hold up, the combat still sings, and that razor-sharp difficulty curve still hits like a truck filled with shurikens.
This version bundles in all the enhancements, balancing tweaks, and quality-of-life fixes that the “Black” version of its prequel introduced. The improved enemy behaviour, extra modes, visual upgrades, and technical refinements make it the best way to play if you want to savour the combat system without being sabotaged by the… let’s call them quirks of the original releases.
If you enjoyed Ninja Gaiden 4, then this offers an ideal way for you to step into the past of the series without having to deal with the inherent clunkiness that comes from playing older games. It’s one of the best entry points for anyone looking to get acquainted with the series’ original protagonist, Ryu Hayabusa, after falling in love with Yakumo.
Regardless of whether you’ve played any of the others in the series or not, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black will entice anyone who adores games with tight combat and that over-the-top blend of action that Team Ninja and Platinum Games are famous for. It’s challenging, for sure, but rewarding.
This is one of Fanatical’s flash deals, which means that it is only available for 24 hours. After that, it’s gone, and we have no way of knowing when it will next be brought down to this price.