Images & video of Ninja Gaiden 2

Commented on 2008-01-29 00:19:29

Look awesome. Graphically, I only dislike some of the lighting choices (skin lighting and such), but it looks great and the animations are very smooth. Besides, I don't think you'll be able to appreciate how great the game looks until you've played it on your HDTV. Same goes for DMC4 and DOA4.

http://i28.tinypic.com/4q04ds.gif

http://i30.tinypic.com/2wnr1hc.gif

In reply to

Darksyde

Commented on 2008-01-29 00:19:57 In reply to Sath

Oooo, pic 2 is pretty.... *stares at blood*

In reply to

Ronsauce

Commented on 2008-01-29 00:37:29 In reply to macphisto80

Posted by Nonexistinghero

The environments look just fine in motion. Every damn preview states how awesome the game looks. Only nitpicky gamers say the graphics are bland.

It's not being nitpicky when the environments in a first-gen 360 game look worlds better than in a game 2 years after the console's launch...especially such a high-profile game.

Posted by most_hated

I just see so much about the graphics that I like, that I can't just sit here and nitpick about stupid shit like the excessive blood and no objects littering the floor.

I think the blood is great personally; in fact, many of the screens people are oohing and ahing over look so damn good thanks in part to the blood.

There doesn't need to be objects littering the floor to make interesting looking environments, but so far, there's nothing about the environments that even mildly impress...technically or artistically(from what I've seen to date that is).

Posted by macphisto80

Oh not to worry. There's always someone who hasn't an ounce or artistic ability in their bones to find something to moan about on here, seeing they are perfectionist artists themselves.

It doesn't take a "perfectionist artist" to find these environments boring looking. NG is a favourite game of mine, but its overall art direction was pretty poor. Monster design was as consistent as the random scribblings of a 10-year old.

Maybe once I see some good high-res footage, I'll change my tune, but from what I've seen SO FAR, level design(graphically...not in terms of the actual fun and challenge of it) looks like an afterthought.

In reply to

[quote=Nonexistinghero]The environments look just fine in motion. Every damn preview states how awesome the game looks. Only nitpicky gamers say the graphics are bland.[/quote]

It's not being nitpicky when the environments in a first-gen 360 game look worlds better than in a game 2 years after the console's launch...especially such a high-profile game.

[quote=most_hated]I just see so much about the graphics that I like, that I can't just sit here and nitpick about stupid shit like the excessive blood and no objects littering the floor.[/quote]

I think the blood is great personally; in fact, many of the screens people are oohing and ahing over look so damn good thanks in part to the blood.

There doesn't need to be objects littering the floor to make interesting looking environments, but so far, there's nothing about the environments that even mildly impress...technically or artistically(from what I've seen to date that is).

[quote=macphisto80]
Oh not to worry. There's always someone who hasn't an ounce or artistic ability in their bones to find something to moan about on here, seeing they are perfectionist artists themselves.[/quote]

It doesn't take a "perfectionist artist" to find these environments boring looking.  NG is a favourite game of mine, but its overall art direction was pretty poor.  Monster design was as consistent as the random scribblings of a 10-year old.

Maybe once I see some good high-res footage, I'll change my tune, but from what I've seen SO FAR, level design(graphically...not in terms of the actual fun and challenge of it) looks like an afterthought.

Viginti_Tres

Commented on 2008-01-29 01:50:48

People forget that whenever you're playing you'll only be able to see Ruy from that distance from cutscenes. And for the most part they are prerendered videos.

Wait untill you see that on your HDTV. I'm not saying they'll be as good as NGBs compared to other xbox originals, but the GFX are way above avarage.

In reply to

koenshaku

Commented on 2008-01-29 01:51:30

This game looks excellent I can't wait, also the AF is much higher than that of DMC4's.

In reply to

DavidDC

Commented on 2008-01-29 02:20:04 In reply to Ronsauce

Posted by Ronsauce

My only complaint is that the environments we've seen so far are bland as all hell.
I mean, if the first level in Chaos Theory can look as good as it did, and if the environments in Kameo (especially that first castle level...so awesome looking!) can look that killer, then I don't see why they can't add a little something to spruce it up. It wouldn't be sacrificing the art style either, as "flatness" isn't what they want to achieve.

Realy true!

Some of the textures looking poor (not only in close ups).
Kameo is still one of the (GFX) Highlights (even two Years after Release!).

Even the Textures from Dreamcast's SONIC Adeventure (1/1999 & 2/2001) looks better than this (and Many other "Next Gen Games " on X360 & ps3....!)

No exaggerated! When you put your Dreamcast via VGA on a nice big HD Screen (or HD Projector) the Graphics (not only Textures) of Many Games looks STILL awesome.

Soul Calibur I with it's nice Bump Mapping (in 1998!) is another example...

Someone have to kick Team Ninja's a** for the GFX particularly the Textures and missing Bump Mapping ;)

Anyway, NG2 is one of my Favorites for 2008!

Greetings from Germany,
DavidDC.

In reply to

[quote=Ronsauce]
My only complaint is that the environments we've seen so far are bland as all hell.  
I mean, if the first level in Chaos Theory can look as good as it did, and if the environments in Kameo (especially that first castle level...so awesome looking!) can look that killer, then I don't see why they can't add a little something to spruce it up.  It wouldn't be sacrificing the art style either, as "flatness" isn't what they want to achieve.
[/quote]

Realy true!

Some of the textures looking poor (not only in close ups).
Kameo is still one of the (GFX) Highlights (even two Years after Release!).

Even the Textures from Dreamcast's SONIC Adeventure (1/1999 & 2/2001) looks better than this (and Many other "Next Gen Games " on X360 & ps3....!)

No exaggerated! When you put your Dreamcast via VGA on a nice big HD Screen (or HD Projector) the Graphics (not only Textures) of Many Games looks STILL awesome.

Soul Calibur I with it's nice Bump Mapping (in 1998!) is another example...

Someone have to kick Team Ninja's a** for the GFX particularly the Textures and missing Bump Mapping ;)

Anyway, NG2 is one of my Favorites for 2008!

Greetings from Germany,
DavidDC.

Wanderfalke

Commented on 2008-01-29 02:54:05 In reply to Sath

So for all the people who think that the graphics are lame. This game was never meant to be photo realistic!!! Before the very first footage was released at TGS I also thought that TM will deliver some over the top graphics in terms of realism, but after thinking about their entire releases, I realised that they would probably never do some photo realistic stuff. That´s just not their style.

Furthermore with all the gore and violence they would probably risk that a lot of content will be censored.

As far as lightning goes, I think that it looks amazing. Just look at the town with all the neon lights. I´m pretty sure that they will have some outstanding lightning. In some cases, like in this vid, there aren´t too much opportunities to implement many lightnig effects because it´s dark night.

All in one , I think that nearly all people, who will give this game a chance despite all the "sooooo disappointing graphics" won´t talk about the graphics anymore, because they will most likely get a blisternig gameplay experiance like in no other action game.

Sorry for my bad english, it´s not my native language.

In reply to

So for all the people who think that the graphics are lame. This game was never meant to be photo realistic!!! Before the very first footage was released at TGS I also thought that TM will deliver some over the top graphics in terms of realism, but after thinking about their entire releases, I realised that they would probably never do some photo realistic stuff. That´s just not their style.

Furthermore with all the gore and violence they would probably risk that a lot of content will be censored.

As far as lightning goes, I think that it looks amazing. Just look at the town with all the neon lights. I´m pretty sure that they will have some outstanding lightning. In some cases, like in this vid, there aren´t too much opportunities to implement many lightnig effects because it´s dark night.

All in one , I think that nearly all people, who will give this game a chance despite all the "sooooo disappointing graphics" won´t talk about the graphics anymore, because they will most likely get a blisternig gameplay experiance like in no other action game.

Sorry for my bad english, it´s not my native language.

Ronsauce

Commented on 2008-01-29 03:00:38 In reply to Wanderfalke

Posted by Wanderfalke

I for one am not necessarily asking for photorealism here, but I was expecting to be wowed graphically by such a high profile title that already has the basic gameplay mechanics established.

In reply to

FormlessLikeWater

Commented on 2008-01-29 03:07:57

This series is one of the greatest examples of bland outside of the combat. And I mean EVERYTHING outside of the combat.

In reply to

Ronsauce

Commented on 2008-01-29 03:08:55

Luckily, the combat is absolutely killer though.

In reply to

omegaheat

Commented on 2008-01-29 05:49:20

Looks better everytime I see it. I usually criticize a game when the graphics don't represent the hardware, and this looks nothing short of stunning. Some you guys have become truly spoiled. The new generation of games have yet to outshine the first Ninja Gaiden, so save the insults about the game's visuals, people.

In reply to

Ronsauce

Commented on 2008-01-29 06:35:24 In reply to omegaheat

Posted by omegaheat

this looks nothing short of stunning. Some you guys have become truly spoiled. The new generation of games have yet to outshine the first Ninja Gaiden, so save the insults about the game's visuals, people.

If some of us are "spoiled" simply because we don't think such a high-profile game looks as good as we would have liked on our expensive machines, then maybe the door swings both ways and you are blindly obedient in thinking it looks "nothing short of stunning." At the risk of sounding shallow, I didn't spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars on my 360 to play games that are bested graphically in any way by games from the previous console.

The new generation of games haven't outshined the first Ninja Gaiden...in terms of gameplay at least. Graphically, NG is easily outshined and rightfully so. I don't see how it's necessarily insulting to say that a game's graphics aren't that good(or as good as were expected...or any varying degree) if someone truly feels that they aren't.

In reply to

[quote=omegaheat]this looks nothing short of stunning.  Some you guys have become truly spoiled.  The new generation of games have yet to outshine the first Ninja Gaiden, so save the insults about the game's visuals, people.[/quote]

If some of us are "spoiled" simply because we don't think such a high-profile game looks as good as we would have liked on our expensive machines, then maybe the door swings both ways and you are blindly obedient in thinking it looks "nothing short of stunning."  At the risk of sounding shallow, I didn't spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars on my 360 to play games that are bested graphically in any way by games from the previous console.

The new generation of games haven't outshined the first Ninja Gaiden...in terms of gameplay at least.  Graphically, NG is easily outshined and rightfully so.  I don't see how it's necessarily insulting to say that a game's graphics aren't that good(or as good as were expected...or any varying degree) if someone truly feels that they aren't.

Sath

Commented on 2008-01-29 07:45:55

How come when it comes to NG2 some of you guys is quickly going with "oh the gaphics are not as great as expected" or start comparing to other action games.
NG has always been about the gameplay, why do you guys think the game has so much replay value and is so perfectly executed.

Sure the graphics are there but not he best, but I rather let Team Ninja keep the Ninja Gaiden Sigma visuals and totally outshine the gameplay considering the first NG had problems!

So stop being spoiled and enjoy the game for what it is, and it is bad ass!

Posted by Splicer261

I wanna know how he keeps his ninja costume so clean after such *messy* assasinations..

Assassinations?

It's a fucking Freddy Kruger massacre mess ;)

In reply to

pantyhelmet

Commented on 2008-01-29 08:09:12 In reply to FormlessLikeWater

Posted by FormlessLikeWater

This series is one of the greatest examples of bland outside of the combat. And I mean EVERYTHING outside of the combat.

you said it all..nothing has personality as far i have seen, which i guess doesn't matter when you're killing anything that moves 90 % percent of the time..the target audience doesn't need much else.

In reply to

Sath

Commented on 2008-01-29 08:37:32

One thing I just noticed form the videos was that when Ryu forces a yellow orb he does that fast attack, but this time its a combo and not just a straight slash like the previous.

Not only that if it is two orbs he does that super aerial attck 4-6 hit when you get True Dragon Sword, but not now, it seems to be normal.

Could be just for showing off though as a demo.

In reply to

GriftGFX

Commented on 2008-01-29 08:37:52 In reply to Ronsauce

Posted by Ronsauce

Posted by Wanderfalke

I for one am not necessarily asking for photorealism here, but I was expecting to be wowed graphically by such a high profile title that already has the basic gameplay mechanics established.

Some people don't seem to understand that you can follow a game like Ninja Gaiden's or DOA's art direction, while continuing to improve the visuals. People said the same thing about DOA4. I don't think this game is stunning graphically but we all know it's going to be a treat to play.

Posted by Sath

NG has always been about the gameplay

There has really only ever been one game in this series, so please don't tell us what it's "always been about," especially when the first title (along with DOA3) was easily one of the best visual showcases on the original Xbox.

Just because someone thinks that the graphics aren't all that, doesn't mean that they won't like the game. This discussion is a lot like the one we've had here a hundred times before, about other games, like Forza Motorsports 2. Good gameplay and good graphics are not mutually exclusive, nor are they required to hold hands and we're all well aware of that. That doesn't mean that people can't discuss the games visuals.

It only makes sense considering none of us have actually played the game.

This series is one of the greatest examples of bland outside of the combat. And I mean EVERYTHING outside of the combat.

It's an action game, it doesn't really need much else.

In reply to

[quote=Ronsauce][quote=Wanderfalke][/quote]

I for one am not necessarily asking for photorealism here, but I was expecting to be wowed graphically by such a high profile title that already has the basic gameplay mechanics established.[/quote]

Some people don't seem to understand that you can follow a game like Ninja Gaiden's or DOA's art direction, while continuing to improve the visuals.  People said the same thing about DOA4.  I don't think this game is stunning graphically but we all know it's going to be a treat to play.

[quote=Sath]NG has always been about the gameplay[/quote]

There has really only ever been one game in this series, so please don't tell us what it's "always been about," especially when the first title (along with DOA3) was easily one of the best visual showcases on the original Xbox.

Just because someone thinks that the graphics aren't all that, doesn't mean that they won't like the game.  This discussion is a lot like the one we've had here a hundred times before, about other games, like Forza Motorsports 2. Good gameplay and good graphics are not mutually exclusive, nor are they required to hold hands and we're all well aware of that.  That doesn't mean that people can't discuss the games visuals.

It only makes sense considering [i]none of us[/i] have actually played the game.

[quote]This series is one of the greatest examples of bland outside of the combat. And I mean EVERYTHING outside of the combat.[/quote]

It's an action game, it doesn't really need much else.

Sath

Commented on 2008-01-29 08:42:11

I know there has been one game for Xbox, and yes the graphics was very good at its time, but still, NG has been liked for its gameplay more than the graphics.

The graphics was good and was a huge bonus to come with it.

Don't get me wrong, graphically I expected more, but now I don't care much anymore. The graphics looks good for what it is, and the gameplay is incredible.

In reply to

OrionG

Commented on 2008-01-29 09:12:30

game looks waaaaaaaaay better!

In reply to

BubTheZombie

Commented on 2008-01-29 12:01:16 In reply to Ronsauce

This message is in "Boulet Time" (TM), If you still *really* want to see it, click here

Posted by Ronsauce

It doesn't take a "perfectionist artist" to find these environments boring looking. NG is a favourite game of mine, but its overall art direction was pretty poor. Monster design was as consistent as the random scribblings of a 10-year old.

Maybe once I see some good high-res footage, I'll change my tune, but from what I've seen SO FAR, level design(graphically...not in terms of the actual fun and challenge of it) looks like an afterthought.

You sir are a cock.

Sath

Commented on 2008-01-29 12:07:57

I have to say that the art is still the samne, I am sick of fighting the same ninjas over and over again.

Why couldn't it be like soldiers, fiends, demons...etc. and no more ninjas...its gonna get boring for sure.

The art is still bland now and then. It feels like they have taken the best art from NG and DOA4 levels into one game.

However there are levels like Tokoy, New York, Paris...etc. more "realistic" approach of levels rather than a fictional design like Tairon.

You always came back to Tairon in previous title, but in this one, you won't come back, so there will be different levels and countries.

But considering that there is more than one place in NG2 this time around the variety is definitely there, something that was not in the previous title.

I am sure the fiends will be different, I am just hoping the spider clan ninjas have a very small role...except the spider clan boss which is suppose to be the main villain and look bad ass like Ryu...Itagaki said so in a interview.

In reply to

I have to say that the art is still the samne, I am sick of fighting the same ninjas over and over again.

Why couldn't it be like soldiers, fiends, demons...etc. and no more ninjas...its gonna get boring for sure.

The art is still bland now and then. It feels like they have taken the best art from NG and DOA4 levels into one game.

However there are levels like Tokoy, New York, Paris...etc. more "realistic" approach of levels rather than a fictional design like Tairon.

You always came back to Tairon in previous title, but in this one, you won't come back, so there will be different levels and countries.

But considering that there is more than one place in NG2 this time around the variety is definitely there, something that was not in the previous title.

I am sure the fiends will be different, I am just hoping the spider clan ninjas have a very small role...except the spider clan boss which is suppose to be the main villain and look bad ass like Ryu...Itagaki said so in a interview.

FormlessLikeWater

Commented on 2008-01-29 12:46:10 In reply to GriftGFX

Posted by GriftGFX

It's an action game, it doesn't really need much else.

God of War, Heavenly Sword, Devil May Cry......All three of those are I would consider better all around games then Ninja Gaiden. Just because it's in a certain genre doesn't mean it should get a pass on everything. Still an extremely horrible game to look at from an art direction stance, can't even remember any of the music, the story is horrid, characters have zero personality, etc. etc.

In reply to

Sath

Commented on 2008-01-29 13:31:04

Now now...do NOT attack the Ninja Gaiden music.

A few of those tracks are so damn awesome!
By few I mean around, ah I dont know 15-20 or something.

Memorible?

The end credits, the one were you fight Vigoor Emperor...etc. those tracks are very good.
I am even loving the music tracks that are playing in NG2, and its not even out yet.

I take it you are not a a NG liker at all of not a soundtrack liker that much.

But I do agree that HS, God of War and DMC has more art going on than NG, but NGs gameplay is great, now with NG2s new features such as finishers and whatnot, its even better.

I am stoaked for all 3 bad ass games, DMC4, God of War 3 and NG2, so I don't have to compare them. Eahc game has different art and gameplay and they all satisfy me.

In reply to

synce

Commented on 2008-01-29 14:23:40

DMC still annihilates this series in terms of art. And after playing the DMC4 demo, I think NG will have to take a backseat in terms of gameplay as well. Let's face it, NG boils down to block, roll, then izuna and/or flying swallow.

In reply to

Sath

Commented on 2008-01-29 14:43:09

This is NG2...it boils down the way you want it to boil down.

Sure the blocking is a big thing, why?
Because the enemies actually ATTACKS you all the time.
You roll (evade) not to get hit.
You do dont have to do flying shallow or izuna drops, you can just slashes the shit out of them, and with the new feature...do a final death move on them, which looks very satisfying :D

In reply to

Acronos

Commented on 2008-01-29 15:14:14

Devil May Cry 4 + Ninja Gaiden 2 in the same year... so cool. :)

(lol at the trolling of the ng2 graphics)

In reply to

Images & video of Ninja Gaiden 2

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