Introduction Have you experienced any of the following signs: extreme aggravation, excessive swearing, controller throwing, or immediate powering off of the Xbox 360 after dying? If you've experienced any of these symptoms, you may have what's known as "Ninja Gaidenitis" - a disorder that manifests itself after repeated voluntary exposure to Ninja Gaiden II. In short, Ninja Gaiden is tough...damn tough, but you probably already know that, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this guide. Well, you came to the right place, as we'll provide you with a comprehensive walkthrough for every one of the 14 chapters, plus more. In our Ninja Gaiden 2 guide you will discover: Basics: Train in the way of the ninja on how to exterminate your foes. Walkthrough: Our walkthrough will get you from Point A to point B with minimal resistance, complete with maps! Crystal Skulls: Find out where those pesky skulls are hidden. Guide by: Andre Segers Notes: This guide was written for the "Path of the Warrior" difficultly level, though most of the tips should be applicable for the others as well. This PDF Guide is property of IGN Entertainment. Any unlawful duplication or posting of this document without the consent of IGN Entertainment will result in legal action. © 2008 IGN Entertainment, Inc. Page 1 Ninja G aiden 2 Basics If you've played a Ninja Gaiden game before, you pretty much know what to expect. But there have been a few changes that can take some getting used to. And for those new to the series, check our tips below to make your jorney much easier. Health Health works a little bit differently this time around. The blue portion of your health bar represents your life. This portion also slowly refills if you can avoid taking damage. However, during battle, you'll also sustain something known as "lasting damage" Essence Essence, the glowing orbs that you find in chests and from downed enemies, serve a couple of different functions. The blue ones restore health, red recharges your Ninpo, while yellow acts as the game's currency. Blocking & Countering Blocking is crucial in the world of Ninja Gaiden - if you're not attacking, you should be blocking. It's generally best to alternate between the two during battle; that is: attack, then block if an enemy's nearby. Wait for him to attack (while still blocking) - after he's deflected, drop your guard and take him down. Another important skill to master is the ability to counter - if you're being attacked, try pressing either attack button while blocking to perform a counter. But you have to time this move at the same time as your opponent's attack, so practice, practice, practice. Weapons Weapons are a ninja's best friend, and Ryu has a lot of friends. As you progress through the adventure, you'll find additional weapons to add to your repertoire, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. However, even with your vast selection, we've found that the default Dragon Sword is generally the best weapon for most situations. So unless we state otherwise in the guide, we suggest keeping this equipped as your main weapon of choice. Attacks Ryu has a plethora of attacks at his disposal; a repertoire that will only grow larger as you progress through the game. However, even with all of the additional moves you'll acquire, your very best and most effective attacks are generally the ones you start with, so it's important to master them early. Flying Swallow The Flying Swallow is a quick and long-reaching attack that allows you to decapitate foes while being minimally exposed. Try perform this move back and forth in crowded situations to quickly reduces your foe's count. Ultimate Technique Ultimate Techniques are the Ryu's most powerful attack. In it, he unleashes a brutal combo of attacks that can tear apart a small army of fiends. To perform one, hold the "Strong Attack" button at any time to begin charging the attack - the longer you charge it, the stronger it becomes (when the flames around you turn red, that means it's at max power). However, charging it can take some time, but there's a quicker method. If there's any essence nearby, begin charging the Ultimate Technique - it'll draw the essence to you, and will immediately charge your attack - sweet! © 2008 IGN Entertainment, Inc. Page 2 Walkthrough 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 As soon as the opening cutscene ends, you'll be thrown into a battle with several ninja foes. Hold block as soon as you gain control to prevent being ambushed, then return the favor with a few attacks of your own. These guys aren't too aggressive, so use this time to get acquainted with the controls. But if you're looking for the most effective means of taking them down, then may we suggest performing the Flying Swallow (jump + strong attack, while running toward enemy) back and forth for a quick and effective means of taking them down. After the battle, enter the store dead -ahead to meet with the clerk. After leaning the scoop, head around the left side of the building and save your game at the Save Statue - doing so will open the gate on the opposite side of the house, allowing you to continue onward. After passing through the gate, another horde of ninjas will lay into you - again, the Flying Swallow is your best friend. If you need more room to move around in, head back into the courtyard by the store. Once clear, follow the walkway down the stairs up to a door. Open the chest left of the door to learn the The Reverse Wind Technique , a maneuver which allows you to perform a quick-dash in any direction, which can be handy for evading, or getting close for an attack. © 2008 IGN Entertainment, Inc. Page 3 Open the door and get ready to face a few more ninjas - again, use the Flying Swallow, and you may want to throw in a couple of "Flying Bird Flip Attacks" as well - simply run up the wall, jump off, then tap Strong Attack to perform one. It'll deal damage to any nearby enemies. Follow the hallway and open the chest at the end of the first bend for some Blue Essence . Shortly thereafter, several ninjas will dart toward you as you approach a hole in the floor. Back up (to give you some room) and Flying Swallow them to death. Once they're down, drop into the hole and open the chest to learn The Technique of Shadowless Footsteps . This sweet maneuver allows you to run along walls, evading hazards on the ground - just what you need to get past this blasted hole! Climb up the ladder and try out your new move along the left wall. Simply run toward it, and jump - Ryu should continue to run right across to the other side. Around the corner are a few more ninjas; Flying Swallow them, then open the chest at the end of the hall to learn The Furious Wind Technique . This move is near identical to the "The Reverse Wind Technique," except it allows you to dodge while being attacked. Now continue into the adjacent room and open another chest on the left alter to learn The Art of the Inferno. This magical move will ignite your enemies on fire - use it by tapping Strong Attack + Projectile at the same time, then aim it with the control stick. But remember, it'll use up one Ki slot. Continue into the next room, up to the edge. © 2008 IGN Entertainment, Inc. Page 4 Crystal Skull Just across the gap awaits a Crystal Skull -- run toward the ledge it's on and jump to reach it. After grabbing the Crystal Skull, noted above, drop off the ledge and prepare to take on a few more foes. Once defeated, bust open the jars for some essence, then open the chest for some Red Essence. Continue up the stairs to a walkway, tackle a few more dudes, then open a chest on the left to find a Lives of the Thousand Gods. © 2008 IGN Entertainment, Inc. Page 5 Continue up another staircase and open the chest at the top for an Herb of Spiritual Life. Go through a door on the right and get ready for a few more ninjas. There's not a whole lot of room to battle here, so you may want to drop into the hole ahead for a bit more breathing space - once done, use the ladder to climb back to the top, then run along the left wall, over the pit. Up ahead are a few more foes - again, you may want to drop into the area ahead for more battling room. Afterward, jump to the bar hanging over the pit to swing across. Check the corpse just after to learn The Obliteration Technique, then tackle a few more ninjas beyond using the Flying Swallow. Check the corpse at the end of the walkway to find another scroll teaching The Flying Bird Technique -- a move that lets you quickly wall-jump up shafts (like Mario). Save at the Save Statue, then try out the new move to jump up the shaft. Tackle the ninjas here (using, you guessed it, the Flying Swallow), then cross over the bridge, bust open the jar for some essence, then tackle a few more foes. When clear, hop into the river on your left, and follow it dead-ahead (away from the bridge), to find a chest resting inside a boat which contains an Herb of Spiritual Life .