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  • Author unknown

    Ninja Gaiden 2 - Demo Impressions

    http://couchcampus.com/?p=166
    49 days ago in Couch Campus · Authority: 4

    With only one day remaining in the month of May, Microsoft finally made good on their announcement to bring out a demo to the marketplace. Unfortunately for many, the demo is only available in Japan! What a cruel turn of a events. However, that did not deter the skilled warriors who are Gaiden fans. Myself coming off of playing Sigma (last I saw of it I got pissed from being stuck on a Rachel mission and quit) I had some reservations with NG2. First of all, I was pissed of having my ass kicked by the camera in Sigma, and was hoping that this wouldn’t transfer over into the sequel. Another complaint I had was the back tracking and the enemies respawning the moment you turned a corner and walked back. That’s a great way to make some fast cash, but annoying when you’re trying to survive. Lastly I prayed that no one accidentally included Rachel mission into the sequel. I’m assuming that it was an accident, I can imagine anyone purposefully doing something like that. Right? Luckily, most of my complaints were addressed, but there are a few things I felt were off putting. Tired of walking, Ryu decided to test out his handheld helicopter…on a crowed walk way. The demo takes place at the first chapter of the game, and ends about 2/3 of the way through. The only available difficulty is yes, Easy mode. If you think its hard now…get moar better? The demo starts you off in an awkward spot, something I find difficulty believing a newbie could handle. Luckily you can’t die…well I couldn’t at least. But I’ve had some experience playing the game before, and judging by the fact that the demo is set to Easy, I’m assuming Itagaki tailored this for a new audience. You’re given 3 weapons at the start: Dragon Sword, Scythe, and Claws, and as always you have access to your trusty shurikens and the bow & arrows. Each one seems more capable given you situation, and unlike the first game, I’m happy to switch between them (especially now that they can be accessed via the d-pad). The Scythe is easily the best weapon for making quick work of a number of enemies. The ultimate technique for it is truly devastating, unleashing a wave of destruction in your path. The Claws are not only attached to Ryu’s hands, but to his feet as well, giving him versitile combos for launching an enemy into the air and then shaping up the surrounding shrubbery. Finally, you will find the Lunar staff which looks more like a mace on pool cleaner now. Its mercilessly swift advances seems to be specifically designed to stamp out enemies who you just don’t like. The more appendages they have, the more Ryu has to cut off. The AI doesn’t seem to have changed much, but they were by no means idiotic before. That is of course only if you believe that they attack Ryu because they are brave and not because they are stupid. Luckily they have some new moves to add to their repertoire. If you fail to kill them, they will get back up, maimed or crippled. They’re still somewhat capable with only one arm, but when they can no longer get up, they will lunge at you, hop on your back and suicide bomb you. Like always, if you let them get the better of you, they will knock you down and proceed to deliver deadly blows to you while you struggle to free yourself from their grasp. Each individual enemy has the potential to kill you. The weakest enemy you face in this is undeniably the bats. Tired of his life of murder, Ryu sought to break into show business. The level design seems far more improved. The level featured in the demo is both easy to navigate and pleasing to look at. Not to mention, to my pleasing, the enemies don’t just magically reappear if you decide to go back. You still have the occasional instant where an enemy will lunge at your as you’re turning a corner, or you will walk out into a court yard and be attacked before the camera can catch up. It adds the element of surprise in a sense, but the regenerating health keeps controller throwing tantrums out of the equation. Graphically, it might be hard to spot the improvements when you’re playing the game as it’s intended. This is a game that requires rapid eye movement and quick thinking after all. The game does look great. Buildings in the distance look as detailed as the ones right next to you. It features a rich contrast in lighting which is practical and also helpful in distinguishing dark enemies from a dark background, something a lot of games still haven’t gotten right. Only a true warrior can decapitate a foe and then stare at their crotch… Many early reviews stated some issues in the frame rate and also in loading. Those who play the demo may be quick to shirk them off as simply being mistaken, but there are some things to consider when looking at the differences between review builds and demos. First of all, for whatever reason the review build and retail copies seem to differ. Not to mention that anyone will find a difference in performance when running an optical disc versus running data off a hard drive. Granted, I’m confident that any issues still present on the retail discs won’t be game ruining. Sigma had a number of instances where loading occurred mid battle, and I still enjoyed it. I’m not even sure what the hell that used to be! Overall, from what I’ve played, Itagaki has done an incredible job at building a sequel to arguably the best action game on the Xbox. Although he has stated before that this would be the last Ninja Gaiden, given the franchise’s history, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some re-releases. If it keeps studying, Ninja Gaiden 2 is looking to maintain its GPA ahead of the class.

  • Photo of mwoodhams

    Demo Jugable de Ninja Gaiden II para Xbox 360

    http://www.revistagamer.com/2008/03/28/demo-jugable-de-ninja...
    112 days ago in Revista Gamer · Authority: 33

    El lanzamiento de este juego del que ya hemos hablado bastante por acá y que está lleno de toda esa violencia y acción que tanto encanta, será en Junio de éste año, pero para las ansias de todos (incluyendome), habra una Demo Jugable que estará disponible para Xbox 360 en el mes de mayo. Ninja Gaiden II, protagonizado por Ryu Hayabusa, mostrará el uso de todo tipo de armas y movimientos rápidos para acabar con cientos de enemigos, lo que lo hizo que su anterior versión fuese uno de los títulos más vendidos de la Xbox original. Espero que esta demo muestre el real potencial de éste juego. (Via kotaku) Compártelo

  • Author unknown

    Black And White

    http://cactusbeetroot.wordpress.com/2008/03/28/black-and-whi...
    112 days ago in citizen geek · Authority: 13

    The Sunset Limited It’s the rare book that made made my heart pound when I had finished, tears in my eyes. I think the reason it had such resonance with me is how closely White parallels my own world-view. I think my deconstructionist attitude to meaning and purpose has driven me to a point where it’s all empty and pointless. And cruel. Which is to say, I actually agree in many parts with White. The emptiness that is left when all things have lost purpose is the derisive laughter and mad ironies that are waiting to fill the void. I’ve lost that meaning, that purpose, and all that’s left is an unkindly judgement on existence. Curiously, the parallels aren’t just so broad. They are also specific. Now I’m not saying this in any emo way, to be sure, but I’ve actually thought of suicide before in the exact same fashion. I’ve stood at the edge of the yellow line they have in all the train stations here, and I’ve wondered, what would it be like the jump? I’ve probably never convinced myself that it’s really worth trying. But I’ve thought of it. Fleetingly, yet frequently. No, I’m not suicidal. Not in the way White is, but the similarities are obvious. So I think it’s fair to say that this is something of a life-changing book for me. It’s one of those that just connects with you so perfectly and sweeps you off your feet. It’s also the one thing that’s restored my faith in (maybe not life, but) books: for a time, I thought that this pursuit of knowledge, this incessant reading, they were all contrived. But there’s no doubt that this has led me back to a certain faith in the power of books and literature. But back to the book. Was it really so successful with me because of these parallels? Well, no, or at least, I’d like to think not. I think this is the most powerful piece of literature I’ve read in a long time, and to that end, I suppose it’s reasonable to assume that this can’t purely be explained by coincidence. The Sunset Limited might not actually be much of a play, but it is terse, careful and extremely human. It is sweeping and intimate at the same time. It is epic, but only because it transcends from the ordinary. I think the simplest way to think of it is to just summarise it. It’s two people, one a suicidal professor who’s complex and complicated, the other an ex-convict who has nothing but his Bible, and all they do is discuss God, faith and the meaning of life. That might seem unintentionally funny or absolutely ridiculous at first, given the breadth and depth of those themes, but I’m serious. And when you start to buy into that, hopefully you’ll see why this is such a powerful book. Because those things might seem like absurd things to talk about most of the time, but there’s no running away here. So there it is: this book discusses God, faith and the meaning of life, and I’m serious. And that, for me, is all it takes to explain the power of this book. Random Regarding the Canon 5D. [via The Online Photographer] Golf. [via Explosm.net] Firefox 3 in June. [via Wired] Scientists aim for origami space flight. [via PhysOrg] In which a Menace is disposed of. [via Wondermark Lite.] Ninja Gaiden 2 demo in May. [via Kotaku] The Fallout 3 egg contest got even better. [via Kotaku] Radiohead vs. Nine Inch Nails, in terms of their innovations. [via Wired] d

  • Author unknown

    Habrá demo de Ninja Gaiden II en mayo

    http://www.scorezero.com/2008/03/27/habra-demo-de-ninja-gaid...
    113 days ago in Scorezero - Blog sobre videojuegos y consolas - PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360... · Authority: 39

    Si pensáis que la espera hasta la salida de Ninja Gaiden II el próximo 3 de junio se os puede hacer muy larga, estad tranquilos. Tecmo ha pensado en vosotros y parece que todos los usuarios de Xbox 360 podrán disfrutar de una demo del juego aproximadamente un mes antes de su salida oficial. Al menos eso es lo que han anunciado en la página web oficial del juego. (vía: Kotaku)

  • Photo of Siliconera

    Tecmo teases with downloadable Ninja Gaiden content

    http://www.siliconera.com/2008/03/26/tecmo-teases-with-downl...
    113 days ago in Siliconera · Authority: 755

    Quick update: Vengeance is coming, so are Xbox Live Marketplace downloads starting on April 15th. A demo is scheduled to come to North America (and probably other regions) in May.