Ninja Gaiden 2 to flip out and kill people on 360 in 2008

by Zack Stern { Sep 12th 2007 at 1:57AM }

Fresh from our liveblog Microsoft TGS briefing, Tomonobu Itagaki has unveiled Ninja Gaiden 2 for the Xbox 360. The latest iteration of the title will cut off heads all the time and not even think twice about it as today's earlier screenshot leak indicated. Itagaki is pushing to include even more ideas his team had to scrap with the franchise relaunch (and relaunch), admitting that they made many compromises. We've lost count of the numbers -- does Black count -- but maybe this time will be the charm.

According to a brief 1UP preview, the title will be published by Microsoft instead of Tecmo, so this one seems locked into a 360 exclusive. Look for the game in 2008.

Read - Live at the Microsoft Pre-TGS press briefing
Read - Previews: Ninja Gaiden 2

Gallery: Ninja Gaiden II

[Thanks, Jonah]

Tags: 360, itagaki, microsoft, ninjagaiden, ninjagaiden2, teamninja, TGS07, tomonobuitagaki

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Count Noobula @ Sep 12th 2007 2:02AM

Woot. Exclusive. Thank you M$ for making it exclusive. No PS3 version in sight. Who knows though, maybe there will be a Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 for PS3? But I doubt it. PS3 was used to create and test a new engine, then got tossed aside.

ill trooper @ Sep 12th 2007 2:25AM

So you're saying you like the 360 then?

dsub @ Sep 12th 2007 2:46AM

I hate to say it, but as a company it makes no sense to create a game to merely "test" an engine and then cast it aside. Something from Tecmo/Team Ninja will be coming to PS3. It just won't be Ninja Gaiden 2.

My guess is it'll either be a multi-platform DOA5 or this long awaited and often mentioned "code cronus" game that Itagaki is always rambling on about. He says it stems from the DOA universe in one interview I think, but that's it. This leads me to believe it's likely another action game based on another character from DOA. Perhaps it will be a similar action game based around DOA's other badass Ninja, Hayate.

That my friends, would sell this old fool a PS3.

dsub @ Sep 12th 2007 2:47AM

That is in the unlikely event that said game was a PS3 exclusive.

ExMcloud @ Sep 12th 2007 4:35AM

Actually Count Noobula is partially correct. Itagaki said that he didnt have anything to do with Sigma so he gave is team a chance to do something on their own. Since they never get a chance to work with a Sony system they took this as their opportunity to do something out of the norm.....Trust me that ship has sailed...U won't see a team ninja product on a Sony system anymore just because MS is gonna buy it first...lol

chrismiller @ Sep 28th 2007 1:53AM

i dont care what no one say ps3 is still the best and NG will be for ps3 just wait in see i have nG for ps3 and love it huge fan wen it came out for xbox i got a xbox just for that game and wen i beat it 20 times i give the xbox away for free iam not a xbox fan but wen i heard this was comen out i thout about getn a 360 SIKE PS3 ALL DAY AND I BET IF IT DO COME OUT FOR PS3 ITS GOING LOOK WAY BETTER BLU RAY 1080 P BITCHES AND WE HAVE MGS 4 AND KILLZONE 2 HAZE AND AND SOCOM REAL SOON FOR PS3 XBOX NEVER TAKE AWAY SOCOM

mccomber @ Sep 12th 2007 2:08AM

Microsoft has it figured out. Buy it if you don't already own it, or slap some Halo branding on it if you do. Seriously, that seems to be the core of their business plan right now.
I honestly mean that as a bit of a compliment; I wish Sony would figure out how to spend money on stuff that matters, instead of Lair review guides and overly
elaborate editions of ps3 sales brochures.
At least MS seems to be paying attention to what it's customers actually want right now.

Jake @ Sep 12th 2007 8:29AM

For one, MS hasn't purchased Team Ninja. It is only publishing the game. Secondly, Sony is still the king of buying out development houses.

Jake @ Sep 12th 2007 8:35AM

For one, MS hasn't purchased Team Ninja. It is only publishing the game. Secondly, Sony is still the king of buying out development houses.

Sanja @ Sep 12th 2007 2:17AM

AHAHAAHAHAHAAHA!

I remember hearing that Sigma was only made so Team Ninja could try out coding on the PS3 and see what they thought if it.

Now Ninja Gaiden 2 is announced as a 360 exclusive. I guess we now know what they think of the PS3.

Count Noobula @ Sep 12th 2007 12:32PM

IPPON!

For those who don't know what that means, go and google the term.

edwincruzzz @ Sep 12th 2007 2:21AM

X Y X X X Y IZUNA Drop!!! by far my most favorite move in the Original Xbox Ninja Gaiden!!

baby sea tuna @ Sep 12th 2007 10:35AM

I could never get it to work. :(

samfish @ Sep 12th 2007 2:21AM

Sweet. Now there's two games coming out for the 360 I want. Only 3 more and I might actually buy one!

mike @ Sep 12th 2007 5:33AM

if theres only 2 games on the 360 that interest you then you must be using your wii as a paper weight, as the games are the 360s advantage point (and xbox live)

samfish @ Sep 12th 2007 11:03AM

That's rather arrogant of you.

There are a lot more games on the Wii I'm interested in than on the 360. My tastes are different than yours, obviously.

rdj75 @ Sep 12th 2007 2:22AM

Damn, I really can't wait for this to come out. I am going to be all over this when its released. It really does suck that is not coming out for the ps3 but then again if you weren't loyal to just one console it wouldn't make much of a difference since a real gamer would own more than one, thus increasing the chance of having a more diverse gaming library.

ExMcloud @ Sep 12th 2007 3:13AM

This is true...But we all knew MS was gonna buy this series anyway...Be serious its their only defense against God Of War 3

colin @ Sep 12th 2007 6:54AM

click the thumbstick ...

but seriously (and it has nothing to do with your comment) i'm glad to see that my 360 will last me well into 2008. and thats a serious comment, technology these days ... sheesh!

colin @ Sep 12th 2007 6:57AM

yeah, we xbots were all worried that god of war 3 was gonna kill microsoft.

Jonah Falcon @ Sep 12th 2007 2:24AM

The squishiest Ninja Gaiden yet! Watch body parts flopping all over the dojo!

Jonah Falcon @ Sep 12th 2007 2:30AM

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/splash/n/ninjagaiden2/default.htm

"Coming from the shadows in 2008, developed exclusively for Xbox 360 by Team Ninja and legendary game developer Tomonobu Itagaki, with a new game engine, new missions, new weapons, and more. Ryu Hayabusa is back in the all-new, long awaited, and brutally fun Ninja Gaiden® 2 … it's the true sequel."

Exclusivity confirmed.

blooh @ Sep 12th 2007 2:47AM

sounds cool. i still have ninja gaiden for xbox sitting 5 feet away that I haven't played yet...I kept hearing it's so hard and I've been afraid to try it

ThornedVenom @ Sep 12th 2007 8:45AM

Try it. I did at a friend's house. Spent hours going through the first level and got my ass served constantly by the first boss.

It's harder than a priest alone with a choir boy. It's harder than Halo in Legendary mode.

It's pure ouchy win.

ThornedVenom @ Sep 12th 2007 8:45AM

Jtenma @ Sep 12th 2007 9:01AM

Ive played SIGMA, it took you hours?

It got to the point with me I was so addicted to the difficulty that it made me want to finish it. I can now rip through the first level without being touched.

xXFenixKnight13Xx @ Sep 12th 2007 11:48AM

I hope your not serious about not trying it because of the difficulty. It is def a masterpiece. Its not too hard if your a real gamer, but still quite difficult when compared to other games. Ck it out.

BPM @ Sep 12th 2007 2:52AM

In this true sequel to the first 3D game, Ryu Hayabusa still has real, ultimate power.

ExMcloud @ Sep 12th 2007 3:07AM

Actually if anyone knows anything about Sigma Itagaki didn't have anything to do with it. He gave one of his team leaders a chance to do a title for the PS3 so they could give Sony fans a taste of the series. But he said the main focus would be the 360 and the Nintendo DS...So this isn't surprising considering that Itagaki actually is working on this title. He hasn't worked on a Sony title since DOA 2...Nothing against Sony but everybody knew that NG 2 was gonna be a 360 title when MS didn't even try to get Sigma..

Arturo @ Sep 12th 2007 3:11AM

I wish I was Ryu Hayabusa =( *tear*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LpTk6OLV8A

Arturo @ Sep 12th 2007 3:17AM

I wouldn't mind being Hayate though, he's pretty damn awesome too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrPynDcls9U

HB96st @ Sep 12th 2007 4:59AM

AH-HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Enjoy Sigma, Suckers! -Bragging about how good sigma looks compared to the XBOX.. LOL!! No more NG for the SDF!!!

True story: I was in Gamestop Picking up SF-Anniversary for the XBOX to play on my 360.. This guy is at the counter trading in a PS3 a PS2 and some games. The sales asked him what did he want, he said "cash".

So the sales then rings everything up, and both systems and the games came up less than $350.00!! -Now I dont know if it was a 60gb or 20, but $350.00!!?? Gamestop got the hustle!

So the dude stands there like w-what?? and the sales tells him: "yo, you would get way more for store credit, around $450... Plus a suscription to game informer."

The dude then looks at his girl, she shrugs and he says: give me the 360 premium and Bioshock.

The sales then tells him "dude, you just made the best choice in gaming, but we sold out of bioshock. But you can get GOW which is a very good game also."

The dude leaves with a Premium 360 and Gears.

Dang.. It must really Suck being a PS3 owner these days.. LOL!!

Phranctoast @ Sep 12th 2007 10:34AM

True story.

Two of my friends with a 360 had their RROD on them.

One of them sold it to another friend who had it fixed by MS. It RROD on him three months later.

Both now own PS3's.

Jonah Falcon @ Sep 12th 2007 10:40AM

Yeahhhh, it's a true story. And the 1.92 PS3 firmware updates gives you a kitten every 10 minutes.

Myke @ Sep 12th 2007 5:06PM

Actually, it doesn't suck to be a PS3 owner.. I like having my PS3 on all the time and not having to wonder will it crash/break... This just shows how low M$ will go to get exclusives. I guess their plan to try to win this generation is to buy publishing rights to games that could do better on the competition's systems and to sell systems that "coincidentally" defects after the warranty period... How long was the warranty on 360s when they launched?????

Wilhelm @ Sep 12th 2007 7:20PM

True story.

Two of my friends, and my own 360's have all RROD's. We still all swear by the 360.

A few of my friends are pure Sony fanboys, like SDF fanboys. Only one has bought a PS3 so far, and he barely plays it due to a lack of games The others still haven't bought one because they know they is nothing to justify the purchase yet.

orAngeMicro @ Sep 12th 2007 5:07AM

who the hell cares what system its on as long it we get it. im seriously getting so damned sick of all this brand loyalty crap. just get all 3 systems and enjoy them for exclusive titles each gets. i cant imagine not being able to not play mass effect, ninja gaiden 2, heavenly sword, ratchet and clank, metroid prime 3, and mario galaxy because of the retarded system wars. your only depriving yourself of great games.

The Boo @ Sep 12th 2007 9:51AM

Some of us can't afford all that at once so we defend what we've got. Its a money thing. I'll be a neutral fanboy come tax season.

Phranctoast @ Sep 12th 2007 10:36AM

How does defend what you bought interpret to attack what you dont?

phattie @ Sep 12th 2007 5:55AM

I wonder how much they paid? $50 million?

Rususeruru @ Sep 12th 2007 10:54AM

Probably not that much... In an interview after DOA4, the creator said "We're already getting results on the Xbox360" then said something along the lines of the PS3 being unnecessary for them to develop on.

Ska Oreo @ Sep 12th 2007 12:28PM

Seriously shut up. And if that's what if takes for Microsoft to get exclusive than god bless them. It's defiantly helping. Maybe Sony should get off it's honor bullcrap it's feeding it's fans and do the same to get some better games.

Anthony @ Sep 12th 2007 6:49AM

I don't see the big deal about buying many exclusives for one console? Why is it so bad that a company is making the best out of there console? Wouldn't you do the same if it were your company? Don't you enjoy not having to own all 3 systems that harness the same power when you can just own one.

All is I see here is...Waa Waa I bought a PS3 and now it has no games Waa. Hate to be mean, but just because you made a bad judgment, Doesn't mean the competition is evil.

Myke @ Sep 12th 2007 7:04PM

Actually, bad judgement is when a very wealthy company tries to be cheap w/ console manufactoring and then it costs them $1,000,000,000 to cover it up. I guess thatz good marketing these days, huh?

Anthony @ Sep 13th 2007 12:07AM

Not to be mean myke, but you go post to post bashing the Xbox 360 because you own a PS3 and you are unhappy with it. Its a bit obvious when you spend you time trying to destroy its competitions reputation whenever you get the chance. Your last few posts have done one thing, Which is try to take away the success that the 360 has achieved with some its of faults, that have already been addressed by the manufacturer in a more then acceptable manner.

I personally, think there is no better choice then Microsoft BECAUSE the reason you stated. They did in fact spend "$1,000,000,000" to not cover it up, but to make there customers happy. I believe thats the most important part, Yes, There was an issue with overheating, yet they did in fact provide a suitable solution to the problem, and spent a lot of money in the process.

All is I see you as is a troll, You roam blogs looking to start fights for no apparent reason. You think that your opinion is superior without any reasonable proof. Get over yourself, You wasted(Your parents money)$600 on a system(PS3) that hasn't lived up to its hype, to be proven only as good(if that) as the competition. It does not have many real exclusives worth your time, and the only claimed advantage the system(PS3) has is its BlueRay drive, which has proven all but useless to gaming, and its only point was to drive Sony's agenda to make billions of the blueray market(Talk about bad judgment). You are Sony's test rat in the new format war involuntarily, Which is dieing at its heart. Blue ray nor HD-DVD will succeed because of digital distribution. Why would you go out to buy a disk when you can order it from home? I guess you forgot you don't have digital movie distribution yet, Although Sony says it is coming.....at some point....Ya, We had it for almost a year I believe.

..........................GAME OVER MYKE!

Myke @ Sep 14th 2007 3:16PM

You gotta be kiddin me... Im a troll? Im a realist. Ive worked in retail for a while cause I like gaming. I have nothing against you or anybody that supports the 360 but M$ will not get MY $ for gaming. I actually thought bout getting a 360 when they launched til I saw how many was returned due to defects and how long the warranty. 90 days is bull. Ive seen 360s crash after an hour of gaming! Then you try to bash Blu-Ray cause Sony has it in their system. Look, I dont know whether the format will succeed. Its a risk i'm willing to take cause I AFFORD IT. How can U bash Blu-Ray when M$ is supporting HD-DVD and bribing movie companies so they can "win". Didnt Bill Gates, himself, say that Digital Distribution was the way to go? If thats the case, then WHY is supporting HD-DVD? Just to get more $, huh? Its hypocritical. M$ had systems failing everywhere and nobody criticized them. They wait almost 2 years to acknowledge it and its ok because they're buying game rights.

Myke @ Sep 14th 2007 3:44PM

To continue what i was saying..... The billion dollars wasnt for customers, it was stop the bad publicity they were getting. Then U and eveybody else wanna talk bout PS3 not getting games. The 360 has had 3 AAA games:CoD2, Gears, BioShock. Thats it. M$ sees that NGS did well and to decide buy rights to the game so any damage in their #s wont happen. If Sony did that to MGS or FF, people would be pissed! People wanna be hard on Sony but nobody can diss M$ cause if they do, then they're a troll. M$ should be criticized bout manufacturing just as hard as Sony is bout price. At least Sony is trying to fix the problem in the first year. Wealthy M$ coulda made better system but they went cheap. The power of the 360 has already been tapped. If the PS3 power wont be tapped for few years, IMO I made a good choice cause games will be better. Grow up, dude. Neither company should be put on a pedestal. I guess I'll play NG2 when it releases at my friends house. PEACE!