The Ninja Gaiden series is well known for its extreme difficulty, and the newly released Ninja Gaiden 2 Black remake continues this tradition. However, unlike many other pain-inducing games, NG2 Black features multiple difficulty options, including the Hero Play Style, which functions as an 'Easy Mode' surrogate. In this guide, we'll go over every difficulty option in Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, and explain the key differences between them..
Chapter 1 Walkthrough and Collectibles - Ninja Gaiden 2 Black
This guide will walk players through the first mission in Ninja Gaiden 2 Black: Sky City Tokyo.
All Difficulty Options in Ninja Gaiden 2 Black
As mentioned above, Ninja Gaiden is a franchise whose history is forever tied to extreme difficulty levels. In fact, this play style is an integral part of Team Ninja's DNA, and is present in much of their work. So it is hardly surprising when you boot up Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and proceed to get demolished on the 'Normal' difficulty level.
But 'Normal' is only one of NB2 Black's five difficulty levels, which are as follows:
- Hero Play Style
- Path of the Acolyte – Normal
- Path of the Warrior – Hard
- Path of the Mentor – Very Hard
- Path of the Master Ninja – Punishing
The Punishing difficulty level is only available once you've beaten the game on any difficulty.
Hero Play Style Explained – NInja Gaiden 2 Black:
Hero Play Style is the first difficulty option seen on the list, as is a new addition created for this remake. The game offers only the briefest of descriptions:
Ultimate power awakens at the moment of death. Follow your instincts and keep fighting.
This vague description is all you get from the game itself. To get more information, you'll have to go to the game's online manual. This states that Hero Play Style includes something called 'Hero Mode.' This mode activates when your health bar begins to flash red, which only occurs when it is extremely low. At this point, the Hero Gauge activates.
The Hero Gauge and Hero Mode make it so Ryu will automatically block or avoid enemy attacks. This lasts until health is restored, or the Hero Gauge runs out. Hero Play Style also allows the blue health orbs you collect to not only refill your health, but also remove the red section of your health bar that temporarily limits your max health.
Normal Difficulty Explained – Ninja Giaden 2 Black:
Normal difficulty – or, The Path of the Acolyte – is Ninja Gaiden 2 Black's standard difficulty mode. Most players will find this mode somewhat challenging, but certainly more approachable than the higher difficulty levels. The game offers the following description:
The Acolyte walks the path of shadows for the first time. Do not be afraid of what lies ahead. Stand tall as a ninja.
This difficulty level is highly recommended for players who are completely new to Ninja Gaiden in general, or new to this game. It should be stated again that 'Normal' absolutely provides a challenge, and is still extremely rewarding.
Hard Difficulty Explained – Ninja Gaiden 2 Black
Hard difficulty – or, The Path of the Warrior – will increase the challenge level significantly. Those players who are already familiar with Ninja Gaiden will want to consider starting out on Hard mode. Everyone else should begin with Normal, and work their way up. The game offers the following description:
Those adept at battle walk the path of the Warrior at all times. In the life of a true ninja, every day brings one closer to death.
Every major factor of combat is turned up a notch in Hard mode. Regular enemy types are replaced by a wide range of variations, all meant to provide a less forgiving experience. Many of the enemies that are not replaced have new weapons and move sets.
Very Hard Difficulty Explained – Ninja Gaiden 2 Black
Very Hard difficulty – or, The Path of the Mentor – is the most punishing difficulty level that you can choose from the start of the game. The manual says only that the challenge level is incredibly high. The game offers the following description:
Victorious in battle, the skilled ninja becomes a Mentor, ever closer to the enlightenment found between life and death.
Very Hard is an order of magnitude more difficult than the Hard difficulty. Enemies are tougher in every conceivable way.
Punishing Difficulty Explained – Ninja Gaiden 2 Black
We previously mentioned that the only way to even attempt the Punishing difficulty level – also known as the Path of the Master Ninja – is to defeat the game at any one of the lower difficulty levels. We have not yet unlocked Punishing mode, so we cannot say for sure just how difficult it is, but the manual gives a telling description:
Only beatable by the best of the best.
It seems as if not much else needs to be said. Once we have unlocked the mode, we will update this guide accordingly. For now, it is safe to assume that defeating the game at anything lower than Very Hard will probably not prepare you for the abject terrors waiting in Punishing.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black
- Released
- January 23, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Koei Tecmo Games Co., Ltd.
- Publisher(s)
- Koei Tecmo Games Co., Ltd.
- Number of Players
- 1
- PC Release Date
- January 23, 2025
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 85.99 GB
