The sequel surpasses the original on almost every level. Refined mechanics, even more dramatic cutscenes, difficulty maintained. The trilogy's peak for many. Absolutely essential.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player12+
Description
Ninja Gaiden sequel featuring Ryu battling lord of darkness Ashtar and his dark sword. Published by Tecmo, released in the USA in 1990. Ryu in side-scrolling view with new ninja techniques, epic narrative cutscenes and Ashtar and Chaos Sword bosses. Second Ninja Gaiden masterpiece on NES.
Ninja Gaiden II - The Dark Sword of Chaos review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
More intense still, the sequel deploys nervy, melodic electro-rock themes of heightened dramatic power. Tecmo's music galvanises Ryu's clashes with an urgency and flair rare on NES. This sonic richness, cut for frantic action, raises the series to a peak of the genre.
A US NES sequel many regard as the peak of the 8-bit trilogy, with a more generous clone system and a striking Ryuichi Nitta soundtrack. The cart is rarer than the first entry in boxed CIB form, and a complete set with manual and intact card is a structuring target for closing out the NES Ninja Gaiden trilogy. The cote climbs hard, independent of the modern Master Collection.
Memorable bosses
A sharpened sequel, this second chapter grants Ryu twin shadows that multiply his attack and reshape the approach to each guardian. Snowy settings and storms toughen ever more spectacular clashes, punctuated by polished cutscenes. Better paced than their elders, these bosses keep a formidable demand that rewards mastery of patterns and positioning.
Is Ninja Gaiden II - The Dark Sword of Chaos still worth playing in 2026?
Ninja Gaiden II - The Dark Sword of Chaos, known as Ninja Ryuuken Den II - Ankoku no Jashin Ken in Japan, surpasses the original on nearly every front. Refined mechanics with double phantom ninjas, even more dramatic cinematics, levels featuring weather elements and sustained difficulty. For many, the peak of the NES trilogy. Still an absolute essential classic today.
