Ninja Gaiden II (known as Shadow Warrior II elsewhere) is a critically acclaimed NES sequel. Released in 1990 (arguably peak NES in North America), it had to compete with a plethora of 8-bit best sellers, including fellow platforming sequels like Mega Man III, and a little game called Super Mario Bros. 3. While the commercial success couldn’t match the critical acclaim, this title is fondly remembered by a certain generation of gamers. Now, thanks to Hamster’s new Console Archives line, Switch 2 players can experience the action. How has it aged?

The original Ninja Gaiden is available on Nintendo Switch Online (in a couple of variations), so gamers may want to dabble with that first before taking on this sequel. It continues the adventures of Ryu one year later, and the series’ high level of hack-and-slash challenge. Thankfully, the quality is also pretty high for the most part, so determined players should see steady progress, likely older ones more familiar with “NES hard” games. How many will be compelled to master it? That depends heavily on your tolerance for collision-detection quirks.

Ryu’s handling of the sword will soon give you pause (figuratively speaking) as you start seeing it go through enemies with damage not registering. The hit box for your weapon is smaller than the weapon sprite. I especially notice it when trying to take down spawning birds and bats. Some say the first game was too generous in this regard. Perhaps so, but speedier swordplay that let you fly through enemies was entertaining. If this is a case of the sequel trying to correct course, Tecmo went much too far in the other direction. I heard the third entry (The Ancient Ship of Doom) might be the best of both worlds. Make it happen, Hamster.

An additional challenge stems from Ryu’s movement. Swift kicking to spring off walls is an admittedly difficult technique, one you’ll need to get to grips with to have much success. Why can’t Ryu just complete the climb over walls? Who knows? Limber though he is, his strength is in his legs, not his arms, evidently. At least he can now attack from the walls, a nice improvement over this game’s more limited predecessor.

Lastly, be prepared for some environmental threats. Wind in a platformer makes me think of Mega Man 4’s Toad Man, which isn’t a good thing. It makes already-pinpoint jumping even tougher, necessitating a stop-and-go approach. If you cut your teeth on other NES action platformers like Batman and Contra, Ninja Gaiden II’s jumping will feel a smidge off, and edges feel a bit shorter. It’s perhaps even more noticeable on Switch 2, although it may just be my muscle memory for the original NES controller. But at least the effect of the blowing rain looks good. And I credit the game for letting me fall off a moving train without breaking stride. That’s eye candy that complements the gameplay.

And, not that graphics alone can do the heavy lifting, but the game looks great in general. Ninja Gaiden II was a fine graphical showcase for the NES to kick off the ‘90s. The animations, backgrounds, and lighting are all sizable steps up from the first game. The game is loaded with attractive cutscenes, too, making it feel even bigger than it is if you don’t skip them. While the clichéd plot is nothing special, these scenes are likable, fun to watch, and provide a breather between each action-filled act. 

Additionally, the music is compelling, with fitting action melodies driving the player forward. It also features appropriate cutscene tunes. It’s a shame the in-game music player is only accessible via a code.

Aesthetically pleasing, Ninja Gaiden II brings high challenge that’s a product of its time. With no two-player mode, solo gamers may ultimately grow frustrated as the difficulty ramps up and small quirks start to accumulate. If so, maybe break out your old Nintendo Players guide. Any inconsistencies shouldn’t be deal breakers, though they could be for some when taken together. And while certain elements definitely could’ve used one final coat of polish, the game (on the whole) is high quality, age notwithstanding. Plus, not only are continues unlimited, but you can rewind (hopefully in moderation) and save without having to replay the same early stretches. 

Ninja Gaiden II remains a memorable and well-made game (great in respects). But it’s showing its age, even among some of its 8-bit contemporaries. This release is recommended for NES fans, especially those who grew up with it, and can better tolerate its accumulated quirks. Others may consider waiting for a sale, unless you want to support Console Archives from the outset, since the game is also available on Nintendo Switch Online.