Ninja Gaiden 2 Black was surprisingly released alongside the debut trailer for Ninja Gaiden 4. The remastered game puts players back in the boots of Ryu Hayabusa as he fights the Black Spider Ninja Clan. This version of the game combines elements of the original and Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2. Fans of the series can expect all the high-speed beat-em-up action of the originals as well as heavily improved graphics.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black has an array of vicious combos to unleash on your enemies. It's important to hit enemies first to keep them stunned and not attack you back. One of the ways to keep them stunned and out of the fight is by knocking them into the air. This guide will demonstrate some ways to launch enemies into the air using Ryu's Dragon Sword in Ninja Gaiden 2 Black.
Air Combos
There are many button combos that you can use on enemies in the air. The point of launching an enemy is to hit them a few times while avoiding ground enemies. You should avoid jumping around if there are a lot of ranged enemies in the vicinity. Some techniques like the Flying Swallow can only be initiated while jumping. The powerful Izuna Drop can also be done in the air.
Memorizing all of these techniques can be daunting at first. You can always press the Triangle/Y button on a weapon in the pause menu. This will show you the list of all the techniques that you have unlocked for that weapon. More powerful versions of these moves can be acquired as you upgrade these weapons at stores throughout each chapter. The Ninja Gaiden series isn't about style, like Devil May Cry or Bayonetta. You'll want to find what works best for you and dismember enemies efficiently. Stick with the basics and avoid taking damage to save health items for end-of-chapter boss fights.
How to Launch Enemies
You have one main technique for launching enemies while using Ryu's Dragon sword. This move is called Azure Dragon. Press the analog stick towards an enemy and the Triangle/Y button to do a long upward jumping swing that will launch most enemies. You can press this after certain moves to keep your combo going. Use the Windmill Slash by pressing toward an enemy and the Square/X button, then follow up with Azure Dragon. Experiment with it to learn how you can get through the difficult parts of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black.
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
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- January 23, 2025
- PS5 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
