15 Best Games of 2008

Ninja Gaiden 2

Sometimes, the key to satisfying fan demands for a sequel is to just give them more of what already worked. Ninja Gaiden 2 did just that, piling on the gore, weapons and insane bosses while maintaining the original’s penchant for merciless difficulty. Perhaps the best new addition was dismemberment, since it allowed for lopping off limbs and arms of enemies, and Obliteration Techniques for quickly finishing off weakened foes (lest they kill Ryu first). New weapons like the Eclipse Scythe and Falcon’s Talons lent even more variety to the combat. You could argue that it didn’t really improve much but Ninja Gaiden 2 was still a bloody good time and an essential title for hack and slash enthusiasts.