The real problem with the camera lies in how it behaves during obliteration techniques. When you're finishing off a foe, you have absolutely no control over the camera as it zooms in and out of the scene. More often than not, the camera positions itself awkwardly behind some object, obscuring view and putting you at risk of damage upon finishing the kill. This isn't just annoying, it's utterly unacceptable. When you die because you can't see what's going on, it becomes hard to motivate yourself to continue knowing that you have absolutely no control in preventing the camera from screwing up again.

The second major shortcoming involves the outrageous boss battles. Ninja Gaiden II throws some insanely difficult creatures your way, many of which in the second half of the game may cause a controller to get hurled across the room. Early bosses are comparatively straightforward; however, as the difficulty ramps up and enemies grow increasingly more difficult, you're forced to graduate from the button-mashing combos of the first few chapters to decisive maneuvers geared toward breaking enemy defenses. This is going to be unappealing to all but the most seasoned player since figuring out boss weaknesses requires both a keen eye and quick reflexes. These battles are furiously fast and unforgiving. If you don't know what you're doing, they can literally end in a matter of a few seconds. Naturally, this acts as a double-edged sword: hardcores will adore it, whereas the rest of us will lament repeated death.

Not that death isn't pretty—Ninja Gaiden II dishes out some of the most eye-pleasing visuals of any Xbox 360 to date, although it comes splattered with all shades of blood and guts. This isn't enough, most of the time, to make you forget the serious problems with the camera that often impede your gaze of the fine graphics. Getting over the erratic camera almost serves as a challenge greater than the excessively difficult boss battles. Come to grips with these and you'll enjoy yourself to no end. For the rest us, it ends up being a short-lived romp notable for a few welcome improvements.

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