Ryu Hayabusa
The protagonist and Dragon Ninja who fights to stop the spread of chaos.
Documented for this version
Arrow LeftArrow Right | Move left or right |
|---|---|
Arrow Down | Crouch |
A | Jump |
B | Attack with the sword |
Arrow UpB | Use the equipped secondary weapon Consumes spirit points. |
Start | Pause the game |
AArrow Left or Arrow Right | Jump toward a wall and cling to it Ryu can move between walls in suitable sections. |
|---|
Controls use the NES controller layout.
Secondary weapons require spirit points.
Some movement behavior depends on the surrounding terrain.
How it plays
The game uses a side-scrolling perspective. Ryu must cross linear stages, defeat enemies, avoid hazards, and reach a boss at the end of each area.
Ryu can jump, crouch, climb or cling to walls, attack with his sword, and spend spirit points on secondary weapons. Some stages scroll automatically or introduce environmental hazards, while later areas demand careful timing and enemy management.
Defeated enemies can drop spirit points, health, or temporary bonuses. The adventure progresses through chapters with boss battles and story scenes between major sections.
Plan your run
Learn enemy placement and avoid attacking carelessly near pits. Many threats can be defeated safely by striking from the edge of a platform or by using a secondary weapon.
Save spirit points for bosses and difficult sections. Keep Ryu moving through crowded areas, use wall movement to control landings, and treat every checkpoint as a chance to reset your approach.
Against bosses, observe the attack cycle before committing. Short, repeated attacks are usually safer than trying to maximize damage in one opening.
Meet the cast
The protagonist and Dragon Ninja who fights to stop the spread of chaos.
An intelligence agent and Ryu's ally.
The demon emperor who wields the Dark Sword of Chaos.
Ryu's father and a renowned ninja connected to the conflict.
Before you begin
Use wall movement to correct jumps and avoid falling hazards.
Collect spirit points even when you do not immediately need a secondary weapon.
Memorize enemy patterns in sections that respawn enemies when you retreat.
Keep the sword upgraded when possible; losing the power-up makes close combat less effective.
Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos is a side-scrolling action platform game developed and published by Tecmo for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It follows ninja Ryu Hayabusa after the demon emperor Ashtar begins a plan to plunge the world into darkness using the Dark Sword of Chaos. The game combines precise jumping, wall movement, weapon-based combat, and cinematic storytelling between stages. Its adventure is structured around difficult stages filled with traps, flying enemies, and demanding boss encounters. Critics and players generally regarded it as a strong sequel, praising its presentation, varied level design, and responsive controls while noting the considerable difficulty typical of the series.
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