dark sword chaos dark sword chaos known japan lit legend dragon sword shadow warriors dark sword chaos europe alternatively known shadow warriors scrolling video game developed published nintendo_entertainment_system nes second installment trilogy nes released japan april north_america europe october game later released commodore dos based released virtual console north america service october wii august nintendo 3ds events place year events game evil emperor named hearing defeat plan world darkness evil sword called dark sword chaos agent named recruits game protagonist tells person stop game received positive praise previews electronic gaming monthly nintendo_power continued receive high ratings coverage nominated awards nintendo_power overall reviewers said visuals controls improved predecessor maintaining high level difficulty players game criticized having generic predictable plot game maintains lasting appeal players reviewer saying challenging experience likes gamers bit era lived died plot story begins year events game story opens evil lord controlled informed defeat plan rule earth opening unit member named sent find captured tower save freight train battling mountain tower lies ambushed figure describes led making tower finds captured energy sword finish robert appears shoots stopping robert orders hand sword escapes telling follow escapes robert tells plot world power sword stop reaches power battling hears echoes plan distance catches releases immediately releasing stabs dark sword robert shows find mortally wounded robert energy challenges battle defeats dies says forces darkness soon forces chaos world darkness saying dark sword chaos thin air death tells evil altar prepared open destroyed leaves tells robert leave enters destroy altar robert traveling stopped figure seen defeating noted fought fight previous game finds robert ground mortally wounded tells captured prevent opening robert tells leave demons eventually makes evil altar finds figure captured figure reveals antagonist installment battle tells master plan true evil plans use dark sword chaos use life force open demons awakens sleep challenges showdown defeats destroy evil altar blood awakens dark sword opens gate darkness energy demon arrives corpse turns demonic wall borrowing strength defeats sealed away dark sword breaks apart closes disappears flees temple collapses begins presumed dead power tells felt like dreaming long time tells incident game ends watch sun set gameplay previous game player controls series levels called acts players ability jump walls new abilities climbing walls attacking power items walls strength meter screen decreases takes damage enemies player loses life strength meter runs falls screen runs game ends players lose lives player continue restart game beginning level lost lives players dispatch enemies dragon sword defeating power items special items consume power located screen power items include following throwing stars forth like art fire wheel upwards fire dragon balls downwards invincible fire wheel creates barrier destroying enemy touches items found crystal balls scattered levels switched collecting power item power depends type end act fights boss strength meter located screen boss strength meter decreases time player damages boss destroyed player completely strength meter way player collect items found crystal balls scattered levels items include following items increase power bottles increase player score spirit dragon increase maximum power medicine partially strength meter ups new feature ability split body clone player collects orange symbol collecting symbol creates orange shadow follows copies makes including climbing walls attacking enemies technique player strategically position clones easily defeat enemies bosses reception electronic gaming monthly previewed late early game appeared september october issue november issue noted new levels power ups explosive story loaded twists turns magazine january issue praised game new power ups scrolling backgrounds detailed cinematic cutscenes said game going series step game shown public time winter consumer electronics las_vegas nintendo_power gave star ratings great cinema scenes challenge magazine previewed game watch section march april issue said look game better cutscenes game noted great diverse gameplay high level challenge game release debuted magazine list september october march game nominated nintendo power awards following categories best theme fun best play control best hero best bad guy best overall win categories later 100th issue september listed 49th best game time best games time list listed having best cheat codes time pressing series buttons title screen enable sound tests issue list annual awards game received game player nes excellence award best nes games gamesradar ranked 20th best nes game staff felt large improvement predecessor improved gameplay audio visuals control reviewed july issue electronic gaming monthly received high ratings said game improved predecessor gameplay graphics cinematic cutscenes praised diverse level environments new abilities received noted power ups game missing reviewer pseudonym echoed harris praise pointed bosses game reused added worth price admission called best video game sequels released referred graphics difficulty gameplay storyline near perfect points game difficult levels called best nes games best video games issue featured cover denoted game month game received praise taking series new levels featuring surprises showed partial act provided short tips second fourth acts near end feature staff pointed rumors installment series eventually ancient ship doom end feature rock band members shown developer playing private showing reviewed game released virtual console received praise criticism reviewers gamespot compared game game examples mean spirited games nes high difficulty excellent controls gameplay artistic detail cutscenes saying storyline tedious dialogue said visuals better game usage dynamic environments speeding trains praises game fast paced sound ign praised improvement controls predecessor specifically ability freely climb walls use special weapons walls thomas enjoyed game chief innovation ability clone use care enemies says progressing levels taking bosses easier quicker reviewers said game difficulty remains high players previous game noted game difficult predecessor said sequel slightly easier thomas stated sequel easier beat predecessor players frustrated especially new environmental features blowing wind rain absolute darkness flashes lightning platforms thomas criticism game storyline good predecessor saying plot predictable cutscenes generic second time overall noted lasting appeal game saying challenging experience likes gamers bit era lived died
Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos