Part 18: Ninja Gaiden II - Chapter 8
Ryu arrives in not Russia to take on his third Greater Fiend, as well as experience the start of some bullshit that even Itagaki acknowledges he went too far on. It ain't the worst chapter of the game, but we're getting there.
Bosses
Zedonius
The third Greater Fiend, and Ruler of Flame, Zedonius is a step up in challenge compared to Volf. Well, the extra challenge comes from a thing present in other fights like the Nuclear Armadillo where they can potentially extend the fight longer than necessary with certain moves. On top of that, this is a fight that could be scene as a successor to Marbus from the first Ninja Gaiden, but with the extra speed and aggression you would expect from this game.
- Like Marbus in the previous game, Zedonius will stay airborne in a manner that leaves him out of range to most attacks. The most consistent way to keep hitting him when he's in this state is the Eclipse Scythe's air combos, as the blade swings vertically most of the time which helps a lot.
- When Zedonius transitions to ground, it's always with an off screen overhead stomp that is extremely difficult to dodge. The only way to avoid the blast it makes consistently is with a wind jump, as it has invulnerability on start up.
- Whether on the ground or air, Zedonius has two types of fire attacks that he loves to use. Either a volley of four fire balls that launch in quick succession (only dodge while going in a single direction, back and forth is dangerous), or summon a pillar of fire underneath Ryu.
- When up close to him, Zedonius has a very dangerous punch kick combo that can launch Ryu, and sometimes this will lead into a separate grab attack he has. He's a big guy that is not easily staggered, so hit and run is the only way to deal with him in melee range
- Very rarely but possible, Zedonius will summon Gajas into the arena in order to distract you. It is possible if you're early enough to hit him out of the animation and cancel the summon, but allowing these enemies to come in will make things more complicated. Especially on higher difficulties.
quote:
Izo's Notebook
2/28
I can't help but laugh at myself, writing in this stupid
little notebook.
3/17
No "dear diary" for me.
Look, I haven't even updated this thing.
3/20
I locked eyes for a minute with Master Genshin.
It takes guts just to look at the guy. I don't know what
his deal is, but there's definitely more to him than meets
the eye. He gets this smile, like he's been to Hell and
back and sent a postcard while he was there.
I hope I'm that bad-ass some day.
4/7
Man, this Daedalus sure is some piece of work.
I mean, I know that the Black Spider Clan has its act
together, but still, finding a heavy weapons factory to build
this big-ass thing must have been tough. They say they used
the profits from the previous Master's smuggling operations.
I wasn't a big fan of the guy, to be honest with you.
Never seemed like much of a Ninja to me.
4/15
I found Koshimaru's notebook.
I know, I know, I'm not supposed to read it, but I did anyway.
Hey, can you blame me?
At least now I know what he's really thinking. I mean, he even
mentions me by name, can you believe it? Who is he, my
third-grade teacher?! Well screw you, Mr. I-know-everything-
'cause-I've-got-the-Inner-Eye Koshimaru!
Anyway, I guess I'd better give this back to him.
"No sir, I didn't read it, not a single page!"
Hah! Joke's on him!
4/19
It sounds like Master Genshin has some history with that
bad-ass Dragon Ninja and his family. Apparently, some guy
named Murai killed Master Genshin's little brother.
Hey look, I'm writing in my diary! Well, what do you know!
What's gotten in to me, I wonder?
I know, I'm gonna die soon, is that it?
Ha ha, yeah right.
quote:
Koshimaru's Notebook (1)
March the Fifteenth
The youth of today know nothing of the true Ninja way.
It is truly a deplorable turn of events.
As my comrades have seen fit to bestow upon me the
title "Koshimaru of the Inner Eye," I have vowed to uphold
the way of the warrior and serve as a bastion for those who
wish to learn the true path of the Ninja.
My insight tells me this: the youth of our clan have no
true spirit. They believe themselves skilled because they
can perform a few tricks. Such arrogance will be their
downfall.
Without spirit, there can be no dedication. I see no path
for these young ones that leads to growth and maturation.
March the Sixteenth
I shall keep these writings in the hope that one day I may
leave behind a scroll of wisdom for further generations.
March the Twenty-Ninth
The youth are too quick to embrace the path of evil.
Look at Izo: barely a man, yet he swaggers about as though
he is a master of darkness. It is precisely because the youth
do not know true brutality that they are able to think that the
path of evil is somehow fashionable.
Those who appear evil do so because they truly understand
the horrors that this world has to offer.
On the name of our Black Spider Clan, I pray that our youth
do not believe that the way of darkness is the easier path.
April the Thirteenth
Inukoma, you are wrong, my friend. If you possessed an
Inner Eye like I do, you too would see the truth as though
it were lying in the palm of your hand.
Master Genshin is human, just like the rest of us. He has a
soul, and thus, he experiences fear.
You must understand that, to achieve mighty goals, it is
sometimes necessary to sell one's soul. Clearly, this is what
Master Genshin is doing.
Yet I dread the lurid smell emanating from the female dressed
in red; I fear that even Master Genshin may be vulnerable
to its spell.
quote:
The Rule of the King of Darkness
In the early 20th century, a ruler popularly known as the King of
Darkness came into power. His reign began after an unlikely
series of events: all other heirs to the throne perished
suspiciously within the span of a few years. Throughout his rule,
the King of Darkness kept at his side a strange giant with a
face veiled in purple. The giant's bizarre voice filled the King's
ears, and in time, the King came to worship the statue of a
demonic being he called "Vazdah."
During the Knig of Darkness' reign, strange creatures called
"Fiends" descended upon the land, devouring any humans
they found. The insane King sat on his throne, elated as he
watched his country collapse. This horror finally ended when
the King of Darkness and his giant companion were
assassinated by the Black-Robed Master. This warrior in black,
a stranger from a foreign land, is renowned as a courageous
hero, but his identity is a mystery lost to the annals of history.
A mere two weeks after the assassination of the King of
Darkness, the General marched the remaining forces to the
capital and announced that he would forge a new government
in the ruins of the city. Warlords still held power over small
provinces scattered throughout the land, and it was several
months before they could be subdued, but it was here that
the General formed the first modern military superpower.