Starting Ninja Gaiden 2 Black can feel like diving straight into the deep end.
The action starts as soon as you’re out of Muramasa’s shop. Enemies won’t give you a break, and you’ll need to catch on fast.
But don’t worry, we’ve got it all handled. Here’s how to start Chapter 1 and wrap it up.
How To Complete Chapter 1
The moment the cutscene ends, you’ll be thrown directly into battle outside Muramasa’s shop.
Take it slow and use this chance to get the hang of the combat system. You’ll come up against a few Black Spider Clan enemies.
These enemies are your go-to if you want to get a grip on the game’s controls, like dodging, blocking, and attacks.
As you defeat enemies, yellow orbs (Yellow Essence) will drop. Collect them as they’ll be essential later for upgrading weapons or purchasing items.
After clearing the first wave of enemies, a cutscene will trigger, and you’ll be thrust into another fight.
Make sure you’re on top of the camera controls this time.
You’ll need to reset the camera a few times, so practice adjusting it for the best view during combat.
After the second fight, you’ll be introduced to the Sense the Path mechanic, highlighting where to go next.
Walk up to the glowing red gate and keep following the road. Once you get past the red gate, you’ll run into your first Earth Dragon Statue.
Interact with it to save your progress and heal your health.
Remember, you can only use these statues when the place is clear, so watch out for enemies first.
Save your progress, then keep going and expect another wave of enemies.
Take them down, then keep walking to the next hall. Down this hallway, you’ll find a glowing chest with Blue Essence to heal up.
You’ll need this to handle whatever enemies come next. As you continue through the level, you’ll encounter a gap in the floor.
In this next area, you’ll be ambushed by more Black Spider Clan members.
Take them out, but watch out for the wall runners trying to pull a fast one.
After you take care of the enemies, just drop into the gap and open the chest. This chest has the Shadowless Footsteps technique, so you can run on walls.
Mastering this ability is important for the levels ahead with vertical elements, so begin practicing immediately.
After crossing with Shadowless Footsteps, climb the nearby ladder and carry on.
You’ll run into a body on the floor as you move ahead. Check it out to unlock the Obliteration Technique, which lets you take down heavily injured enemies.
Head on, you'll spot another chest soon. Before you open it, deal with the enemies in the area.
Once all threats are cleared, open the chest to unlock the Reverse Wind Technique, which lets you dash in any direction.
This works well for avoiding attacks and getting up close to enemies. As you head forward, you’ll spot a chest with Lives of the Thousand Gods.
These are important because they permanently raise your max health, which helps when the difficulty goes up.
Don’t skip any Life of the Thousand Gods you run into in this chapter from here on.
Head to the top of the stairs to find another chest. Open it to unlock Art of the Inferno, your first Ninpo (magic) spell.
This scorching attack delivers heavy damage to many enemies, but it depletes your Ki.
Stock up on Red Essence to top off your Ki meter and pull off that big attack.
Head to the next spot and use the Flying Bird Technique to bounce off two walls and hit the higher platforms.
Once you do this, the Flying Swallow Technique is unlocked, and you can jump and hit mid-air.
Once you're set with these techniques, another Earth Dragon Statue awaits you in the next room.
Before heading into the boss fight, save your progress and ensure you have enough healing items and upgrades.
When up against Shadow Ninja Rasetsu, keeping your distance is key. If he grabs you, that attack can hit you hard.
One of the best ways to handle him is by using the Art of the Inferno Ninpo, which can deal massive damage from afar.
This attack burns through Ki, so keep some Red Essence handy to restore it, or grab some Devil’s Way Mushrooms to use during the fight.
If you don’t like how slow the Dragon Sword is, the Lunar Staff has a better range and keeps you at a safer distance.
Another solid tactic is to block his attacks and wait for the right time to counter.
Rasetsu can land some heavy hits, but if you hold back and block at the right time, you can throw your own hits.
When you get the chance, unleash your Ultimate Technique for devastating damage while Rasetsu is exposed.
Staying on the move and using your skills smartly will make this battle easier.
After you take down Rasetsu, a cutscene closes out Chapter 1.
Be sure to save your progress one last time at the Earth Dragon Statue before moving on to Chapter 2.