This article explains what Hero Play Style is in Ninja Gaiden 2 Black.
In a move nobody expected to kick off 2025, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, an Unreal Engine 5 remaster of the 2008 classic, was announced and released on 23 January. What’s more, a brand-new entry in the long-running (but also long-dormant) series, Ninja Gaiden 4, was also announced for release later this year.
Ninja Gaiden 2 originally launched for the Xbox 360 back in 2008. It is famed for its excessively gory ninja combat and challenging difficulty. The new Black remaster, which is available now on Game Pass, leverages Unreal Engine 5 to “significantly refine its graphics”. Additionally, combat has also been rebalanced in the game to further refine the challenging experience that long-time Ninja Gaiden fans will be familiar with.
While difficulty has always been a hallmark of the series, it needs to be acknowledged that 13-years have passed since the last main-entry in the series, Ninja Gaiden 3, was released. Consequently, many players will be completely unfamiliar with the series’ challenging yet rewarding combat, meaning that jumping straight into one of the Ninja Gaiden 2 Black‘s standard difficulty modes might not be advisable.
That’s where Hero Play Style comes in.
What is Hero Play Style in Ninja Gaiden 2 Black?
This is what Hero Play Style is in Ninja Gaiden 2 Black: The beginner difficulty mode enables automatic blocking and dodging when Ryu’s health drops to a critically low level. A new gold bar to show that Hero Play Style is active appears below the health bar. It diminishes very slowly, allowing players plenty of time to regain the upper hand in a challenging fight.
Hero Play Style in Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is designed to provide “automatic support in challenging situations, making it accessible for those who may not be confident in their ninja skills.” Effectively, it’s an easy mode for those unfamiliar with the game’s combat.
It’s understandable why players are somewhat confused by this difficulty mode. The in-game description is incredibly ambiguous. “Ultimate Power awakens at the moment of death. Follow your instincts and keep fighting,” it reads.
If you’ve never played Ninja Gaiden before, this beginner difficulty mode could be a great starting point. However, if you prefer a bit of a challenge, consider opting for the Normal difficulty mode instead.
What do you think of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black? What difficulty modes have you tried? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles.
