The combat in
Ninja Gaiden II has been overhauled to display yet more blood and graphic violence than its predecessor,
2004's
Ninja Gaiden. Additionally Ryu Hayabusa has been given several new
weapons, such as the Falcons Talons (which resemble Wolverine-type claws), and the Kusari-gama, a large chain weapon with a blade on one side and a blunt end on the other. Overall, the most notable difference to the combat and weapons system in
Ninja Gaiden 2 is speed: the game is decidedly more fast-paced than its predecessor, and uses a auto-regeneration system for health in order to compensate for the more frantic nature of its combat.