May 13, 2008 - Microsoft trucked out Ninja Gaiden 2 for one last public showing in advance of its June 3 release at its Spring Showcase event. With the game on shelves in just a few weeks, new details were slim but we did squeeze some info on downloadable content out of Itagaki and company. Plus we got to slice and dice a few more members of the Black Spider clan on a never before seen stage, which is always a bloody good time.

With the recent announcement that alternate costumes would be put up for sale on the Xbox Live Marketplace, many were left wondering what that meant as far as content on the disc goes. Unfortunately, it's a look at what's to come. Itagaki told us that only a handful of extra costumes would be on the disc and that they would all simply be color variations of the first. These will be unlocked as you play through the game. Any costumes that look structurally different will have to be purchased and downloaded, though Itagaki was quick to...

Read more of IGN's Ninja Gaiden II Progress Reports

Check out the Xbox Live Marketplace to get the Ninja Gaiden II gamer pics (100 MS points) and the Ninja Gaiden II theme (150 MS points). And be sure to check back on May 20th for some more PDLC.

Muramasa

A wizened old shopkeeper, there is more to him than meets the eye. Knowledgeable in weapons new and old, from both East and West, he provides invaluable information for Ryu Hayabusa on his travels. His shops are oases, providing both items and weapon upgrades.

Alexei

One of the Four Greater Fiends, and Ruler of Lightning, his hatred of humankind knows no bounds. He has taken the city of New York in his evil grasp and waits perched upon the Statue of Liberty, challenging Ryu Hayabusa to come and face him.

Zedonius

One of the four Greater Fiends and Ruler of Flame, Zedonius has nothing but contempt for human life. He has descended upon the capital of a once-great military superpower, threatening all humankind with an ultimatum: submit to the will of the Fiends or be burned by infernal flames. Ryu must ascend the city's clocktower to put an end to his fearsome reign.

Learn more about these three new characters in Ninja Gaiden II

Microsoft has released tons of images and videos from Ninja Gaiden 2 today, revealing different staffs and maps from the game in horribly compressed videos.
Update: Information and image of upcoming DLC added

Microsoft has through the XCN announced that a costume will be available for 39 000 gamers. Press release:
Inspired by the Hayabusa family's namesake, the falcon, this demonic costume mirrors the intensity of Ryu's vengeance and fury as he fights to regain the honor of his clan. It's almost as if he's been transformed into a Fiend by the evil powers of the underworld with this costume – but retains all the honor of the Hayabusa Ninja Clan."

Starting July 2008, Xbox Live members worldwide will be able to download 3 unique Hayabusa costume packs for 200 MS points each to use in Ninja Gaiden II. Each costume pack is a completely new and never before seen look for our Ninja hero, Ryu Hayabusa.

The first of the 3 costume pack designs is being revealed today. This will be exclusively available in selected countries to 39,000 gamers on launch day as part of pre-sale or launch promotions with specific retail partners. Look for more details on other two designs and specific country promotions to be revealed in the coming weeks. Go to xbox.com/ng2 or your favorite retailer to pre-order Ninja Gaiden II today!

View more pictures and videos from Gamersyde here

Volf

Ruler of Storms and one of the Four Greater Fiends, Volf is a vicious warrior who seeks an opponent worthy of himself. His Lycanthrope underlings have taken over the canal-lined streets of the tranquil Aqua Capital as he sits in his throne in the castle above. Will Ryu prove to be a fitting adversary?

Joe Hayabusa

The father of Ryu Hayabusa, Joe has returned from training in distant lands to resume his duties as the leader of the Hayabusa Ninja Clan, only to be injured in one of his many battles against the forces of evil. He lays in rest at his home in the Castle of the Dragon, unaware that the evil shadow of the Black Spider Clan slowly descends upon his village.

Learn more about these two new characters in Ninja Gaiden II

May 5, 2008 - Ninja Gaiden II hits stores in less than a month. When June 3 arrives, hundreds of thousands will experience the continuing adventures of Ryu Hayabusa. But what crazy allies and enemies will Ryu meet along the way?

Team Ninja's latest splatterfest brings back a few familiar faces along with many new friends and fiends. This week, IGN brings a three-part series revealing seven of the new characters. Some will be allies assisting Ryu on his quest. Most will be enemies, looking to separate Ryu's head from the rest of his body.

Genshin

Elizabet

Learn more about these two new characters in Ninja Gaiden II

Special thanks to XNinjaRed for translating

Vigoorian Flails work differently then in the previous version.

There are 8 main weapons to work with.

Path of the Acolyte will be very easy, but still be enjoyable.

The Fiend's Bane Bow can be charged, but the game is very fast already, so you can fire noncharged shots very quickly too.

People tend to have the wrong idea of an action game where enemies are punching bags rather then actual enemies. That's just stupid.

The military starts to experiment with bioweapons and fuses humans with mummies and such to give them partially immortality. Those bioweapons are needed for the ultimate weapon. They are called CIWS (Close Defense Weapon System), but I can't say more without revealing spoilers.

Eclipse Scythe's early level 1 movements were very harsh, but we've made it more harsh then ever with the new added moves in the higher levels. This will go with all weapons in this game. Every weapon has it's own way of fighting and they become more clear the higher their levels are. We also upgraded the Shuriken from what it usually was. Instead of throwing 4 Shurikens in a row, it's 5 now. It's a minor change, but might become useful.

The Gatling Speargun is still very useful in water, but it becomes more useful on land now.

The water is made more interesting.
Actual waves of water affect your way of walking on it.
Gaja, the longtailed bone fiends you could find in the GDC demo, are amphibious, they can swim in the water.
They swim like snakes. If you make movement in water, the waves actually make them move differently.

In Helena's ending you see someone die by Ryu's dark Ninpo, that Ninpo will be in this game. That was not Victor Donova by the way, it was just a junior Executive. Donovan still lives and the story WILL continue. Donovan is much more ugly then the guy who died.

Art of the Pheonix Fire is an upgraded version of Art of the Firewheels.
Instead of the fires flying closely around Ryu, the fires take the forms of falcons and fly much longer around Ryu, and a bit further to make it more usful.

Recovery items are now in little powders. I thought it was stupid to have bottles of healing postions everywhere. "This time, Ryu uses drugs to heal" he said while laughing.

Armlets are discontinued. Ryu pretty much has all armlets on at the same time now.

This game will be an art of action, which is a good thing. Some games make you get tired of fighting, but not this game.

Every place gets decorated with your vengeance. You can always come back acd see all the dead bodies lying everywhere.

Continuity was put with Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword, which is what makes that game exciting. But the game wasn't made to appeal to the hardcore fans, but to introduce people to the franchise, seeing how it's much more approachable.

We gave names to useful moves. Guard an attack and dash will make you dash with an after image, that move's called "Kingdom". A continuous wallrun is called "Shadowless Footsteps". You can do this anytime, but you get scrolls explaining how to do it. Those scrolls have videos to show what they are.

There are lots of enemies in this game. The Black Spider Ninjas from the previous game return, so no need to talk about them anymore. Alexia and the Werewolves are still a bit unpolished. Sonia is a Tomboyish Heroine. She kinda has the role of Ayane in the last game.

Some americans were able to finish the beta version in 15 hours, We're still adjusting that. The time playing is supposed to be huge.

Each weapons are useful now.
Dragon Sword is still the balanced weapon.
In the end of the game you'll have weapons for each situation.

People can compete in Master Ninja Tournaments.

DLC will be in the game.

The Demo will come mid May.