Ryu is back, sword raised, and 1990's difficulty comes with him.

On gut feeling, with no criterion, Ninja Gaiden II only edges past about 30% of games. The detailed profile is more nuanced than it first looks. Rediscovery lands almost exactly in the middle of the field, and desert island sits just below: early votes suggest people would gladly boot it up again, relearn it, break their teeth on it one more time. Fun follows, a little under average. Everything aesthetic, though, collapses: art direction ahead of 8% of titles, soundtrack ahead of 10%, connection barely better. And that is where the mismatch shows. NES sprites are being judged against criteria built for games with a thousand times more pixels and an orchestra behind them.

Among the tight action platformers of its era, this one remains a benchmark of rigor and rhythm. But what these questions measure, visual impact, an OST you keep on your playlist, is not what made its name.

So, who is it for? For you if you love demanding, dry games where every jump is paid for in full. Much less so if you want a game that charms you before it tests you.