Ninja Gaiden 2 Black may not have the same mechanical complexity as most modern action games, but it still comes with some of the features that have become staples for the character action game genre since the debut of the original Devil May Cry, such as purchasing consumable items and upgrading weapons. In both the original Xbox 360 version and the Sigma release, the currency used to purchase items and weapon upgrades, Essence, is not available in huge quantities, forcing players to make some choices during their first playthrough, especially if they don't plan on going through all of the game's missions again in multiple playthroughs.
In Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, things aren't much different. Essence is still very hard to come by, and the amount available in a single playthrough isn't going to be enough to easily upgrade all weapons to the maximum level and purchase the consumable items as needed. So, how should one go about upgrading weapons?
Right from the time you access the shop on the very first mission of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, you will be able to access the Blacksmith, which offers weapon upgrades for the Dragon Sword and the Lunar Staff, the two weapons you will have in your possession up to that point. Once you obtain the other seven weapons, you will also be able to upgrade them at the Blacksmith by spending 10,000 Essence for the first upgrade, and a whopping 20,000 Essence for the second. Upgrading a weapon not only unlocks more attacks and combos, but also increases the damage the weapon deals, so it's always a good idea to upgrade weapons whenever possible.
What is generally not a good idea is to spread level 2 upgrades across different weapons that may not see much use. As already mentioned, farming Essence is not exactly an option in Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, and every purchase at the shop has to count. As such, during a first playthrough, it's generally better to focus on fully upgrading a single weapon and use any remaining Essence to purchase consumables as needed, leaving the maxing out of every other weapon in subsequent playthroughs. Given it's the weapon Ryu Hayabusa starts with, its ease of use, versatility, and its powerful Flying Swallow and Izuna Drop techniques, upgrading the Dragon Sword to its maximum level is a very good idea, as you will gain access to plenty of useful techniques that will help you learn some of the game's unique quirks and give you a fighting chance against the vast majority of enemies, even if you are a newcomer. After you start feeling more comfortable with the game's mechanics, you can start focusing on learning any other weapons, and upgrade those that work best for you.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack. After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA's president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3. When he's not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
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