Koei Tecmo has surprised fans with the release of Ninja Gaiden 2: Master Collection, a remaster of the beloved action title.  Available on Steam, the game has been met with generally positive reviews, praising the upgrade to Unreal Engine 5, which brings enhanced lighting, effects, and significantly improved graphics.  A key highlight is the inclusion of Ayane, Rachel, and Momiji as playable characters, adding a new dimension to the gameplay.

Originally, in the 2008 release of Ninja Gaiden 2, players exclusively controlled Ryu Hayabusa, with Rachel appearing as a story NPC and Ayane serving as a guide. It wasn't until Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 in 2009 that these female characters became playable.

While many players celebrate the enhanced beauty of the female characters thanks to Unreal Engine 5, some comparisons with previous models have sparked discussion.  Concerns about potential changes to character proportions have been raised, possibly due to efforts to avoid over-sexualization.  However, upon closer inspection, it appears these comparisons often mistakenly use models from Warriors Orochi rather than the original Ninja Gaiden 2, explaining the perceived discrepancies.

Further investigation reveals that the character models in the Master Collection version of Ninja Gaiden 2 closely resemble those from Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, even preserving many of the original animations.  Notably, the models for Rachel and Momiji have received further refinements, leading to more natural movement and overall improved visual fidelity.  This attention to detail has sparked excitement among fans, with many expressing hope for a similar Unreal Engine 5 treatment for the Dead or Alive series.

YouTube channel ElAnalistaDeBits conducted a comparative analysis of the original Ninja Gaiden 2 and the Master Collection edition, observing that the remaster reuses several animation sequences from the original game, opting for a faithful recreation rather than extensive alterations.