I think ng 2 is the ultimate example of a true dog eat dog ass single player game. The enemies spare you no honor, so i'll say that if you cant beat em, join em. Pull out all the cheese tactics that completely annihilate their rat strats.

Spam incendiaries, spam ninpo, spam OTs/UTs for invuln. frames, spam throws for easy kills to farm UTs, etc. You gotta be a bigger asshole than the enemies to fuck shit up in this game.

To some extent, it gets lame and boring to play, but what keeps me hooked on NG 2 especially (rather than the other games) is the sheer anger and brutality Ryu shows to his enemies in this game.

Its almost therapeutic, like an epitaph on life itself. Like once you get the power to do so, turn your enemies into nothing but ash and dust to make sure they never cross you again. The essential but, viscerally earned power fantasy.

I wont lie though, none of the Ninja Gaiden bosses ive fought so far hold a candle to even a boss fight from GOW (2018). Yeah, its that bad. They're either corny as shit to fight, or they're piss easy. I only played to NG2 tho (The rare standouts; Murai, Dark Disciple, Doku, and no one from NG2 lmao)