It includes the entirety of the original story mode as well as various changes to the game's design, along with updated textures and a 720p resolution.

[7] An Unreal Engine 5 remaster that blends more aspects from the original game with Sigma 2, titled Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, was announced and released for PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S on January 23, 2025.

[8] In comparison to the original version of Ninja Gaiden II, the game features new large-scale bosses, an online co-operative gameplay mode with three new playable characters (Ayane, Momiji, Rachel) and the PlayStation Network Trophy support.

[9][10][11] Unlike the first game, the Sixaxis motion sensing of the PlayStation 3 controller was not used for "charging" the Ninpo magic, but instead utilized as a secret way to jiggle the breasts of female characters.

Additional removed weapons include the Windmill Shuriken and the Harpoon Gatling Gun.

There is one new boss for each alternate character's chapter (including returning bosses from Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword and the 2004 Ninja Gaiden), a Dragon to replace the double Quetzalcoatl fight (though Quetzalcoatl can still be fought alone as in Ninja Gaiden II), and two giant statues: a giant Buddha Statue and a Statue of Liberty animated by Alexei.

In the Japanese version of Sigma 2 the player can only decapitate monsters and non-humans; even the pause menu and game over screens are colored blue instead of red to reflect this change.

Exclusive to the Sigma version of the game are three new chapters starring three alternate playable characters: Ayane (a kunoichi from the Mugen Tenshin ninja clan, a friendly clan who helps Ryu, originally from the Dead or Alive series), Momiji (a female member of the Hayabusa clan who uses a naginata and was introduced in Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword) and Rachel (a Fiend hunter from the Holy Vigoor Empire who is in possession of the "Fiend's Blood" curse and first appeared in the 2004's Ninja Gaiden).

[15] Eurogamer commented that the game "has the visual edge, not just thanks to its massively increased resolution but also through the accomplished use of the RSX's pixel shaders.

"[16] As a trade off for increased resolution, the amount of on-screen action has been reduced in the PS3 version to keep the game running at an acceptable speed.

Eurogamer pointed out that there are fewer enemies spawned at one time in the PS3 version of the game, and the developers "blatantly remove polygons in the Sigma edition in order to maintain frame-rate.

Those who purchased the Collector's Edition of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 were treated to a comic version of the prologue, titled The Vampire War, and the original soundtrack.