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After speaking to Mamushi, the second in command of the Yakuza, he is given a new task to rescue Kamiko, the Yakuza's leader's daughter, from Zilla's labs. Wang accepts the task, and travels to the temple where he retrieves the artifact. Lo Wang is given a task from the Yakuza to retrieve an ancient trinket from the Temple of Longing. Killing enemies will level up weapons and reward the player with gems to augment their equipment with elemental properties and buffs. The game features over 70 different weapons, varying between firearms and blades. The game utilizes a procedural damage system that allows players to cut and blow off enemy limbs and body parts. Every mission, except for story-specific events, features a randomly generated level design and content that includes randomized map layouts, enemy positions, terrain, buildings, and weather conditions. The game features a hub area where the player can acquire quests and upgrade their abilities before beginning a mission. The mission structure in Shadow Warrior 2 is less restricted than its predecessor, and players can now revisit earlier missions to re-engage past enemies in order to upgrade Wang's skills. New traversal mechanics have been added, such as climbing walls and double jumping to allow for more exploration. The level environments are more open and nonlinear than in the previous title.
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In co-op mode, each player experiences the narrative as Lo Wang but sees other players as various anonymous ninjas. Shadow Warrior 2 can be played in single-player mode, or in a new 4-player co-op mode.
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