In an era dominated by soulslikes, does Ninja Gaiden still have relevance in 2025? After playing Ninja Gaiden 4 last weekend, my answer is emphatic - not only does it work, it delivers exhilarating high-speed action that stands apart from modern trends. Among all the games I previewed during the recent showcases, Ryu Hayabusa's latest adventure left me utterly thrilled as someone who considers Ninja Gaiden Black the pinnacle of action gaming.
A Taste of Speed and Style
While 25 minutes barely scratches the surface of evaluating Ninja Gaiden 4's place in franchise history, my hands-on demo proved two essential things: I instantly transformed into an unstoppable killing machine, yet still faced satisfying challenges. PlatinumGames (leading development with Team Ninja's guidance) appears to have captured that classic Ninja Gaiden magic.
"We're deliberately going against current trends," explained director Yuji Nakao, referencing the game's blistering pace contrasted with slower soulslikes. "Our priority was modernizing the speed while preserving Ninja Gaiden's soul."
Ninja Gaiden 4: First Impressions
My demo placed me in control of Yakumo, a young Raven Clan warrior starring alongside Ryu Hayabusa in this future Tokyo-set sequel. Rather than feeling like a consolation character, Yakumo proved remarkably fun with his hybrid moveset - combining Ryu's iconic Izuna Drop with new Bloodraven techniques activated by holding LT+X/Y.
The blood factor reaches ridiculous new heights - arterial sprays drench entire arenas as limbs go flying. Combat flows beautifully between wall-running decapitations, timed counters, and devastating Ultimate techniques powered by battlefield essence.
Thoughtful Modern Touches
PlatinumGames hasn't just preserved Ninja Gaiden's fundamentals - they've refined problematic elements. The notoriously troublesome camera now behaves impeccably, and quality-of-life improvements let you adjust difficulty mid-game or receive assistance after repeated failures.
Between challenging ninja platforming, hidden Gourdy collectibles (requiring quick-time captures), and skill unlocks via mysterious raven spirits, Ninja Gaiden 4 offers much more than just combat excellence.
A Promising Comeback
As someone who'd publicly criticize any misstep with this beloved franchise, I'm relieved to report PlatinumGames seems headed toward redemption. Ninja Gaiden 4 delivers exactly what fans crave - lightning-fast combat wrapped in undeniable style. With Ryu Hayabusa's proper gameplay still to come alongside other promising ninja titles this year, October 21 can't arrive soon enough.
