Ninja Gaiden 4 Looks Great and Plays Fast, But Wears Thin Too Soon (Review)

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The Ninja Gaiden series is well-respected among gamers, particularly those who enjoy action games. Starting in arcades and on the NES in 1988, the series has always been known for its difficult gameplay and fast-paced combat. The 2004 Xbox game Ninja Gaiden was a major success and brought the franchise back to life. However, the series has been quiet since 2014, and fans haven’t seen a new main installment in 13 years, putting a lot of expectation on Ninja Gaiden 4.

Ninja Gaiden 4 successfully revives the series, offering a gentler introduction that soon evolves into the fast-paced, action-packed combat fans expect. Although the gameplay is well-done and the fighting feels precise, the game does become somewhat repetitive after a while. It’s a good choice for both longtime fans and newcomers, but a few issues prevent Ninja Gaiden 4 from reaching the heights of earlier games in the series.

SCORE: 3/5

Pros: Cons:
Tight controls and combat tweaks like Bloodraven Form add depth to combat Consistent combat and traversal moments can quickly become repeititve.
Memorable boss fights make for solid encounters Chaotic fights can quickly become confusing and defined by buttonmashing over genuine strategy or skill.
Practice modes, a simplified difficulty curve, and charming new characters make Ninja Gaiden 4 an ideal on-ramp into the series Longtime fans may be disappointed by the all too familiar approach to the series.

The Raven Clan Takes Flight

Taking place years after Ninja Gaiden 3, Ninja Gaiden 4 lets you play as Yakumo, a new protagonist, instead of the usual hero, Ryu Hayabusa. Yakumo is sent to a ruined and technologically corrupted Tokyo, years after the defeat of the Dark Dragon in Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword. His task is to eliminate a priestess and break the curse that plagues the city, while also confronting the Divine Dragon Order – the group that now controls the devastated metropolis and guards the seal containing the Dark Dragon.

Yakumo’s journey will involve battling many enemies, including masked soldiers, expert swordsmen, and dangerous demons. Although the game features a new main character, the core gameplay remains largely the same. The story quickly introduces the game’s world and helps new players get started, with Yakumo’s clanmates offering support through items, optional quests, and unlockable abilities. A new feature is a practice room, allowing players to master combos and game mechanics outside of battles. This design choice reflects the game’s goal: to welcome new fans to the Ninja Gaiden series by gradually teaching them the ropes rather than overwhelming them with difficulty.

Given how long it’s been since a new Ninja Gaiden game came out, that makes sense. The developers also clearly want to keep longtime fans happy, which is why they included Ryu as a playable character – and a fully unlockable one for replaying the story. This helps connect the game to the series’ history and future. Visually, the game is a nice improvement, and the characters add some personality to the constant action. However, the first Ninja Gaiden game struck a better balance between story moments and fights. Ninja Gaiden 4 relies too heavily on non-stop combat, which is where it falls short.

Strong Action Can Get Dull After The 100th Kill In 10 Minutes

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a true continuation of the series, maintaining the core action while emphasizing the brutal, fast-paced combat of previous games. Battles are quick and chaotic, demanding players skillfully dodge, block, and parry incoming attacks. Even when the perspective shifts to Ryu, the gameplay remains focused on swift, decisive encounters. Players need to be alert, as battles can quickly overwhelm those who aren’t careful.

The game feels similar to previous installments, but it eases new players in with a gentler start. After overcoming the initial challenges, players will learn new abilities that add depth to the combat. While the core attacks remain largely the same, the biggest new feature is Yakumo’s Bloodraven Form, which dramatically changes his attacks, boosting their power and reach.

Players build up a power meter by successfully hitting enemies and dodging attacks. This meter lets them unleash powerful attacks or create long combos. These empowered moves are essential for defeating difficult enemies and bosses, as they can break through defenses or interrupt powerful attacks. This system keeps the combat engaging, forcing players to decide when to focus on all-out offense and when to carefully time their strikes. Additionally, special finishing moves, while visually impressive and brutal, offer another way to overcome challenges.

One of the main issues with Ninja Gaiden 4 is that it can feel repetitive after a short time. Despite the addition of movement options like wall running and ropes, most gameplay loops involve simply finding and defeating groups of enemy ninjas. The limited variety of basic enemy types, even with the introduction of demons, means that combat often feels similar from one encounter to the next. While skillful parries and complex combos are satisfying, many battles are won through quick, repetitive button pressing.

While the variety of weapons and environments initially spice things up, players will quickly become tired of seeing the same kill animations over and over. The expansive landscapes eventually give way to typical arena-style combat rooms filled with waves of enemies, and the biggest challenge becomes dodging powerful attacks. Combined with a sometimes-unreliable targeting system – even with auto-targeting enabled – Ninja Gaiden 4‘s combat lacks the polish needed to overcome its repetitive gameplay.

A Good Entry Point But Not Neccesarily A Series Highlight

Ninja Gaiden 4 is an enjoyable action game that stays true to the series’ roots. However, it has some gameplay issues that can disrupt the experience. While the controls themselves aren’t bad, the constant waves of simple enemies make fights feel tedious rather than exciting.

The boss battles are more memorable, particularly because they challenge players to use both the graceful Raven Style and the aggressive Bloodbind Ninjutsu Nué Style to succeed. The story is engaging, though it focuses on a techno-demonic plot that doesn’t feel as grand as those in earlier games. While Ninja Gaiden 4 boasts strong music and visuals, it doesn’t innovate in the same way the original Ninja Gaiden did over twenty years ago. Everything is well-crafted and looks great, but it can become predictable after a while.

At its peak, Ninja Gaiden 4 looks fantastic, showing a ninja slicing through enemies with incredible speed and force. These moments feel truly powerful and immersive. However, the game often becomes repetitive, forcing players to fight the same enemies repeatedly for side quests. While it’s a good starting point for new players and enjoyable for action game fans, longtime Ninja Gaiden fans might be disappointed by the lack of variety. If you’re simply looking for a visually impressive game where you can battle ninjas, though, this could be it.

An Xbox Series X code for Ninja Gaiden 4 was provided to egmr.ru for the purposes of this review.

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2025-10-21 02:11