Why Ninja Gaiden 4 Will Redeem the Franchise

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It’s genuinely disappointing when a beloved game series, filled with cherished memories, is suddenly cancelled or put on hold. There are many examples – *Mass Effect, Sly Cooper, Prototype, Command and Conquer, Perfect Dark, Banjo-Kazooie, Deus Ex, F-Zero* – and looking back at them isn’t always pleasant. The reasons for these cancellations vary, ranging from poor sales of a new game or interference from company leaders, to a lack of continued interest or simply mismanagement.

The last few years have shown us that beloved game franchises are surprisingly resilient. While technically a prequel, *Gears of War: E-Day* is bringing back the horror elements fans loved in the original games. Despite the troubled development of *Fable Legends*, a new *Fable* game from Playground Games seems more likely than ever, though details are still scarce. Even *Metal Gear Solid* and *Silent Hill*, once considered finished series after Konami’s shift in focus, have seen a resurgence with impressive remakes and the new *Silent Hill f* game.

Let’s talk about *Ninja Gaiden 4*. Before this, the *Ninja Gaiden* series had been quiet for a while. There was *Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound* announced, which was aiming for a retro, NES-style feel, but the studio, Team Ninja, was mostly known for games like *Nioh, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty*, and recently, *Rise of the Ronin*. So everyone was surprised when they announced a new *Ninja Gaiden* game – and even more surprised when they showed off a stunning trailer with actual gameplay footage!

Many fans remember *Ninja Gaiden 3* as the game that nearly killed the series. Released in 2012, when action games weren’t doing particularly well – aside from the excellent *Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance* by PlatinumGames – it had the chance to revive interest in *Ninja Gaiden*. Unfortunately, it failed, due to repetitive gameplay, a weak story, uninspired mechanics, and a surprising lack of difficulty. The removal of the series’ signature dismemberment feature was a major disappointment, and it ended up being considered one of the worst games of that year. It wasn’t just a bad game; it was largely forgettable.

The latest installment, *Ninja Gaiden 4*, initially promised a return to the series’ challenging and violent gameplay, especially with a collaboration between Team Ninja and PlatinumGames. However, as more details emerged, concerns grew. Players felt the enemies weren’t difficult enough for the new character, Yakumo, and that Ryu Hayabusa, though playable, didn’t feature prominently. The futuristic Tokyo setting, overtaken by a dark force, also received criticism for being largely empty combat spaces with uninspired designs. Some fans even questioned the inclusion of weapon switching, feeling it didn’t fit the core *Ninja Gaiden* experience.

There was excitement, definitely, but it was clear some people – even fans – weren’t completely convinced, and that’s reasonable. When a beloved series disappears for a while and then comes back, the biggest worry is always being disappointed again.

Team Ninja seems to be striking a great balance between satisfying long-time fans and innovating for the future. They’ve really focused on improving the combat system, adding impressive depth with features like the new Bloodraven Form and brutal Bloodbath Kills. We also got a look at Yakumo’s diverse arsenal – everything from dual blades and rapiers to staffs and massive shurikens – and how these weapons can transform in Bloodraven Form. And yes, that includes a huge, exploding drill – count us in!

Platinum Games’ trademark over-the-top style is on full display in this game – you’ll see characters sliding along rails and dodging trains. However, the intense challenge players expect from the *Ninja Gaiden* series is still present, especially in the advanced Master Ninja gameplay. On the hardest difficulty, enemies are aggressive and will swarm Yakumo, even countering his flashy aerial attacks. It’s also clear that transforming into Bloodraven Form isn’t a guaranteed win, and successful blocking and parrying require careful timing and risk assessment.

I’ve always loved how this game lets you play aggressively if you want, but honestly, you *have* to be ready for anything. Every fight feels totally unpredictable with so many enemies running around! That’s what I’ve been missing in a lot of action RPGs lately – that real sense of danger. It’s not just about mowing down enemies; one wrong move, and even a weak enemy can take you out, just as easily as you can wipe them out with a powerful attack like Yakumo’s.

As Yuji Nakao of PlatinumGames explained to Automaton Media, a key feature of the *Ninja Gaiden* series is that enemies are just as capable as the player – they can block attacks and even throw you. Masazaku Hirayama from Team Ninja added that a feeling of fairness is essential, noting that players should feel like a death was their own mistake to maintain that balance.

A key part of what makes *Ninja Gaiden* great is the need to constantly improve your fighting skills – both attacking and defending – or you’ll quickly be defeated. Luckily, the game offers more than just harder difficulty levels, with plenty of optional challenges. There’s even a ‘Death Wish’ mode that restarts your progress, giving you an incredibly tough goal: completing the game without dying. And it *is* possible, if you fully master the combat system.

The game is intentionally designed to be challenging, but accessible. Hero Mode helps new players ease in by providing features like automatic dodging, blocking, and health recovery. However, these features don’t simplify the core gameplay; instead, they act as training wheels, offering protection while still allowing skilled players to truly master the game’s mechanics when they choose to disable them.

Team Ninja has assured players that Ryu will feature prominently in the game, with a significant amount of content dedicated to him. The story focuses heavily on Yakumo – taking up over half the total playtime, which is estimated to be between 15 and 20 hours. If you want to play through the game again as Hayabusa (or vice versa with Yakumo), the Chapter Challenge mode lets you do just that, offering a different experience by swapping characters into missions.

What’s most exciting about *Ninja Gaiden 4* is that it’s not simply revisiting old ideas. It’s genuinely innovating the action genre, appealing to modern players while still honoring its history—and continuing the compelling story of the Dark Dragon.

Everyone has their own tastes, but I think this is what saves the series – building on what worked before while still offering something fresh. Hopefully, it will show that both Team Ninja and PlatinumGames can deliver another great game. Whatever happens, this year has proven the series is doing well, and *Ninja Gaiden 4* looks like a fantastic way to finish strong and move the franchise in an exciting new direction.

Please keep in mind that the opinions shared in this article are the author’s own and don’t reflect the official stance of GamingBolt.

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2025-10-20 17:49