The 2025 Xbox Developer Direct brought many exciting announcements, but the Ninja Gaiden revival stands out as one of the biggest. The classic action franchise is getting a resurgence with multiple new titles, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and the surprise shadow drop of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. This marks a significant return for the series, absent from the scene since Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge in 2012 (excluding the Master Collection compilation). This revival also signals a potential turning point for gaming: the comeback of classic 3D action games after years of Soulslike dominance.
Once, titles like Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, and the original God of War defined the action genre. However, FromSoftware's Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring shifted the landscape. While Soulslike games are enjoyable, the AAA market should accommodate diverse styles. Ninja Gaiden's return could be the much-needed balance the action genre craves.
### A Legacy of Dragons
The Ninja Gaiden series was once considered the gold standard of action games. The 2004 Xbox reboot, a departure from its 2D NES roots, instantly became iconic for its fluid gameplay, smooth animation, and brutal difficulty. While other hack-and-slash games existed, Ninja Gaiden stood apart, its challenging nature setting it apart. Many players recount their struggles against Murai, the formidable first boss.
Despite its difficulty, the challenge is largely fair. Deaths result from player mistakes, requiring mastery of combat rhythm, movement, defense, and counter-attacks. The Izuna Drop, Ultimate Techniques, and diverse weapon combos provide ample tools to overcome obstacles.
Interestingly, Ninja Gaiden's demanding gameplay influenced the Soulslike ethos. Players' dedication to conquering its hardest difficulties mirrored the satisfaction Soulslike fans find in overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds. Ninja Gaiden's demanding mechanics paved the way for the Soulslike subgenre, but its success might have been too successful.
Following the Trend
The release of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 (a PS3 port considered inferior) coincided with Demon's Souls (2009). Demon's Souls received strong reviews and set the stage for Dark Souls (2011), a landmark title frequently cited as one of the greatest games ever made (including by IGN). While Ninja Gaiden 3 and Razor’s Edge struggled, Dark Souls gained significant traction, spawning sequels and influencing Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring.
The popularity of FromSoftware's mechanics spread to other franchises like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Jedi: Survivor, Team Ninja's Nioh, and Black Myth: Wukong. While Soulslike games are well-regarded, their dominance has stifled the AAA action space, leaving classic 3D action games scarce. Ninja Gaiden's return, after over a decade, is significant, as is the 2019 release of DMC5. God of War's 2018 reboot, while successful, traded its fast-paced combat for a slower, more methodical style reminiscent of Soulslike games.
Soulslike hallmarks—challenging combat, stamina management, character builds, open-ended levels, and save points—are recognizable. While fitting for FromSoftware, the widespread adoption has led to an oversaturation of this style. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black's release offers character action games a fresh opportunity to shine.
The Master Ninja's Return
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black provides a refreshing change. Its fast-paced combat, diverse weapons, and the return of the original's gore (absent in Sigma 2) make it the best version on modern hardware, perfect for newcomers. While veterans might note difficulty adjustments and enemy counts, the original Ninja Gaiden II suffered from technical issues and unbalanced design. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black strikes a balance, retaining high difficulty, restoring gore, and including extra content (excluding the unpopular statue boss fights).
This remaster showcases what was lost when similar games became less prevalent. Games inspired by Ninja Gaiden and God of War were abundant in the late 2000s and early 2010s (Bayonetta, Dante's Inferno, Darksiders, and even Ninja Blade). The frenetic, combo-based combat against numerous enemies and giant bosses in a linear format is a proven formula, surprisingly overshadowed by the Soulslike model. While similar games exist (Hi-Fi Rush), Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a significant release from a major developer.
Replaying Ninja Gaiden 2 Black highlights the unique experience it offers. There are no "cheats"—no build guides, experience points, or stamina bars limiting abilities. It's a pure test of skill, requiring mastery of combat. While Soulslike games remain popular, Ninja Gaiden's return hopefully heralds a new golden age for action games, catering to a broad audience.
Ninja Gaiden 4 Screenshots
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