Ninja Gaiden 4: The Perfect Entry Point for Newcomers
▼ Summary
– The author finally played Ninja Gaiden 21 years after wanting to try the original, now starring new protagonist Yakumo instead of Ryu Hayabusa.
– Yakumo’s edgy personality complements the game’s aggressive combat style, which focuses on standard attacks and dodging rather than complex combos.
– Combat features dismemberment finishing moves and a “Ravenbound” mode for powerful attacks, developed collaboratively by Team Ninja and PlatinumGames.
– The game combines intense fighting with dynamic traversal mechanics like wall-running, grappling hooks, and interdimensional portal navigation.
– Ninja Gaiden 4 follows a straightforward level-based structure without an open world, making it one of the author’s favorite recent action games despite some repetitive late-game content.
Ninja Gaiden 4 offers a thrilling entry point for newcomers to the legendary action series, blending high-octane combat with fluid traversal in a package that feels both fresh and respectful of its roots. For years, I admired the franchise from a distance, captivated by the cool ninja protagonist Ryu Hayabusa in the original 3D Xbox game from 2004. As a teenager without the console, and with parents unlikely to approve of its intense violence, I never got to experience it firsthand. Even as an adult with the freedom to buy any game, the series remained on my backlog. Finally, after more than two decades, I’ve had the chance to dive in.
This installment introduces a brand new lead character named Yakumo, a stark contrast to the classic hero Ryu. Yakumo embodies a punk-rock attitude, reminiscent of Final Fantasy’s Cloud Strife with his short, detached demeanor, but reimagined as a highly skilled, acrobatic ninja who constantly wears a mask and has hair perpetually sweeping across his face. While the concept sounds silly on paper, it fits perfectly within the game’s over-the-top action framework. His edgy personality naturally complements the aggressive, in-your-face combat style that Ninja Gaiden 4 wholeheartedly encourages.
The combat system is built around a light and heavy attack setup, allowing you to unleash a barrage of strikes on enemies. Well-timed dodges are crucial for repositioning and maintaining your offensive momentum. Although you can unlock advanced skills and special moves requiring specific button combinations, I found myself relying mostly on the standard attacks, which felt incredibly responsive and effective. As you fight, you build up energy to activate a “Ravenbound” mode, granting you stronger, staggering attacks that can turn the tide of battle.
A particularly satisfying mechanic is the dismemberment system. After dealing sufficient damage, enemies become vulnerable to a powerful finishing move executed with a single heavy attack tap. These finishers feature gruesomely delightful animations; I never grew tired of watching Yakumo transform his weapon into a vicious drill and leap onto it to dispatch foes. The sheer ridiculousness feels completely justified, especially given the game’s co-development by action masters Team Ninja and PlatinumGames. At moments, the fluid, stylish combat evoked the same exhilarating feel as playing a Bayonetta title, which is high praise indeed.
The absurdity isn’t confined to combat alone. Between enemy encounters, you’ll navigate levels by running along walls, leaping from poles using a grappling hook, grinding on rails, catching wind currents to soar through the air, and even surfing across water. One standout segment has you performing all these acrobatics while zipping through interdimensional portals. With such a constant stream of engaging activities, fighting and traversing, the game world feels alive and dynamic. When you need a breather or to restock items, conveniently placed in-game shops are always right where you need them.
I spent much of my time soaring toward enemies, maintaining relentless pressure with weapon flurries, and bounding across levels like the ultimate ninja. There are sections where you get to play as Ryu Hayabusa, who boasts a slightly different fighting style. Surprisingly, I preferred Yakumo’s segments; his emo, rebellious vibe felt more compelling than Ryu’s comparatively bland heroic persona.
Despite the frenetic action, the game structure remains refreshingly straightforward and old-school. You typically progress through a series of levels, face a major boss, acquire a new weapon, and repeat the cycle. The absence of an open world helps maintain a tight focus, though a few areas offer a bit more room for exploration. While the final third of the adventure dips slightly in quality due to some repeated levels and boss encounters, I appreciated the overall clarity and directness of the progression.
Ninja Gaiden 4 stands out as one of my favorite action games in recent memory, finally delivering the experience I always imagined the original 3D title would be. Jumping into the series at this late stage didn’t leave me feeling like I had missed out on essential background. In fact, it has ignited my interest in exploring more of the franchise. This year’s excellent new 2D entry, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, is fantastic, and a new remaster of Ninja Gaiden II for modern consoles provides a perfect dose of classic 3D action. After waiting twenty years, I now have a wonderful backlog of ninja adventures to enjoy.
Ninja Gaiden 4 launches on October 20th at 8PM Eastern Time for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
(Source: The Verge)
