Ninja Gaiden 4 Feels More Like Platinum Games Than Classic Ninja Gaiden
▼ Summary
– The author is excited about the resurgence of ninja-themed games, including Ninja Gaiden 4, but finds the demo’s combat overstuffed and less satisfying than Ninja Gaiden 2 Black.
– Ninja Gaiden 4 features bloody, stylish combat with returning mechanics like Obliteration techniques and new instakill finishers, but the parry system feels poorly implemented.
– The game includes modern accessibility options like auto-blocking and cutscene skipping, a welcome change from the series’ traditionally unforgiving design.
– Criticisms include unnecessary walk-and-talk sections, excessive yellow paint for environmental cues, and poorly designed boss attacks that blend into the arena.
– The new protagonist, Yakumo, feels weightless and less impactful compared to Ryu, and the combat system’s complexity lacks the purity of earlier Ninja Gaiden games.
The ninja gaming renaissance is in full swing, but Ninja Gaiden 4 might not be the triumphant return fans were hoping for. After spending hours with the demo, it’s clear this installment leans heavily into PlatinumGames’ signature flashiness rather than the razor-sharp precision of classic Ninja Gaiden. While there’s plenty to enjoy, the experience feels more like a stylish spinoff than a true successor to the series’ legacy.
What works? The violence is gloriously over-the-top, with fountains of blood and limb-severing finishers straight out of Ninja Gaiden 2. New instakill moves add cinematic flair, and the accessibility options are a welcome modernization, far removed from the old “Ninja Dog” mockery. Playing as Ryu Hayabusa still delivers that satisfying weight, though his animations now border on exaggerated.
What falls short? The game stumbles with pacing-killing walk-and-talk segments and excessive environmental hand-holding (yellow paint, anyone?). Boss fights suffer from poorly telegraphed attacks that blend into the scenery, while the new protagonist, Yakumo, lacks physical presence, he moves like a hyper-caffeinated action figure. The parry system feels tacked-on and unreliable, a far cry from the tight defensive play of earlier titles.
The biggest concern? Combat feels bloated.None Rage meters, Bloodraven transformations, slow-mo dodges, grappling hooks, it’s a kitchen-sink approach that sacrifices the elegant simplicity of the originals. Ninja Gaiden 4 isn’t a disaster, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that Platinum’s fingerprints overshadow Team Ninja’s roots. For now, veterans might find themselves nostalgic for the purity of Ninja Gaiden 2’s combat, even if this new iteration delivers plenty of spectacle.
Final verdict? Fun, but not quite the masterpiece fans deserve. Here’s hoping the full game finds its footing.
(Source: pcgamer)
