The 2025 Xbox Developer Direct brought many surprises, but the Ninja Gaiden revival stands out as one of the biggest. This 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). This comeback could signal a crucial shift in gaming: the return 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 action gaming. However, FromSoftware's Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring largely supplanted this style. While Soulslike games are enjoyable, the AAA market should accommodate both styles. Ninja Gaiden's return could be the much-needed balance for the action genre.
### A Dragon's Legacy
The Ninja Gaiden series was once considered the apex of action games. The 2004 Xbox reboot, a departure from its 2D NES roots, instantly became iconic for its smooth gameplay, fluid animation, and brutal difficulty. While other hack-and-slash games existed, Ninja Gaiden stood apart, its difficulty legendary. Many players recount their struggles against Murai, the challenging first boss.
Despite the challenge, the difficulty is generally fair, stemming from player mistakes rather than cheap tactics. Deaths are frequent, teaching players the rhythm of combat – a delicate balance of movement, defense, and counter-attacks. Mastering the Izuna Drop, Ultimate Techniques, and diverse weapon combos provides ample tools to overcome challenges.
Ninja Gaiden's demanding gameplay and the satisfaction of overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds foreshadowed the Soulslike ethos. Its influence on the Soulslike community is undeniable, shaping the desire for mastering mechanics to achieve victory. FromSoftware, and the games it inspired, amplified this concept into a subgenre. However, this success might have been too complete, as Soulslike games have dominated action gaming for a decade.
Following the Trend
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, a widely criticized PS3 port, coincided with Demon's Souls (2009). Demon's Souls garnered strong reviews, paving the way for Dark Souls (2011), a landmark title frequently cited as one of the greatest video games ever made (including by IGN). While Ninja Gaiden 3 and Razor's Edge struggled, Dark Souls significantly impacted the action market, spawning sequels and influencing FromSoftware's subsequent titles, Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring.
This Soulslike influence extended to other franchises, including Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and its sequel, Team Ninja's Nioh, and Game Science's Black Myth: Wukong. While these games are generally well-received, the Soulslike formula has saturated the AAA action space, leaving classic 3D action games scarce. Ninja Gaiden's return after a long hiatus, and DMC5 (2019), highlight this scarcity. Even God of War (2018), while revived, shifted away from its fast-paced hack-and-slash roots towards a more methodical, semi-open-world style.
Soulslike hallmarks—challenging combat centered on timing, stamina management, character builds, open-level design, and save points—are recognizable. While fitting for FromSoftware, the widespread adoption has led to an oversaturation. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black's release allows the strengths of character action games to shine again.
The Master Ninja's Return
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black offers a refreshing take on the action genre. The 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. While some veterans might critique difficulty adjustments and enemy counts, Ninja Gaiden II's original technical issues and unbalanced design are addressed. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black strikes a balance, maintaining high difficulty, restoring gore, and retaining much of Sigma 2's extra content (excluding 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 common in the late 2000s and early 2010s (Bayonetta, Dante's Inferno, Darksiders, and even FromSoftware's Ninja Blade). The formula of frenetic combo-based battles against numerous enemies and large bosses in a linear format is effective, yet its prominence waned with the rise of Soulslike games. While similar games still exist (Hi-Fi Rush), Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a significant example from a major developer.
Replaying Ninja Gaiden 2 Black emphasizes the unique qualities of these action games. There are no shortcuts—no build guides, experience points, or stamina bars to limit gameplay. It's a pure test of skill, demanding mastery of combat mechanics. While Soulslike games remain popular, Ninja Gaiden's return hopefully ushers in a new era for action games, providing enough space for both styles to thrive.
Ninja Gaiden 4 Screenshots
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