The 2025 Xbox Developer Direct brought many surprises, but the Ninja Gaiden revival stands out as one of the biggest. The iconic action franchise is getting a resurgence with multiple new titles, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and the surprise release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. This marks a significant return for the series, dormant since Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge in 2012 (excluding the Master Collection compilation). More importantly, it signals a potential shift in the gaming landscape: 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 largely eclipsed this style. While Soulslikes are undeniably popular, the AAA market should offer diversity, and Ninja Gaiden's return could provide the much-needed balance.
### A Legacy of Dragons
The Ninja Gaiden series was once considered the apex of action gaming. The 2004 Xbox reboot, a departure from its 2D NES roots, instantly became iconic for its fluid gameplay, smooth animations, and brutal difficulty. While other hack-and-slash titles existed, Ninja Gaiden stood apart, its unforgiving challenge setting it apart. The infamous Murai, the first boss, is a testament to this difficulty.
Despite the challenge, the difficulty is largely fair. Deaths result from player mistakes, demanding mastery of combat mechanics – a precise dance of movement, defense, and counterattacks. The Izuna Drop, Ultimate Techniques, and diverse weapon combos provide ample tools to overcome obstacles.
This demanding gameplay, ironically, foreshadowed the Soulslike phenomenon. Ninja Gaiden's challenging nature and the satisfaction of overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds resonated with players, shaping the Soulslike community's mindset. FromSoftware, and the games it inspired, amplified this concept into a subgenre. However, this success might have been overdone, as Soulslikes have somewhat stifled other action game styles.
Following the Trend
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, a widely criticized PS3 port considered a low point for the series, coincided with Demon's Souls (2009). Demon's Souls, receiving strong reviews, paved the way 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 significantly impacted the action market, spawning sequels and influencing Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring.
This Soulslike influence spread to other franchises, including Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and its sequel, Team Ninja's Nioh, and Black Myth: Wukong. While Soulslikes are not inherently flawed, their dominance has limited the AAA action space, leaving classic 3D action games scarce. Ninja Gaiden's return after a long absence, along with DMC5 (2019), and the evolution of God of War (2018), showcase this shift. The new God of War games, while not strictly Soulslikes, share similarities.
Soulslikes are characterized by challenging combat emphasizing timing, stamina management, character builds, open-ended levels, and save points that respawn enemies. This formula, while fitting for FromSoftware, has been overused by other developers. 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 provides a refreshing change. Its fast-paced combat, diverse weapons, and the return of the original game's gore (absent in Sigma 2) make it the best version on modern hardware. While veterans might criticize difficulty adjustments and enemy numbers, the original Ninja Gaiden II had technical issues and unbalanced design. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black balances difficulty, restores gore, and retains extra content (excluding unpopular statue boss fights).
This remaster highlights what was lost when similar games declined. Games inspired by Ninja Gaiden and God of War (like Bayonetta, Dante's Inferno, Darksiders, and even Ninja Blade) were common in the late 2000s and early 2010s. The frenetic, combo-based combat against numerous enemies and large bosses in a linear format is effective, yet this style diminished with Soulslike dominance. While similar games exist (Hi-Fi Rush), Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a significant example from a major developer.
Replaying Ninja Gaiden 2 Black underscores the unique experience it offers. There are no shortcuts – no build guides, experience points, or stamina limitations. It's a pure test of skill, demanding mastery of the combat system.
While Soulslikes 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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