Ninja Gaiden 4 Review: PlatinumGames’ DNA Shines in Stylish, Accessible Combat

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Of all the action games coming out in 2025, Ninja Gaiden 4 is arguably the most anticipated. It’s the first fully 3D Ninja Gaiden game in over a decade, following the well-received 2D revival, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. What makes this release even more special is the collaboration between Team Ninja, the long-time developers of the series, and the renowned action game experts at PlatinumGames. Adding to the weight of expectations is the recent loss of series creator Tomonobu Itagaki. Considering all of this, Ninja Gaiden 4 doesn’t just meet expectations – it exceeds them spectacularly.

Ninja Gaiden 4 successfully blends the classic feel of past games with exciting new ideas. It retains the complex combat Team Ninja fans love, but adds a stylish touch reminiscent of PlatinumGames. This time, you play as Yakumo, a new ninja, while Ryu Hayabusa takes on a supporting role. This change allows for incredibly creative combat possibilities and sets up a promising future for the series. With the recent releases of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, Ninja Gaiden 4 completes the revival of the franchise, proving that Ninja Gaiden is back and better than ever.

Ninja Gaiden 4 Is Most Definitely a PlatinumGames Title, and It’s All the Better For It

From the start, Ninja Gaiden 4 makes it clear that PlatinumGames, not Team Ninja, led the game’s development. While Team Ninja was involved, PlatinumGames’ influence is much more apparent in how the game actually plays. The result is a Ninja Gaiden title that’s incredibly over-the-top, fast-paced, and visually stunning – the most action-packed 3D game in the series. If Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound looked to the past, Ninja Gaiden 4 points the way forward, and once you’ve played it, it’s hard to imagine going back to anything else. It’s a remarkably satisfying experience on every level.

PlatinumGames is famous for its stylish and engaging action games, like the popular Bayonetta, the unique The Wonderful 101, and Astral Chain. This signature style is clearly present in Ninja Gaiden 4, where the combat truly shines. The game will likely keep players hooked for around 10–12 hours, and it’s where PlatinumGames’ strengths are most obvious. While Ninja Gaiden 4 still challenges players to master each weapon and learn enemy patterns—punishing those who just mash buttons—it’s more approachable than previous 3D Ninja Gaiden games, especially on Normal difficulty. This focus on accessibility is a hallmark of PlatinumGames, making Ninja Gaiden 4 the easiest entry point for newcomers and allowing players to quickly enjoy the action.

Don’t worry, Ninja Gaiden 4 offers a real challenge for players who want it. While regular enemies are fairly easy to handle on the Normal difficulty, the boss fights are where the game gets truly difficult. A few of these fights can be frustrating at first, especially since dying lowers your score, but you’ll eventually figure out the right strategies to win. None of the fights feel unfair or tedious, though. Instead, Ninja Gaiden 4 is like a thrilling roller coaster – fast-paced and exciting from start to finish. The game is relatively short, and you’ll quickly want to play through it again. Once you beat Normal mode, the Hard and Master Ninja difficulties offer even more fun – I’m currently playing through those and enjoying them immensely. It’s my first attempt at Master Ninja mode since Ninja Gaiden Black, and it feels great to be back in the action.

Ninja Gaiden 4 Sets Up Yakumo as a Worthy Successor to Ryu Hayabusa’s Legacy

Most players come to the Ninja Gaiden games for the action, not the story. While Ninja Gaiden 4‘s story isn’t groundbreaking, it’s decent and continues the series’ history, picking up shortly after the events of Ninja Gaiden 3. More importantly, the game introduces Yakumo as a potential new lead for future Ninja Gaiden titles. It might feel wrong to suggest anyone could replace Ryu Hayabusa, who has been the face of the series since 1988, but characters like Kenji from Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound and Yakumo in Ninja Gaiden 4 demonstrate that the series can support more than one master ninja.

At the end of Ninja Gaiden 3, the Dark Dragon was defeated again, but not destroyed completely. Its body now hangs over Tokyo, creating a strange, poisonous rain that brings monsters into the world and forces the city to shut down. While Ryu Hayabusa and the Divine Dragon Order work to protect Tokyo from these threats, a young ninja named Yakumo from the Raven Clan begins a quest to finally destroy the Dark Dragon, fulfilling an ancient prophecy. As usual in Ninja Gaiden games, what starts as a straightforward mission quickly becomes much more complex, and Yakumo and Ryu unexpectedly find themselves fighting against each other.

The core conflict in Ninja Gaiden 4 represents the game as a whole. Ryu hasn’t been able to fully stop evil, and Yakumo’s quest establishes him as the next generation of ninja who can succeed. While longtime fans and action game players might predict the plot twists, the story’s conclusion effectively passes the baton from Ryu to Yakumo – a fitting theme considering this game could be the start of a new era for the 3D Ninja Gaiden series.

Between Ragebound and Ninja Gaiden 4, 2025 is the ‘Year of the Ninja’

Beyond its exciting combat, which is typical of PlatinumGames’ style, Ninja Gaiden 4 includes gameplay features fans of action games will recognize. Similar to past Ninja Gaiden games and titles like Bayonetta, defeating enemies earns you “Karma” – a currency you can spend to learn new moves, buy health items, or equip accessories that boost your character’s abilities. This light RPG-style progression is a staple of the genre and feels essential to the Ninja Gaiden experience. It’s great to see it back in Ninja Gaiden 4, alongside the game’s new features. Surprisingly, Ninja Gaiden 4 features a lot of platforming, and it’s all very fluid and enjoyable. While the levels are somewhat straightforward, they’re frequently spiced up with wall-running, grappling hooks, and rail-grinding sections set against a futuristic Tokyo backdrop.

Honestly, Ninja Gaiden 4 feels like everything a fan could want in a new game. Now, I know some hardcore players think Ninja Gaiden Black or the original Ninja Gaiden 2 on Xbox 360 were the best, and they might not love this one. But I think this new game focuses more on just being plain fun than those older titles ever did. It’s a complete package, in my opinion.

Similar to previous games like Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, Ninja Gaiden 4 successfully captures what fans love about the series – challenging but rewarding gameplay, unique and over-the-top enemies, and intense, violent combat. It builds on those strengths with enough new ideas to feel modern, without drastically changing the core experience. This game suggests a bright future for the Ninja Gaiden franchise, with a new creative team at the helm, and it’s easily one of PlatinumGames’ best, potentially even the best action game of 2025.

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2025-10-21 02:06