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 a surprise shadow drop, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. This marks a significant return for the series, absent a proper entry 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 supplanted this style. While Soulslike games are enjoyable, the AAA market should accommodate both styles. The return of Ninja Gaiden could be the much-needed balance for the action genre.
### A Legacy of Dragons
The Ninja Gaiden series was once considered the apex of action games. The 2004 Xbox reboot, a departure from its 2D NES origins, instantly became iconic for its smooth gameplay, fluid animation, and brutal difficulty. While other hack-and-slash titles existed, Ninja Gaiden stood apart, its challenging nature almost defiant. Many players recount their struggles against Murai, the formidable first boss.
Despite the difficulty, the challenge is generally fair. Deaths stem from player mistakes, requiring mastery of combat rhythm, movement, defense, and counter-attacks. The Izuna Drop, Ultimate Techniques, and diverse weapon combos provide ample tools to overcome challenges.
The demanding nature of Ninja Gaiden and the satisfaction of overcoming its obstacles ironically foreshadowed the Soulslike phenomenon and its dedicated community. This dedication to mastering mechanics, a key element of Ninja Gaiden's success, became a defining feature of the Soulslike subgenre. However, this influence may have been too successful, as Soulslike mechanics have dominated action games for over a decade.
Following the Trend
The release of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 (a widely criticized PS3 port) coincided with Demon's Souls (2009), a title that paved the way for the landmark Dark Souls (2011). While Ninja Gaiden 3 and Razor's Edge struggled, Dark Souls significantly impacted the action market, spawning sequels and influencing FromSoftware's subsequent titles, including Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring.
This Soulslike influence spread to other franchises like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Nioh, and Black Myth: Wukong. While Soulslike games are popular, their dominance has stifled the AAA action space, leaving classic 3D action games scarce. Ninja Gaiden's return follows over a decade of absence, with Devil May Cry 5 (2019) and a significantly altered God of War (2018) representing the few remaining examples of the genre. The newer God of War games, while not strictly Soulslike, share similarities.
Soulslike hallmarks—challenging combat emphasizing timing, stamina management, character builds, open-ended levels, and save points—are now ubiquitous. While this style suits FromSoftware, its widespread adoption has led to an oversaturation. The release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black offers a chance for character action games to reclaim their place.
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, ideal for newcomers. While some veterans might criticize difficulty adjustments and enemy counts, the original Ninja Gaiden II suffered from technical issues and unbalanced design. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black offers the best balance, retaining high difficulty, restoring gore, and including extra content from Sigma 2 (excluding unpopular statue boss fights).
This remaster underscores the loss of this style of game. Games inspired by Ninja Gaiden and God of War were prevalent in the late 2000s and early 2010s (Bayonetta, Dante's Inferno, Darksiders, and even FromSoftware's Ninja Blade). The frenetic, combo-based combat against numerous enemies and large bosses in a linear format is a proven formula, yet its popularity diminished with the rise of Soulslike games. While similar mechanics persist (e.g., Hi-Fi Rush), Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a significant example from a major developer in recent years.
Replaying Ninja Gaiden 2 Black highlights the unique aspects of these action games. There are no shortcuts—no build guides, experience points, or stamina bars limiting abilities. It’s a pure test of skill, demanding mastery of combat or facing repeated defeat. While Soulslike games remain popular, Ninja Gaiden's return hopefully heralds a new era for action games, providing enough space for both styles to thrive.
Ninja Gaiden 4 Screenshots
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