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After more than a decade of absence, the Ninja Gaiden franchise is riding high following the success of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and Ninja Gaiden Ragebound earlier this year. Enter Ninja Gaiden 4, the long-awaited sequel to the mainline games, this time helmed by a new developer, Platinum Games, and rocking a brand new protagonist. Fears of a misstep, such as Ninja Gaiden 3 or Yaiba Ninja Gaiden Z, can (largely) be put to rest as this new franchise entry is a much-needed return to form.
Previously, we’ve been saddled with some less-than-stellar spin-offs and HD re-releases of otherwise beloved Ninja Gaiden games, with the first two in the series (2004’s Ninja Gaiden and 2008’s Ninja Gaiden 2) generally being considered among the best action games of all time. But where does that leave Ninja Gaiden 4? With so much legacy behind it and so much baggage attached, it was no easy feat to bring the storied saga back for a fourth round.
Clash of clans
Narratively, Ninja Gaiden 4 hits all the established story beats you would expect from a spectacle fighter, even if the new protagonist, Yakumo, lacks the charm and charisma of genre competitors like Dante or Bayonetta. At times, the man feels like a pizza cutter: all edge and no point. Despite a few attempts at getting to the heart of his character, I wasn’t sold on him even by the end of the game.
The plot follows the usual trajectory of super-powered melodrama that one might expect from a Ninja Gaiden title. The Dark Dragon, a former Ninja Gaiden antagonist, lies defeated. However, its husk lies over Tokyo, turning the once-bustling metropolis into a desolate wasteland. The Raven Clan, of which our hero Yakumo is a key part, is destined to rid Tokyo of the creature’s malign influence. However, to do this, the creature must be revived, making Yakumo’s quest one hell of a risky undertaking.
This makes for an exciting, if overblown, central story which, while enjoyable in the moment, is unlikely to stay with you long after you put down the controller.
Style and substance
Ninja Gaiden 4 reliably delivers slick, satisfying action. Platinum’s stab at the renowned series feels very much like an extension of the focused hack-and-slash action found in Ninja Gaiden 2. The move feels welcome, augmented by the reintroduction of the obliberation techniques – flashy kill animations that reduce your enemies to a pile of gore. Gloriously excessive and unremittingly stylish, these moves honor the legacy of Team Ninja’s earlier titles.
Yakumo’s four main weapons each offer a unique world of slick, unmitigated violence. Despite my tendency to specialise in one or two weapons in action games, I found that I was actively using all four throughout combat encounters thanks to the broad technical variety and ease of weapon access. No longer does switching weapons derail you in the middle of a combo. Rather than causing a break in the action, a hasty weapon swap becomes part of the action.
Ninja Gaiden 4 adds a tasty little treat known as Bloodraven Form. This allows Yakumo to infuse his weapons with blood for more powerful attacks; it turns the lance into a drill and the staff into a devastating hammer. These new attacks are tied to a gauge, meaning you cannot overuse them, but they’ll break through an enemy’s guard or interrupt attacks, allowing you to counter effectively.
With the right timing and precision, you can demolish entire hordes of foes without breaking a sweat. This creates moments of meaningful choice in combat encounters where you’ll need to decide to either commit all of your resources or hold back for fear of a more deadly foe around the corner.
Ninja Gaiden 4 also boasts a striking and distinctive visual style. The neon-soaked world and its unremitting futurism contrast beautifully against the demons you’ll slay throughout the runtime.
Each swipe of your sword sees blood spray all over the place, and combat encounters often end resembling the elevator scene from The Shining when all is said and done. The cinematic camera angles do an excellent job of getting you up close and personal with your actions, particularly when performing those new Oblieration Techniques.
An unexpected afterthought
Despite these successes, Ninja Gaiden 4 feels somewhat dated in some aspects of its execution. Fans of the series may feel left out in the cold when it comes to how the title treats beloved series protagonist Ryu. Though you do get to step back into his boots on occasion, this mostly involves retreading old levels and boss encounters. He is not a significant fixture in the main story until the final moments. Across the majority of Ninja Gaiden 4, Ryu is conspicuous by his absence.
Ninja Gaiden 4’s level design also suffers under the weight of more than a few gimmicks. Yakumo gets access to a grapple hook, glider, and surfboard on top of his ability to grind on rails. Sections that use these items are common. Unfortunately, aside from some select rail grinding sequences, these setpieces put you on autopilot and often feel like filler.
On the plus side, levels do have plenty of secrets to find. There are plenty of hidden battles, challenges, and weird little creatures for completionists to seek out, should they be so inclined.
Despite a brutal hiatus and a new developer, Ninja Gaiden 4 is a fantastic reintroduction for the series that feels like it’s just on the cusp of being a classic. A tighter plot and level design would have elevated Ninja Gaiden 4 to true excellence. However, the title remains an excellent action game in its own right, poised to delight long-time fans and engage newcomers.
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