PlatinumGames and Team Ninja resurrect the legendary franchise with blistering combat and stunning visuals—but stumble in innovation.
The Year of the Ninja Ends with a Blood-Stained Flourish
2025 has been a standout year for ninja games, with Assassin’s Creed: Shadows and the surprise remaster of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. Now, the long-awaited Ninja Gaiden 4 closes the curtain with a brutal, neon-drenched bang.
Developed by Team Ninja in collaboration with PlatinumGames, this is the first new 3D installment in over a decade. While not as punishing or innovative as earlier entries, it’s a satisfying, combat-first experience for those craving stylish swordplay.
A New Ninja Rises: Meet Yakumo
- Yakumo, the new protagonist, replaces Ryu Hayabusa as the playable character.
- Hailing from the Raven Clan, Yakumo mirrors Ryu’s grace and lethality, though Ryu himself still makes a cameo.
- The story sees Yakumo battling the Divine Dragon Order to stop the resurrection of the Dark Dragon, all within a futuristic Tokyo.
Narrative depth? Not much. But fans will find familiar lore cues, and newcomers won’t miss out on the action.
Combat Is King — With Bloodraven Flair
If you’ve played Bayonetta or Nier: Automata, PlatinumGames’ fingerprints are unmistakable here:
- Yakumo’s combat system blends light and heavy attacks into satisfying combos.
- Defeating enemies earns points for new moves, weapons, and skills.
- Weapons like the Magashuti staff add variety, offering reach and crowd control.
🩸 The real standout is Yakumo’s Bloodraven form, activated by holding the left trigger:
- Transforms weapons into more powerful forms.
- Essential for breaking enemy armor or dealing heavy damage.
- Offers spectacle and strategy, especially during boss fights.
However, not all is smooth in the dojo…
Fast to a Fault
- The action is blisteringly fast, sometimes too fast.
- Controlling Yakumo precisely during exploration can be difficult.
- Some skills make it harder to stay still than to slice enemies.
- A few bugs—like a finisher animation pushing the player out of bounds—highlight the need for polish.
💢 The lock-on system is particularly frustrating. It inconsistently targets enemies, even bosses, which breaks the flow during high-stakes encounters.
Not as Brutal as You’d Expect
Veteran fans, brace yourselves:
- Ninja Gaiden 4 is significantly easier than past entries.
- Healing items, equippable accessories, and NPC helpers lower the challenge.
- While a hard mode exists, the default setting lets players coast through most chapters with minimal deaths.
For many, this may be a welcome shift—but hardcore fans may find it lacking in that classic, controller-snapping tension.
A Cyber-Ninja Spectacle
Visually, Ninja Gaiden 4 doesn’t disappoint.
- The futuristic Japan setting glows with cyberpunk charm—neon skylines, glass towers, and cinematic traversal sequences.
- Highlights include rail-sliding across train tracks and gliding through stormy mountain passes.
- An excellent soundtrack and solid voice acting round out the presentation.
🎧 The audio-visual immersion keeps the experience grounded in the Ninja Gaiden identity, even if the gameplay feels slightly more streamlined.
Final Verdict
Ninja Gaiden 4 is a solid reboot that stays true to the franchise’s roots without taking many risks. It’s a fast, fluid, and flashy experience that rewards players who crave elegant violence, even if it plays it safe in design.
For many fans, that’s enough.
It’s not revolutionary, but it’s damn fun—and sometimes, that’s all you want from a ninja game.
✅ Verdict: Ninja Gaiden 4 is a visually slick, combat-heavy return that satisfies long-time fans—but it won’t redefine the genre or the franchise.
- Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
- Price: $70
- Available on Game Pass: Yes, Day 1
- Playtime: 7–8 hours
Ninja Gaiden 4 delivers fast-paced combat and sleek visuals in a futuristic Tokyo setting. While the new protagonist Yakumo shines in battle, simplified difficulty and some control issues keep the game from achieving greatness. It’s a strong comeback—but not a genre-defining one.
