The 2025 Xbox Developer Direct brought a wave of excitement with the announcement of the revival of the Ninja Gaiden series, marking a significant moment for fans of classic action games. The franchise is set to expand with the release of Ninja Gaiden 4 and the immediate availability of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, which was shadow dropped post-event. This sudden resurgence is a surprising shift, especially considering the last major entry, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge, was released back in 2012. The announcement not only rekindles the flame for Ninja Gaiden enthusiasts but also signals a potential renaissance for traditional 3D action games, which have been overshadowed by the Soulslike genre in recent years.
Historically, games like Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, and the original God of War dominated the action gaming scene. However, the rise of FromSoftware's titles such as Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring has shifted the focus. While Soulslike games have their merits, the action genre needs a balance, and the return of Ninja Gaiden could be the catalyst for this much-needed equilibrium.
### **The Dragon Lineage**The Ninja Gaiden series has long been widely considered the epitome of action gaming. The 2004 reboot on the original Xbox transformed Ryu Hayabusa's adventures from 2D platformers to a new 3D realm, renowned for its seamless gameplay, fluid animations, and intense difficulty. While other hack-and-slash games, like Devil May Cry, were known for their challenges, Ninja Gaiden set itself apart with its unrelenting difficulty, famously exemplified by the first boss, Murai, and his nunchaku mastery.
Despite its notorious difficulty, Ninja Gaiden's challenges are often fair, rooted in player mistakes rather than unfair game mechanics. Mastering the game requires understanding the rhythm of combat, a delicate balance of movement, defense, and counterattacks. The iconic Izuna Drop, powerful Ultimate Techniques, and a variety of combos across different weapons provide players with the tools needed to overcome any obstacle.
The dedication of players to mastering Ninja Gaiden's toughest settings has parallels with the Soulslike community's quest for overcoming seemingly impossible challenges. Ninja Gaiden's influence on this mindset is undeniable, having paved the way for the Soulslike genre, which has since dominated the action gaming landscape. However, this dominance may have come at the expense of other action game styles.
Follow the Leader
The release of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 in 2009, the same year as Demon’s Souls, marked the beginning of a shift in the action genre. Demon’s Souls received strong reviews and paved the way for Dark Souls in 2011, a game frequently hailed as one of the greatest of all time, including by IGN. As Ninja Gaiden 3 and its re-release, Razor’s Edge, struggled, Dark Souls and its sequels, along with FromSoftware's later titles like Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring, captured the action market.
AnswerSee ResultsThe popularity of FromSoftware's mechanics has influenced other titles like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Jedi: Survivor, Nioh, and Black Myth: Wukong. While these games are well-received, the dominance of the Soulslike model has marginalized traditional 3D action games. The return of Ninja Gaiden after over a decade, alongside the 2019 release of Devil May Cry 5 and the 2018 God of War reboot, which shifted towards a more Soulslike approach, underscores the need for diversity in the action genre.
Soulslike games are characterized by challenging combat, timing-based dodges and parries, stamina management, character builds, and large, open-ended levels with save points that both heal and respawn enemies. While FromSoftware's innovation in this area is commendable, the saturation of this model across the industry has left players craving variety. The release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black offers a refreshing alternative, showcasing the unique strengths of character action games.
The Master Ninja Returns
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black breathes new life into the action genre with its fast-paced combat, diverse weaponry, and the restored gore from the original, elements missing from the Sigma version. This iteration is the definitive version of Ninja Gaiden 2 for modern platforms, ideal for newcomers and a reminder for veterans of the series' appeal. While some may criticize the difficulty adjustments and enemy counts, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black strikes a balance between maintaining the series' challenging nature and improving upon the original's technical shortcomings and unbalanced design.
Ninja Gaiden 4 Screenshots
19 Images
The remaster of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black serves as a poignant reminder of what was lost when the genre shifted away from its roots. The late 2000s and early 2010s saw a plethora of games inspired by Ninja Gaiden and God of War, such as Bayonetta, Dante’s Inferno, Darksiders, and Ninja Blade. The fast-paced, combo-driven combat against numerous foes and epic bosses in a linear format is a formula that has largely disappeared as Soulslike games took over. While games like Hi-Fi Rush in 2023 have continued the tradition, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black stands out as a major release from a prominent developer.
The essence of games like Ninja Gaiden lies in their purity—there are no shortcuts, no builds to exploit, no levels to grind. It's a direct challenge between the player and the game, demanding mastery of the provided tools. As Soulslike games continue to dominate, the return of Ninja Gaiden offers hope for a new golden age of action games, catering to a diverse audience eager for variety and challenge.
