Ninja Gaiden 4, A Humble Review

When one mentions challenges in modern gaming, titles like Dark Souls, Nioh, and indie games like Cuphead, Celeste, and Hades are often mentioned. Of course, there have also been gamers who play such games with one hand, blindfolded, using a flute as a controller… 

For some, this is a sign that there actually are no challenging games, only a question of skill. However, even the proponents of that view will at least re-examine their beliefs with the return of the series that left many controllers and players around the world with wet eyes. After more than ten years, Daddy has returned to spank the softies.

If you are in the mood for something darker, check out our Little Nightmares 3 review!

The Challenge of Modernizing Ninja Gaiden 4

Ninja Gaiden 4 is faced with a significant challenge: how to satisfy the experienced fans of the series, while also catering to new players whose only experience with ninjas was the Lego Ninjago cartoon? Eh, that's where we come to the questionable part. Many changes have been introduced in the fourth Ninja Gaiden, and some of them will undoubtedly be controversial to fans of the previous games.

First of all, the legendary Ryu Hayabusa is no longer in the lead role. The focus is on Yakumo, a young ninja of the Raven clan, who is trying to free Tokyo from a dark curse. Both Ryu and Yakumo are playable and opposed to each other, which makes for a fascinating story premise.

Unfortunately, the story lacks the same qualities and quickly turns into a formulaic quest for ancient artifacts and amulets. The first two acts are relatively straightforward, but things heat up towards the end, and the stakes increase. Regardless of the quality of the storytelling, the story is entertaining from start to finish because of its sheer absurdity and the scale of the events. 

Mastering the Mechanics of Combat

The voice acting is at times quite bad, but I would say it works to the game's advantage as it achieves an aesthetic of "camp." If it bothers you too much, it's easy to switch to Japanese voice acting.

"Blah blah, story, blah blah. Who cares? I came to slice up enemies with a katana and give myself a heart attack! What's the combat like?" In short: this is it. This is one of those games that I can turn on, and several hours will evaporate like demons after Yakumo slices them up.

There is no point in describing the combat mechanics in detail because you would then be reading this text for days, and I would be writing it for weeks. In short, all the mechanics you would expect in a modern action game are present here. You can dodge, parry attacks, use special attacks, fast and slow attacks, etc. 

As you progress, you can unlock new moves, skills, and passive bonuses that make the game easier. It is important to emphasize that the game is very responsive, and the combat is not just satisfying, it's exhilarating. When you perfectly block a strike and hit the timing of the counter-attack, there is no better feeling, making every battle a thrilling experience.

 The Platinum Games Influence on Ninja Gaiden 4

Even if you have never played a Ninja Gaiden game, you will quickly find your way around because the tutorial is excellent, and later you have many opportunities to practice specific moves with your sensei. The only problem is the frequent loading between lessons, which seems entirely unnecessary for me because the training arena is always the same. It's a small problem, but it makes learning a bit more irritating.

Once you master the controls, which takes about ten minutes on a controller and fifteen quadrillion years on a keyboard and mouse, you are ready for action! Expect clearly telegraphed attacks, tight timing for counter-attacks, and boss enemies that take away half your health with one hit. Honestly, Ninja Gaiden 4 reminded me more of Metal Gear Rising than any previous game in the series, which makes sense because the same studio is behind it – Platinum Games. Some will be bothered by this deviation, but the gameplay still functions.

Once you get into a fight, the outside world will disappear, and the game will completely swallow you until the last enemy lies in pieces. To succeed, you really have to be entirely focused on what you are doing, which creates a certain tension and satisfaction. My deaths were mostly my own fault, except for some truly vile enemy placements and some occasional troubles with the camera and the lock-on system, which were the primary cause of frustrations.

The game's rhythm is indeed uneven. Some levels are really too long, and the constant combat situations can really exhaust the player. On top of that, several levels and bosses towards the end of the game are almost identical to those from the first half of the game. This can be a bit frustrating, as instead of experiencing something fresh and new, we go through the same thing again. It's a reminder to approach the game with patience and a willingness to overcome these challenges.

The Sound and Music of Ninja Gaiden 4

I played on the standard difficulty, and I was barely surviving the more challenging battles. For the brave, there is a harder mode, and for those who have the reflexes and patience of real ninjas, there is a "Master Ninja" mode, which unlocks after you finish the game. I tried that setting, and I would ask: "Why?". For those who don't have the time or reflexes, there is also a Hero mode that significantly simplifies the game, if your gamer pride can handle it.

Fast, tense action requires the game to run smoothly, and Ninja Gaiden 4 leaves no room for stuttering or variable framerate. Fortunately, technical difficulties are almost non-existent. The graphics are simple, but that makes perfect sense in a game like this. Moreover, I experienced virtually no bugs or crashes. Technically speaking, this game is a testament to perfection, ensuring a seamless and immersive gaming experience.

The artistic style differs from previous installments, and the game has adopted a cyberpunk aesthetic, i.e., a cybernetic clip-on look. If you don't like this translation, I accept complaints in the comments.

Tokyo looks like a complete futuristic dystopia, and the characters have received significant visual redesigns. Despite the lack of complex ray tracing, detailed pebbles on the floor, or visible pores on faces, the game still looks great. My only problem is that the blood and corpses disappear very quickly, but only because the ancient Ninja Gaiden 2 had already solved this problem.

The music is an interesting mix of traditional instruments and something you would hear in the background while Johnny Silverhand explains the failures of capitalism. But the music quickly fades into the background when the slicing and dicing begin, and the sounds of bloodshed and clashing swords create their own melody.

In Conclusion

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a great action title. Although Ryu is no longer in the lead role, the story is crazy from the opening to the closing credits, and Yakumo manages to fill his boots. The technical state is enviable, visuals and sound are fantastic, and the amount of content is satisfactory. However, all of that would fall through if the gameplay, i.e., the combat, weren't good. Fortunately, this is a bullseye. Despite the mechanical complexity, the game explains its mechanics excellently, and it is an absolute pleasure to control both characters; the slicing and dicing is a lot of fun.

Ninja Gaiden 4 proves that a classic series can be refreshed without completely losing its identity. New players will be satisfied, though some changes may infuriate longtime fans. Apart from that, this is a fantastic action game that I recommend to anyone who enjoys tense action and overcoming complex challenges.

Game Rating: 8.5/10

It delivers an exceptionally satisfying and responsive combat system with excellent technical performance. Still, a formulaic story, uneven pacing, and some repetitive levels hold it back, as do occasional camera/lock-on frustrations.

Recommended Age: 16 and older

Due to intense fantasy violence, blood, and the high level of challenge requiring patience and reflex skills that are typically more developed in older teenagers.

Gemini AI Summary:

This review of Ninja Gaiden 4 praises its extremely satisfying, responsive combat, fantastic technical performance, and a successful refresh of the classic series with a new protagonist and cyberpunk aesthetic. However, it criticizes the formulaic story, occasionally uneven pacing with repetitive levels and bosses, and some frustrations with the camera and lock-on system. Despite these flaws, it is highly recommended for fans of challenging action games.