New Era in Gaming: Ninja Gaiden Returns to Challenge Soulslike Reign

The 2025 Xbox Developer Direct brought many surprises, but the Ninja Gaiden revival stands out as one of the biggest. The classic action franchise is getting a resurgence with multiple new titles, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and the surprise shadow drop of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. This marks a significant return for the series, absent from the scene 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 a long reign of Soulslike titles.

Once, titles like Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, and the original God of War series dominated 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 epitome of action games. The 2004 Xbox reboot, a departure from its 2D NES roots, instantly became iconic for its smooth gameplay, fluid animation, and brutal difficulty. While other hack-and-slash games existed, Ninja Gaiden stood apart, its difficulty a defining characteristic. Many players recount their struggles against Murai, the challenging first boss.

Despite the challenge, the difficulty is generally fair. Deaths result 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 for overcoming challenges. This demanding gameplay, and the satisfaction of overcoming it, influenced the Soulslike ethos, emphasizing the reward of conquering seemingly insurmountable odds. Ninja Gaiden's demanding mechanics paved the way for the Soulslike subgenre, but its success might have been its downfall.

Following the Trend

The release of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 (a PS3 port widely considered inferior) coincided with Demon's Souls (2009). Demon's Souls received strong reviews and set the stage for Dark Souls (2011), a landmark title often cited as one of the greatest games ever made (including by IGN). While Ninja Gaiden 3 and Razor's Edge struggled, Dark Souls carved a significant niche in the action market, spawning sequels and influencing FromSoftware's subsequent titles, including Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring.

The popularity of FromSoftware's mechanics spread to other franchises like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Jedi: Survivor, Team Ninja's Nioh, and Black Myth: Wukong. While Soulslike games aren't inherently flawed, their dominance has stifled the AAA action space, leaving classic 3D action games scarce. Ninja Gaiden's return after over a decade, alongside DMC5 (2019) and the evolved God of War (2018), which shifted away from its fast-paced roots, highlights this issue. The newer God of War games, while not strictly Soulslike, share similarities.

Soulslike hallmarks – timed dodges, parries, stamina management, character builds, open-ended levels, and save points – are recognizable. While this formula works for FromSoftware, its widespread adoption has led to an oversaturation. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black's release offers a chance to showcase the strengths of character action games.

The Master Ninja's Return

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black provides a refreshing change of pace. The fast-paced combat, diverse weapons, and the return of the original game's gore (absent in Sigma 2) make it the best version available on modern hardware. 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 strikes a balance, retaining high difficulty and gore while incorporating extra content from Sigma 2 (excluding unpopular statue boss fights).

This remaster underscores what was lost when similar games ceased to be prominent. 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, surprisingly overshadowed by the Soulslike model. While similar games exist (Hi-Fi Rush), Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a significant release from a major developer.

Replaying Ninja Gaiden 2 Black highlights the unique qualities of these action games. There are no shortcuts; no build guides, experience points, or stamina bars to limit gameplay. It's a pure test of skill, demanding mastery of combat. While Soulslike games remain popular, Ninja Gaiden's return hopefully ushers in a new golden age for action games, offering a diverse gaming experience for all.

Ninja Gaiden 4 Screenshots

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