Ninja Gaiden 4 is one of the biggest games of 2025. This is the reason

IF Team Ninja had begun to declare 2025 as the year of the Ninja, especially when it had its last major title Ronin rise (more clearly a samurai-like event), I would have checked out mentally. yes, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound Announced at the final game awards, it was lovingly a retro spinoff to mark the revival of the classic side scroll series’ gameplay, but it was more or less.

For many of us, it was a year Monster Hunter With the imminent release of Wild (And it was released without any problems). Year of Grand Theft Auto 6 (It’s finally next year). Of course, Team Ninja didn’t just declare this on a whim.

That was the result revealed Ninja Gaiden 4A full-fledged sequel to the 3D action adventure series that really created a mainstream name. When I was directly covering Xbox developers at the time, I wondered what Microsoft could bring out and take a year off with High Notes. DOOM: Dark Ages and some of the relatively unknown titles clear clear nabure: expedition 33 The biggest highlights of the lineup were lined up. Midnight South. but Ninja Gaiden 4 The first game was on display and it was brilliant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwrt8vj6qqq

Fast battles blown away against new flashy mechanics. Definitely more new protagonists than Ryu Hayabusa. High-speed traversal in a version near Tokyo, surrounded by the Curse of the Dark Dragon. Parry, Dodge, bloody executions – it all yelled Ninja Gaiden In the best possible way. Falling the shadows Ninja Gaiden 2 Black Also, it didn’t hurt, but from that moment on, Ninja Gaiden 4 It quickly surged to the top of my must-see list. The fact that it was confirmed as not being there for this year’s release also felt incredible that it would appear to be available for the first time and play.

With only a few weeks left until release, it’s somewhat surprising that we don’t see any more hype in the title. in front Ninja Gaiden 3 The first entry completely disrupted all interest in the franchise was one of the most universally acclaimed titles of all time. The Side Scroll Formula has been translated into an incredibly authentic 3D exploration, focusing on combat difficulty. The story wasn’t often written at home, but the action tied me up from getting me.

An offensive enemy who simply didn’t wait to reach Panmelcoupled with acrobatic techniques and extremely harmful abilities, it became one of the most adrenaline-filled experiences of the time. And in the meantime Ninja Gaiden 2 Although not praised enough to be praised, it still sells well, and has introduced some great mechanics to the series, from enemies separated from crazy new weapons to enemies finished with their threats and exploiting techniques ignored.

Ninja Gaiden 4However, it works at a higher level. Yakumo, a member of the Raven clan, co-developed with the Platinumgames, ventures to stop the curse of the Dark Dragon. It confronts the whole faction who dedicated him to his existence, and with the Ryu Hayabusa of all people. There are already unique dynamics. Does this really lead to the destruction of the entity? Are Yakumos played? Are we villains? Again, it’s not too complicated, but the focus remains on action and exploration.

And there are a variety of traversal tools available at your disposal, from running and crushing the walls across the rails to avoid trains flying from one side to the other, coming in to the wings. It’s like both development teams have looked into the extent to which ninja-style traversal actually constituted an older game, creating a much faster tempo, increasing complexity.

But once the battle begins, things really start to shine. Yakumos are armed with multiple weapons, including dual blades, staff, rapiers and katana, each playing a unique role. If you want to slice multiple enemies at once, dual blades are a great option. But the real kicker is in the form of Bloodraven, transforming his weapon in a crazy way. The rapier suddenly becomes a massive drill that can tear enemies in almost comical yet bloody ways.

This form can also activate Bloodbath attacks. The mechanics are tied to ferocious gauges that slowly accumulate as they inflict damage and expunge enemies, and as the blood bath is unleashed, Yakumo breaks the threat of the low layer in a stylish gore flame. It looks cathartic and acts as a proper payoff to play well (or a powerful comeback mechanic if you do too much damage).

Of course, there are many other factors that take into account the fact that from Assassin’s tools and bombs, enemies can be launched into the hollow for follow-up attacks, allowing players to exchange weapons on the spot to gain even more combo depth. There was concern that this style of fast action was not what Ninja Gaiden Known for, but between all the flashy gore is a mechanic called a hornet. This is a counter that helps to deflect heavier hits. It’s very important against tougher enemies, but as the team’s ninja producer/director Yuji Nakao explained to Xbox Wire, there are elements of risk and reward. Do you stay nearby to cause deflection, or will you come back to a safe place? Honestly, I’m interested in an approach that rewards mastery – if you didn’t have the skills to back it up, and so far, it’s insane to jump into conflict. Ninja Gaiden 4 It’s being distributed.

Thankfully, Team Ninja and Platinummames don’t ignore the explorer of gameplay. Each chapter hosts a similar optional battle to Valor tests, and Challenge Missions offers a variety of objectives to complete to earn ranks. These can range from fighting multiple enemies in unique conditions to rematch with story bosses. And if you really want to put your skills in the test, by hoping for a death wish, you can abandon all upgrades and purely rely on mastering the combat system.

A typical playthrough Ninja Gaiden 4 It takes about 15-20 hours. Certainly, you can replay at any time on Ninja difficulty, or run through all chapters, like Yakumo or Ryuhayabusa (which otherwise has many playable sections with meat). But I’m a fan of this playtime, and I’m purely focused on enemy encounters and challenging bosses, with occasional secret hunting bouts.

This series was really unknown for providing a wide range of experiences that can be taken anywhere. Instead, they relied on tight pacing and barrage of actions to attract players. It’s good to see the team’s ninja stick to that spirit. It’s almost completely contrasting NIOH 3 At that open level if you think about it.

But more than anything, Ninja Gaiden 4 Because of that energy it feels like one of the biggest games of the year. There is a simultaneous meeting of old and new schools, knowing what it wants to offer, and there is a gorgeous aesthetic and fast-paced action that escalates it with a steady pulse-pound speed. It looks like a return to everything we loved about the series, but it’s also a huge step forward that appears to be coming into a new era. Certainly, we don’t really know until after the franchise’s launch. Success will certainly be the ninja’s crescendo of the year – but if nothing else, Ninja Gaiden Back, I couldn’t go practically.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent GamingBolt’s views as an organization.