Among the exciting announcements at the 2025 Xbox Developer Direct, the revival of the iconic Ninja Gaiden franchise stands out as one of the most thrilling. Fans of the series are in for a treat with the release of Ninja Gaiden 4 and the immediate availability of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, which was shadow-dropped right after the event. This marks a significant shift for the series, which has been largely dormant since the release of Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge in 2012, aside from the Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection. The reintroduction of Ninja Gaiden could signal a renaissance for traditional 3D action games, which have been overshadowed by the dominance of Soulslike titles in recent years.
In the past, games like Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, and the original God of War series were the torchbearers of the action genre. However, the landscape has shifted with the rise of FromSoftware's titles such as Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring. While we appreciate the depth and challenge of Soulslike games, there's a clear need for diversity in the AAA action market. The return of Ninja Gaiden could be the catalyst needed to bring balance and variety back to the genre.
The Dragon Lineage
The Ninja Gaiden series was once widely considered the gold standard for action games. The 2004 reboot on the original Xbox transformed the series from its 2D roots on the NES into a 3D masterpiece, celebrated for its silky-smooth gameplay, fluid animations, and notorious difficulty. While other action games like Devil May Cry were known for their challenge, Ninja Gaiden set itself apart with its relentless difficulty, challenging players right from the first level with formidable foes like Murai, the nunchaku-wielding first boss.
Despite its steep learning curve, Ninja Gaiden's difficulty is lauded for its fairness. The game demands a mastery of its combat rhythm, a dance of movement, defense, and counterattacks that seasoned players use to dominate their enemies. From the iconic Izuna Drop to the powerful Ultimate Techniques and a variety of combos across different weapons, players have all the tools needed to overcome the game's challenges. The influence of Ninja Gaiden's brutal difficulty and the satisfaction of mastering it can be seen in the Soulslike community, which shares a similar drive to conquer seemingly insurmountable challenges. However, the dominance of Soulslike games over the past decade has somewhat overshadowed the classic action genre.
Follow the Leader
The release of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 in 2009, considered by many as a step down from the original, coincided with the debut of Demon’s Souls, setting the stage for the rise of the Soulslike genre. Dark Souls, released in 2011, became a landmark title, often hailed as one of the greatest games ever, including by IGN. As the Ninja Gaiden series struggled with the releases of Ninja Gaiden 3 and Razor’s Edge, Dark Souls and its sequels, followed by FromSoftware's other titles like Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring, captured the action market's attention.
The widespread adoption of FromSoftware’s mechanics has influenced other games like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Jedi: Survivor, Nioh, and Black Myth: Wukong. While these games are critically acclaimed, the Soulslike formula has overshadowed traditional 3D action games. Ninja Gaiden's return after over a decade, along with the last major Devil May Cry release in 2019 and the evolution of God of War into a more Soulslike-inspired format, highlights the need for a resurgence of classic action games. The unique elements of games like Ninja Gaiden, such as fast-paced combat and a focus on skill mastery without reliance on builds or stamina management, offer a distinct experience that complements the Soulslike genre.
The Master Ninja Returns
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black breathes new life into the action genre, offering the thrilling, high-speed combat and diverse weapon selection that fans crave. This version reinstates the gore absent from the Sigma iteration, making it the definitive edition of Ninja Gaiden 2 for modern hardware. While some purists might miss the original's difficulty, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black strikes a balance that makes it accessible yet challenging, and includes additional content like bonus characters and levels, minus the unpopular statue boss fights.
Ninja Gaiden 4 Screenshots
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Ninja Gaiden 2 Black serves as a reminder of what the action genre has been missing. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, games inspired by Ninja Gaiden and God of War, like Bayonetta, Dante’s Inferno, Darksiders, and even FromSoftware's Ninja Blade, were prevalent. The fast-paced, combo-driven battles against numerous enemies and large bosses in a linear format were a staple of the genre. While games like Hi-Fi Rush in 2023 show that the spirit of Ninja Gaiden lives on, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black stands as a significant release by a major developer in recent years.
Playing Ninja Gaiden 2 Black underscores the unique experience these games offer. There's a purity to the gameplay where success depends solely on your skill and mastery of the game's mechanics, without reliance on external aids like builds or experience points. It's a direct challenge that either you conquer or it repeatedly sends you back to the Game Over screen. While Soulslike games will likely continue to dominate, the return of Ninja Gaiden could herald a new era for action games, catering to an audience that appreciates both genres.
