By mode zone.com Oct 21 2025
At 8 p.m. last night, the long-awaited sequel finally arrived: Ninja Gaiden 4 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC). The early critical reaction is overwhelmingly clear: this is a supremely focused action title, shedding many of the modern trappings of AAA games to deliver one thing — brutal, high-skill combat.
Back to Basics, High-Velocity Style
According to a hands-on report by Kotaku, Ninja Gaiden 4 abandons the sprawling open-world ambitions, heavy RPG mechanics and excessive cinematic storytelling so common in today’s blockbusters — and instead “returns to the series’ roots”.
The result? A game that emphasises: lightning-fast reflexes and combo chaining
meaningful dodge and block mechanics
aerial manoeuvres and weapon-switching strategy
succinct, intense challenge rooms and boss encounters
In short: pure action. One reviewer even went so far as to call the combat “S-class” — reaffirming that when the foundation is proper, fewer distractions mean more impact.
What We’re Hearing
Several recurring themes emerge across the previews and early reviews:
The protagonists’ arsenal has been refined: weapons feel distinct, and every encounter demands switching tactics on the fly.
Mobility is elevated: grappling hooks, gliding, wall-runs and high-octane traversal sequences are built into the combat RNA.
Difficulty remains core: enemies are aggressive, patterns matter, and there’s a real sense that the player must master the systems rather than brute force their way through.
The “purity” of combat comes at a cost: narrative, exploration and non-combat elements are reportedly streamlined; they exist to serve the fights, not steal the spotlight.
So What’s New?
From the developer side, the team behind Ninja Gaiden 4 emphasises a design motto of fair but punishing challenge. Directors Yuji Nakao and Masakazu Hirayama explicitly stated that player deaths must feel like a meaningful consequence of their choices, not random frustration.
Moreover, the combat design blog from PlatinumGames details their goal to provide “a high degree of freedom and a plethora of options and techniques” while retaining intuitive control.
Where It Falls Short
No game is perfect, and Ninja Gaiden 4 has a few trade-offs worth noting:
Several critics mention that narrative depth, character development and scene settings feel “lean”. One review states the story and characters are “neither as interesting” as some tier-one action titles.
Platforming and non-combat traversal segments are present, but often described as serviceable rather than standout.
Some repetition in level design and enemy waves has also been noted — specifically that the loop of high-intensity combat can feel prolonged.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been yearning for an action game that stops trying to be everything and instead excels at what it is, Ninja Gaiden 4 is likely your ticket. It may not be the narrative masterpiece or open-world epic of some other titles, but for pure adrenaline-fueled combat, it delivers in spades.
Expect to be thrown into the deep end, challenged at every turn — and when you finally master a complex encounter, it’ll feel excellent.
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