Ninja Gaiden 4 resurrects the golden age of action games I feared was lost

Ninja Gaiden 4: A Hopeful Reunion

Why the past feels fresh

Action’s Resurgence – The early years of fighting games left a lasting mark. A small portion of the old style still exists, thanks to Devil May Cry and the enduring efforts of Platinum Games.

Key Elements at Play

Team Ninja’s Mastery – Their expertise in fast‑paced gameplay.
Platinum’s Modern Vision – A fresh aesthetic that still respects hard‑core traditions.
Cross‑Game Synergy – A partnership that could rejuvenate an iconic series.

My First Glimpse

During a demo of Ninja Gaiden 4’s opening hour on the Xbox Series X, the game’s action felt exactly like the moments that originally won my heart.

Hopes for the New Hero

Positive Character Design – The protagonist should inject energy rather than dilute momentum.
Maintaining Core Identity – A balance between modern sensibilities and the series’ foundational style.

Our anticipation grows as the old series transforms itself, remembering the distinctive taste that once defined this genre. The new protagonist’s success will determine whether the series can keep its legacy alive in the present era.

Go ninja, go ninja, go

Ninja Gaiden 4: A Fresh Pulse

My first encounter with Ninja Gaiden 4 opened with a concise tutorial that granted a moment of respite as I cemented the fundamentals of combat. The game furnishes a quick and a heavy strike, a block, a dodge, and the newly introduced Bloodraven Form. The Bloodraven Form is less a transformational duel and more a dial‑in that tempers my standard attacks; holding the trigger reduces my normal attack at the expense of a meter that replenishes as I spill blood.

Though the title promises depth, the first encounters keep the focus sharp and straightforward. The game deliberately shelters me from a bias of difficulty by giving me an opening wave that allows me to dismember enemies in a temperate stream—so that I can feel cool immediately. The first waves of enemies are enough to give me a taste of the attack pattern, the meter at the core, and the Bloodraven’s mechanic when the game makes me feel and cool in these.

Key Mechanics at a glance

Quick Attack—a nimble strike that lets me keep the rhythm.
Heavy Attack—a forceful blow that keeps the damage bar high.
Block—provides a shield against coming attacks.
Dodge—a quick evasion that clears me from a threat.
Bloodraven Form—a responsive mod that improves my standard moves but costs a meter. The meter recovers as I shed blood.

In conclusion, Ninja Gaiden 4 delivers a polished starting lesson that keeps the difficulty flat for the beginning while establishing a framework for more elaborate features. The first encounter gives the sense of giddy excitement, letting me thrive with a calm wave of enemies that feel operative.

Exploring Combat Depth in Ninja Gaiden 4

Unveiling Hidden Tutorial Techniques

After completing the first legitimate mission, a raven appears and summons an NPC combat trainer. This moment uncovers the true breadth of the fighting system. I accessed a rapid combat simulation to absorb every move and technique that the game left un‑tutored. Some skills, especially the parry, seemed like essentials that should have been taught more explicitly than a menu option that some players may overlook.

Mastering Agile Mechanics

Combo improvisation – I eagerly improvised through every routine encounter, tossing combos, integrating Blood Raven attacks, and blending dodges, blocks, and parries.
Skill ceiling – Ninja Gaiden 4’s combat system can reach an astonishing height. I can’t even perceive the upper limit, as it became evident when I retrieved my rank at the end of the level and examined the score breakdown.
Feel perceived – Even acknowledging the roughness of my technique during the first run, I still felt unstoppable. Mashing combos, dismembering foes, and executing the perfect dodge or parry look and feel extraordinarily bloody amazing.

Decoding Boss Encounter Strategies

The boss fight in the demo concluded with one encounter, but I accessed an extra boss via the main menu’s challenge missions. Bosses do not stagger normally, so wailing on them did nothing, and their retaliations were hard. On the standard difficulty, Yakumo would collapse in four or five hits, and I burned through consumables within seconds. I required a full reframe of my ultra‑aggressive mindset. The solution was to master blocks, counters, and carefully watch his animations to identify when a stagger was vulnerable to a Blood Raven attack. This felt closer to what a classic Platinum Games boss requires, and the satisfaction gained from mastering it matched the traditional expectations.

Ninja Gaiden 4: A Dynamic Demo Review

Sound Design – The demo highlights Platinum’s layered soundtrack. Vocals emerge as the boss morphs, delivering a pulse that, while not matching Rules of Nature, still fuels adrenaline.

Stealth Is a Weak Point

Gameplay Mechanics – If you’re familiar with Metal Gear Rising, the stealth inserts feel clunky and disconnected from the core speed‑driven aggression. The only stealth move is a behind‑enemy kill, and it never compels players to adopt a sneaking approach.

Demo Freedom – Fortunately, stealth isn’t mandatory; I could march forward with swords blazing, bypassing any tacked‑on stealth section.

Yakumo’s Role Falters

Character Depth – Yakumo, the new protagonist from the Raven clan, offers little personality. His dialogue drags, delivered with a sloth‑on‑Monday enthusiasm that clashes with the high‑energy action I was experiencing.

Voice Acting – Even in the single cutscene and brief radio exchanges, Yakumo’s VO sounded flat, leaving me eager to watch future demos that might better showcase the narrative.

Future Content Hints

Beyond the core fight, the demo hints at shop systems for new moves, optional missions, and a leaderboard challenge series. These elements promise a sprawling experience grounded in the brand’s iconic coolness.

Design Freedom

Despite armor‑laden foes, the gameplay feels streamlined and refreshing, echoing an artful style the series once mastered. Yakumo’s blood‑soaked battles against forgiving bosses test the move‑set mastery I crave.