Review: Ninja Gaiden 4 (Xbox)

When it became known that PlatinumGames was collaborating on the fourth significant installment in the Ninja Gaiden franchise, I had two immediate considerations. How would the Bayonetta studio manage such a responsibility, and could another character genuinely spearhead the next major chapter in the contemporary series, replacing the ‘primary figure’ and gaming icon Ryu Hayabusa?

Fast forward to the present, and Ninja Gaiden 4 has officially launched on Xbox. Although the new hero Yakumo forges his own journey, Platinum (under Team Ninja’s leadership) has preserved the franchise’s essence without deviating too far from the traditional model of hack-and-slash action fused with extreme doses of gore and brutality. The latest installment begins in a near-future Tokyo, as the city spirals further into pandemonium, and it’s up to the young ninja — a member of the Raven Clan (a competitor to the Hayabusa Clan) — to restore order. He’s tasked with eliminating the priestess of the Dark Dragon and well… spoiler alert, he’s swiftly convinced to spare her life to break the seal on the Dark Dragon and lift the ancient curse forever. The issue is, he’s now a target, facing Hayabusa and an army of fiends and various foes obstructing his path.

Fortunately, much like the renowned ‘Super Ninja’, Yakumo possesses all the essential tools and training to defy the odds. As in the previous installments of the franchise, you’ll gradually expand your collection of weapons, beginning with dual blades and later unlocking other surprises along the way. Complementing this is an extensive list of weapon and combat abilities that you enhance over time. If you’re familiar with Ninja Gaiden or Platinum’s earlier works, you should feel right at home here. The same applies to the combat concerning the agility of movement as you slash through hordes of fiends. Being the ninja-accomplished gamer that I am (at least in my own perception), I executed all sorts of dazzling combo maneuvers in no time while parrying and targeting foes. Speaking of this, precision is crucial for countering adversaries. You’ll want to master the animations of enemies, and certain moves even include invincibility frames when executed flawlessly. Team Ninja officially describes the experience as a mixture of its own “tempered combat approach” with the “stylish and dynamic gameplay” that fans of PlatinumGames have come to appreciate, and when you observe it all in action, or unleash every move you’ve got during a boss encounter, it’s bound to get your adrenaline racing.

Platinum expands upon these combat fundamentals with Yakumo’s new Bloodraven Form – enabling him to perform powerful and flashy gauge attacks and executions, depending on the buttons you press and the move set or weapons equipped. If you can’t breach an enemy’s guard or defenses, these lethal moves should do the trick. And to top it all off, there’s the Berserk State, serving as a deadly and bloody finisher. Once you grasp it all, Yakumo controls pretty much like other characters from past installments, he just has an extra flair, thanks to Platinum’s stylish additions.

In-between battles, gameplay in Ninja Gaiden 4 stays largely true to the modern series’ foundations, originally established by the late Tomonobu Itagaki and his team in the 2004 Xbox reboot: Ninja Gaiden. This includes straightforward ‘Point A to Point B’ style progression, filled with checkpoints along the way, plenty of chests to kick open, and additional treasures to gather. There’s also a significant amount of platforming action, with some rail grinding, and unlocks like the “Dragonfly Glider” and “Pond Strider” giving you the ability to soar and even surf your way through parts of the levels. Existing moves and platforming techniques — including wall running from previous installments — have also been transferred and adjusted to the pacing of the fourth outing, allowing for breaks from combat.

Of course, it’s not always a smooth journey. As any Ninja Gaiden veteran will acknowledge, the challenge of this series is a defining characteristic and in the fourth installment it extends to four options once the story mode is completed. On the tougher settings, battles are intense, and you can’t afford to let your guard down or make careless mistakes. While newcomers may wish to commence Yakumo’s adventure on ‘Hero Mode’ (which activates auto-guard and other aids), I would personally suggest attempting a higher difficulty for a more authentic Ninja Gaiden experience; the learning curve has always contributed to its charm.

Now, we venture into spoiler territory. If you don’t wish to know, scroll down to the next paragraph… You’ve been warned! So, as you might have already inferred from the promotional art and trailers, Ryu is, in fact, a playable character in the title. This has also been explicitly confirmed in the marketing materials, so hopefully, you’re not too astonished to see me discussing it here. You’ll find yourself spending many hours with Yakumo before you gain access to Ryu, but it’s exceptionally satisfying when you finally reunite with the series’ iconic character. He controls mostly the same as the Raven Clan’s ninja, but generally feels considerably stronger, as one would expect. He also possesses a new ‘Gleam State’ (similar to Yakumo’s ‘Bloodraven Form’), which he can utilize to penetrate an enemy’s guard and unleash powerful moves. As he becomes playable later in the game, there’s a slightly different approach to unlocks, with some of his abilities being acquired through chests. Regarding his gameplay segments, you’ll observe him partially retracing certain areas you’ve previously navigated as Yakumo. Thankfully, it doesn’t drag out, and the overlap of the narratives only amplifies the gravity of the situation.

In terms of technology, the entire experience is driven by PlatinumGames’ proprietary engine. I wouldn’t claim it’s as visually stunning as Ninja Gaiden 2 Black operating on Unreal Engine 5, but it does enough to present itself well. Regarding settings, you have a Graphics Mode – prioritizing visuals at 30 FPS, and then there’s a consistent Performance Mode at 60 FPS. You can also specifically select a higher Performance Mode aiming for 120 FPS if you possess the display to utilize it and have access to an Xbox Series X or supported platform. The graphics mode performs adequately, but doesn’t always offer the best visuals during more heated moments on-screen. Given the general pace of the gameplay, I found the 120 FPS Mode to be worth the visual trade-off. It also seems considerably more responsive in terms of movement, and is arguably how a game like this should be experienced. Aside from the visuals, there’s also a robust soundtrack throughout that adapts to the mood and pace of each moment – it all synchronizes excellently!

Conclusion

Reflecting on where this review commenced, I indeed raised some inquiries about Platinum’s capability to produce a title true to the Ninja Gaiden series, and for the most part, this new installment featuring Yakumo is just as badass as any of Ryu’s previous escapades. It retains the essence and customs of the earlier games, broadens combat in innovative and stylish ways, and if you’re a fan of this genre – it’s a bloody fantastic battle from start to finish. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some more fiends to vanquish.