Ninja Gaiden 4: A Dual Journey Honoring the Legacy of the Franchise

“In the realm of action games, I believe ninjas are a perfect choice,” states Fumihiko Yasuda, a producer at Group Ninja. We’re examining the enduring appeal of ninja characters throughout the history of video games, tracing back to the original Ninja Gaiden titles from the 1980s.

“This dates back to the 2D games because [ninjas] possess acrobatic skills that resonate with audiences globally. Moreover, their masked faces help evoke a sense of professionalism, seriousness, and mystery. I think that contributes to their charm.”

Yuji Nakao, producer and director at PlatinumGames, shares this perspective. “There’s a specific image of what a ‘cool’ ninja embodies,” he remarks, “and I think since the 2D Ninja Gaiden games, that has really captured the essence of the cool ninja in people’s minds.”

Ninja characters have long played a role in video games, predating the debut of the original Ninja Gaiden in 1988. However, that game notably popularized the archetype of the ninja action-hero, featuring a retro-futuristic environment, cinematic cutscenes, and a remarkably high level of challenge. Indeed, all these elements returned with Group Ninja’s 2004 3D revival of the franchise on the original Xbox, which persisted until 2012’s Ninja Gaiden 3.

Now, the series is making a comeback over a decade later with the recent announcement of Ninja Gaiden 4 during the Xbox Developer Direct. This installment is a collaboration with PlatinumGames—a studio recognized for its focus on combat-centric titles like Bayonetta and NieR: Automata—thanks to the president of the publisher Koei Tecmo and the CEO of Platinum being involved. Support from Xbox’s Phil Spencer gave the necessary boost to bring the project to fruition.

“We aimed to ensure that we deliver an experience worthy of a mainline entry,” says Yasuda. “It ultimately took over 10 years to get this new installment underway, and collaborating with PlatinumGames represents an excellent opportunity to introduce the series to a new audience while also satisfying longtime fans.”

“We aimed to ensure that we deliver an experience worthy of a mainline entry.”

After such a long absence, Ninja Gaiden 4 is clearly set to be a fresh entry point for newcomers, but it will surely also serve as a continuation of established narratives, featuring a story that resumes several years after the events of the third game. Anyone eager to catch up can now enjoy a re-release of the second game, Ninja Gaiden 2 Dark, which was unexpectedly announced during the Xbox Developer Direct, providing a contemporary reminder of the franchise’s history and allowing players to experience this significant reference.

“Ninja Gaiden 4 draws a lot of inspiration from Ninja Gaiden 2,” says Yasuda, describing the new Dark version as “a fantastic opportunity for newcomers to get acquainted with Ryu.”

That’s Ryu Hayabusa, the ninja hero throughout the series. However, Ninja Gaiden 4 will also introduce a fresh character, the young ninja Yakumo, who hails from a rival clan to Ryu. Nakao comments: “It has been quite a long time since the last entry in the series, and as a mainline title, this will allow new players to join alongside Yakumo and experience the narrative from the beginning, witnessing his growth.”

Ryu remains a “formidable presence” (and is playable!) in Ninja Gaiden 4, symbolizing “the pinnacle of what it means to be a ninja.” Yakumo, on the other hand, acts as a vehicle for new mechanics intended to “further enhance” the series. This includes his new Nué Style instant kill ninjutsu strikes (as showcased in the trailer), offering a distinct playstyle.

However, it reminds me of 2008’s Devil May Cry 4, which stirred some concern among fans with the introduction of the younger Nero as a new protagonist instead of Dante. More recently, Platinum’s own Bayonetta 3 faced criticism from some for incorporating Viola as a second playable character. Are the developers of Ninja Gaiden apprehensive about dividing the fanbase?

“Above all, we seek to honor Ninja Gaiden as a series and the legacy it has built over the last more than 20 years. An important aspect of that is ensuring that Ryu Hayabusa is well represented and maintains the presence expected from a Ninja Gaiden title,” says Nakao. “We believe that Yakumo’s introduction actually enhances Ryu’s presence, with both characters complementing each other.”

Since the release of Ninja Gaiden 3, Group Ninja transitioned to the Soulslike genre with the two Nioh titles and the 2023 release of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. As Yasuda explains, these titles share a common emphasis on action and the satisfaction of overcoming larger-than-life adversaries through trial and error. However, Ninja Gaiden 4 will see the studio return to the “quintessential elements” of the franchise.

This includes a notoriously high level of challenge. “Ninja Gaiden is recognized for its intensity, especially the dynamic interplay between offense and defense, and the fluid flow of combat,” says Nakao. “With Ninja Gaiden 4, we are ensuring it retains those qualities, and that the rapid-paced action and gameplay experience longtime fans expect from Ninja Gaiden titles — including the challenge and difficulty — are preserved in this new installment.”

But how will new players, who may not be accustomed to such a challenging scenario, fare? “We are also incorporating difficulties…