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It has been a long time since the world last witnessed the fury of a true Ninja Gaiden title. More than a decade, in fact, since Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge left its mark. In that time, action games have shifted focus towards grand cinematic storytelling, measured pacing, and accessibility. Yet Ninja Gaiden 4 arrives to remind every gamer of a forgotten truth: mastery, precision, and discipline can be far more rewarding than spectacle alone.

This new chapter is not content to simply echo the past; it does not chase nostalgia for its own sake. Instead, it rebuilds the very soul of Ninja Gaiden through modern craftsmanship and a keen understanding of what made the franchise endure. It is a revival with purpose, one that demands attention, patience, and skill.

The surprisingly narrative-heavy story of Ninja Gaiden 4 begins in the neon-lit sprawl of near-future Tokyo, where ancient traditions collide with synthetic evolution. The new protagonist, Yakumo of the Raven Clan, walks the fragile line between both worlds. He is a weapon refined by tradition yet born into an era obsessed with power through technology. His mission unravels as an intricate web of loyalty, vengeance, and destiny — a path inevitably intersecting with the legacy of Ryu Hayabusa, whose shadow continues to loom large over the world of ninjas and demons alike.

Rather than relying on heavy exposition, the narrative unfolds through quiet moments between storms of violence. Small gestures, passing remarks, and fragments of memory create a sense of lineage without drowning the player in lore. Ryu’s presence, when it does emerge, carries the weight of history. He is no longer the unstoppable force of old, but a mentor and a symbol — the embodiment of what Yakumo could one day become, or what he might destroy. The story is functional and focused, avoiding unnecessary convolution. Its greatest strength lies not in the plot itself, but in the emotional rhythm it establishes: a world built on blood, heritage, and the pursuit of perfection.

If the story is the pulse, the gameplay is the heartbeat. Ninja Gaiden 4 is, above all else, a showcase of technical combat and mechanical mastery. It brings back the brutal precision that defined the original trilogy while refining it with a smoother, more kinetic sense of motion. From the very first encounter, the game demands respect. Enemies strike without hesitation, punishing recklessness and rewarding patience. Every encounter is an exchange of rhythm and reflexes, where even a single mistake can bring death. The flow between attacks, counters, and evasion feels organic, guided by instinct rather than button memorisation. It is the kind of combat that grows more rewarding the longer one commits to understanding its systems.

The introduction of the “Bloodraven Form” expands this dynamic further. Once triggered, Yakumo becomes a blur of motion and power, chaining executions and dismemberments with unrelenting precision. Yet this power is not a crutch. It drains stamina and demands control. Every use of it feels like a gamble — a beautiful, dangerous moment where chaos and mastery coexist.

Boss battles also return as crown jewels of design. Each one as monumental in scope and deliberate in rhythm as the previous, forcing adaptation rather than repetition. Success comes through awareness and execution, not sheer aggression. These encounters reaffirm the franchise’s philosophy: victory must be earned, and each triumph should feel like a story told through movement and instinct. While PlatinumGames’ influence adds fluidity and cinematic flair, the spirit of Ninja Gaiden remains intact. The violence is sharp and deliberate, the pacing unforgiving yet exhilarating. This is combat as performance, where art and death are inseparable – exactly as the franchise first taught us when it first released in 1988, and once again when the franchise saw its first and only reboot in 2004.

Simply put: there is beauty in the blade, and Ninja Gaiden 4 understands this deeply. The game’s aesthetic fuses modern cyberpunk energy with the ancient mysticism of its lineage. Streets glow with the reflection of neon lights while ancient temples stand in quiet defiance against technological decay. It is a world that feels alive and dangerous, always on the edge of collapse. Every detail carries weight. The metallic shine of Yakumo’s weaponry, the dark fabric of his armour, and the faint shimmer of energy coursing through enemies; all contribute to a visual experience that feels both grounded and ethereal.

Performance is excellent across the board. On current-generation hardware, the game runs at a blistering pace, maintaining fluidity even when chaos floods the screen. Animations are crisp and responsive, and particle effects explode in dazzling clarity. The option for 120 frames per second on supported platforms only strengthens the sense of precision, making each motion feel tangible and true, and the accompanying fidelity mode makes everything more flashy and shiny whilst still keeping a healthy 30 frames per second at all times.

Sound design completes the immersion. The ring of steel, the rush of wind from a perfect dodge, and the heavy silence that follows a decisive kill all merge into an auditory experience mirroring the game’s philosophy. The music bridges traditional Japanese instrumentation with modern synthetic tones, building tension and release in perfect harmony with the action. The game’s audio is surprisingly well mastered, with believable ambiance and realistic sound stages featuring throughout all chapters.

Needless to say, there are minor imperfections — a camera that occasionally struggles to follow the action in tighter spaces, and narrative pacing occasionally dipping when conversation interrupts flow — but these are small blemishes on an otherwise masterful presentation.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a lesson in focus. It proves speed, precision, and unforgiving difficulty still have a place in modern gaming. More importantly, it demonstrates how evolution does not have to mean compromise. The game may not cater to everyone. Some will find its demands too steep, its philosophy too harsh, or its story too minimalistic. Yet for those who value the pursuit of mastery, who see beauty in repetition and art in destruction, Ninja Gaiden 4 stands as one of the year’s finest experiences.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is not a game built for comfort. It is built for those who still believe that skill matters. Every cut, every dodge, every perfectly timed strike reinforces that belief. By the time the credits roll, one truth becomes clear: the way of the ninja has not been forgotten. It has merely been waiting for the right blade to bring it back to life.

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Verdict:

EXCEPTIONAL [5/5]

PROS	CONS
Exceptional return to form	Conversations tend to break pacing
Fast paced 3D action	Camera sometimes cannot keep up
Great performance

Title reviewed on Xbox Series X with code supplied by Publisher.

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