Ninja Gaiden 4 (PS5) Review: Dream Collab Results in Stellar Action Game

Ninja Gaiden 4 Review — (Photo Credit: Team Ninja)

Team Ninja and PlatinumGames coming together for an action game almost sounds too good to be true, but that’s exactly what happened for Ninja Gaiden 4. Far from the disappointing sequel that was 2012’s Ninja Gaiden 3, the fourth entry in Ryu Hayabusa’s adventure is as good as the series ever has been. Whether you’re a newcomer to the franchise or someone who played the classic 2D Tecmo games, Ninja Gaiden 4 is a top-notch action game that simply rocks.

One of the big focuses for Ninja Gaiden 4 is accessibility for newcomers. This manifests from a story perspective in getting a new protagonist named Yakumo (although Ryu does show up later on and is playable). This allows for a fresh batch of skills, which manifest in a new Bloodraven form that allows you to breakthrough enemy defenses and a combat style that is unique yet undeniably feels like Ninja Gaiden.

What has always set Ninja Gaiden apart from other character-action games is how methodical you have to be in how you choose to approach fights. That layer of strategy is still here, even though combat feels more stylish than ever before. The key is to always stay on the attack, as invincibility frames in certain skills can be the difference between succeeding and losing an encounter. Blocking and parrying is also important, but you always want to be moving and unleashing attacks. From performing executions on downed yet still deadly enemies to using your blood arts to manage a crowd of foes, the fights never stop being satisfying, even if there were occasionally some janky camerawork that led to some off-screen hits.

The stages, which feature a gorgeous cyberpunk aesthetic and the gorgeous sights of Tokyo, culminates in some stellar boss fights that will really test players to put all their skills together. Mastering Yakumo’s different weapons, especially his charged Ultimate Technique attack, was key to survival. Since you’re constantly unlocking new abilities and weapon skills, you have to keep improving upon your gameplay style to keep up with the tougher enemies rather than get stuck into a loop of just doing what worked at the beginning. It’s a much more rewarding and layered game as a result.

Team Ninja and PlatinumGames also do a great job of rewarding players for exploring. While levels are still mostly linear, the game constantly rewards players that poke around corners and look for ways to use their raven gear with chests and hidden challenges. There’s even optional objectives during missions that you can complete. Anytime I veered off the beaten path, I was able to find something worth my time, so make sure to be on the lookout for optional areas rather than just rushing ahead to the next objective.

While the series is just as difficult and rewarding as past entries, this is also the most accessible game in the series. Featuring three difficulty settings to choose from initially (and a Master Ninja difficulty to unlock), players can also use optional aids that range from auto block and evade to a helpful destination indicator that you trigger by holding in the right stick. Throw in a training mode that allows you to get used to all of the new abilities you can unlock in the game, and you’ve got a great entry for those new to the series without sacrificing anything that longtime fans have come to expect.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is also another great reason to own a PlayStation 5 Pro. There are four performance modes, with a stellar 120 FPS mode that rarely drops any frames being the standout for gameplay. There’s also a PS5 Pro exclusive mode — Prioritize Frame Rate (Pro), which runs at 60 FPS but with enhanced graphics, along with standard frame rate and resolution options. This amount of choice is the right way to do things, especially as some PS5 Pro enhanced games have given Pro owners no choice at all.

Ninja Gaiden 4 (PS5) Review: Final Verdict

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a true return to form for Team Ninja’s signature series. Featuring the best action you’ll find in a game this year and a great new character in Yakumo, this is a worthy successor to Ninja Gaiden II and avoids the many missteps that plagued 3. Placed well among Team Ninja and PlatinumGames’ best efforts, Ninja Gaiden 4 fully lives up to the hype and is a total blast.