Round Up: Ninja Gaiden 4 Sounds Like the Slick, Brutal Sequel Fans Are Hoping For 1

Ninja Gaiden has already had a moment in the sun with the very warmly received side-scrolling entry Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, but it seems the upcoming full-blown 3D action title might also do the series proud.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is the first brand new numbered sequel in over a decade, and a recent round of previews are almost universally glowing. Developed by both Team Ninja and PlatinumGames, it's looking like the hack and slash actioner will be exactly what fans are hoping for when it launches in October.

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Understandably, the previews are primarily concerned with the combat and how the game feels to control. Most outlets agree that Ninja Gaiden 4 feels fantastic, with cutthroat, challenging bouts against even basic enemies, and a multitude of options at your disposal.

This includes a variety of classic moves such as the Izuna Drop and Flying Swallow, moves that both protagonists — newcomer Yakumo and Ryu himself — can utilise in battle.

Both characters will have different abilities, though; Yakumo has a Bloodraven form that beefs up his attacks and allows him to tank hits in order to deliver devastating follow-ups. You can also use this to counter otherwise unblockable attacks.

Ryu has a Gleam form instead, which is more about relentlessly fast attacks that cut enemies to ribbons.

It's also noted in most previews that the series' trademark level of challenge is present and correct, rewarding precise play and punishing a haphazard, gung-ho approach. On top of that are plenty of accessibility options, meaning that whether you want the game as hard as possible or easier to get through, you should be able to find difficulty options to suit.

Here are some quotes from various outlets:

GamesRadar+

That's a feeling I'm more than familiar with from the older Ninja Gaiden games, and as I splash buckets of blood all over Tokyo – both my own and my enemies' – I'm shocked that even after all these years they've finally gone back to basics to give us a new one of these. It's a feeling I've not had since Devil May Cry 5, and didn't expect to have again. Now, time to transform into a big drill and carve through goons, quoth the raven.

IGN

It’s rare when you wait for a game for more than a decade and it finally comes and it seems to be everything you wanted and more, but so far, Ninja Gaiden 4 is shaping up to be that game. October 21 can’t come fast enough.

TechRadar

I adored my time with this Ninja Gaiden 4 demo. The vertical slice provided is Team Ninja and PlatinumGames operating at their best, combining phenomenal action combat with gratuitous violence and crushingly hard difficulty. And if you’ve got that soulslike fatigue setting in, fear not, as there isn’t a drop of the FromSoftware formula to be found anywhere in Ninja Gaiden 4. It’s Ninja Gaiden-style action through and through.

TheGamer

There’s still a lot about Ninja Gaiden 4 that I don’t know after just two hours with it, but my time was enough to bury nearly all of my worries. Platinum’s influence can definitely be felt in some big ways, but nearly every change and evolution feels like it’s for the better. It’s still too early to tell, but Ninja Gaiden 4 truly might be a new peak for the series, and I can’t wait to find out for sure.

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