At the 2025 Xbox Developer Direct, one of the most exciting announcements was the revival of the iconic Ninja Gaiden series. Fans were thrilled to learn about the upcoming releases of Ninja Gaiden 4 and the immediate availability of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, which was shadow dropped right after the event. This unexpected resurgence marks a significant shift for the franchise, which had been dormant since the release of Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge in 2012, aside from the Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection. The return of Ninja Gaiden could signal a pivotal moment for the gaming industry, heralding a revival of classic 3D action games that have been overshadowed by the dominance of Soulslike titles in recent years.

In the past, games like Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, and the original God of War were the benchmarks of the action genre. However, the rise of FromSoftware's titles such as Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring has largely eclipsed these traditional action games. While Soulslike games have their merits, the action gaming landscape needs diversity, and the return of Ninja Gaiden could help restore balance to the genre.

The Ninja Gaiden series was once widely considered the gold standard of action games. The 2004 reboot on the original Xbox transformed Ryu Hayabusa's adventures from 2D platforming to a 3D action masterpiece, renowned for its smooth gameplay, fluid animations, and intense difficulty. While other hack and slash games like Devil May Cry were known for their difficulty, Ninja Gaiden set itself apart with its relentless challenge, famously exemplified by the first boss, Murai, who tested players' skills from the outset.

Despite its notorious difficulty, Ninja Gaiden remains fair, with deaths often resulting from player errors rather than unfair game mechanics. Mastering the game's combat rhythm, which includes precise movement, defense, and counter-attacks, is essential. The game offers a rich arsenal of moves, from the iconic Izuna Drop to powerful Ultimate Techniques and a variety of weapon-specific combos, empowering players to overcome any obstacle.

Ninja Gaiden's influence extends beyond its own genre, serving as a precursor to the Soulslike phenomenon. The satisfaction of conquering its brutal challenges has resonated with Soulslike fans, who similarly seek the thrill of overcoming seemingly impossible odds. Ninja Gaiden's demand for mechanical mastery paved the way for the Soulslike subgenre, which, while successful, has somewhat monopolized the action game market in recent years.

Follow the Leader

The release of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 in 2009, considered by many to be an inferior version of Ninja Gaiden II, coincided with the debut of Demon’s Souls. Demon’s Souls received strong reviews and paved the way for the 2011 release of Dark Souls, a game often hailed as one of the greatest of all time, including by IGN. As the Ninja Gaiden series struggled with Ninja Gaiden 3 and its rerelease Razor’s Edge, Dark Souls and its sequels carved out a significant niche in the action genre. FromSoftware's continued refinement of the Soulslike formula in games like Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring has led to a proliferation of similar mechanics in other titles, such as Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Nioh, and Black Myth: Wukong.

While the Soulslike model has been successful, its dominance has left little room for traditional 3D action games. The return of Ninja Gaiden after more than a decade is a welcome development. Other classic series like Devil May Cry and God of War have also seen recent releases, but they have shifted towards more Soulslike elements, losing some of their original fast-paced, hack and slash identity.

Soulslike games are characterized by their challenging combat, emphasis on timing dodges and parries, stamina management, customizable builds, and expansive level design with respawning enemies. While FromSoftware's innovation is commendable, the widespread adoption of this formula has led to a saturation of similar games. The release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black brings back the unique strengths of traditional action games, offering a fresh perspective in the genre.

The Master Ninja Returns

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black revitalizes the action genre with its fast-paced combat, diverse weapon selection, and the reintroduction of the gore that was omitted in the Sigma version. This iteration is the definitive version of Ninja Gaiden 2 for modern platforms, ideal for both newcomers and veterans. While some may criticize the adjusted difficulty and enemy counts, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black strikes a balance between maintaining the series' challenging nature and delivering a polished experience, complete with additional content and the absence of the unpopular statue boss fights.

Ninja Gaiden 4 Screenshots

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The remastered Ninja Gaiden 2 Black serves as a reminder of the unique appeal of traditional action games. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, games inspired by Ninja Gaiden and God of War, such as Bayonetta, Dante’s Inferno, Darksiders, and Ninja Blade, were prevalent. The formula of fast-paced, combo-based combat against numerous enemies and epic bosses in a linear setting has been largely replaced by the Soulslike model. However, games like Hi-Fi Rush in 2023 show that there is still an appetite for this style of gameplay.

Playing Ninja Gaiden 2 Black underscores the unique purity of action games where success depends solely on mastering the game's mechanics. There are no shortcuts, no builds to rely on, and no experience points to level up. It's just the player against the game, mastering the provided tools or facing repeated defeat. While Soulslike games will likely continue to dominate, the return of Ninja Gaiden offers hope for a new golden age of action games, catering to a diverse audience that appreciates both styles.