"Ninja Gaiden's Revival: A Fresh Alternative to Soulslike Games"

One of the most exciting announcements at the 2025 Xbox Developer Direct was the revival of the iconic Ninja Gaiden series. Fans are thrilled to see the franchise return with not one, but two new titles: Ninja Gaiden 4 and the immediate release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black following the event. This marks a significant shift for the series, which had been dormant since the release of Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge in 2012, aside from the Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection. This resurgence could signal a broader revival of classic 3D action games, a genre that has been largely overshadowed by the rise of Soulslike titles in recent years.

Historically, games like Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, and the original God of War dominated the action gaming scene. However, the genre has been largely overtaken by the likes of FromSoftware's Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring. While we appreciate the depth and challenge of Soulslike games, the return of Ninja Gaiden is a welcome development that could rebalance the action genre, offering players a diverse range of experiences.

The Ninja Gaiden series has long been widely considered the epitome of action gaming. The 2004 relaunch on the original Xbox transformed the franchise from its 2D roots on the NES into a new era, with Ryu Hayabusa's adventures becoming legendary for their smooth gameplay, fluid animations, and intense difficulty. While other hack-and-slash games like Devil May Cry were known for their challenge, Ninja Gaiden set itself apart with its relentless difficulty, exemplified by the infamous first boss, Murai, and his nunchaku mastery.

Despite its steep learning curve, Ninja Gaiden's difficulty is fair. Players often find themselves dying not due to unfair design but because of their own mistakes and lack of synchronization with the game's combat rhythm. Mastering the game involves learning to dance between movement, defense, and counterattacks, utilizing techniques like the Izuna Drop and Ultimate Techniques, and perfecting a wide array of weapon combos.

Ninja Gaiden's influence on the gaming community cannot be overstated. Its brutal challenge and the satisfaction of mastering its hardest difficulty settings paved the way for the Soulslike genre. Players who reveled in overcoming Ninja Gaiden's trials were the forerunners to the Soulslike fanbase, seeking the thrill of conquering seemingly impossible challenges. However, the dominance of Soulslike games over the past decade has left less room for traditional action games like Ninja Gaiden.

Follow the Leader

The shift in the action genre can be traced back to 2009, when Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, considered an inferior version of Ninja Gaiden II, was released alongside Demon’s Souls. Demon’s Souls received strong reviews and set the stage for Dark Souls in 2011, which has been hailed as one of the greatest video games ever made, including by IGN. As Ninja Gaiden 3 and its rerelease Razor’s Edge struggled, Dark Souls and its sequels carved out a significant niche in the action market. FromSoftware continued to refine this style in subsequent titles like Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring.

The widespread adoption of FromSoftware's mechanics by other developers, such as Respawn Entertainment’s Star Wars Jedi series, Team Ninja’s Nioh, and Game Science’s Black Myth: Wukong, has led to an oversaturation of Soulslike games in the AAA action space. This has left little room for traditional 3D action games like Ninja Gaiden, which has been absent for over a decade, and Devil May Cry, with its latest entry, DMC5, released in 2019. Even the revamped God of War series in 2018 shifted towards a more Soulslike approach, moving away from its original fast-paced, linear gameplay.

Soulslike games are recognizable by their challenging combat, timing-based dodges and parries, stamina management, customizable builds, and open-ended level design with respawn mechanics. While FromSoftware's innovation is commendable, the industry's heavy reliance on this formula has left gamers craving variety. With the release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, the unique strengths of character action games have a chance to shine once again.

The Master Ninja Returns

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a refreshing revival for the action genre. Its fast-paced combat, diverse weapon selection, and the return of the original's blood and gore, absent in the Sigma version, make it the definitive version of Ninja Gaiden 2 for modern platforms. This remaster is an ideal entry point for new players and a treat for veterans, despite some adjustments to difficulty and enemy counts. Unlike the original Ninja Gaiden II, which suffered from technical issues and unbalanced design, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black offers a well-rounded experience, retaining the high difficulty and gore while incorporating much of Sigma 2's additional content, minus the unpopular statue boss fights.

Ninja Gaiden 4 Screenshots

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This remaster serves as a poignant reminder of what was lost when games like Ninja Gaiden were overshadowed by the Soulslike trend. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, games inspired by Ninja Gaiden and God of War were plentiful, including PlatinumGames’ Bayonetta, Visceral Games’ Dante’s Inferno, Vigil Games’ Darksiders, and FromSoftware’s Ninja Blade. The fast-paced, combo-driven battles and linear level design of these games have become rare as the Soulslike model took over. While games like Hi-Fi Rush in 2023 have kept the spirit alive, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black stands out as a major release from a prominent developer.

Playing Ninja Gaiden 2 Black underscores the unique experience of pure action games. There are no shortcuts or crutches; it's just you and the game, mastering the combat with the tools provided. While Soulslike games will likely continue to dominate, the return of Ninja Gaiden offers hope for a new golden age of action gaming, catering to a diverse audience that appreciates both styles.