Ninja Gaiden 4 comes after more than a decade since the third game became available on PC and console, and the wait seems to have been well worth it.
With so many changes in hardware and technology since 2012, I started playing with an open mind, with the plan of assessing the fourth mainline entry on its own merits (and demerits, if any).
Ninja Gaiden 4 marks the return of the franchise to its roots and picks up from where the third game ends. It features the same high-octane hack-and-slash gameplay that has been a staple for the franchise. There are also plenty of new features like more playable characters, fresh combos, and a new fighting system. It’s a blend of the classic characteristics and innovative features that make the gameplay feel different (in a good way, of course).
Ninja Gaiden 4 is a tale unlike anything the series has offered us
When Ninja Gaiden 4 was revealed for the first time, I felt a bit let down by the premise, but it surprised me. Instead of taking you slowly through the basics, you’re placed in Yakumo’s boots, who finds himself on a train. At first, it’s a single enemy, and soon turns into a full wave of cybernetic ninjas. This is typically what you’ll be experiencing for large parts of Ninja Gaiden 4.
In true hack-and-slash style, every strike of the blade sees streaks of blood (and body parts) as you chop down your enemies. The overall experience only gets more intense as you progress through the campaign.
Even in these early stages, there are already a few moments of brilliance that wholly captured my attention. There are adrenaline-pumping moments throughout the story, as most of the fights tend to be quite intense. All of this naturally builds into the central lore that dictates what you have to do as Yakumo in his pursuit to save Tokyo.
After all, this isn’t your typical Tokyo, where everything is fit and fine. Instead, an endless rain of miasma has blanketed the entire city, leading to its ruin. It’s up to you as Yakumo (and later as Ryu) to save the city from the hands of cybernetic ninjas and creatures that will try to thwart your attempts to beat the curse that caused everything.
Blood and Gore is just one side of Ninja Gaiden 4’s finesse
There’s a fine line between gory hack-and-slash action without any context and a well-thought-out product that covers all areas. Ninja Gaiden 4 falls in the latter due to its narrative-driven campaign. While I am still on my journey to reach the end, the story and its characters bring the game to life.
I am always skeptical when a franchise tries to move on from a protagonist who helped it reach its heights. Team Ninja couldn’t have played their cards better with the partial transition from Ryu Hayabusa to Yakumo. While Ryu still retains his place as a playable character, you’ll be spending a lot of time as his young prodigy, Yakumo. Whether it’s his character design or the acting, Yakumo has been a stellar addition to the story. Don’t get me wrong – Ryu could still be your favorite, but the new kid certainly does well.
I have a bad habit of skipping through story content and cutscenes, and with Ninja Gaiden 4, the urge was strong. After all, who can resist the hunger to decimate your enemies and chop them with your blade all the time? Yet, I would highly recommend anyone to be patient with the story and how it develops.
The campaign’s direction and momentum feel organic. At no moment did I feel that my immersion was broken by either the acting or the script. Every sentence feels well thought out. This is also a massive reason why I felt deeply connected with both Ryu and Yakumo. However, I will add that the overall pace, on a few occasions, felt a tad slow, but that could just be me, and I am willing to overlook that.
The missions are well-planned, and each area is designed to feel unique, which it easily pulls off, along with a great variation in enemies. Sometimes, you’ll take down isolated enemies, and other times a horde of cybernetic ninja falls on your head, making your life very difficult indeed.
The three difficulties all offer unique experiences, as well. Play at the lowest, and you turn into a hack-and-slash god. You can also unlock auto-blocks if you want the full power trip, harnessing the brutal strength of a Ninja. You become a chopping machine who can spend endless hours dismembering enemies.
Play at the highest, and the game becomes absolutely brutal. You’ll have to pay attention to every enemy and aim properly. You’ll have to isolate enemies to avoid taking hits from one while taking down another. Combos become almost mandatory to do maximum damage, while mastering defense is key.
I found this to be quite fascinating; different difficulties are meant to offer separate experiences. With Ninja Gaiden 4, it feels like a different video game. This is a big compliment in my books, as there’s something for all.
In-game progression is also not only about mastering your combos and learning the art of defense. You can also unlock new moves by investing in-game resources for new ways to take down enemies. I won’t necessarily call it a build, but there’s enough scope for you to make tweaks if you like that sort of thing.
It just gets so much right
And so, Ninja Gaiden 4 does everything you would want an action game to do. It provides high-octane action in almost every moment as you progress towards your main goal. There’s a lot of freedom in how you want to play, and the different moves and abilities ensure that there’s replayability. The strong gameplay is well backed by the story and excellent acting from the characters.
Team Ninja hasn’t reinvented the wheel, and they also didn’t have to. They have included all the staple features of the franchise, but also ensured that things feel fresh for the modern-day gamer. Be it via better graphics or new additions, you get to enjoy hacking down your enemies on your own terms. Ninja Gaiden 4 doesn’t beat around the bush, hits hard, and raises your heartbeat up a notch when your well-thought-out plan goes out of the window due to a missed parry.
If you’re a veteran of the series, you’re definitely in for a ride. If you’re someone new, this is an excellent starting point. While you’ll be able to connect with the story better had you played the previous games, you can treat this as a standalone adventure where it’s an eternal battle between good and evil. There’s gore, drama, story, and a really interesting progression system that respects your time and energy.
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