Ninja Gaiden Revival: A Fresh Alternative to Soulslike Games

The 2025 Xbox Developer Direct brought a thrilling announcement for fans of classic action games: the revival of the Ninja Gaiden series. The franchise is set to receive multiple new titles, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and the immediate release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black right after the event. This significant shift marks a surprising return for the series, which has been dormant since the release of Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge in 2012, aside from the Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection. The revival signals a potential turning point in the gaming industry, bringing back the beloved old school 3D action genre that has been overshadowed by the rise of Soulslike games.

In the past, iconic franchises like Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, and the original God of War dominated the action genre. However, the landscape shifted with the emergence of FromSoftware's titles such as Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring. While we appreciate the Soulslike genre, the action gaming market should have room for both styles. The resurgence of Ninja Gaiden could be the much-needed balance that the action genre requires.

The Ninja Gaiden series has long been widely considered the pinnacle of action games. The 2004 relaunch on the original Xbox transformed the series from its 2D roots on the NES into a new era with Ryu Hayabusa's adventures. Known for its smooth gameplay, fluid animations, and extreme difficulty, Ninja Gaiden set itself apart from other hack and slash games, even those known for their challenge like Devil May Cry. The game's first boss, Murai, became infamous for defeating many players before they could progress.

Despite its difficulty, Ninja Gaiden's challenges are largely fair, stemming from player errors rather than unfair game mechanics. Mastering the game involves understanding the rhythm of combat—a delicate balance of movement, defense, and counter-attacks. From the iconic Izuna Drop to the powerful Ultimate Techniques and a variety of combos for different weapons, players have ample tools to conquer the game's challenges.

The influence of Ninja Gaiden's brutal difficulty and the satisfaction of mastering its hardest settings can be seen in the mindset of Soulslike fans. Ninja Gaiden played a foundational role in the development of the Soulslike genre, which has dominated action games in recent years, perhaps to the detriment of other styles.

Follow the Leader

The release of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 in 2009, the same year as Demon’s Souls, marked the beginning of the series' decline. Demon’s Souls received strong reviews and paved the way for Dark Souls in 2011, a game often 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, along with FromSoftware's subsequent titles like Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring, took over the action market.

The widespread adoption of FromSoftware’s mechanics influenced other franchises like Respawn Entertainment’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and its sequel Jedi: Survivor, Team Ninja’s Nioh, and Game Science’s Black Myth: Wukong. While these games are well-received, the dominance of the Soulslike model has marginalized classic 3D action games. Ninja Gaiden's return after a long hiatus, alongside the last Devil May Cry entry in 2019 and the transformed God of War in 2018, highlights this shift. The new God of War games, while not direct Soulslike copies, share similarities in their more deliberate combat and semi-open world design.

The Soulslike genre is characterized by challenging combat focused on timing, stamina management, character builds, and large, open-ended levels with save points that heal and respawn enemies. While FromSoftware pioneered this style, its widespread imitation has led to an oversaturation. With Ninja Gaiden 2 Black's release, the unique strengths of character action games are poised to reclaim their spotlight.

The Master Ninja Returns

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black offers a refreshing return to the action genre. Its fast-paced combat, diverse weapon selection, and the restored gore from the original, absent in the Sigma version, make it the definitive version of Ninja Gaiden 2 for modern platforms. It's an excellent entry point for newcomers and a satisfying experience for veterans, despite some adjustments to difficulty and enemy numbers. The original Ninja Gaiden II had technical issues and unbalanced design, but Ninja Gaiden 2 Black strikes a balance, maintaining high difficulty and gore while retaining additional content from Sigma 2, minus the unpopular statue boss fights.

Ninja Gaiden 4 Screenshots

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This remaster serves as a reminder of the action genre's past vibrancy. Games inspired by Ninja Gaiden and God of War, such as PlatinumGames’ Bayonetta, Visceral Games’ Dante’s Inferno, Vigil Games’ Darksiders, and FromSoftware’s Ninja Blade, were once prevalent. The formula of fast-paced, combo-based combat against numerous enemies and large bosses in a linear format has faded as Soulslike games rose to prominence. While games like Hi-Fi Rush in 2023 keep the spirit alive, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black stands out as a major release in this style.

Playing Ninja Gaiden 2 in its latest form underscores the unique experience these games offer. There's a purity to action games like Ninja Gaiden, where success depends solely on mastering the game's mechanics without relying on builds, experience points, or stamina bars. It's a pure test of skill between the player and the game. While Soulslike games will likely continue to thrive, the return of Ninja Gaiden could herald a new golden age for action games, catering to an audience that appreciates both genres.