Ninja Gaiden Returns: A Refreshing Alternative to Soulful Games

The 2025 Xbox Developer Direct brought many surprises, but the Ninja Gaiden revival stands out as one of the biggest. This classic action franchise is getting multiple new games, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, the latter a surprise release immediately following the event. This marks a significant return for the series, whose last proper entry was Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge in 2012 (excluding the Master Collection compilation). It also signals a potential turning point for gaming: the resurgence of classic 3D action games after years of Soulslike dominance.

Once, titles like Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, and the original God of War defined action games. However, FromSoftware's Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring largely supplanted this style. While Soulslikes are enjoyable, the AAA market should accommodate both styles. Ninja Gaiden's return could be the much-needed balance for the action genre.

### A Legacy of Dragons

The Ninja Gaiden series was once considered the epitome of action games. The 2004 Xbox reboot, a departure from its 2D NES roots, instantly became iconic for its smooth gameplay, fluid animation, and brutal difficulty. While other hack-and-slash titles existed, Ninja Gaiden stood apart, its difficulty a defining feature. Many players recount their struggles against Murai, the challenging first boss.

Despite the challenge, the difficulty is generally fair. Deaths stem from player mistakes, requiring mastery of combat rhythm, movement, defense, and counter-attacks. The Izuna Drop, Ultimate Techniques, and diverse weapon combos provide ample tools to overcome challenges. This demanding gameplay, and the satisfaction of overcoming it, foreshadowed the Soulslike ethos. Ninja Gaiden's influence on the Soulslike community is undeniable; its demanding mechanics paved the way for an entire subgenre. However, this success may have been detrimental, as the Soulslike model has arguably oversaturated the action game market.

Following the Trend

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, a widely criticized PS3 port, launched concurrently with Demon's Souls in 2009. Demon's Souls, receiving strong reviews, set the stage for 2011's Dark Souls, a landmark title frequently cited as one of the greatest games ever made (including by IGN). While Ninja Gaiden 3 and Razor's Edge faltered, Dark Souls gained significant traction, spawning sequels and influencing Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring.

This Soulslike influence spread to other franchises, including Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Jedi: Survivor, Nioh, and Black Myth: Wukong. While these games are generally well-received, the Soulslike formula has dominated AAA action games, leaving classic 3D action titles scarce. Ninja Gaiden's return after over a decade, along with DMC5 (2019) and the evolved God of War (2018), highlights this shift. The newer God of War games, while not strictly Soulslikes, share similarities in their slower, more deliberate combat and semi-open world design.

Soulslike hallmarks – timed dodges, parries, stamina management, character builds, open-ended levels, and save points – are instantly recognizable. While FromSoftware's use of this model is understandable, its widespread adoption has led to market saturation. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black's release offers a chance for the strengths of character action games to shine again.

The Master Ninja's Return

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black provides a refreshing take on the action genre. Its lightning-fast combat, diverse weapons, and the return of the original game's gore (absent in Sigma 2) make it the best version on modern hardware, ideal for newcomers. While veterans might criticize difficulty adjustments and enemy counts, the original Ninja Gaiden II suffered from technical issues and unbalanced design. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black offers a balanced package, retaining high difficulty, restoring gore, and incorporating content from Sigma 2 (excluding disliked statue boss fights).

This remaster underscores what was lost when similar games ceased to be a mainstay. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Ninja Gaiden and God of War-inspired games – Bayonetta, Dante's Inferno, Darksiders, and even FromSoftware's Ninja Blade – were prevalent. The frenetic, combo-based combat against numerous enemies and large bosses in a linear format is a proven formula. The Soulslike model's rise led to its decline, though games with similar mechanics still exist (Hi-Fi Rush, 2023). However, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a significant example from a major developer in recent years.

Replaying Ninja Gaiden 2 Black highlights the unique appeal of such games. There are no shortcuts; no build guides, experience points, or stamina bars to limit gameplay. It's a pure test of skill, demanding mastery of combat mechanics. While Soulslikes remain popular, Ninja Gaiden's return hopefully ushers in a new golden age for action games, providing enough space for both styles to thrive.

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If you had to choose between Soulslikes and traditional action games like Ninja Gaiden, which would you pick?

I'm a Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry kinda personSoulslikes, every single timeI don't really care for eitherAnswerSee Results