Ninja Gaiden 4 Review Deep Combat Shines in Platinum Games' Flawed But Brilliant Successor

Ninja Gaiden 4 Review: A Familiar Soul Forged in Platinum Blade

Indeed, a long time coming, but at last, here comes the new chapter within the renowned Ninja Gaiden legacy. An extraordinary saga, known well for its brutally punishing difficulty and sublime combat, is now sailing under the wings of Diamond platinum-gold masters in the stylish action genre. But this coalition is more than an idyllic match; it throws up a critical question: is Ninja Gaiden 4 indeed a worthy successor of the legacy of Ryu Hayabusa or merely a Platinum game into which wrappers have dressed Ninja Gaiden. Answer: complicated, satisfying, and disappointing all in one after many hours and mortal death counts.

A Tale of Two Ninjas: The New Guard and the Old Legend

Of course, the biggest shift is that you play as a new protagonist for most of the game: the new ninja from the rival Raven Clan, Yakumo. Naturally, the game does feature Ryu Hayabusa and eventually lets you control him; however, he is not the focal point. For around 80% of the 11-12 hour-long campaign, you spend it in Yakumo's shoes. This feels like a bait-and-switch for long-time fans who saw Ryu's prominence in marketing.

But Yakumo's a pretty good character to control. He's got that Platinum Games DNA to him fast, fluid, incredibly creative, and dynamic in terms of the toolkit he's got. He's got four different weapons (dual swords, rapier, staff, and ninja gear) that can be switched in playfully quick succession, resulting in almost unlimited combo potential. The "edgy teenager" attitude may wear thin in cutscenes, but his gameplay will sell him as the right kind of hero.

When you do finally get some time playing as Ryu in the closing hours, it is pretty reminiscent of putting on a glove that fits very well and has been well used. He moves heavier and more deliberately, a callback to the classic games. Although limited in his arsenal to just the famed Dragon Sword, he is an absolute powerhouse, and his sections are some of the best in the game. Once you beat the campaign, you can spend the rest of the game playing through it as Ryu, an okay reward for those who soldier on.

The Heart of the Dragon: Combat Reaches a New Peak

The combat is where this game shines. It's exhilarating, deep, and once you get the hang of it, you feel incredibly satisfied.

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And in that department shines this game: exhilarating, deep in body and spirit, and once you get through it, you find yourself somewhat satisfied:

Platinum Games got the combat 100% right. This may be some of the tightest, most satisfying combat they have ever designed. All of the basic Ninja Gaiden moves are present-Izuna Drops, Obliteration Techniques, Ultimate Techniques-and attached to that comes a set of novel mechanics that altogether lifts the gameplay onto another plane.

• Defensive Options: The game adds three major defensive techs activated at precise timing: standard Parry for attack combat, perfect block called Reflect, and also a perfect dodge called Mirage. Learning these are much needed for survival and grants you extensive counterattacks.
• Bloodbind & Berserk: Yakumo harnesses a common "Bloodbind" gauge to boost the power of his weapons, which allows him to penetrate the guards of his enemies and interrupt their devastating attacks. A separate "Berserk" gauge, built up with time, unloads for fatal finish, devastating to screen-clearing moves.
• Enemy Design: These are unruly and wisdom-filled enemies because they prey on attacks from off-screen, counter in mid-air combos, and punish a foolhardy bluster attack. You must always consider the whole battlefield, which makes for a hard, yet engaging loop.

Here is a huge skill ceiling. Here is the game where one should play very stylish, aggressive, and really earn every victory. There's no mashing of the same moves here; learn it, adapt it, and master the complex system to succeed.

Performance and Technical Condition

Excellent sound performance is one aspect contributing to Ninja Gaiden 4's responsiveness in combat. The game runs incredibly well on all platforms, focusing solely on the smooth framerate over anything else because it has a somewhat "budget" aesthetics and is less complex environments.

• Xbox Series X: Players have three graphical modes available. Graphics Mode is aimed at achieving dynamic 4K resolution at 30fps. Frame Rate Mode, the sweet spot recommended, is a dynamic 1440p running at a solid 60fps. For users with compatible displays, a 120fps Mode is available, running at around 1080p for maximum fluidity.
• Xbox Series S: These two modes are what the junior console offers. Graphics Mode has a dynamic resolution of 1440p with an unlocked 30fps, and Frame Rate Mode has a dynamic resolution of 1080p, with an unlocked framerate that floats between 60fps but can fluctuate.
• PC: High RAM and high resolutions require no upscaling on mid-range hardware, and the PC version is excellently optimized. Crash reports have been minimal for the day of launch; otherwise, smooth and stable.
• Steam Deck: The game is approved for Steam Deck, and it has a specific "Steam Deck Mode" which locks the game's pace at 30fps for the best experience out of the box. While it can allow you to boost the frame rate to 45 or even 60fps, that usually leads to considerable input lag and random freezing, so for now, the most dependable way to play on the go is default 30fps.

However, the technical side isn't immaculate. The camera can still be tangling in tight fight arenas. Occasionally it gets stuck behind walls and obscures action. And the interface, while stylish, can feel over-designed and slow; gets very annoying when you're having to scroll-through menus repeatedly after dying in a competition that was difficult.

A World in Shadows: Presentation and Level Design

Unfortunately, while combat is AAA quality, presentation feels decidedly low budget. Level design, arguably, is the weakest aspect of the game. More often than not, stages consisted of bland, linear corridors-cityscapes with containers, and dark sewers, and a generic forest. There is definitely lack of variety and artistic flair; giving the game a distinct "arcadey" or "B-tier" feel at times.

Exploration is really not possible with a few side paths leading to collectibles or optional combat arenas (Predition Gates). They are the highlight, though, featuring pure, intense combat scenarios that are so much fun. The world itself, however, much more resembles a collection of combat arenas than a living, breathing place.

On the bright side, these simple environments are directly attached to these outstanding pure performance. The sound design along with every slice and explosion, with each coming alive from the air cries, goes beyond everything sounding impactful and gratifying.

Echoes of the Past: Story and Narrative

So if you are playing Ninja Gaiden for a compelling, deep story, then you're in the wrong place. Formulaic and little more than a means to move you from one fight to the next, this story has Yakumo working to destroy the Black Dragon that made a mess of Tokyo, which purifies four shrines before the final confrontation. Simple enough and almost forgettable, really.

It's not a bad thing in itself, because it keeps the eye glued on the rather impressive action. Those fans that most enjoyed the unnecessarily convoluted history in past entries might find this narrative too nonexistent.

Pros

Final Verdict

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a game of sharp contrasts. It has arguably the best combat mechanism ever made in an action game, and yet it is presented with such a package that feels underdeveloped in almost every other area. The level design is bland, the story paper thin, and the presentation lacks the polish of a modern AAA title. And yet, the sheer efficiency with which one masters its combat makes these seeming deficiencies easy to overlook.

This is a very straightforward purchase recommendation for hardcore stylish action fans who live for deep, challenging combat. This includes brilliant gameplay. This is not however for people who want well-rounded experiences complete with immersive worlds and thrilling narratives. This title is clearly built for the purist in gameplay; sometimes, brilliant mechanics are just all you need.