A cut above the rest
By Paul Hunter
More than a decade later, Ninja Gaiden is back, and that alone feels seismic. Few names in action carry this kind of weight with longtime gamers. And the best news? The fourth entry doesn’t tiptoe in; it walks right up and dares you to keep pace with its fast action and strict timing.
Co-developed by PlatinumGames and Team Ninja, and published by Xbox Game Studios, this new entry aims straight at your reflexes. It picks up after Ninja Gaiden 3 with an all-new story and a new lead, Yakumo, while Ryu Hayabusa still lingers in the background.
The fights come fast, the camera stays tight, and the blade-to-bone combat is unapologetically visceral, just like you'd expect from a new entry in the legendary Ninja Gaiden series.
So, is Ninja Gaiden 4 the steel-edge comeback you’ve been waiting to unsheathe on day one? Let’s find out!
You step in as Yakumo of the Raven Clan. His lineage ties to the Dark Dragon, and his clan has worked from the shadows while the Hayabusa name drew the spotlight. Early on, Yakumo’s orders are simple. Find the priestess Seori who sealed the beast and end her. The plan changes on contact: Seori may not be the villain his clan made her out to be. Together, their different read on the prophecy points to a harder path: revive the monster, then end the cycle for good.
That choice carries a tremendous cost. Other clans turn hostile, old allies question motives, and even Ryu Hayabusa becomes an obstacle at times, a living reminder of what the series has stood for and the weight of that history. The journey pushes across sealed temples and city sectors, each tethered to the locks on the Dark Dragon. Breaking those seals demands grit and focus, because the streets don’t sit empty. The city is now under strict military quarantine by the Divine Dragon Organization, led by Grand General Kagachi. The DDOs cybernetic ninja units patrol under the neon lights, but thats not all—twisted creatures slip out of the haze and hit with bad intent.
Yakumo’s arc moves from duty to conviction without losing momentum, and the mentor-shadow tension with Ryu adds charge without slowing the pace. It’s direct, high-stakes, and built to keep you moving toward the final cut to end the curse.
Ninja Gaiden 4 introduces Bloodbind, a new power that has its own gauge. You spend it to shift a weapon into its Bloodraven form or to crack a heavy swing marked by an enemy's red warning. That counter stuns thrm for a moment and gives you room to return some serious damage. In a neon club stage, I burned the gauge too early, then had to play defence until it refilled naturally over time. Next attempt, I executed some dismemberment finishers, which fills the guage faster, and then unleashed Bloodraven on the big final enemy to finish the fight.
Yakumo’s weapons matter because each fills a specific role. Dual blades start quick strings and reset fast. The staff flips into a hammer to clear crowds. A big drill punches through tough armour. Claw arms pop launchers and keep air time steady. Swapping mid-combo works reliably, so you can pick the right tool without losing momentum.
Boss fights shine, especially against human foes. Parry timing is essential, getting greedy can backfire, and perfectly timed Fatal Flash finishers can make all the difference.
The game offers plenty of bonus content beyond the campaign, like Challenge trials to trst out your skills. Chapter replays and boss rematches make replays easy, and global leaderboards log your runs.
Hit animations look and sound right. Swords snap limbs, claws rake armour, and the camera hops in for a quick finisher before dropping you back to the full view. There’s plenty of blood, but it’s there to show just how brutal this world is. Enemy groups are easy to sort by appearance and moveset, so you know who to stun and who to launch on sight.
Audio does its job. Metallic rings carry through the mix, low-end thumps sit under big swings, and tracks push the pace without drowning the cues you need. Voice acting dips in tone here and there, mostly on line reads that don’t match the moment, but it stays serviceable.
PS5 Pro gives you four toggles to find your sweet spot. The 120 FPS mode is the one you pick when you want maximum response. The Pro-only 60 FPS frame-rate preset sharpens the image, and you still get the familiar frame-rate and resolution options for everything else.
If you’re sprinting chapters back to back, you may notice some zones visusly blur, but overall, the look and sound keep pushing you forward, and the performance options let you tweak the game to your liking.
Final Score: 8.5/10 - Great
Developer: Platinum Games, Team Ninja
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Genre: Action Adventure, Hack and Slash
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
More than a decade later, Ninja Gaiden is back, and that alone feels seismic. Few names in action carry this kind of weight with longtime gamers. And the best news? The fourth entry doesn’t tiptoe in; it walks right up and dares you to keep pace with its fast action and strict timing.
Co-developed by PlatinumGames and Team Ninja, and published by Xbox Game Studios, this new entry aims straight at your reflexes. It picks up after Ninja Gaiden 3 with an all-new story and a new lead, Yakumo, while Ryu Hayabusa still lingers in the background.
The fights come fast, the camera stays tight, and the blade-to-bone combat is unapologetically visceral, just like you'd expect from a new entry in the legendary Ninja Gaiden series.
So, is Ninja Gaiden 4 the steel-edge comeback you’ve been waiting to unsheathe on day one? Let’s find out!
Story and Narrative
Years after Ninja Gaiden 3, the series moves to a rain-soaked Tokyo blanketed by a lingering curse. The Dark Dragon’s remains hang over the city like a ominous warning. That constant downpour isn’t just weather; it’s the fallout of an ancient force that refuses to stay buried.You step in as Yakumo of the Raven Clan. His lineage ties to the Dark Dragon, and his clan has worked from the shadows while the Hayabusa name drew the spotlight. Early on, Yakumo’s orders are simple. Find the priestess Seori who sealed the beast and end her. The plan changes on contact: Seori may not be the villain his clan made her out to be. Together, their different read on the prophecy points to a harder path: revive the monster, then end the cycle for good.
That choice carries a tremendous cost. Other clans turn hostile, old allies question motives, and even Ryu Hayabusa becomes an obstacle at times, a living reminder of what the series has stood for and the weight of that history. The journey pushes across sealed temples and city sectors, each tethered to the locks on the Dark Dragon. Breaking those seals demands grit and focus, because the streets don’t sit empty. The city is now under strict military quarantine by the Divine Dragon Organization, led by Grand General Kagachi. The DDOs cybernetic ninja units patrol under the neon lights, but thats not all—twisted creatures slip out of the haze and hit with bad intent.
Yakumo’s arc moves from duty to conviction without losing momentum, and the mentor-shadow tension with Ryu adds charge without slowing the pace. It’s direct, high-stakes, and built to keep you moving toward the final cut to end the curse.
Gameplay and Mechanics
Ninja Gaiden 4's combat starts fast and stay sharp, pushing you to read enemy tells, commit to actions, and correct when needed. You block to hold back attacks, perfect dodge to gain the advantage, or parry to open up strike opportunities. The timing window feels tight but fair, and lock-on lets you always focus on a target while you keep side threats at bay.Ninja Gaiden 4 introduces Bloodbind, a new power that has its own gauge. You spend it to shift a weapon into its Bloodraven form or to crack a heavy swing marked by an enemy's red warning. That counter stuns thrm for a moment and gives you room to return some serious damage. In a neon club stage, I burned the gauge too early, then had to play defence until it refilled naturally over time. Next attempt, I executed some dismemberment finishers, which fills the guage faster, and then unleashed Bloodraven on the big final enemy to finish the fight.
Yakumo’s weapons matter because each fills a specific role. Dual blades start quick strings and reset fast. The staff flips into a hammer to clear crowds. A big drill punches through tough armour. Claw arms pop launchers and keep air time steady. Swapping mid-combo works reliably, so you can pick the right tool without losing momentum.
Boss fights shine, especially against human foes. Parry timing is essential, getting greedy can backfire, and perfectly timed Fatal Flash finishers can make all the difference.
The game offers plenty of bonus content beyond the campaign, like Challenge trials to trst out your skills. Chapter replays and boss rematches make replays easy, and global leaderboards log your runs.
Presentation and Audio
Ninja Gaiden 4 puts a lot of weight on atmosphere and really sells it. The rain never shuts off, neon lights keep humming, and the Dragon’s skeleton sits above everything like a death trap. One hour you’re cutting through tight alleys; the next you’re skidding across frost outside a shrine. Then the lights hit in a club and the whole room pulses while you chase a parry window.Hit animations look and sound right. Swords snap limbs, claws rake armour, and the camera hops in for a quick finisher before dropping you back to the full view. There’s plenty of blood, but it’s there to show just how brutal this world is. Enemy groups are easy to sort by appearance and moveset, so you know who to stun and who to launch on sight.
Audio does its job. Metallic rings carry through the mix, low-end thumps sit under big swings, and tracks push the pace without drowning the cues you need. Voice acting dips in tone here and there, mostly on line reads that don’t match the moment, but it stays serviceable.
PS5 Pro gives you four toggles to find your sweet spot. The 120 FPS mode is the one you pick when you want maximum response. The Pro-only 60 FPS frame-rate preset sharpens the image, and you still get the familiar frame-rate and resolution options for everything else.
If you’re sprinting chapters back to back, you may notice some zones visusly blur, but overall, the look and sound keep pushing you forward, and the performance options let you tweak the game to your liking.
The Verdict
This game rips. Ninja Gaiden 4 hands you fast, brutal combat that rewards good timing and split-second decisions. Yakumo owns the spotlight while Ryu remains a key part of this story. There’s always something to chase: boss rematches, tight trials, chapter replays, global boards. The moody Tokyo look and punchy audio fit the blistering pace, and PS5 Pro gives you real performance choices, including a slick 60 FPS with improved graphics. It’s a confident return—if you want pure, hard-hitting action, this delivers from start to finish.Final Score: 8.5/10 - Great
Ninja Gaiden 4 details
Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PCDeveloper: Platinum Games, Team Ninja
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Genre: Action Adventure, Hack and Slash
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.