Ninja Gaiden Revival: A Fresh Alternative to Soulslike Games

The 2025 Xbox Developer Direct event brought an exciting surprise for fans of classic action games: the revival of the Ninja Gaiden franchise. Announced during the event, the series is set to expand with Ninja Gaiden 4 and a shadow-dropped Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. This marks a significant shift 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 compilation. The announcement signals a potential resurgence of the old-school 3D action genre, which has been overshadowed by the dominance of Soulslike games in recent years.

Historically, games like Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, and the original God of War series defined the action gaming landscape. However, the rise of FromSoftware's titles such as Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring has shifted the focus. While Soulslike games have their merits, the return of Ninja Gaiden could herald a much-needed balance in the AAA action genre, offering a fresh alternative to the current trend.

The Ninja Gaiden series has long been widely considered the epitome of action gaming. The 2004 relaunch on the original Xbox transformed Ryu Hayabusa's adventures from 2D platforming to a 3D spectacle known for its fluid gameplay, seamless animations, and intense difficulty. While other hack-and-slash games like Devil May Cry were challenging, Ninja Gaiden set itself apart with its unforgiving nature, challenging players right from the first boss, Murai.

Despite its difficulty, Ninja Gaiden is praised for its fairness. Player deaths often stem from misjudging the game's combat rhythm rather than unfair design. The game offers a rich set of tools—from the iconic Izuna Drop to Ultimate Techniques and various weapon combos—allowing players to master its challenges. This emphasis on skill and mastery has influenced the Soulslike community, which values overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds.

Follow the Leader

The timing of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2's release in 2009, alongside Demon's Souls, was no coincidence. Demon's Souls received strong reviews and paved the way for Dark Souls in 2011, which is often hailed as one of the greatest games of all time, including by IGN. As Ninja Gaiden 3 struggled, Dark Souls and its sequels captured the action market, influencing games like Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring.

The influence of FromSoftware's mechanics extended to other titles 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 critically acclaimed, the dominance of the Soulslike model has left little room for traditional 3D action games. The return of Ninja Gaiden after over a decade, alongside the 2019 release of Devil May Cry 5 and the 2018 God of War reboot, could signal a shift back to the classic style, albeit with some changes in gameplay mechanics.

The Master Ninja Returns

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black revitalizes the action genre with its fast-paced combat, diverse weapon selection, and the reintroduction of the gore from the original release, which was absent in the Sigma version. While some long-time fans might miss the original's difficulty and enemy count, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black offers a balanced experience that maintains high difficulty while integrating much of the extra content from Sigma 2, excluding the unpopular statue boss fights.

Ninja Gaiden 4 Screenshots

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Ninja Gaiden 2 Black serves as a reminder of what was lost when the action genre shifted away from its roots. Games inspired by Ninja Gaiden and God of War were prevalent in the late 2000s and early 2010s, such as PlatinumGames' Bayonetta and Vigil Games' Darksiders. The return of Ninja Gaiden with its focus on skill-based, linear combat could spark a new era for action games, complementing rather than competing with the Soulslike genre.

Playing Ninja Gaiden 2 Black underscores the unique appeal of games like it. There's a purity to the experience, where success depends solely on mastering the game's mechanics without relying on builds or experience points. As the action genre evolves, the return of Ninja Gaiden offers hope for a diverse gaming landscape where both traditional action games and Soulslikes can thrive.