The 2025 Xbox Developer Direct brought many surprises, but the Ninja Gaiden revival stands out as one of the biggest. The classic action franchise is getting a resurgence with multiple new titles, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and the surprise release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. This marks a significant return for the series, absent from the scene since Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge in 2012 (excluding the Master Collection compilation). This comeback also signals a potential shift in the gaming landscape: the return 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 the action genre. However, FromSoftware's Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring have largely overshadowed this style. While Soulslike games have their merits, the AAA market should accommodate diverse action game styles. Ninja Gaiden's return could be the much-needed balance.
### A Legacy of Dragons
The Ninja Gaiden series was once considered the apex of action games. The 2004 Xbox reboot, a departure from its 2D NES roots, established Ryu Hayabusa's adventures as iconic due to its smooth gameplay, fluid animation, and brutal difficulty. While other hack-and-slash games existed, Ninja Gaiden stood apart, challenging players relentlessly from the very first level. Many remember the infamous Murai encounter.
Despite its difficulty, Ninja Gaiden's challenges are largely fair. Deaths result from player mistakes, demanding mastery of combat rhythm, movement, defense, and counter-attacks. The Izuna Drop, Ultimate Techniques, and diverse weapon combos provide ample tools to overcome obstacles.
Interestingly, Ninja Gaiden's demanding gameplay foreshadowed the Soulslike phenomenon. The satisfaction of overcoming seemingly impossible odds, a core tenet of Soulslike games, finds its roots in Ninja Gaiden's challenging design. FromSoftware's success, however, might have led to an oversaturation of the Soulslike formula.
Following the Trend
The release of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 (a widely criticized PS3 port) coincided with Demon's Souls (2009). Demon's Souls, and subsequently Dark Souls (2011), significantly impacted the action genre. While Ninja Gaiden 3 and Razor's Edge struggled, Dark Souls thrived, spawning sequels and influencing titles like Bloodborne, Sekiro, and Elden Ring.
This Soulslike influence spread to other franchises, including Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Nioh, and Black Myth: Wukong. While Soulslike games are popular, their dominance has arguably stifled the classic 3D action game space. Ninja Gaiden's return after a long absence, along with DMC5 (2019) and the evolved God of War (2018), demonstrates this shift. The newer God of War games, while not strictly Soulslike, share similarities.
Soulslike hallmarks—challenging combat emphasizing timing, stamina management, character builds, open-world design, and save points—are recognizable. While fitting for FromSoftware, the widespread adoption of this formula has led to a degree of genre fatigue. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black's release offers a refreshing alternative.
The Master Ninja's Return
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black provides a much-needed revitalization of the action genre. Its fast-paced combat, diverse weaponry, and the return of the original game's gore (absent in Sigma 2) make it the definitive version for modern hardware. While some veterans might criticize difficulty adjustments, the original Ninja Gaiden II suffered from technical and balancing issues. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black strikes a balance, retaining difficulty while incorporating the extra content from Sigma 2 (excluding unpopular statue boss fights).
This remaster highlights the loss of classic action games. Games inspired by Ninja Gaiden and God of War were prevalent in the late 2000s and early 2010s (Bayonetta, Dante's Inferno, Darksiders, and even FromSoftware's Ninja Blade). The frenetic, combo-based combat against numerous enemies and giant bosses in a linear format is a proven formula, surprisingly overshadowed by the Soulslike trend. While similar games exist (Hi-Fi Rush), Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a significant release from a major developer.
Replaying Ninja Gaiden 2 Black underscores the unique qualities of these 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 Soulslike games remain popular, Ninja Gaiden's return hopefully ushers in a new era for action games, providing space for both styles to coexist.
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