The 2025 Xbox Developer Direct brought many surprises, but the Ninja Gaiden revival stands out. The classic action franchise is getting a resurgence with multiple new games, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and the surprise release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. This marks a significant return for the series, absent a proper entry since Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge in 2012 (excluding the Master Collection). It also signals a potential shift in the gaming landscape: the comeback 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 gaming. 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 apex of action games. The 2004 Xbox reboot, a departure from its 2D NES origins, instantly became iconic for its fluid gameplay, animation, and brutal difficulty. While other hack-and-slash titles existed, Ninja Gaiden stood apart, challenging players from the very first level. Many recount their struggles against Murai, the formidable first boss.
Despite the difficulty, the challenge is largely fair. Deaths stem from player mistakes, demanding mastery of combat rhythms, movement, defense, and counter-attacks. The Izuna Drop, Ultimate Techniques, and diverse weapon combos provide ample tools to overcome challenges. This demanding gameplay, ironically, foreshadowed the Soulslike ethos. Ninja Gaiden's challenging nature fostered a similar mindset among players, seeking satisfaction in overcoming seemingly impossible odds. FromSoftware and its successors adopted this concept, creating a subgenre. However, this success may have been excessive, as Soulslikes have dominated action games for a decade.
Following the Trend
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, a widely criticized PS3 port considered a low point for the series, coincided with Demon's Souls (2009). Demon's Souls' success paved the way for Dark Souls (2011), a landmark title often cited as one of the greatest games ever made. While Ninja Gaiden 3 and Razor's Edge faltered, Dark Souls significantly impacted the action market, 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, Team Ninja's Nioh, and Black Myth: Wukong. While these games are generally well-received, the Soulslike formula has saturated the AAA action space, leaving classic 3D action games scarce. Ninja Gaiden's return after a long absence, along with DMC5 (2019), and the evolution of God of War (2018), which shifted from fast-paced action to a more methodical combat style, exemplify this trend. The hallmarks of Soulslikes—challenging combat, stamina management, character builds, open-world design, and save points—are recognizable. While fitting for FromSoftware, the widespread adoption has led to an oversaturation of this style. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black's release offers a chance to highlight the strengths of character action games.
The Master Ninja's Return
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black provides a refreshing change. The fast-paced combat, diverse weapons, and the return of the original game's gore (absent in Sigma 2) make it the best version on modern hardware. While some veterans might criticize difficulty adjustments and enemy counts, the original Ninja Gaiden II suffered from technical issues and unbalanced design. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black strikes a balance, retaining high difficulty, restoring gore, and incorporating content from Sigma 2 (excluding unpopular statue boss fights).
This remaster highlights what was lost when similar games declined. 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 model. While similar games exist (Hi-Fi Rush), Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a significant example from a major developer.
Replaying Ninja Gaiden 2 Black emphasizes the unique aspects of these games. There are no "cheats," build guides, experience points, or stamina bars limiting abilities. It's a pure test of skill, demanding combat mastery. While Soulslikes remain popular, Ninja Gaiden's return hopefully ushers in a new era for action games, providing enough space for both styles to thrive.
