Ninja Gaiden Returns with a Vengeance, Shaking Soulslike Sovereignty

The 2025 Xbox Developer Direct brought many surprises, but the Ninja Gaiden revival stands out as one of the biggest. This classic action franchise is getting a major resurgence with multiple new games, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and a surprise shadow drop: Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. This marks a significant comeback for the series, absent from the spotlight since Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge in 2012 (excluding the Master Collection compilation). This return signals a potential turning point for gaming, signifying the resurgence of classic 3D action games after a long period dominated by Soulslike titles.

While we appreciate Soulslike games (from FromSoftware's Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring), the AAA market should accommodate diverse genres. Ninja Gaiden's return could provide the much-needed balance in the action genre.

A Legacy of Dragons

The Ninja Gaiden series was once considered the epitome of action games. The 2004 Xbox reboot, a departure from its 2D NES roots, instantly became iconic for its fluid gameplay, smooth animations, and brutal difficulty. While other hack-and-slash games existed, Ninja Gaiden stood apart, its difficulty infamous from the very first encounter with Murai.

Despite the challenge, the difficulty is generally fair. Deaths result from player mistakes, demanding mastery of combat rhythm, movement, defense, and counter-attacks. The iconic Izuna Drop, Ultimate Techniques, and diverse weapon combos provide ample tools for overcoming challenges. This demanding gameplay, and the satisfaction of overcoming it, foreshadowed the Soulslike approach. Ninja Gaiden's influence on the mindset of players seeking challenging experiences is undeniable, paving the way for the Soulslike subgenre. However, this influence might have been too successful, overshadowing classic action games for over a decade.

Following the Soulslike Trend

The release of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 (a PS3 port considered inferior) coincided with Demon's Souls (2009), which paved the way for the landmark Dark Souls (2011). While Ninja Gaiden 3 and Razor's Edge struggled, Dark Souls significantly impacted the action market. Its sequels and FromSoftware's subsequent titles (Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Elden Ring) solidified the Soulslike style.

This style influenced many other franchises, including Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Nioh, and Black Myth: Wukong. While Soulslike games are popular, their dominance has stifled classic 3D action games. Ninja Gaiden's long absence is mirrored by other titles: DMC5 (2019) and the shift in God of War's (2018) gameplay, moving away from fast-paced action towards a more methodical, semi-open-world style. While not strictly Soulslike, the newer God of War games share similarities.

Soulslike hallmarks—challenging combat focused on timing, stamina management, character builds, open-level design, and save points—are effective in FromSoftware's games, but widespread imitation has led to saturation. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black's release offers a chance to showcase the unique strengths of character action games.

The Master Ninja's Return

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black provides a refreshing change of pace. The fast-paced combat, diverse weapons, and restored gore (absent in Sigma 2) make it the best version for modern players, a perfect entry point for newcomers. While veterans might critique difficulty adjustments and enemy counts, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black surpasses the original's technical limitations and unbalanced design. It retains the high difficulty and added content (bonus characters and levels, excluding disliked statue boss fights) from Sigma 2.

This remaster highlights the loss of similar games. Games inspired by Ninja Gaiden and God of War (like Bayonetta, Dante's Inferno, Darksiders, and even FromSoftware's Ninja Blade) were prevalent in the late 2000s and early 2010s. The frenetic combat and giant boss battles in a linear format are a proven formula, surprisingly absent as Soulslike games gained prominence. While similar games exist (Hi-Fi Rush), Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a significant release from a major developer.

Replaying Ninja Gaiden 2 Black emphasizes its unique qualities. There are no "cheats," build guides, or experience points to exploit. It's a pure test of skill, demanding mastery of combat or facing repeated game overs. While Soulslike games remain popular, Ninja Gaiden's return hopefully signals a new era for action games, offering a diverse gaming landscape for all.

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