Ninja Gaiden 4 Overview (PS5)

Ninja Gaiden 4 looks like a sport that got here out 15 years in the past, and we imply that as a praise.

This blood-soaked, hard-as-nails motion sport eschews many modern design choices, as a substitute giving gamers a conventional, linear expertise that is refreshingly simple.

A collaboration between motion specialists PlatinumGames and Staff Ninja, that is the primary numbered sequel since Ninja Gaiden 3 soured issues method again in 2012. We’re happy to say Ninja Gaiden 4 takes a back-to-basics method whereas mixing issues up simply sufficient to make it stand out from its predecessors.

Working example: Ryu Hayabusa takes a again seat. The primary star of the present this time is Yakumo, a younger ninja of the Raven clan who’s able to wielding a wide range of totally different weapons.

His mission sees him delve right into a ruined Tokyo, the place the husk of the Darkish Dragon fills the town with demons and perpetual rain. Working alongside a mysterious priestess, Yakumo should destroy a collection of seals with a view to resurrect the Darkish Dragon earlier than purifying it — a extra everlasting resolution than merely killing the beast.

The story and characters are one of many weaker elements of the sport; between hammy dialogue and flat characters, it is troublesome to turn out to be too invested in what is going on on. It is principally simply an excuse to ship Yakumo on a violent campaign towards evil, and that is completely fantastic in a sport primarily involved with cutthroat motion.

As talked about, Yakumo earns a number of weapons over the course of the story. Every of them operates barely in a different way and are suited to sure encounters. The dual blades are your all-rounder melee weapon; the rapier is nice for closing the hole and honing in on a single foe; the employees is good for tackling crowds; and the murderer’s instruments are your finest wager for attacking at vary.

Moreover, you’ll be able to enter Bloodraven type if you’ve constructed up sufficient meter, remodeling your outfitted weapon right into a extra highly effective variant. For instance, the twin swords may be charged to swipe at enemies in a large radius, whereas the employees turns right into a hammer that explodes on influence, if you happen to get the timing proper.

Whereas on this type, you’ll be able to counter sure assaults and break enemy defences, and it even permits for some splendidly satisfying one-hit kills with the berserk mode.

There are numerous fight talents and weapon expertise to unlock as you progress, every outfitting Yakumo with but extra choices in battle. He is given an enormous variety of instruments and strategies that assist to maintain the fight assorted all through the sport.

Ryu himself could be very a lot second fiddle on this sport, however he is absolutely playable, and post-credits you’ll be able to replay any stage with him as a substitute.

He solely has one weapon — his iconic Dragon Blade — which suggests his base moveset is extra restricted than Yakumo’s. Nevertheless, he has a really totally different really feel; his assaults appear way more highly effective total, making up for a scarcity of versatility with sheer energy.

Moreover, you’ll be able to trade meter for a wide range of magical Ki assaults, like a hearth blast or protecting orbs that hurt close by enemies.

Whereas they share some strikes and strategies, the 2 characters are totally different sufficient from one another that we got here to get pleasure from taking part in them each.

Fight is extremely fast-paced and intense, and whereas essentially the most primary enemies do not pose an excessive amount of of a menace on their very own, massive teams can simply overwhelm if you happen to’re not paying consideration. It is an motion sport that forces you to remain alert.

We’ll say, there are moments the place the sheer variety of enemies could make the motion troublesome to learn, or laborious to react to in time. When you’re in the midst of a combo string and somebody fires rockets at you from off-screen, it may be difficult to alter what you are doing at a second’s discover.

In that method, the sport does really feel very Ninja Gaiden; you’ll be able to’t at all times button-mash your solution to success.

Really, certainly one of our favorite issues about this sport is its stripped again nature. This can be a level-based, 10-hour motion journey with principally linear levels, a sprinkling of bosses, and new weapons and talents unlocked steadily all through.

There are missions that offer you extra aims in ranges, and hidden issues to search out, like Purgatory gates that result in fight trials, however by and huge that is very simple.

Its design dodges a variety of what has come to outline the motion style in recent times, and in that method, Ninja Gaiden 4 has a refreshingly easy construction we actually respect.

Maybe the sport’s greatest weak level is its lack of selection when it comes to environments and, to a lesser diploma, enemies.

The story retains the give attention to the stays of Tokyo, and whereas there’s some range, most of the areas are repeated all through. You may be seeing a variety of rain-slicked, neon-lit rooftops, sterile navy amenities, and grey-blue demon realms, and can even undergo some very same areas greater than as soon as.

With out spoiling issues, it is symptomatic of the narrative and the sport’s twin protagonist method. Whereas the motion could be very a lot the beating coronary heart of the sport, it is a disgrace there is not a broader vary of places to discover.

Problem has at all times been a defining issue of the collection, and this sport carries that torch with some robust levels and boss battles. Nevertheless, what makes it stand out is an enormous array of accessibility choices that allow you to tweak the problem to your required stage.

There are assists that sacrifice rating in favour of automating sure actions, equivalent to wall-running or rail grinding, and on the bottom issue setting, you’ll be able to even automate dodges, blocks, therapeutic, and extra.

It goes the opposite method too; when you full the sport, you unlock a slew of extra challenges in addition to a good harder issue mode for essentially the most hardcore gamers.

Conclusion

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a rock stable motion sport that delivers on what’s most essential — the fight. Whereas among the surrounding elements are rather less profitable, equivalent to repeated environments and a forgettable story, the extreme battles and myriad challenges are the place the sport shines, whether or not taking part in as Yakumo or Ryu. It would not hit each mark, however the simplistic construction, emphasis on technical fight, and even the tacky performances mix for an motion sport that feels prefer it’s from a bygone period, in the easiest way attainable.