MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes was able to play the first 4 levels of Ninja Gaiden 4 and was excited after just a few minutes. It is hard and different from other action titles today; it’s not a Soulslike. But that’s exactly the big highlight.
Even though I like Soulslikes, I’m a big fan of action games that were released during the Xbox 360 era. Back then, there weren’t the flood of Dark Souls clones and many played more like Devil May Cry or Bayonetta. I also wrote a longer post about that.
Accordingly, I have been interested since the announcement of Ninja Gaiden 4, which is supposed to be released on October 21, 2025. It has been 13 years since the third part, but the new sequel seems to pick up exactly on the gameplay that has made the series so good.
I was able to play the first 4 levels of the game in a preview version and can assure you: The gameplay is good, and if the whole game is as good, it will surely be my game of the year.
Adrenaline, Action, and Creative Possibilities
What kind of game is Ninja Gaiden 4? Ninja Gaiden 4 is a character action game. This means: You play through a linear storyline and must defeat countless enemies along the way. In combat, you can also express your creativity, as you build combos with different weapons, abilities, and finishers that reward you with points. You use light and heavy attacks, as well as jumps, counters, blocks, and ranged projectiles.
You can spend the points on items that help you in battle. Throughout the game, you’ll unlock new moves and weapons, though I didn’t see much of that in the preview.
The gameplay clicked with me right away. The fast moves feel good, and you quickly get into a nice flow. In combat, you have to make quick decisions, and the finishers and counters are incredibly satisfying.
In the preview, I was able to try out 2 characters (Yakumo/Ryu Hayabusa) and they felt different enough at first glance. The selection of weapons will be important for the overall experience, as they will define how the characters play even more.
You don’t have to use all the tools to win fights on Normal
. However, if you play on higher difficulty, you have to prioritize quickly in battle to determine what to do and when. That is also the art of the game.
Aside from that, there were also sections where you have to skate on tubes. They were fun. These were pleasant skill passages that also look good visually. Overall, the game visually impressed me in the first 4 levels.
Visually Exactly My Thing
What does Ninja Gaiden 4 look like? The mix of cyberpunk-Japan aesthetics and surreal demons is exactly my thing and fits perfectly with the series, which focuses less on developed characters but more on exaggerated coolness. The dialogues are often nonsense, but as a fan of animes, it’s just right for me.
I was also impressed by the one boss I was able to defeat. He was not only interesting to play against but also provided great moments. Visually, the game played with the setting and Japanese mythology. I felt a bit reminded of Ghostwire: Tokyo.
The story is total nonsense, but that bothers me little, as the gameplay and visual identity let me forget it quickly. For the finished game, I hope for varied levels. However, looking at the predecessors, I’m not too worried about that.
I would also like to mention the cutscenes, as they are beautifully exaggerated and classically edgy
. I enjoy that. However, those expecting a serious story with interesting characters will probably be disappointed in the main game as well.
There are some criticisms, but let’s be honest: I don’t care about them. As long as the fights are as challenging and fun as in the preview, I am optimistic. Ninja Gaiden 4 has the chance to become my favorite game of the year and to show that we need fewer Soulslikes but more character action games. 2026 could also be good: New action RPG on PS5 convinces me after just 5 seconds, reminds of Kung Fu classics that my father and I devoured back then
