Ninja Gaiden’s Revival is the Perfect Antidote to the Soulslike Phenomenon

The resurgence of Ninja Gaiden at the 2025 Xbox Developer Direct is arguably the event's biggest revelation. The iconic action franchise is getting a significant reboot, encompassing new titles like Ninja Gaiden 4 and the surprise release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. This marks a remarkable turnaround for the series, dormant since Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge in 2012 (excluding the Master Collection). More importantly, it signals a potential shift in gaming: the comeback of classic 3D action games after a prolonged reign of Soulslike titles.

Once, games like Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, and the original God of War trilogy dominated the action genre. However, FromSoftware's Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring largely eclipsed this style. While Soulslike games are undeniably popular, the AAA market should accommodate diverse genres. Ninja Gaiden's return could be the much-needed equilibrium the action genre craves.

### A Legacy of Dragons

The Ninja Gaiden series was once considered the gold standard of action games. The 2004 Xbox reboot, a departure from its 2D NES roots, instantly became legendary for its fluid gameplay, smooth animation, and brutal difficulty. While other hack-and-slash titles existed, Ninja Gaiden stood out, famously challenging players from the very first encounter. Many recount their struggles against Murai, the formidable nunchaku-wielding first boss.

Despite its demanding nature, the game's difficulty is largely fair. Deaths result from player mistakes, requiring mastery of combat rhythms, precise movement, defense, and counter-attacks. The iconic Izuna Drop, Ultimate Techniques, and diverse weapon combos provide ample tools to overcome challenges.

The series' unforgiving difficulty, and the satisfaction of conquering it, inadvertently foreshadowed the Soulslike phenomenon and its dedicated community. Ninja Gaiden's demanding mechanics influenced the mindset of Soulslike fans, who relish overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds. FromSoftware, and subsequent games, adopted and expanded upon this concept, creating a subgenre. However, this success may have been too complete, as Soulslike mechanics have dominated action games for over a decade.

Following the Trend

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, a PS3 port widely considered inferior and a turning point for the series, coincided with Demon's Souls (2009). Demon's Souls garnered strong reviews, paving the way for the landmark Dark Souls (2011). While Ninja Gaiden 3 and Razor’s Edge faltered, Dark Souls carved a significant niche in the action market, spawning sequels and influencing Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring.

The popularity of FromSoftware's mechanics extended to other franchises, including Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and its sequel, Team Ninja's Nioh, and Game Science's Black Myth: Wukong. While these games are critically acclaimed, the Soulslike formula has saturated the AAA action space, leaving classic 3D action games scarce. Ninja Gaiden's return after a long hiatus, along with DMC5 (2019) and the evolved God of War (2018), demonstrates this scarcity. The newer God of War games, while not strictly Soulslike, share similarities.

Soulslike hallmarks—challenging combat centered on timing and parrying, stamina management, character builds, open-ended level design, and save points—are instantly recognizable. While fitting for FromSoftware, the widespread adoption has led to an oversaturation. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black's release allows the strengths of character action games to resurface.

The Master Ninja's Return

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black offers a refreshing change. The rapid-fire combat, diverse weapons, and the return of the original game's gore (absent in Sigma 2) make it the best version on modern platforms, ideal for newcomers. While veterans might criticize difficulty adjustments and enemy numbers, 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 additional content from Sigma 2 (excluding unpopular statue boss fights).

This remaster highlights the loss of similar 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 Ninja Blade). The frenetic, combo-driven battles against numerous enemies and large bosses in a linear format are surprisingly absent now. 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 its unique qualities. There are no shortcuts; no build guides, experience points, or stamina bars to limit abilities. It's a pure test of skill, demanding mastery of combat. While Soulslike games remain popular, Ninja Gaiden's return hopefully ushers in a new era for action games, providing space for both styles.

Ninja Gaiden 4 Screenshots

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