2025 has proven a watershed year for stealth action. Following Lizardcube’s Shinobi revival and The Game Kitchen’s summer Ninja Gaiden spin-off, PlatinumGames steps into the shadows with the series’ first mainline entry in over a decade. Departing from Ryu Hayabusa’s spotlight, this fresh chapter challenges its developers to honor ninja legacy while carving a brutal new path. But does this gamble pay off?

Ninja Gaiden 4 shifts focus to Yakumo of the Raven Clan, tasked with preventing the Dark Dragon’s resurgence. Three times slain yet restless, the deity’s corpse hangs over Tokyo as Yakumo defies prophecy by partnering with a priestess to permanently sever the cycle of resurrection. This alliance pits them against Ryu Hayabusa’s faction and rival clans, weaving a tale of rebellion through dynamic enemy encounters.

Combat reinvents series staples via Platinum’s signature flair. Yakumo ditches the Dragon Sword for diverse armaments: twin blades slice through swarms, a crystalline lance pierces armor, while a segmented staff demolishes groups. Each weapon demands unique strategies, counterbalanced by a Bloodraven system where aggression fuels form-shifting attacks. This risk-reward mechanic incentivizes bold play, though mistimed strikes punish harshly—enemies drain health bars rapidly, demanding perfect dodges or costly healing items.

Where Yakumo falters is personality. His brooding aesthetic and laconic demeanor feel derivative next to Ryu’s stoic heroism. Narrative urgency often falters amid repetitive detours—collapsing bridges and backtracking objectives pad runtime needlessly. Yet level design shines during unscripted moments: neon-lit Tokyo rooftops demand aerial acrobatics, while laser-grid factories test precision wall-runs. These bursts of freedom contrast sharply with rigid story beats, creating tonal whiplash.

Platinum’s combat innovations elevate familiar systems. Deflection parries replace block-spamming, rewarding pixel-perfect counters that chain into devastating combos. However, group battles overwhelm Yakumo’s toolkit—an absence of area throws or environmental weapons leaves crowds tedious to dismantle. The obliteration mechanic exacerbates this, pausing frenzied fights for cinematic executions that disrupt flow despite their visceral satisfaction.

Twenty-hour campaigns feel bloated by filler chapters, despite post-game challenges and Master Ninja mode extending replayability. Technical polish impresses—PS5 Pro maintains 120 fps during intricate particle-effect battles—but uneven pacing tests patience. Standouts include revamped allies like Ayane, whose cyber-shinobi redesign steals every scene she graces.

Ninja Gaiden 4 demonstrates PlatinumGames’ mastery of kinetic combat, even as narrative ambition occasionally stumbles. For veterans craving white-knuckle challenges and inventive weaponry, it delivers razor-sharp thrills. Casual players may recoil at its steep learning curve, but beneath pacing flaws lies a worthy successor to Hayabusa’s legend.

[Editor’s Note: Review conducted on PlayStation 5 Pro via publisher-provided code.]

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8.7

WCCFTECH RATING

Ninja Gaiden 4