Ninja Gaiden 4 launched to a fascinating paradox. The combat is phenomenal – almost universally praised as some of the best action combat ever designed. The new co-protagonist Yakumo is fascinating mechanically. But the story is predictable, the level design uninspired, and the overall package feels like an incredible engine wrapped in a serviceable but forgettable experience. One week after its October 21 release, Ninja Gaiden 4 has cemented itself as a game that knows exactly how to make you feel like a legendary ninja – and absolutely nothing else particularly well.
The Combat System Is Legitimately Elite
Let’s get this out of the way immediately: Ninja Gaiden 4’s combat is genuinely some of the finest action design in modern gaming. IGN called it “among the very best I’ve ever seen.” GameSpot gave it an 8/10 partially on the strength of combat alone. GamesRadar gave the entire game a 5/5. The partnership between Team Ninja and Platinum Games clearly paid dividends here. What Platinum Games brings is mechanical precision and flow – every attack chains perfectly into the next, every dodge feels responsive, and the learning curve is steep but never unfair.
The new Bloodraven Form for protagonist Yakumo lets her manipulate her own blood and enemy blood to create devastating weapons. It’s visually spectacular and mechanically distinct from Ryu Hayabusa’s classic moveset. Ryu returns with signature moves like Izuna Drop and Flying Swallow, plus access to modern weapons like the Crimson Dragon Sword. Both characters feel incredibly fluid, and switching between them mid-mission creates interesting strategic decisions. The game gives you tools and then gets out of your way. That’s master-class combat design.
The Reception: Best Combat, Worst Story
Review aggregators tell a clear story. Metacritic sits at 82/100 on PC, 81 on PS5, and 82 on Xbox. OpenCritic shows 87% recommend rate. But read the actual reviews and a pattern emerges: every reviewer praises combat while criticizing nearly everything else. IGN’s review perfectly encapsulates this – the headline talks about how the combat system deflects criticism “like bullets against Ryu Hayabusa’s sword” but still wounds the overall experience. The game is being called “good” but rarely “great” because the non-combat elements are genuinely weak.
PC Gamer’s 69/100 is the hardest hit, citing repetitive mission structure and disappointing narrative. Hardcore Gamer gave it 3.5/5, expressing similar complaints. These outliers represent legitimate frustration with the game’s story and pacing, not combat flaws. What’s fascinating is that this feedback is consistent across critical outlets – the combat is elite, everything else is serviceable at best.
Yakumo Was a Questionable Choice
The decision to introduce Yakumo as the primary protagonist alongside Ryu was meant to make the series more approachable to new players. But critical consensus suggests players prefer Ryu. One reviewer described Yakumo as “bland,” and that assessment appears across multiple publications. She’s mechanically sound – the Bloodraven Form is genuinely cool – but narratively she doesn’t captivate. Her opening goal (kill a priestess) reverses into an escort mission, and from there the story becomes predictable formula.
The problem isn’t that Yakumo is a woman – it’s that she’s not written with interesting personality or motivation. She feels like a vehicle for combat mechanics rather than a character with depth. Ryu’s presence partially salvages this by giving returning fans someone to connect with, but the narrative focus on Yakumo’s quest never justifies pulling focus from the legendary ninja. It feels like a misstep born from misunderstanding what players wanted from Ninja Gaiden 4.
The Story Nobody Asked For
Ninja Gaiden has never been known for storytelling excellence, but Ninja Gaiden 4’s plot is genuinely uninspired. The Dark Dragon returns (of course it does), and you have to stop it by visiting magical seals. Again. Yokai cultists are involved. Evil corporations play a role. It checks boxes without creating any emotional investment. Nobody’s playing Ninja Gaiden for the narrative, but they also didn’t expect it to be this forgettable. The game’s near-future cyberpunk Tokyo aesthetic is visually striking, but the story never takes advantage of the setting to say anything interesting.
Reviewers specifically noted the story “falls completely flat.” That’s harsh language, and the fact it appears across multiple outlets suggests this wasn’t a matter of personal preference. The narrative machinery is present but it’s all surface-level spectacle without substance.
| Aspect | Reception | Key Review Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Combat System | Universally Praised | “Among the very best I’ve ever seen” – IGN |
| Story | Widely Criticized | “Falls completely flat” – Multiple reviewers |
| New Protagonist Yakumo | Mixed/Negative | “Bland new lead character” – IGN |
| Level Design | Disappointing | “Uninspired” and “Linear” – Multiple sources |
| Overall Verdict | Good, Not Great | 8/10 average score, but combat carries it |
| For Returning Fans | Strong Recommend | “Best combat of the series” builds on NG2 |
| For New Players | Caution Required | Still challenging despite accessibility options |
Level Design Misses the Mark
One of the most frequent criticisms is that Ninja Gaiden 4’s level design doesn’t match the quality of its combat. Reviewers describe missions as “linear” with “excessive linear segments” that contradict the freedom the combat system offers. You want to engage enemies creatively, experiment with combos, and adapt to threats dynamically – but the level design forces you through narrow corridors and linear objectives. It’s particularly frustrating because the combat is so good that the restrictive pacing feels like an anchor.
The game’s architecture doesn’t support the kind of emergent gameplay that makes great action games memorable. Compare this to something like Devil May Cry 5, where level design creates dynamic spaces for combat to flourish. Ninja Gaiden 4’s levels feel designed around spectacle and narrative direction rather than creating interesting combat arenas. It’s a massive missed opportunity.
The Game Pass Factor
Ninja Gaiden 4 landed day-one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which is strategically brilliant for player acquisition. You don’t need to decide if it’s worth $70 to try it – just boot it up if you already have Game Pass. This likely drove adoption numbers significantly higher than they would have been as a full-price premium title. For people who wanted to experience the combat without committing $70, Game Pass made it accessible. That’s smart business that probably helped blunt some of the “it’s not worth full price” criticism.
What Worked: Combat, Difficulty Balance, Visuals
Beyond the obvious combat excellence, Ninja Gaiden 4 succeeds in several areas. The difficulty customization strikes a good balance – new players can adjust settings to make the experience manageable without the game feeling like it’s holding their hand. Returning fans get the unforgiving Master Ninja difficulty that demands precision. The graphics are uniformly praised as stunning, with cyberpunk Tokyo rendered gorgeously. Boss fights deliver spectacle and challenge. The game knows how to craft a memorable moment, even if the surrounding content is forgettable.
What Failed: Everything Else
Story, character development, level design, pacing – all critical systems failed to reach the quality of the combat. You have an elite combat engine trapped in a serviceable action game that never reaches greatness because its non-combat elements are weak. It’s not a disaster – the game is fun to play because combat is 70% of the experience and that 70% is exceptional. But the other 30% keeps it from being a masterpiece.
FAQs
When did Ninja Gaiden 4 release?
Ninja Gaiden 4 released on October 21, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Windows (Steam), and Xbox Series X|S. It was available day-one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
What are the critical scores?
Metacritic averages 82/100 on PC, 81/100 on PS5, and 82/100 on Xbox Series X|S. Individual reviews range from 69/100 (PC Gamer) to 95/100 (AltChar). OpenCritic shows 87% recommend rate.
Who developed Ninja Gaiden 4?
Ninja Gaiden 4 was co-developed by Team Ninja and Platinum Games, published by Xbox Game Studios. This partnership was specifically intended to bring Platinum’s action design expertise to the franchise.
What’s different about Ninja Gaiden 4?
The game introduces new protagonist Yakumo alongside returning Ryu Hayabusa. Yakumo uses Bloodraven Form, a technique that manipulates blood to create weapons. The story is set in near-future cyberpunk Tokyo where the Dark Dragon has returned.
Is the combat really that good?
Yes, according to virtually every reviewer. The combat is consistently called among the best in action gaming, combining Platinum Games’ flow design with Team Ninja’s mastery of fast-paced combat. Both Yakumo and Ryu feel fluid and responsive.
Is the story worth experiencing?
Reviewers describe the story as predictable and falling flat. If you’re playing for narrative, you might be disappointed. But Ninja Gaiden has never been story-focused, and the game delivers on the core promise: making you feel like a legendary ninja.
How difficult is Ninja Gaiden 4?
The game offers customizable difficulty, making it approachable for new players while offering Master Ninja difficulty for veterans. It’s challenging without being unfairly punishing.
Should I buy it or use Game Pass?
If you have Game Pass Ultimate, definitely try it – you have nothing to lose. If you don’t, consider whether you primarily want to experience the elite combat (yes) or are hoping for a complete package experience (maybe wait for sale).
Conclusion
Ninja Gaiden 4 is a fascinating case study in how exceptional core gameplay can carry a game despite significant weaknesses elsewhere. The combat is genuinely elite – possibly among the best action designs in modern gaming. But the story, level design, and overall structure are forgettable. One week in, the consensus is clear: play this for the combat, not for the complete experience. It’s a game that delivers exactly what the title promises – Master Ninja combat – but forgets to build anything interesting around it.
For action game enthusiasts and combat connoisseurs, Ninja Gaiden 4 is worth experiencing. The partnership between Team Ninja and Platinum Games succeeded spectacularly in their primary goal of creating elite combat systems. But for anyone hoping for a complete revival of the franchise that excels across all dimensions, this is a partial victory. It’s an 8/10 game propped up by 10/10 combat – which is still pretty good, just not the masterpiece fans might have hoped for from a Team Ninja/Platinum Games collaboration.