We analyze for Xbox the new Ninja Gaiden 4, the new installment of the saga returns in a big way.
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It’s been over a decade since Ninja Gaiden last left us breathless, and after playing this fourth installment for over a week, I can say without hesitation that the wait has been worth it. Ninja Gaiden 4 not only restores the series to its former glory, but it does so with a blend of elegance and brutality that I haven’t seen in an action title in a long time, bringing together two opposing fronts to deliver a truly great game.
The context couldn’t be more symbolic: the return of the series coincides with the passing of Tomonobu Itagaki, its original creator. And honestly, this game feels like the best possible tribute to his legacy. From the opening scenes, you can tell that Platinum Games has been at the helm, respecting the essence of Ninja Gaiden while elevating it to current standards. The result is a title that plays, looks, and feels like a love letter to the hack and slash genre, a letter signed in blood.
Ninja Gaiden 4 starts with a bang, with spectacular staging and well-accomplished artistic direction that’s a feast for the eyes. There’s a clear evolution from the third installment: movements are more precise, control is more refined, and combat conveys a sense of weight and brutality that returns the game to its true essence.
Technical Section
PlatinumGames’ touch is evident from the first combat encounter. The Japanese studio has managed to imprint its seal on the art direction and action rhythm without renouncing Team Ninja’s identity. On Xbox Series X, the game runs flawlessly at 60 frames per second in performance mode, with a sharpness and stability on screen that are appreciated when the action unfolds.
In graphic mode, it reaches 4K resolutions with upscaling, showing an outstanding level of detail in the urban scenarios of Tokyo. Combat animations are clean, blood and particle effects are well-integrated, and character models, especially Yakumo and Ryu Hayabusa, stand out for their expressiveness and texture.
Additionally, I played part of the analysis on the ROG Xbox Ally X, and I must say it runs wonderfully on the handheld. It’s one of those games that demonstrate the excellent optimization work by Platinum and Xbox, offering solid performance even on compact hardware. Ninja Gaiden 4 is, literally, one of those titles that look perfect in pocket format, ideal for those who want to enjoy pure action anywhere.
Gameplay on Rog Xbox Ally X
Gameplay
If there’s one thing that distinguishes Ninja Gaiden 4, it’s its refined and demanding gameplay. PlatinumGames has found the exact point between speed and control, offering one of the most precise combat systems in recent years within the genre.
The title maintains the classic philosophy of the series: a difficult game that doesn’t forgive mistakes and forces you to improve constantly. But this time, it does so with a smoother learning curve, allowing new players to adapt without sacrificing challenge. Reflexes, enemy reading, and space management are essential, and any distraction can be costly.
Among the most notable new features is the blood bond ninjutsu, a mechanic that allows you to transform your weapons in the middle of combat, providing a broader tactical range and visually spectacular effects. Iconic techniques like the Izuna Drop or the Flying Swallow also return, reanimated with much more fluid animations and superior impact weight.
Enemies are varied and challenging: cyber ninjas, demonic creatures, heavily armored soldiers, and large-scale bosses that demand precision and patience. In this sense, level design balances well between closed sections of intense combat and somewhat more open areas that invite exploration, searching for improvements, and perfecting techniques.
The difficulty system is another major success. From the Hero mode, designed for beginners, to the Master Ninja mode, each level offers an experience adapted to the player. You can adjust the difficulty on the fly, something that facilitates experimentation without penalizing progress. And that’s key, because the game doesn’t seek to punish you: it seeks to make you learn, master its systems, and feel each victory as a personal achievement.
The only weak point remains the camera, an old enemy of the series. In certain close combat situations, especially with multiple enemies on screen, it can play a nasty trick on you. It’s not a serious flaw, but it does break the fluidity at times. Still, the control responds with surgical precision, and the overall feeling is one of complete satisfaction.
Ninja Gaiden 4 may not reinvent the wheel, but it polishes it until it shines. It combines the best of Team Ninja with PlatinumGames’ expertise to offer an action experience that not only respects its past but also sets the path for the hack and slash genre in the current generation.
Duration
In my case, the first playthrough lasted 17 hours, a time that speaks for itself about the density of content and the well-measured pace of the campaign. Ninja Gaiden 4 doesn’t just focus on offering constant action (almost always); it also gives space to master mechanics, discover secrets, and perfect each technique.
The learning curve is well-measured. It starts accessible but soon demands mastery of blocks, dodges, counterattacks, and advanced combos. It’s a difficult game, but fair, and each victory feels earned. Additionally, as an Xbox Play Anywhere title, it allows saving progress between console and PC using the same profile, an excellent detail for those who alternate between different machines or devices.
Conclusion
This fourth installment is much more than the return of a mythical series: it’s a statement of intent. PlatinumGames and Xbox have managed to return the most famous ninja in video games to their rightful place, with a delivery that balances brutality, technique, and respect for its history.
The combination of direct and visceral combat, along with mechanical depth and a notable technical section, turns this fourth part into one of the best action experiences in recent years. There’s nothing casual about its design: every enemy, every attack, and every animation are designed to offer a feeling of total control, something that very few games manage to convey.
Beyond its fantastic performance on Xbox Series X, what’s really noteworthy is its versatility. Being able to play it on the ROG Xbox Ally X is a great experience, demonstrating that Ninja Gaiden 4 has been conceived with a modern vision, designed to adapt to different forms of play without losing quality. It’s a title that’s enjoyable both on a big screen and in portable format, and it doesn’t compromise on any technical aspect.
It’s a demanding game, yes, but also fair. And, above all, it’s an experience that returns that sense of pride after mastering a complicated combat, something that defines the true essence of Ninja Gaiden. For all this, Ninja Gaiden 4 is one of the best surprises of the year, a title that not only revives a legendary franchise but also elevates it to a new standard within the action genre. If you’re a fan of challenges, technical combat, and pure Japanese style, this game is essential.
The ninja has returned, and he’s done so better than ever.
* We thank Xbox Spain for the material provided to carry out this analysis.
Founder and editor of SoloXboxOne and Generación Xbox. He is also one of the owners of the GX Group, Samsung Universe and the Reflotes forum. Adrian has reviewed over 200 games on the web and has an average score of 85 according to Opencritic. Among his expertise as a writer and analyst, he has interviewed Microsoft personalities and participated in private gaming events.
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