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

The 2025 Xbox Developer Direct brought many surprises, but the Ninja Gaiden revival stands out as one of the biggest. The classic action franchise is getting multiple new games, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and the surprise shadow drop, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. This marks a significant return for the series, absent a proper entry since Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge in 2012 (excluding the Master Collection). This resurgence could also signal a crucial shift in gaming: the comeback of classic 3D action games after years of Soulslike dominance.

Once, titles like Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, and the original God of War defined the action genre. However, FromSoftware's Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring largely supplanted this style. While Soulslike games are enjoyable, the AAA market should accommodate both styles. Ninja Gaiden's return could be the much-needed balance for the action genre.

### A Legacy of Dragons

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

Despite the challenge, the difficulty is generally fair. Deaths stem from player mistakes, requiring mastery of combat rhythm, movement, defense, and counter-attacks. The Izuna Drop, Ultimate Techniques, and diverse weapon combos provide ample tools to overcome challenges. This demanding gameplay, ironically, foreshadowed the Soulslike ethos, influencing the community's drive to conquer seemingly insurmountable odds. Ninja Gaiden's demanding mechanics paved the way for the Soulslike subgenre, perhaps to its own detriment.

Following the Trend

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, a widely criticized PS3 port, coincided with Demon's Souls (2009). Demon's Souls and its successor, Dark Souls (2011), received critical acclaim, shaping the action game landscape. While Ninja Gaiden 3 and Razor's Edge faltered, Dark Souls thrived, spawning sequels and influencing Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring.

The popularity of FromSoftware's mechanics spread to other franchises, including Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Jedi: Survivor, Team Ninja's Nioh, and Black Myth: Wukong. While Soulslike games aren't inherently flawed, their prevalence has stifled classic 3D action games. Ninja Gaiden's return after a long absence, along with DMC5 (2019) and the evolved God of War (2018), which shifted away from its fast-paced roots, highlights this issue. The newer God of War games, while not strictly Soulslike, share similarities.

Soulslike hallmarks—timed dodges, parries, stamina management, character builds, open-ended levels, and save points—are now ubiquitous. While this formula works for FromSoftware, its widespread adoption has led to an oversaturation. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black's release offers a chance to showcase the unique strengths of character action games.

The Master Ninja's Return

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black provides a refreshing change. The fast-paced combat, diverse weapons, and restored gore (absent in Sigma 2) make it the best version on modern hardware. While veterans might criticize difficulty adjustments, the original Ninja Gaiden II suffered from technical issues and unbalanced design. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black strikes a balance, retaining high difficulty, gore, and additional content (excluding unpopular statue boss fights).

Ninja Gaiden 4 Screenshots

19 ImagesThis remaster showcases what was lost when similar games declined. Games inspired by Ninja Gaiden and God of War (e.g., Bayonetta, Dante's Inferno, Darksiders, Ninja Blade) were prevalent in the late 2000s and early 2010s. The frenetic, combo-based combat against numerous enemies and large bosses in a linear format is a proven formula, surprisingly overshadowed by the Soulslike model. While similar games still exist (Hi-Fi Rush), Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a significant example from a major developer.

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black highlights the unique qualities of these action games. There are no shortcuts—no build guides, experience points, or stamina bars limiting abilities. It's a pure test of skill, demanding mastery of combat or facing repeated failure. While Soulslike games remain popular, Ninja Gaiden's return hopefully ushers in a new era for action games, providing enough space for both styles to thrive.

If you had to choose between Soulslikes and traditional action games like Ninja Gaiden, which would you pick?

I'm a Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry kinda personSoulslikes, every single timeI don't really care for eitherAnswerSee Results