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

The resurgence of Ninja Gaiden at the 2025 Xbox Developer Direct was a monumental event. The classic action franchise is getting a major revival with multiple new titles, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and the surprise release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. This marks a significant shift, considering the last mainline entry was Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge in 2012. This comeback could also signal a pivotal moment for gaming: the return 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 action gaming. However, FromSoftware's Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring largely eclipsed this style. While Soulslikes are excellent, the AAA market should accommodate both styles, and Ninja Gaiden's return could be the much-needed balance.

### A Legendary Legacy

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 titles existed, Ninja Gaiden stood out, challenging players from the very first level. The infamous Murai boss fight is legendary for its unforgiving nature.

Despite its challenge, the difficulty is largely fair. Deaths result from player error, demanding mastery of combat mechanics—the precise dance of movement, defense, and counter-attacks. The Izuna Drop, Ultimate Techniques, and diverse weapon combos provide ample tools to overcome obstacles.

This demanding gameplay, ironically, foreshadowed the Soulslike phenomenon. Ninja Gaiden's challenging nature fostered a community that embraced the satisfaction of overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds. FromSoftware and its successors adopted this approach, creating a subgenre. However, this model's success might have inadvertently stifled other action game styles.

A Shift in the Landscape

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, a widely criticized PS3 port, coincided with Demon's Souls (2009). The latter's success paved the way for Dark Souls (2011), a landmark title. While the subsequent Ninja Gaiden 3 and Razor’s Edge faltered, Dark Souls and its successors—Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring—dominated the action market.

This Soulslike influence spread to other franchises, including Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Nioh, and Black Myth: Wukong. While these games are excellent, the Soulslike formula has arguably oversaturated the AAA action space, leaving classic 3D action games scarce. Devil May Cry 5 (2019) was the last major entry in that series, and even God of War (2018) shifted towards a slower, more methodical combat system.

Soulslikes feature challenging combat focused on timing and parrying, stamina management, character builds, open-ended level design, and save points that respawn enemies. While this works for FromSoftware, its widespread adoption has led to a surplus of similar titles. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black's release offers a refreshing alternative.

The Ninja's Return

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black provides a welcome change of pace. Its lightning-fast combat, diverse weapons, and the return of the original game's gore (absent in Sigma 2) make it the best version on modern platforms. While some veterans might criticize adjustments to difficulty and enemy counts, the original Ninja Gaiden II had technical issues and unbalanced design. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black strikes a balance, retaining high difficulty and gore while incorporating additional content from Sigma 2 (excluding the unpopular statue boss fights).

This remaster highlights what was lost when similar games became less prevalent. Games inspired by Ninja Gaiden and God of War were abundant in the late 2000s and early 2010s (Bayonetta, Dante's Inferno, Darksiders, and even FromSoftware's Ninja Blade). The frenetic, combo-driven combat against numerous enemies and giant bosses in a linear format is a proven formula, yet it faded as Soulslikes gained prominence. 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 the unique qualities of these action games. There are no shortcuts—no build guides, experience points, or stamina bars to limit gameplay. It's a pure test of skill, demanding mastery of combat mechanics. While Soulslikes remain popular, Ninja Gaiden's return hopefully heralds a new era for action games, offering variety for players.

Ninja Gaiden 4 Screenshots

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