You know, I never thought I’d want to play a Ninja Gaiden game that didn’t have Ryu Hayabusa front and center in some capacity, but *Ninja Gaiden 4* makes a pretty good case for Yakumo of the Raven Clan. He’s the star of the show in this latest entry in Team Ninja’s legendary action franchise, this time with PlatinumGames developing. Not only does he bring an awesome combat gimmick to Ninja Gaiden’s 3D side of the franchise, but *Ninja Gaiden 4* also offers a stylish and challenging action-adventure that puts a great bookend on a story that’s been running for decades.
### The Final Fight Against the Dark Dragon
*Ninja Gaiden 4* begins with the world, and particularly Tokyo, in dire straits to say the least. Ryu Hayabusa, master ninja of the Dragon Clan, has killed the Dark Dragon multiple times, but its effect on the world remains constant, raining down black blood from its skeleton hovering high over the earth. This rain invites daemons and fiends into the human world and causes sickness to the unprotected.
With the Dark Dragon currently sealed, Raven Clan master ninja Yakumo resolves to bring the creature back to life so he can perform a ritual to purify and kill it once and for all. With Hayabusa and the authorities not understanding why Yakumo and the Raven Clan are doing what they’re doing, things get quite messy as everyone races for a final answer to the Dark Dragon’s terror.
*Ninja Gaiden 4* does a great job establishing drastic stakes quickly. With the Dark Dragon priestess Seori guiding Yakumo, he embarks on a journey through the ruined cities and countryside of Japan, hunting down the seals of the Dark Dragon through towering skyscrapers, mountains, dance clubs, and more.
### Beautiful, Dread-Filled Levels
Each of the levels is quite a beauty, full of daunting arenas and photographic locations — which work well with the game’s easy-to-use Photo Mode. Almost every open-air level bears the dread of the Dark Dragon’s skeleton looming overhead, with rain pouring down and storms growing more violent as each seal is broken.
The characters—Yakumo, Seori, and Hayabusa—look as slick as ever, while the enemies and bosses are bristling and waiting to be torn to ribbons by Yakumo’s Bloodbind ninja weapon arts.
### Minor Flaws in an Otherwise Polished Experience
I want to say *Ninja Gaiden 4* is flawless in its beauty and action, but I did notice a few blemishes in an otherwise delicious feast of gameplay. There were several instances where I spotted cracks in the platforms and levels, with things on either side looking slightly discolored or mismatched.
I also got stuck in walls a few times, thanks to the breakneck speed of movement, and had to finagle my way out to avoid restarting the level. The music was a little underwhelming compared to what I expected. While a few boss tracks really go all out—especially one early on and others toward the end—I would have liked more high-quality music throughout, matching the intensity of the first and last big fights.
### A Maelstrom of Blood & Steel
If you came to *Ninja Gaiden 4* just for the action, I think you’ll be happy with what’s on offer. Yakumo is the main protagonist this time, featuring some unique gimmicks compared to our usual hero, Ryu Hayabusa, but he handles in a way that longtime fans will be very familiar with.
Yakumo’s combat gimmick revolves around Bloodbind Arts, where he uses magic and his own blood to manifest weapons. Each weapon Yakumo wields has a base form and an unleashed form that deals far more damage and can break armored enemy attacks if used correctly. This comes at the cost of a gauge that refills through successful combat and damage.
For example, Yakumo starts with dual swords that can transform into a massive blood greatsword, extendable to hit faraway enemies. Other weapons he acquires include a stabbing sword that turns into a giant drill lance—my personal favorite. Each weapon has its own perks and unique skill trees to unlock throughout the game.
### Classic Ninja Gaiden Techniques Return
In addition to Bloodbind Arts, most of the classic Ninja Gaiden techniques return. Jumping allows you to perform the sweeping Flying Swallow Technique to dive and slash foes. You can uppercut enemies into falling Izuna Drops, perfect parry or dodge enemy attacks, and counter with weapon-specific moves. You can even kill enemies, draw in their souls, and unleash an Ultimate Technique combo—a relentless barrage of hits.
When I say almost every technique you’d expect from a Ninja Gaiden game returns, I mean it. The levels encourage the use of these techniques, too.
### Level Design and Progression
Generally, *Ninja Gaiden 4*’s flow consists of platforming between areas using Yakumo’s ninjutsu and athleticism until reaching enemy-filled arenas. Then, combat intensifies as you fight off waves of foes.
There are checkpoints that provide items, side missions, and training opportunities. Every level contains multiple secrets rewarding careful exploration. Ultimately, these lead to boss battles that test your skills and reflexes, and they’re all pretty solid encounters.
### A Not-So-Fun Alternate Playstyle
Unfortunately, *Ninja Gaiden 4* also makes a choice I’m not crazy about. After progressing significantly, there’s a pivotal moment where you must take a break from playing Yakumo and switch to an alternate playstyle.
With how interesting and deeply developed Yakumo’s fighting style is, moving away from him—and having to fight many of the same bosses again—is less fun than it should be. This section felt like a stumble in an otherwise thrilling experience.
### A Strong Ending and Plenty of Replay Value
Outside of that short section, *Ninja Gaiden 4* leads up to a very strong final fight and sticks the landing in a way that made me want to play as Yakumo more, yet also left me satisfied with the story’s conclusion when the credits roll.
There’s also plenty of post-game content to explore, including new difficulties, game modes, and a special New Game+ objective.
### Bringing Down the Sky
The grand spectacle of *Ninja Gaiden 4* feels like the developers wanted a proper ending for the 3D Ninja Gaiden series, and I feel they nailed it. Yakumo is a great new protagonist mechanically, even if his brooding nature means he doesn’t talk much.
His Bloodbind Arts make for fantastic progression through *Ninja Gaiden 4*’s battles and platforming, and the core elements that make Ninja Gaiden combat great remain intact despite this new hero’s introduction.
It’s not a perfect game, but *Ninja Gaiden 4* hits a lot of the right notes and ties a fine ribbon on the series by the end. I wouldn’t mind playing Yakumo in more games, but if this is the curtain call on this arc of Ninja Gaiden, it’s a good one.
—
*This review is based on a digital PlayStation 5 version of the game supplied by the publisher. Ninja Gaiden 4 launches on October 21, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.*
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146426/ninja-gaiden-4-review-score