On one side of the scale, Team Ninja, which had a profound impact on the Xbox catalog with Ninja Gaiden and Ninja Gaiden 2. On the other, PlatinumGames, whose name had become synonymous with “explosive action games” with Bayonetta, Metal Gear Rising and NieR Automata. What could go wrong? The question will remain open since the first images of Ninja Gaiden 4 appear convincing, with extremely dynamic combat, parkour sequences in a cyberpunk city and gory executions by loads of wheelbarrows.
Ninja Gaiden 4 takes place after the death of the Dragon of Darkness, an evil deity whose serpentine corpse still strangles Tokyo. A corrupting rain oozes from its wounds and makes the Japanese megalopolis unlivable… unless you are a monster, a cybernetic samurai or a very well equipped ninja. We will follow Yakumo, a new protagonist capable of using the Raven style to slaughter his enemies with lightning-fast strikes before switching to the Cloud style and his giant blades of blood to quickly clear an area. We will also be able to run on walls, slide on giant rails or swing from hold to hold using a grappling hook to cross Tokyo. Obviously, Ninja Gaiden 4 would not be complete without Ryu Hayabusa, and the famous ninja will return as a playable character… but also as a boss.
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Team Ninja and PlatinumGames promise a level of difficulty comparable to Ninja Gaiden 2. Might as well be warned: it won't be very easy. “ Your enemies are extremely aggressive despite their steel defense, but you won't feel like you're at an unfair disadvantage. This series maintains a certain balance beyond modern trends », explains director Yuji Nakao (PlatinumGames). “ When reviewing the titles created by PlatinumGames, we noticed some obvious differences [avec Team Ninja]. Where we focus on flashy, impressive strikes with fast-paced sequences, the Ninja Gaiden series focuses on finely crafted gameplay for an extremely well-polished experience. This collaboration has taught us a lot at PlatinumGames. »
-Ninja Gaiden 4 will be released on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S in fall 2025. It will be available day one in Game Pass PC and Ultimate subscriptions. You can find Yuji Nakao's interview on the Xbox blog.
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