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

The 2025 Xbox Developer Direct brought a wave of excitement with the announcement of the Ninja Gaiden revival, marking a significant moment for fans of the classic action franchise. The reveal included Ninja Gaiden 4 and the immediate release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black post-event, a surprising and welcome 180-degree turn for the series. Since the last major release, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge in 2012, and the Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection, this resurgence is a breath of fresh air. It's a potential turning point for the gaming industry, signaling a return to the old-school 3D action genre that had been overshadowed by the rise of Soulslike games.

Historically, action games like Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, and the original God of War series dominated the scene. However, the landscape shifted with the advent of FromSoftware's titles such as Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring. While these games are undeniably excellent, the action genre needs a balance, and the return of Ninja Gaiden could be the key to restoring that equilibrium.

The Ninja Gaiden series was once widely considered the epitome of action gaming. The 2004 reboot on the original Xbox transformed the series from its 2D roots into a 3D action masterpiece, with Ryu Hayabusa's adventures becoming iconic for their smooth gameplay, fluid animations, and extreme difficulty. While other hack and slash games like Devil May Cry were known for their challenge, Ninja Gaiden set itself apart with its relentless difficulty, often exemplified by the notorious first boss, Murai, and his nunchaku mastery.

Despite its steep learning curve, Ninja Gaiden is lauded for its fairness. Player deaths stem from mistakes rather than unfair game mechanics, requiring a deep understanding of combat rhythms and precise timing of moves like the Izuna Drop and Ultimate Techniques. The game's array of combos and weapons provides players with the tools needed to overcome its challenges, fostering a community of players who revel in mastering the game's hardest difficulties. This mindset is a precursor to the Soulslike phenomenon, where players seek satisfaction in overcoming seemingly impossible odds.

Follow the Leader

The decline of Ninja Gaiden coincided with the rise of the Soulslike genre. Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, released in 2009, is often seen as the start of the series' downturn and came out the same year as Demon’s Souls, which received strong reviews and paved the way for Dark Souls in 2011. While Ninja Gaiden 3 and Razor’s Edge struggled, Dark Souls and its sequels, along with other FromSoftware titles like Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring, dominated the action genre. This trend influenced other games like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Jedi: Survivor, Nioh, and Black Myth: Wukong, leading to a saturation of Soulslike mechanics in the AAA action space.

The dominance of Soulslike games has overshadowed classic 3D action games, making titles like Ninja Gaiden a rarity. The last major Devil May Cry game, DMC5, was released in 2019, and while God of War was revived in 2018, it shifted away from its fast-paced roots to a more methodical approach. The new God of War games, while not direct copies of the Soulslike model, certainly echo its style. The hallmarks of Soulslike games—timing-based combat, stamina management, character builds, and open-ended level design—have become ubiquitous, leaving fans craving the return of traditional action games.

The Master Ninja Returns

The release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a refreshing revival for the action genre. With its fast-paced combat, diverse weapon selection, and the return of the original's blood and gore, it stands as the definitive version of Ninja Gaiden 2 on modern platforms. It's an ideal entry point for newcomers and a welcome return for veterans, despite some adjustments in difficulty and enemy counts. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black strikes a balance between maintaining the series' high difficulty and incorporating additional content from Sigma 2, excluding the unpopular statue boss fights.

Ninja Gaiden 4 Screenshots

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This remaster serves as a reminder of the genre's lost prominence. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, games inspired by Ninja Gaiden and God of War were plentiful, including titles like Bayonetta, Dante’s Inferno, Darksiders, and Ninja Blade. The formula of frenetic, combo-based combat in a linear format has been overshadowed by the Soulslike model, yet games like Hi-Fi Rush in 2023 show that the genre still has life. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black stands out as a major release by a prominent developer, highlighting the unique appeal of traditional action games.

Playing Ninja Gaiden 2 Black underscores the purity of action games where success hinges on mastering the game's mechanics without relying on builds, experience points, or stamina bars. It's a direct challenge between player and game, offering a rewarding experience that's distinct from the Soulslike genre. While Soulslike games will likely continue to dominate, the return of Ninja Gaiden could herald a new golden age for action games, catering to an audience eager for variety in their gaming experiences.