Ninja Gaiden 4 Review – Dragon May Cry (PS5, Xbox, Game Pass)
Ninja Gaiden 4 Review – Is it Worth It? Ninja Gaiden 3 was pretty trash, but 13 years later the guys who made games like Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Nier Automata and Bayonetta have teamed up with Team Ninja to make an all new Ninja Gaiden that appeals to both veteran players and newcomers. Instead of playing Ryu Hayabusa, you play Yakamo (whack-a-mole), a Raven Clan ninja with a stylish haircut and a disturbing blood fetish.
And that is not all they have changed either. Let’s take a look.
Watch the review or keep reading below:
We’ve Come A Long Way
Ninja Ryukenden 2, also known as Ninja Gaiden 2, was actually the first game I ever owned on console, and whether it was that or Ninja Gaiden 2 during the PS3 era years later, this brutally difficult series has been a notable part of my gaming adventures and probably taken a few years off my life in the process, because it has always been brutal.
But newcomers do not have to be scared to dive in this time, because they have clearly thought about accessibility. Is that bad news for veterans though?
Ninja Gaiden 4 is a shift for the series, and while familiar, the hours I have spent with it show that it has taken many strides in the right direction. The new combat is slick, fast and responsive, exactly what you would expect from Ninja Gaiden.
Dragon May Cry
But before we get to the gameplay, Ninja Gaiden 4 has come a long way since the days of the NES.
It has this cool cyberpunk-looking interface and Tokyo setting, and it looks as sharp as Yakamo’s blades while running at 60fps. The 120fps option means the action and performance can be even slicker as you slice and dice your way through groups of enemies.
There is a 30fps mode too, but you would be crazy to use it for anything other than photo mode. If I have one issue with Ninja Gaiden 4, it is that the game lingers in same-looking locations a little too long before finally offering a change of scenery to liven things up.
The change to Yakamo and his Raven Clan’s Bloodbind Ninjutsu adds a new dynamic to combat in Ninja Gaiden 4, offering even more ways to completely obliterate your enemies. In fact, the blood and gore in Ninja Gaiden 4 get so insane at times that it actually makes it a bit difficult to see what is going on. I could almost see veterans turning on the reduced gore mode just to get a better view of the action.
The familiar elements are here too, such as unlocking new weapons and techniques, buying, collecting and using items as you go, plus some fun traversal moments like dodging obstacles, grappling and gliding. And yes, there is a way to play Ryu, and he has some nifty new tricks of his own.
I played on the normal difficulty which felt like a solid challenge, with the occasional bit of help when the game notices you struggling. You can change the difficulty anytime, from the tougher Hard mode to an easier Hero mode with assists like auto evade to help newcomers find their feet. Finish the story and you unlock the Master Ninja difficulty, but you know, I am good thanks.
It’s A Long Story
As for the story, I am not going too deep into that. Honestly, it is probably not the main reason you are interested in Ninja Gaiden 4. But with Ryu Hayabusa not being the main character, and the hero coming from a rival clan, fans are definitely going to want to know where this all leads.
VERDICT: 8.5 – My time with Ninja Gaiden 4 has been everything I would want from a new Ninja Gaiden. The formula has evolved but still holds onto its old school core, for better and worse. Whether you are a long-time fan or new to the series and trying it out on Game Pass, Ninja Gaiden 4 revitalizes the franchise with slick, stylish combat and welcome accessibility. You can look forward to some solid ninja action or soul-crushing torture, depending on which you prefer.
Game info (provided by Wikipedia)
Release Date: 21 October 2025
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Microsoft Windows
Developers: Team Ninja, PlatinumGames
Publishers: Microsoft, Xbox Game Studios
Series: Ninja Gaiden
Engine: Platinum Engine
Genres: Action-Adventure, Hack and Slash, Fighting, Platformer
