With the meteoric rise of the Soulslike this decade, I’ve found myself yearning for the return of high-speed action games. As more games ape Dark Souls, we’ve seen less in the vein of Devil May Cry, Bayonetta, and Ninja Gaiden. But there’s a sea change coming, as developers again try to embrace the high-intensity combo-driven madness of the past, and Ninja Gaiden 4 is about to lead the charge.
My gut reaction to playing Ninja Gaiden 4 was melancholic confusion. It was abundantly clear from the start that Platinum Games, the studio behind Metal Gear Rising and Bayonetta, had planted its flag. That led to some worry that this game might not feel enough like Ninja Gaiden, especially considering Platinum’s recent lackluster output. But after I sank more than five hours into Ninja Gaiden 4, it grew on me in remarkable ways. This isn’t a game trying to simply revive the feeling of the series; it’s a fusion of Platinum’s expertise and Ninja Gaiden’s blood-soaked hyperviolence. A true meeting of two beloved action game styles, it finally feels like Platinum is back on top of its game.
