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[Represent.]

Just incredible combat all around. Smooth as fuck, controls are insanely responsive, amazing hit reactions, blood and gore, decapitations, it has the most aggressive enemies i've ever seen in a game. Relentless, brutal, FAST AS FUCK, hard hitting, stylish, highly skilled, hardcore. Feels incredible to play, insanely fast. Holy CHRIST, what an insane achievement this combat is.

11/10 on the combat front. Not a single complaint.

With that said, it's also a testament to "gameplay is king" being kind of a half truth. Because everything else about the game is very underwhelming, specifically the level design and art/enemy design.

Both C tier stuff. So as good as the combat is, I dont get the urger to spend hours playing it. Like I did in Wukong. Atmosphere, art design, enemy design, boss design, are all incredibly important in these kind of games - And this game just has none of that.

IF THIS GAME had the art/enemy/level design to match its god-tier, best in medium combat, it would be an all-timer.

But they clearly put all their effort into the combat, so -- if you are a fan of character action games, this is a must play. point blank. The combat is excellent enough to see past everything else being mediocre.

EDIT: I've played Ninja Gaiden Black and Ninja Gaiden 2 - They are both slow in compaison. This is on another level.

 

[coachmcguirk91]

Nioh is better

 

[Represent.]

Nioh is better

Absolutely not

 

[vodka-bull]

 

[diffusionx]

"character action game" is cringey term but the combat in NG4 is pretty damn good.

 

[Arsic]

"character action game" is cringey term but the combat in NG4 is pretty damn good.

Cringey is a cringey term considering games like NG4, DMC, bayonetta, etc are classified as just that.

 

[Gaiff]

Nah, still belongs to NG2. Platinum is good, but prime Team Ninja is untouchable.

 

[vaibhavpisal]

Feels like am taking crazy pills when I see the criticism.

This is pretty much Doom Eternal of action games.

Not for everyone, but if it clicks it clicks.

 

[tomato shrub]

It's pretty damn good. I just wish the production values for the rest of the game weren't so obviously low. It's just saddening to me that this could've had peak Ghost in the Shell vibes if it had the graphical fidelity of prior games, instead of feeling like it was made out of a Nioh graphics recycle bin.

 

[Jesb]

Probably the biggest disappointment of 2025 for me. I was stoked when it was announced but everything I've seen or heard about it puts this in the bargain bin pile.

 

[MazingerDUDE]

They dumbed down a lot of the combat mechanics from the previous NG games, and added too many useless moves ended up making every weapon feel samey very little to differentiate each other, however I did like Yakumo's new DLC weapon with its crazy ass I-frame moves.

 

[Memati187]

Still no tits to play as. 6/10.
As soon as Ayane is playable, 69/10.

 

[Represent.]

It's pretty damn good. I just wish the production values for the rest of the game weren't so obviously low. It's just saddening to me that this could've had peak Ghost in the Shell vibes if it had the graphical fidelity of prior games, instead of feeling like it was made out of a Nioh graphics recycle bin.

Yeah, well thats Japan on a whole aside from the RE studios and Kojima - Just shit graphics all around. If this game had the artstyle and graphical fidelity of a Wukong, nothing would touch it for me

 

[Puscifer]

It might be good but DmC 5 and NG: Black and 2 are kinda high bars to clear.

 

[Represent.]

Feels like am taking crazy pills when I see the criticism.

This is pretty much Doom Eternal of action games.

Not for everyone, but if it clicks it clicks.

I have no idea how anyone can criticize this games combat. its a masterclass

 

[Durin]

Level design, art design, and encounter design in places does hold the game back from greatness. Some bosses are meh too, but that's been a series problem in general.

That said, I do think the combat feel is absolutely fantastic, the controls feel great and natural to use, and it's the easiest game in the series to stay in that combat flow-state which makes me love it.

Executions feel great, but they don't last too long, and are optional so you they don't hurt the flow of combat like I felt they did for Ninja Gaiden 2-3.

 

[Dynomite]

"character action game" is cringey term but the combat in NG4 is pretty damn good.

It's what those games are called.

 

[Hadoukens]

It's an actual full fledged combat system unlike its predecessors.

Makes them amateurish in comparison.

 

[Blood Borne]

Nah, still belongs to NG2. Platinum is good, but prime Team Ninja is untouchable.

Just to be clear, you're saying that NG2 combat > NG4 combat?
Or overall game NG2 > NG4?

I might agree with latter, but the former is objectively false.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

My review

Thread 'Ninja Gaiden 4 My Review'

Jan 1, 2026

Having completed the Ninja Gaiden video game on its highest difficulty, we can say that it's one of the best games of 2025 and also one of the best hack-and-slash games of this generation.

The Ninja Gaiden franchise makes a grand return with the great action of Platinum Games.

We're looking at a game so fantastic and so well-made, a true Ninja Gaiden title that has...

• Heimdall_Xtreme
• Replies: 108
• Forum: Gaming Discussion

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[Gaiff]

Just to be clear, you're saying that NG2 combat > NG4 combat?
Or overall game NG2 > NG4?

I might agree with latter, but the former is objectively false.

Both. And no, the former is not false. Platinum can't touch Team Ninja from those years. No one can.

NG2>NG>NG4 in combat

NG>NG2>NG4 as overall games

 

[NeverYouMind]

I have no idea how anyone can criticize this games combat. its a masterclass

Enemies are super predictable to the point where you are not reacting to them but flowcharting them. It relies too much on meter for its core mechanics (even blocking without meter is conditionally effective). The armored states force meter attacks for effective punishes limiting expression. Some enemies have absurd mobility that makes it impossible to engage outside of when the enemy attacks. The movement is not continuously chainable but intermittent. The game chooses if you block or dodge given dodge input based on enemy attacks (It will block for you if your timing is late). The combat is not a matter of finding and exploiting openings but doing the correct maneuver when the enemy acts so you can wail on them freely for a time. The camera makes it difficult to correctly judge distance and see nearby enemy positions at times. You lose control of your character briefly after obliteration so you cannot buffer Ultimate Technique or other moves properly directly after. There is often a lack of feedback for player or enemy getting hit during attack animation (the animation plays in full but health shows change).

None of these criticisms apply to Ninja Gaiden 1 and 2.

P.S. There is a lack of ranged options compared to most action games.

 

[Blood Borne]

Both. And no, the former is not false. Platinum can't touch Team Ninja from those years. No one can.

NG2>NG>NG4 in combat

NG>NG2>NG4 as overall games

lol. I can't take you seriously. No point in commenting further.

 

[Gaiff]

lol. I can't take you seriously. No point in commenting further.

There isn't because no fan of such games considers this fucking game the pinnacle of combat. It's Platinum's take on NG, which is fine, but it's not NG/NG2.

 

[NeverYouMind]

Probably the biggest disappointment of 2025 for me. I was stoked when it was announced but everything I've seen or heard about it puts this in the bargain bin pile.

That is a bit harsh as it is a more entertaining experience overall than Ninja Gaiden 3 Razor's Edge but it just plays differently and has a very loosely related narrative.

P.S. The DLC is unfortunately bargain bin quality.

 

[Signalis]

Just incredible combat all around. Smooth as fuck, controls are insanely responsive, amazing hit reactions, blood and gore, decapitations, it has the most aggressive enemies i've ever seen in a game. Relentless, brutal, FAST AS FUCK, hard hitting, stylish, highly skilled, hardcore. Feels incredible to play, insanely fast. Holy CHRIST, what an insane achievement this combat is.

11/10 on the combat front. Not a single complaint.

With that said, it's also a testament to "gameplay is king" being kind of a half truth. Because everything else about the game is very underwhelming, specifically the level design and art/enemy design.

Both C tier stuff. So as good as the combat is, I dont get the urger to spend hours playing it. Like I did in Wukong. Atmosphere, art design, enemy design, boss design, are all incredibly important in these kind of games - And this game just has none of that.

IF THIS GAME had the art/enemy/level design to match its god-tier, best in medium combat, it would be an all-timer.

But they clearly put all their effort into the combat, so -- if you are a fan of character action games, this is a must play. point blank. The combat is excellent enough to see past everything else being mediocre.

Clearly you never played Ninja Gaiden Black or Ninja Gaiden 2

 

[Gaiff]

Clearly you never played Ninja Gaiden Black or Ninja Gaiden 2

Don't know what drugs are being passed around on Gaf for those posters to claim 4 has better combat than NGB/II.

 

[Avid Reading Horse]

Dodgy-slash slop, dead game barely a bump for major DLC:

Sooner this dies we can get back to proper Ninja Gaiden:

 

[NeverYouMind]

Don't know what drugs are being passed around on Gaf for those posters to claim 4 has better combat than NGB/II.

I am guessing they like the particle effects with crazy animations, streamlined interactions, and visual telegraphing whereas the older entries have esoteric elements to gameplay and less visual effects for them to be in awe of.

Itagaki's Ninja Gaidens have a level of mechanical fairness, challenge, feedback, polish, and flow that really expose the cut corners of most other action games though. Even Ninja Gaiden 3 failed to improve on them while cutting some corners of its own along with making some very questionable decisions.

 

[Signalis]

Don't know what drugs are being passed around on Gaf for those posters to claim 4 has better combat than NGB/II.

Definitely, Ninja Gaiden Black and Ninja Gaiden 2s combat systems are literally perfection.

 

[NeverYouMind]

Definitely, Ninja Gaiden Black and Ninja Gaiden 2s combat systems are literally perfection.

There is room for improvement but nobody seems to grasp the fundamentals enough to build on them.

 

[NeverYouMind]

Dodgy-slash slop, dead game barely a bump for major DLC

Sooner this dies we can get back to proper Ninja Gaiden

DLC is minor and it still garnered more interest than Ragebound since launch.

 

[vaibhavpisal]

Enemies are super predictable to the point where you are not reacting to them but flowcharting them. It relies too much on meter for its core mechanics (even blocking without meter is conditionally effective). The armored states force meter attacks for effective punishes limiting expression. Some enemies have absurd mobility that makes it impossible to engage outside of when the enemy attacks. The movement is not continuously chainable but intermittent. The game chooses if you block or dodge given dodge input based on enemy attacks (It will block for you if your timing is late). The combat is not a matter of finding and exploiting openings but doing the correct maneuver when the enemy acts so you can wail on them freely for a time. The camera makes it difficult to correctly judge distance and see nearby enemy positions at times. You lose control of your character briefly after obliteration so you cannot buffer Ultimate Technique or other moves properly directly after. There is often a lack of feedback for player or enemy getting hit during attack animation (the animation plays in full but health shows change).

None of these criticisms apply to Ninja Gaiden 1 and 2.

P.S. There is a lack of ranged options compared to most action games.

All that you said, I can see that.

It still doesn't make it criticism though.

The game has a rhythm, a tempo. You need to play by its rules to succeed. Choose your favourite moves, then execute perfectly to win the battles. If you do this, it takes you down a rabbit hole to get better and better at playing it.

 

[NeverYouMind]

All that you said, I can see that.

It still doesn't make it criticism though.

The game has a rhythm, a tempo. You need to play by its rules to succeed. Choose your favourite moves, then execute perfectly to win the battles. If you do this, it takes you down a rabbit hole to get better and better at playing it.

Always playing it the same way is a complete antithesis of the action genre. Rhythm game time signatures do not belong as true action is improvisational like jazz.

 

[vaibhavpisal]

Always playing it the same way is a complete antithesis of the action genre. Rhythm game time signatures do not belong as true action is improvisational like jazz.

Probably.

I do see this as solid fundamentals that are fun and repeatable. Designed to be addictive. Works for me.

 

[Gitaroo]

ninja gaiden ragebound is a better game

 

[Seomel]

Nioh and DMC5 clears

 

[DavidGzz]

I was a fanboy of the old Ninja Gaiden games but that combat isn't really for me anymore. I like the slower pace of Souls games. The snippets we've seen for Lords of The Fallen 2 get me way more excited. Even Naughty Dog melee combat is more fun to me than NG4 nowadays.

 

[nkarafo]

Have you played the original Ninja Gaiden 2 though? Because it has all that but also looks good at the same time.

 

[Pejo]

Nioh is better

Nioh 2 is personally my holy grail, but it only gets really good when you engage with all of the mechanics, which most people I've seen post about it never do. Ki Pulse and stance switching filters a LOT of people, ever since the first game.

I haven't played NG4 yet though, so I won't say definitively that it's not the best.

 

[Hudo]

"character action game" is cringey term but the combat in NG4 is pretty damn good.

Afaik, there was no real term for these types of games for quite bit. Kamiya categorized DMC as "stylish action game". Itagaki categorized Ninja Gaiden just as "action game". But during the 360-era the term "character action game" came up, and it has stuck for that specific type of game.

 

[Hyet]

The only good NG game.

 

[The Cockatrice]

Nah

 

[S0ULZB0URNE]

Nioh is better

Especially Nioh 3.

 

[SkylineRKR]

Its better than Nioh and all, I'll give it that. But for me NG1 and 2 easily beat it. As do DMC3, 4 and 5. And I want to single out Shinobi. Its combat is utterly fantastic. You have enders that can destroy armor, and those that boost stun gauge for a fatality. There are shortcuts to those enders if you roll inbetween the combo kind of like dodge offsets. You can launch enemies, crowd control, parry etc. I absolutely love the combat, too bad most enemies are too weak so most won't see the end of your setups. But its the type of combat where I feel I can get into a flow.

 

[Avid Reading Horse]

DLC is minor and it still garnered more interest than Ragebound since launch.

Maybe give Ragebound NG4 level budget and it wouldn't be so lacking. Besides who the hell wanted muh yakuza waifu motorcycle level or whatever the fuck she becomes a ghost and you have to switch to her soul to clear puzzle rooms bullshit. Ragebound is also slop and an insult to proper Ninja Gaiden.

 

[BossLackey]

"character action game" is cringey term but the combat in NG4 is pretty damn good.

It's literally the name of the genre.

 

[Dyno98]

Ninja Gaiden 2 is still the pinnacle

 

[Hadoukens]

NG1-3RE.
Flying Swallow, Izuna Drop, slash slash, shuriken cancel, UT, UT, UT, UT

NG4
An actual thought out real moveset with multiple defensive options

NG1-3RE
Worst bosses on planet earth, RNG to the gills

NG4
A combat system that support actual boss combat therefore well designed bosses

Conclusion:
NG1-3RE
Dinosaur slop from decades ago

NG4
S-Tier

Glad Platinum not only revived NG but decided to finish designing the combat
Glad Team Ninja is too busy with Nioh to touch it

Long live the only 3D Ninja Gaiden game, Ninja Gaiden 4

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

ninja gaiden ragebound is a better game

This one?