You know, I never thought I’d want to play a Ninja Gaiden game that didn’t have Ryu Hayabusa front and center in some capacity, but **Ninja Gaiden 4** makes a pretty good case for Yakumo of the Raven Clan.
He’s the star of the show in this latest entry in Team Ninja’s legendary action franchise, this time developed by PlatinumGames. Not only does he bring an awesome combat gimmick to Ninja Gaiden’s 3D side of the franchise, but **Ninja Gaiden 4** also offers a stylish and challenging action-adventure that puts a great bookend on a story that’s been running for decades.
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### The Final Fight Against the Dark Dragon
Ninja Gaiden 4 begins with the world, especially Tokyo, in dire straits. Ryu Hayabusa, master ninja of the Dragon Clan, has killed the Dark Dragon multiple times, but the effect on the world remains constant—black blood rains down from the skeleton hovering ominously above the world.
This poisonous rain invites daemons and fiends into the human world and causes sickness to the unprotected. With the Dark Dragon currently sealed, Raven Clan master ninja Yakumo resolves to bring it back to life to perform a ritual that will purify and kill it once and for all.
With Hayabusa and the authorities not understanding why Yakumo and the Raven Clan are doing what they’re doing, things get messy fast as everyone races for a final answer to the Dark Dragon’s terror.
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### Exploring a Ruined Japan
**Ninja Gaiden 4** does a great job of establishing drastic stakes quickly. Guided by the Dark Dragon priestess Seori, Yakumo journeys through the ruined cities and countryside of Japan, hunting for the Dark Dragon’s seals across towering skyscrapers, mountains, dance clubs, and more.
Each level is a visual treat, full of daunting arenas and stunning photographic locations—which work perfectly with the game’s easy-to-use Photo Mode. The skies above almost every open-air level bear the dread of the Dark Dragon’s skeleton looming overhead, with rain pouring down and storms intensifying as each seal is broken.
The characters like Yakumo, Seori, and Hayabusa look as slick as ever. Enemies and bosses are bristling with menace, waiting to be torn to ribbons by Yakumo’s Bloodbind ninja weapon arts.
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### A Few Rough Edges
I want to say **Ninja Gaiden 4** is flawless in its beauty and action, but there were a few blemishes in an otherwise delicious feast of gameplay.
Several times I noticed cracks in platforms and level design where the seams looked slightly discolored or didn’t quite fit together. The breakneck pace also caused me to get stuck in walls on occasion, forcing me to finagle my way out to avoid restarting the level.
The music was a little underwhelming for what I expected. While a few boss tracks really hit hard—one early and a handful late in the game—I would have liked more standout music throughout, especially during some of the intense fights.
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### A Maelstrom of Blood & Steel
If you came to **Ninja Gaiden 4** just for the action, you’ll be pleased. Yakumo is the main protagonist here and features unique gimmicks that set him apart from Ryu Hayabusa, but his handling will feel familiar to longtime fans.
Yakumo’s defining combat mechanic is **Bloodbind Arts**—using magic and his blood to manifest weapons. Each weapon has a base form and an unleashed form that deals far more damage and breaks armored enemy attacks if used effectively. This power depends on a gauge refilled through successful combat.
For example, Yakumo starts with dual swords that transform into a massive blood greatsword, capable of extended slashes hitting distant enemies. Other weapons follow similar transformative paths—my personal favorite was the stabbing sword that morphs into a giant drill lance. Each weapon comes with unique combat skill trees to unlock throughout the game.
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### Classic Ninja Gaiden Techniques Return
Beyond Bloodbind Arts, you can collect most of the classic Ninja Gaiden techniques players have cherished for years—from sweeping Flying Swallow attacks, uppercuts leading to Izuna Drops, to perfect parries and dodges that chain into weapon-specific counterattacks. You can even draw in enemy souls after kills to execute devastating Ultimate Technique combos.
When I say just about every expected Ninja Gaiden combat technique returns, I truly mean it.
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### Gameplay Flow and Level Design
The game’s flow mixes platforming between areas—using Yakumo’s ninjutsu and athletic abilities—with arena-style combat encounters. Checkpoints provide items, side missions, and training, and each level hides multiple secrets rewarding careful exploration.
Ultimately, these levels culminate in boss fights designed to test your skills and reflexes — and they’re all pretty solid.
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### A Notable Downside: Switching Protagonists
However, **Ninja Gaiden 4** does one thing I’m not crazy about: after progressing significantly, you’ll be forced to take a break from playing Yakumo.
Despite how interesting Yakumo’s fighting style is and the investment put into powering him up, the alternate playstyle during this section isn’t as enjoyable as it should have been—especially since you’ll fight many of the same bosses you already faced.
Outside this short section, the game builds to a very strong final fight, effectively sticking the landing on the story in a way that made me want to play as Yakumo more, but also left me satisfied with the conclusion when the credits roll.
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### Plenty of Post-Game Content
There’s also ample post-game content—from new difficulty levels and game modes to a special New Game+ objective—that keeps players engaged well beyond the main story.
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### Bringing Down the Sky
The grand spectacle of **Ninja Gaiden 4** feels like the developers wanted to deliver a proper ending to the 3D Ninja Gaiden series, and I think they nailed it.
Yakumo is a great new protagonist mechanically, even if his brooding nature means he doesn’t talk much. His Bloodbind Arts make for fantastic combat progression, and despite the new hero, the game doesn’t lose what makes Ninja Gaiden combat exceptional.
It’s not a perfect game, but Ninja Gaiden 4 hits many of the right notes and ties a fine ribbon on the series. I wouldn’t mind playing Yakumo in future entries, but if this is the curtain call for this Ninja Gaiden arc, it’s a strong one.
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*This review is based on a digital PlayStation 5 version of the game supplied by the publisher.*
**Ninja Gaiden 4** releases on October 21, 2025, on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146426/ninja-gaiden-4-review-score