Ninja Gaiden 4 Releases October 21, 2025

It looks like Code Vein character design with the usual Platinum "just do rotating attacks and call it a day" spin-drier style of gameplay.

It looks somewhat nice but this is not ninja gaiden. When Ryu gameplay comes up the feeling changes, unsurprisingly... but even there, it looks like Ninja Gaiden 3.

... i'll watch this with interest but i'm pretty pessimistic.
 
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Just let me play 100% with Ryu and I'll fine.
I don't think that's it.

I'd go in with the mindset that in old NG titles when you would play as a female for a level or two, that's when Ryu will be playable.

Likely something like 70% Yakumo 30% Ryu.

I'd be floored if it was play through the whole game as either with new plot points, cut scenes, endings, etc. Complete with both to unlock a final level or two where you play as either for the final ending.
 
I made a few gifs focusing on gameplay. Surprisingly zoomed out camera.

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Watching these gifs, and shiiiiiiiiiiet combat is sweet. Love it when the dev pays attention to literally the most important thing in a video game. Then you have the likes of Starfield. Holy shit.
 
Googled re: what happened to Tomonobu Itagaki, top result is a reddit thread calling him a sex pest and claiming he was never a good game designer. The internet sure is something these days.
 
I'm a little bit worried, there's no essence mechanic so we're back to NG3 ? Imo the minute to minute gameplay decisions of either absorbing the essence of a fallen foe to do a Ultimate Technique or keeping it as a ressource (money or ninpo or health) is what made NG great.
 
Seori intrigues me so much. She obviously knows both Ryu, and Yakumo, and seems to be on good terms with them. With Ryu specifically, it feels like they definitely have a history (not romantic), or at least know *of* one another. Seori is less playful with him compared to Yakumo, erring more on the respectful and earnest side for Ryu (him being a ninja demigod and the ultimate ninja, and all).

I'm curious as to if she's a shrine maiden for any particular clan, perhaps the Raven Clan, but is secretly working with/collaborating with Ryu, or if she's operating entirely on her own accord. Whatever the case, she's already an interesting character, which is good!
 
Honestly surprised people care about playing as ryu or not.

Dude was bland as hell in the other games.

Combat looks amazing as always.
That'd be like being surprised people care about playing as Master Chief, or the DOOM Slayer, or Samus, or Dante. Ryu is the face of Ninja Gaiden, has been since the NES days.

That said, Yakumo looks amazingly fun to play as, and Ryu looks like an absolute monster.
 
Give it a chance guys, you never know when you'll get a new Nero or Raiden you actually enjoy playing as in the long run.
 
Ninja Gaiden is one of my favorite series so I am there. So far, the environments look a little bit underwhelming though. Where are the walls to run on? No verticality?

Third person action games are failing at this lately. DMCV comes to mind.

20 years ago we were wall running and jumping down stairs flights in Ninja Gaiden. Otogi had us smashing enemies 50 yards back, DBZ style and crashing through pieces of the environment.

Why, in 2025, are we duking it out in wide empty arenas?
Jesus don't even bring up DMCV. That game legit has some of the shittiest level design in anywhere-near recent memory. Peak was running down endless demon assholes or whatever those intestines were.

I know we're never getting the awesome shit from NG1 ever again level design wise but I dearly hope it isn't DMCV tier garbage
 
Googled re: what happened to Tomonobu Itagaki, top result is a reddit thread calling him a sex pest and claiming he was never a good game designer. The internet sure is something these days.

He's still around, but obviously in something of a reduced capacity these days. I had lunch with Denis Dyack back in probably... 2019, and he said that he'd been talking with Itagaki about Deadhaus Sonata (which he swears is going to ship someday) and was trying to find a better company name than Quantum Entanglement Entertainment. Itagaki paused for a moment and said "Apocalypse Studios. My gift to you."

So, he's still cool in my book.
 
Guys, I've been waiting on a new NG game for more than a friggin' decade but after watching the latest gameplay video...I just don't know, the super-fast and floaty/aerial gameplay (can't explain it better, sorry) reminds me of Friggin' NG3 and that's not a good thing for me.

Guess I'll have to play it first but, I'd hate to get burnt AGAIN after NG3...

The OG NG2 is still the best character action game in existence with infinite replay value and I'm afraid that nothing will come close ever again.
I am getting the same vibes. NG3 sucked ass to me. I do not like going from one set piece to the next with nothing out of the way. I do not like bosses that force playing in a very specific way. I also abhorred the climbing, gliding, and QTEs. Narratively it was also so over the top that it came off as really dumb.
 
Looks awesome, probably my most anticipated game for the rest of the year (since Silksong will, unsurprisingly, be a no show again).
 
I didn't think this looked very good and the NGB2 they released was very sloppily and poorly done. So yea not optimistic. Nioh 3 looked much better.
 
Give it a chance guys, you never know when you'll get a new Nero or Raiden you actually enjoy playing as in the long run.
I appreciate you making this post. Ryu limited to 1 weapon and seemingly having a reduced playable role isn't what the majority wanted but I have a feeling (hope) the DLC will be Ryu heavy and if the people behind the game felt a fresh protagonist was the way to go for this entry, we ought to at least give it a chance.

Here is a quote from the games producer/director, Yuji Nakao (Platinum Games), about why they decided to have a new protagonist as the main playable character in this game;
One of the key reasons we chose to introduce a new protagonist this time is that Ninja Gaiden 4 marks the series' return after a long hiatus. We trust that longtime fans who've followed the series so far will continue to support, but at the same time, we also wanted to create a character that would allow new players – those starting fresh with the franchise – to begin on equal footing and grow alongside the protagonist. That was the shared vision between Team Ninja and PlatinumGames. And from that vision, Yakumo was born.
 
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I think we need to keep our expectations in check. I'm happy if its better than NG3, and if it retains the weighty combat and feel and is nothing like Nioh. Its Platinum so I expect some bigger focus on anime (you can already see this in the trailers) slow mo nonsense and boring level design. But I hope not.

The best news is that the franchise is back. And maybe Yakumo works out well. If I'm honest I ended up liking Nero's gameplay more in DMC4 and V.



Googled re: what happened to Tomonobu Itagaki, top result is a reddit thread calling him a sex pest and claiming he was never a good game designer. The internet sure is something these days.

This is why to this day NGB and NG2 are 2 of the best designed action games ever and the original releases keep being better than whatever TN tries with them.

Itagaki pushed for challenge and getting good. Its a far cry from todays philosophy where everyone can beat games blindfolded because they're too scared the audience runs away otherwise.

The court cases were about unwelcome embraces. Fucking alpha woke. He was found innocent.
 
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Googled re: what happened to Tomonobu Itagaki, top result is a reddit thread calling him a sex pest and claiming he was never a good game designer. The internet sure is something these days.
Love that revisionist history. Like NG and NG2 aren't some of the best and slickest action games ever made.
 
Itagaki's NG1 and 2 are still the best combat engine systems created for third person action games.

The only competitor would probably be something like MGSV which is a completely different approach.

Those Ninja Gaiden games have remained the peak of action gameplay for over two decades.

They may as well do a full-on remake of Black with new graphics and even more added modes. It's just as worthy as any Resident Evil or MGS remake and those are being done brilliantly.
 
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