Ninja Gaiden’s Revival is the Perfect Antidote to the Soulslike Phenomenon

The 2025 Xbox Developer Direct brought many surprises, but the Ninja Gaiden revival stands out as one of the biggest. The classic action franchise is getting a resurgence with multiple new titles, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and the surprise release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. This marks a significant shift for the series, dormant since Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge in 2012 (excluding the Master Collection). More importantly, it signals a potential turning point for gaming: the return of classic 3D action games after years of Soulslike dominance.

Once, titles like Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, and the original God of War defined action gaming. However, FromSoftware's Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring shifted the landscape. While Soulslikes are enjoyable, the AAA market should accommodate diverse styles, and Ninja Gaiden's return could be the much-needed balance.

The Dragon's Legacy

The Ninja Gaiden series was once considered the epitome of action games. The 2004 Xbox reboot, a departure from its 2D NES roots, established Ryu Hayabusa's adventures with fluid gameplay, stunning animation, and brutal difficulty. While other hack-and-slash games existed, Ninja Gaiden's challenge was unparalleled, famously exemplified by the first boss, Murai.

Despite its difficulty, the challenge is generally fair. Deaths stem from player error, demanding mastery of combat rhythm, movement, defense, and counter-attacks. From the Izuna Drop to Ultimate Techniques and diverse weapon combos, players have ample tools to overcome obstacles. This demanding gameplay, ironically, foreshadowed the Soulslike ethos: overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds. Ninja Gaiden's demanding mechanics paved the way for the Soulslike subgenre, but its success might have been too successful.

Following the Trend

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2's release (a PS3 port considered inferior) coincided with Demon's Souls (2009), setting the stage for Dark Souls (2011). While Ninja Gaiden 3 and Razor's Edge faltered, Dark Souls thrived, spawning sequels and influencing FromSoftware's subsequent titles, including Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring.

This Soulslike influence spread to other franchises like Respawn's Star Wars Jedi series, Team Ninja's Nioh, and Game Science's Black Myth: Wukong. While Soulslikes aren't inherently flawed, their dominance has stifled the AAA action space, leaving classic 3D action games scarce. Even Devil May Cry 5 (2019) and the rebooted God of War (2018) adopted elements of this style, sacrificing their original fast-paced combat for slower, more methodical encounters.

Soulslikes feature hallmarks like precise timing-based combat, stamina management, build customization, open-ended levels, and save points that respawn enemies. This formula, while effective for FromSoftware, has been overused, creating a market saturation. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black's release offers a chance to showcase the unique strengths of character action games.

The Master Ninja's Return

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black provides a refreshing change. Its lightning-fast combat, diverse weaponry, and the return of the original game's gore (absent in Sigma 2) make it the best version on modern platforms. While some veterans might criticize difficulty adjustments and enemy numbers, the original Ninja Gaiden II suffered from technical issues and unbalanced design. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black strikes a balance, retaining high difficulty, restoring gore, and incorporating extra content from Sigma 2 (excluding the unpopular statue boss fights).

This remaster highlights the loss of similar games. The late 2000s and early 2010s saw numerous games inspired by Ninja Gaiden and God of War (e.g., Bayonetta, Dante's Inferno, Darksiders, and even FromSoftware's Ninja Blade). The frenetic, combo-driven combat against numerous enemies and large bosses in a linear format is a proven formula, surprisingly overshadowed by the Soulslike model. While similar games exist (Hi-Fi Rush, for example), Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is a significant release from a major developer.

Replaying Ninja Gaiden 2 Black emphasizes its unique qualities. There are no "cheats"—no build guides, experience points, or stamina bars. It's a pure test of skill, demanding mastery of the provided tools. Success relies solely on combat proficiency. While Soulslikes remain popular, Ninja Gaiden's return hopefully ushers in a new era for action games, providing space for both styles to thrive.

(19 Images Total)