Summary
Microsoft has been on a roll with these early Developer Directs kicking off the year. As always, they had a surprise in store, and they started by revealingNinja Gaiden 4.Ninja Gaiden 3, the last mainline game in the franchise, was released in 2012, so it has been quite a while since a new entry came along.
6Devil May Cry 5
A Three-Way Demon Hunt
Fans who playedNinja Gaidenon the original Xbox in 2004 probably noticed some similarities between it andDevil May Cry, which was a PS2 exclusive franchise at the time. The storytelling, intense action, and emphasis on taking down demons that have existed for centuries are common themes of both titles. Of themany games in the series now,Devil May Cry 5is probably the most deserving of another look.
LikeNinja Gaiden 2 Black, the campaign offers multiple heroes that switch off between chapters. It’s mostly focused on Nero, but V and Dante step in too. Each character plays differently, with Nero having grappling abilities thanks to his cybernetic arm and V being able to summon demons to help him. This helps keep the freshness of battle alive until the credits roll.
Dynasty Warriors: Originsis the perfect latest title to recommend toNinja Gaidenfans. It’s also from Koei Tecmo - specifically their Omega Force branch. The combat can be just as intense, as enemies will come in the thousands. That said, there is some leniency in the challenge thanks toDynasty Warriors: Origins’difficulty levels.
Dynasty Warriors: Originsfeatures an impressive collection of weapons for the main character, The Wanderer, to wield too. He can use a staff, various swords, spears, chakrams, and more. It’s an expansive RPG with branching storylines that will take players more than a few hours to finish, which is perfect because it may be a while beforeNinja Gaiden 4releases.
Ghostwire: Tokyohas the least fierce combat among these recommendations. However,Ninja Gaiden 2 Blackfans should still dig it because it takes place in a somewhat futuristic Tokyo, and there are plenty of demons to slay here. Instead of a third-person action game, players will traverse thisadventure as a first-person shooter.
Players will be armed with various elemental spells that they can use to deal with ghouls. There are also items that can be used to stun monsters, like talismans or weapons like the bow. It’s not a huge open world, but the city will open up as players gain new powers and slay bigger demons that are gatekeeping the city.
It was a surprise to seePlatinumGames working with Team Ninja forNinja Gaiden 4, even though they have already worked on several big franchises.Metal Gear Rising: Revengeanceis the best option from them to serve as a companion piece toNinja Gaiden 4. Based on the trailer alone, aesthetically, it looks likeMetal Gear Rising: Revengeance 2, a sequel fans have long been wishing for.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeanceis the furthest game in the franchise, following Raiden as he works alone to stop a group of private military cyborgs from taking over.The action is lightning fast, and getting to chop enemies up into literal pieces never gets old. It’s silly, violent, and one of the most stylish action games that has ever left Japan.
Gamers can choose to play as two different characters inMuramasa: The Demon Blade, with Kisuke and Momohime being the available options. Both have ninja-like skills and an avalanche of blades to equip. Each one forged in a branching skill-like tree will have a different ability infused, with some even giving the user the power to summon wind to cut through their enemies. Even though the game is in 2D, the action flows at a high velocity, similarly toNinja Gaiden 2 Black.
Both campaigns are worth going through, even though players will retread similar waters. Ofthe many games Vanillaware has made,Muramasa: The Demon Bladedefinitely has the most intense combat. It’s just a shame that it’s trapped on either the Wii or the PS Vita via theMuramasa Rebirthedition.
Sekiro: Shadows Die TwiceandNinja Gaiden 2 Blackfans could have a legitimate discussion on which ninja game is harder. Fans ofNinja Gaiden 2 Blackhave the luxury of difficulty options, but true to form,Sekiro: Shadows Die Twicedoes not provide any such choice, as that would seemingly go against the FromSoftware philosophy. Players can’t simply grind to become stronger in the game either, likeFromSoftware’s other Soulslike experiences.
There are very few upgrade paths. Instead, players have to get better with practice. WillNinja Gaiden 4be more challenging? It’s hard to see how, but even thoughSekiro: Shadows Die Twiceis difficult, it’s an excellently designed experience that will make every victory feel like a legitimate reason to celebrate.
