Ninja Gaiden 4 Gets the Heart of Its Genre Right
Ninja Gaiden 4 recaptures the heart of the Character Action Game genre. Although it doesn't do it perfectly, it effectively reminds those of us who played the genre's golden age why this series set the standard. I'm referring to the sheer, skill-driven action of the original Gaiden games. It's not about the quality of the animations, the reflexes, or the movements. There's a heart, a flow of gameplay, and a 'dance' performed in perfect harmony. There's not a single 'strike, dodge, or cancel' that is wrong or out of step with the player's will and intent. Having played the golden age of this genre, I was cautious in approaching Ninja Gaiden 4 . I've seen too many games leak into this market that claim to be 'difficult' but are too automated and devoid of 'gameplay' to be a challenge. I'm looking at you, padding the runtime with struggle. I'm happy to say that Ninja Gaiden 4 is not one of those games. It's a fo...