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[HYDE]

The True Dragon Sword with tear inserted.

Ryu Hayabusa (Dragon Ninja) & Momiji (Dragon Shrine Maiden)

Ninja Gaiden came out in 2004 on XBOX. Black came out in 2005 and included expansion packs plus loads of extras. Ninja Gaiden 2 came out in 2008 on XBOX 360.

These games are at the pinnacle of action games imo. Playing them with BC through Series S or X is outstanding.

Fans understand that Sigma 1 & 2 brought both good and bad additions & subtractions. 3 well, it was decent after Razor’s Edge I guess…

Anyways I wanted to discuss what people want to see with NG4…and I am going to start off with a couple ideas I have:

Get rid of the linear or chapter based structure and include a semi-open structure similar to Bloodborne or Sekiro & allow us to warp around the world. Keep the same gameplay don’t make it a soulslike, but borrow parry mechanics from those that do it right.
(The dragon statues already provide the perfect means to allow this)

Next I love that you could charge your bow with souls and unleash a stronger attack. But enhance this by allowing us to walk while the bow strings are being pulled back. For heaven’s sake do not return to the FPS perspective that Black had, but keep it TPS like 2.

What do you guys want to see?

 

[rm082e]

I doubt we will ever see one, and I don't think it could ever live up to the original. Ninja Gaiden Black might be my favorite game of all time. These days I settle for Sigma on PC with mods.

Honestly, I would want them to stick with the level based formula of the original. Having shorter chunks of gameplay that lend themselves to replay and time trial mindset is a big part of the appeal to me. I loved how deep that combat system was and how much there was to explore, refine and polish by replaying over and over. That's the most important part to me.

 

[Celcius]

I'd want it to be like Sigma 1 or 2. To me the first game felt like a big (linear) world that you could run all the way through even though there were chapters. I also still want to play as Rachael, Momiji, Ayane, and Kasumi. No unreal engine, I don’t care if they have to bring back the same engine from before.

 

[HYDE]

I almost forgot to add that this was said:

■ Koei Tecmo Games / AAA Studio

Fumihiko Yasuda

(Known for Rise of the Ronin, the Nioh series, the Ninja Gaiden series)

—Ambitions for 2025

“In 2025, Team NINJA will celebrate its 30th anniversary, and we hope to announce and release titles fitting for the occasion.”

And this:

Yosuke Hayashi

(Known for Rise of the Ronin, the Nioh series, Wild Hearts, the Ninja Gaiden series, the Dead or Aliveseries, the Hyrule Warriors series, the Fire Emblemseries)

—Ambitions for 2025

“2025 should be a year where we can announce and deliver various titles, including the AAA studio title I’m currently in charge of. I hope this year brings even greater excitement to the entertainment format that is video games.”

 

[Bry0]

Honestly I always wanted a game that explored Ayane and Kasumi more. I will take literally anything set in the “new” NG/DOA universe though. It feels grossly under utilized. I always loved the aesthetic of all those games.

 

[HYDE]

Honestly I always wanted a game that explored Ayane and Kasumi more. I will take literally anything set in the “new” NG/DOA universe though. It feels grossly under utilized. I always loved the aesthetic of all those games.

Kasumi & Momiji are my favorites probably because of the natural hair colors. I enjoyed playing as Momiji in NG2 and Kasumi in NG3 RE.

 

[Punished Miku]

I feel like Wanted Dead is the true spiritual sequel to Ninja Gaiden Black and 2. They shouldn't create another title that uses that format.

Create something entirely new. A new form of combat system. It should encorporate as much emphasis on platforming as it does on combat.

Team Ninja showed they can create new gameplay systems still with the Nioh stance system and Ki Pulse. It needs multiple new, deep core gameplay elements unseen previously.

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

I don't think they could match the quality of Ninja Gaiden Black (one of my top 5 games ever) or even Ninja Gaiden 2.

But I would absolutely fucking welcome an action game that isn't another goddamn Dark Souls clone.

 

[DanielG165]

•An even more refined and improved version of 3RE’s combat loop and mechanics (keep the deep richness of that game intact. Shorter recovery frames for Ryu.


•A narrative that compliments the genuinely deep and vast lore of Ninja Gaiden, whilst keeping the feel and atmosphere of the trilogy alive. And bring back the mysticism of NGB and NG2.


•New weapons, though maybe not a ton as to not saturate the combat loop for the sake of, “more”. Weapons that are new and offer genuine utility and expression, on top of the existing staples.


•Additional playable characters for Chapter Challenge like in 3RE, with Hayate as a new addition.


•Truly next level visuals and fidelity, whilst maintaining a solid and smooth frame rate with little to no input lag.


•Hard as shit from the very first chapter, and doesn’t pull its punches, but instead just keeps adding on to the insanity. Keep NG’s fangs sharpened.


•A legitimate training room where players can go and test out moves, tech, loops, combos etc.


•Ryu’s mask stays on.


For those doubting that an NG4 will ever happen, TN’s 30th anniversary is this year, and they just announced a new Ninja Gaiden spin off game that is set within the NES games’ universe, I’m pretty sure. I have no doubt that TN will be looking very closely at that game’s success and how fans take it.

Also, there has been a TON of Ninja Gaiden merchandise announced lately, with 3 separate figures of Ryu, on of which being from Revoltech themselves, one for Ayane, and another for Kasumi. Third party companies are also making Ryu figures. There’s a slow but consistent resurgence of Ninja Gaiden-related things happening, and not by sheer coincidence.

 

[DanielG165]

Is want it to be like Sigma 1 or 2

Hopefully not like Sigma 2 for me, personally. NGS2 was a major step down/nerfing of NG2 vanilla, in more ways than just lack of blood and gore.

 

[CamHostage]

Honestly I always wanted a game that explored Ayane and Kasumi more. I will take literally anything set in the “new” NG/DOA universe though. It feels grossly under utilized.

The tragic loss of DOA Code Chronus...

Dead or Alive: Code Chronos (lost build of cancelled Xbox 360 prequel to fighting game series; 2006-2010) - The Lost Media Wiki

lostmediawiki.com

(*Ignore the generic "lost build" text on the headline here. There probably never was a build. Good info otherwise. )

 

[Aion002]

First of all: No qte whatsoever and no sponge enemies. The game should be hard because the enemies are challenging, not because their life bars are gigantic. NG3 combat gets boring quite fast because some enemies have too much hp.

The combat should be closer to NG2 than NG3 for sure.

I expect better level design (hidden rooms, puzzles and multiple paths), no open world (stages are better) and no random loot with random stats.


Also, I would like coop modes, like boss rush and even a wave mode.

 

[Bry0]

The tragic loss of DOA Code Chronus...

Dead or Alive: Code Chronos (lost build of cancelled Xbox 360 prequel to fighting game series; 2006-2010) - The Lost Media Wiki

lostmediawiki.com

(*Ignore the generic "lost build" text on the headline here. There probably never was a build. Good info otherwise. )

Oh man, I didn’t even know about this. This is exactly what I’d love TN to explore. Without Itagaki I’m not sure we will ever see anything like this at this point.

I’ve still loved recent TN games though, I played rise of the ronin with a custom made kasumi.

 

[DavidGzz]

explored Ayane and Kasumi

You sly dog you.

 

[kikkis]

Get rid of UT. In ngb it makes only sense to jump and go to ut, rest is pointless compared to that

 

[NeverYouMind]

1. It must avoid everything Ninja Gaiden 3 (and Razor's Edge) did.
2. It must have the roll, jump loop for fast traversal like Black/Sigma.
3. It must have a camera that can always follow the action.
4. The world must have platforming and interactive elements.
5. It must have jump shot and charged shot for bow.

6. It should take place predominantly in a fictional city/fortress set up like an Igavania.
7. It should follow Ryu and not other characters.
8. The equipment and items should have RPG elements.
9. It should have full fail state and no crafting.
10. It should have unique weapons with visceral dismemberment.

11. Would be nice to have Dabilahro, Dual Halberds (Wo Long), Dragon Sword, Great Hammer (Wo Long), Kitetsu, Kusari-Gama, Lunar Staff, Unarmed (DoA), and Vigoorian Flail in arsenal.
12. Would be nice to have nearly perfect blocks act like deflects.
13. Would be nice to have several ultimate techniques (quickly charged) per weapon.
14. Would be nice to have map that tracks locked areas and key items.
15. Would be nice to have equipment that vibrates/sounds-off when near treasure.

 

[IAmRei]

One thing I know, 2D ninja gaiden, nes and snes, both are ultra hard for me, no games close to their difficulties at the time.
and the 3D is even harder than souls IMO. because of the speed...

I never finished any Ninja Gaiden at all ...
especially I'm getting older, i cannot playing game too long or too hard anymore

 

[SkylineRKR]

Its funny, because NGB and NG2 original are 2 of the best games I have played and one of the reasons I keep my Series S around. But I don't feel Nioh etc, like, at all.

This is another mis handled franchise, with a very bad third game and then a still bad fixed version of the third game. Which is already over a decade old by now. Crazy to think even NGB is almost 20 years old.

 

[MagiusNecros]

What do you guys want to see?

Ayane gets her own game

 

[Killer8]

I only hope it plays more similarly to Ninja Gaiden and isn't another Nioh-like.

 

[MonkD]

Pull the camera in real close and have Ryu move in slowmotion and control like a tank. Add a lot of expensive cutscenes and motion capture. Add a child for us to travel with and protect.

 

[SkylineRKR]

Pull the camera in real close and have Ryu move in slowmotion and control like a tank. Add a lot of expensive cutscenes and motion capture. Add a child for us to travel with and protect.

This is how ridiculous some franchises have become. But then they break sales records so we're here.

 

[MonkD]

This is how ridiculous some franchises have become. But then they break sales records so we're here.

And irks me a little bit that the industry went there around the time of where most of the classic "hack'n'slash"-franchises started dying out.

On a more serious note I'd first of all like a re-release of the original version of 1 & 2 (not SIGMA!). Probably less focus on the cinematic stuff that almost killed 3. More platforming and puzzles. More weapons. I don't want to play as any other character than Ryu.

 

[HYDE]

Its funny, because NGB and NG2 original are 2 of the best games I have played and one of the reasons I keep my Series S around. But I don't feel Nioh etc, like, at all.

This is another mis handled franchise, with a very bad third game and then a still bad fixed version of the third game. Which is already over a decade old by now. Crazy to think even NGB is almost 20 years old.

These 2 games are the reason that I even still have a Series S. They are digital copies that play insanely well through BC. I won’t ever get rid of the system unless these versions are ported someplace else.

 

[clarky]

They are doing 4 or is this just wishful thinking?

 

[Mr Branding]

After replaying Black so many times it’s funny to see the souls-like discussions here since NGB was one of the first to have these elements: interconnected world with metroidvania like exploration and hard combat geared towards quick thinking.

After the failure that was 3/3RE, I expect nothing. I feel the character action genre needs a resurgence.

 

[kevboard]

"Ninja Gaiden 4 Team Ninja Fiend Discussion both Dragon & Shadow Clans"

so... am I supposed to understand what this thread title is saying?
these sure are English words... I guess...

 

[Gojiira]

Hmm what I would want is proper parry mechanics ala Sekiro.
Difficulty like Black.
More complex level design.
Full campaign as Momiji or Ayane or Rachel or Kasumi, gimme those big titty Ninjas over Ryu any day, full boob/butt physics, cloth physics for outfits, hair physics, the whole nine yards.

 

[sigmaZ]

I want a Ninja Gaiden that's crazy like Revengence

 

[MonkD]

They are doing 4 or is this just wishful thinking?

I'm guessing this thread is more of a reaction to Ninja Gaiden Ragebound than any leaks of 4. But I believe we've had rumors of 4, but they come and go.

 

[clarky]

I want a Ninja Gaiden that's crazy like Revengence

I'd just like something that as good as Black, although that's a high bar.

Hmm what I would want is proper parry mechanics ala Sekiro.
Difficulty like Black.
More complex level design.
Full campaign as Momiji or Ayane or Rachel or Kasumi, gimme those big titty Ninjas over Ryu any day, full boob/butt physics, cloth physics for outfits, hair physics, the whole nine yards.

Agreed on all that except the tits. Don't get me wrong I like a good tit as much as the next man but they would surely get in the way during a good ninja scrap.

 

[HYDE]

I'm guessing this thread is more of a reaction to Ninja Gaiden Ragebound than any leaks of 4. But I believe we've had rumors of 4, but they come and go.

Saying this kindly…No it isn’t, because I am equally excited about Game Kitchen developing Ragebound. Both 2D & 3D games need to happen. I quoted two Team Ninja developers who strongly hinted at 30th Anniversary celebrations and announcements for 2025, they understand how important Ninja Gaiden is for Tecmo’s history. NG3RE released last on PS3/X360 in 2013. We got a collection for it’s 25th Anniversary, but we are beyond ready for NG4!

 

[Blood Borne]

Ninja Gaiden is dead. I genuinely don’t see them making another Ninja Gaiden game as good as Ninja Gaiden Black.

More so, Sekiro has surpassed Ninja Gaiden.
Yes, you heard that right, Sekiro > Ninja Gaiden Black.

 

[kevboard]

I'd be already happy with Ninja Gaiden 4 being basically like NG Black but with a better camera...

 

[kevboard]

Ninja Gaiden is dead. I genuinely don’t see them making another Ninja Gaiden game as good as Ninja Gaiden Black.

More so, Sekiro has surpassed Ninja Gaiden.
Yes, you heard that right, Sekiro > Ninja Gaiden Black.

the combat systems of these games can't be compared... neither can the moment to moment gameplay nor the level design.
in short, these are 2 entirely different styles and one can't be seen as a replacement or substitute for the other.

 

[HYDE]

Ninja Gaiden is dead. I genuinely don’t see them making another Ninja Gaiden game as good as Ninja Gaiden Black.

More so, Sekiro has surpassed Ninja Gaiden.
Yes, you heard that right, Sekiro > Ninja Gaiden Black.

I honestly agree to disagree with both of these statements.
First, I feel like Nioh 1 & 2, Wo Long, & Rise of the Ronin have proven that they can still do fantastic combat without Itagaki.
Second, Both games can exist (also both are great!) and aren’t by any means similar combat experiences. I do agree Ninja Gaiden could add some parrying abilities & also bring back intercept.

 

[MonkD]

Saying this kindly…No it isn’t, because I am equally excited about Game Kitchen developing Ragebound. Both 2D & 3D games need to happen. I quoted two Team Ninja developers who strongly hinted at 30th Anniversary celebrations and announcements for 2025, they understand how important Ninja Gaiden is for Tecmo’s history. NG3RE released last on PS3/X360 in 2013. We got a collection for it’s 25th Anniversary, but we are beyond ready for NG4!

 

[NeverYouMind]

Ninja Gaiden is dead. I genuinely don’t see them making another Ninja Gaiden game as good as Ninja Gaiden Black.

More so, Sekiro has surpassed Ninja Gaiden.
Yes, you heard that right, Sekiro > Ninja Gaiden Black.

Sekiro does not even deserve the privilege of being mentioned in the same sentence as Ninja Gaiden Black unless the context is that Sekiro is relatively shite compared to Ninja Gaiden Black.

 

[MonkD]

Sekiro does not even deserve the privilege of being mentioned in the same sentence as Ninja Gaiden Black unless the context is that Sekiro is relatively shite compared to Ninja Gaiden Black.

I'd say that Sekiro is more of a soulsification of Tenchu. Plays nothing like NG imo.

 

[kikkis]

I'd say that Sekiro is more of a soulsification of Tenchu. Plays nothing like NG imo.

I think they both play in similar genre, but sekiro has better mechanics

 

[Hot5pur]

After Ni Oh their games have been kinda crap. Wo-Long I thought was a painful slog. Didn't play rise of Ronin but it wasn't that successful. Stranger of paradise looked like a Ni Oh copy pasta. It's like they've stumbled on a formula that gets them a decent ~ 7-7.5 game every time and they keep milking it.

Not sure you can release a Ninja Gaiden 4 in 2025 without it being 50+ hours and full of RPG elements. Those magical and highly replayable action games of the x360 era don't really happen often these days.

 

[SkylineRKR]

After Ni Oh their games have been kinda crap. Wo-Long I thought was a painful slog. Didn't play rise of Ronin but it wasn't that successful. Stranger of paradise looked like a Ni Oh copy pasta. It's like they've stumbled on a formula that gets them a decent ~ 7-7.5 game every time and they keep milking it.

Not sure you can release a Ninja Gaiden 4 in 2025 without it being 50+ hours and full of RPG elements. Those magical and highly replayable action games of the x360 era don't really happen often these days.

I got bored of Nioh when I reached the final area.

There is just something about Ninja Gaiden that makes me play it 20 years later as well. I completed both games about 3 years ago again, ofcourse the Xbox OG's. Its the viscerality, animations, sound effects, just the feeling of izuna dropping a ninja on a group, or OT a limbless fool in NG2, and UT the rest. I love it, I even bought the mission pack on Series S which still works but sometimes requires a restart to appear on the menu.

Even Razor's Edge I probably rather play than Nioh. Because it has this viscerality as well, though its a very uneven and badly designed game. I find Nioh's gameplay, animations, level design, constant need to purfify puddles and ridiculous loot system just boring.

EDIT: But IF they release a new NG, please don't make it longer than 12 hours. Include NG+, some missions perhaps. I think DMCV got away with a proper length, which wasn't all that long ago. And I don't need another chasing the numbers loot system or level check game. Give me skill check.

 

[RaduN]

Hard to imagine how the core gameplay can be improved from 2 (vanilla of course, not that disgrace that is Sigma 2).

NG2 is absolute GOAT in that regard.

 

[NeverYouMind]

After Ni Oh their games have been kinda crap. Wo-Long I thought was a painful slog. Didn't play rise of Ronin but it wasn't that successful. Stranger of paradise looked like a Ni Oh copy pasta. It's like they've stumbled on a formula that gets them a decent ~ 7-7.5 game every time and they keep milking it.

Not sure you can release a Ninja Gaiden 4 in 2025 without it being 50+ hours and full of RPG elements. Those magical and highly replayable action games of the x360 era don't really happen often these days.

Wo Long has some pacing problems (not on Nioh's level) and worse aesthetics and optimization. Even so, the combat mechanics, RPG elements, and unique bosses are leagues better than anything in Nioh. Its DLC and post game content are the best Team Ninja have done.

Strangers of Paradise is amazing to me. The image quality is PS3 level, but the mechanics, enemy variety, RPG elements, and story direction are what I have always wanted from Final Fantasy after playing Dirge of Cerberus.

Haven't had the opportunity to play Rise of the Ronin so I cannot comment on that.

I think they both play in similar genre, but sekiro has better mechanics

It's mechanics are implemented poorly. Half the crap in the game does not play by its own rules.