Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is the perfect example of what a retro remake should be

THE biggest surprise from the recent Xbox showcase was that Ninja Gaiden is making a comeback after 13 years.

Ninja Gaiden 4 was the first game shown during the Xbox Developer Direct, and the reveal was immediately followed by the Ninja Gaiden 2 Black shadow drop.

Ninja Theory

Ninja Gaiden brings back the fast-paced action the series is known for[/caption]

Ninja Theory

The gorgeous graphics don’t match how narrow the old-school levels are[/caption]

Ninja Theory

The fixed camera angles can be more challenging than the enemies[/caption]

The remake of Ninja Gaiden 2 launched immediately following the show, and players have already had the chance to try it out.

Ninja Gaiden is known for its over-the-top action, and the ridiculousness is part of the charm.

This has been amped up from the original games, with all new over-the-top cutscenes.

It looks fantastic. Graphically, it’s everything you’d expect from a big-budget game released in 2025.

But being a remake of a 20-year-old game, the narrow levels feel strangely out of place with the new look.

The camera has also not been upgraded, and the fixed camera angles can feel more challenging than the enemies.

And they aren’t pushovers. Ninja Gaiden is known for its relentless action, where enemies never give you room to breathe.

You need to keep moving, and new weapons must be mastered quickly if you want to keep up.

The whole game oozes cool, from the wall running to the bombastic story that’s more style than substance.

It doesn’t take realism into account, and instead, Ryu Hayabusa is swift and nimble, fulfilling your ninja dreams.

You can play as different characters in tag missions but we wish there was more of this action throughout.

In an era where it feels like most challenging action games are a form of soulslike, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black feels fresh despite its age.

It’s the perfect game to play to get a taste of what Ninja Gaiden 4 will have to offer.

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is out now for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam.

If you want to read more about upcoming games, check out our Civilization 7 review.