7.5/10

Ninja Gaiden 4 Review (Warning: Not Spoiler-Free)

The aesthetic and gameplay are insanely good. If you love fast-paced hack-and-slash action, this is totally for you. It really feels like playing a great PS2 game again - pure peak nostalgia!

The game introduces a new main character, Yakumo, who wields 4 (+1) different weapon types you can switch between. The weapon designs are fantastic, and when you use Blood Art, they transform into something even more badass. Later, you play a few shorter chapters as the Super Ninja and true main character of the series, Ryu Hayabusa (yay!). Ryu feels absolutely top-tier, his gameplay is polished and incredibly satisfying. Playing him really highlighted that Yakumo can feel a bit janky at times, especially on hard difficulty. On easier difficulties, Yakumo should be fine, but on hard, the rough edges are noticeable.

For me, Ryu’s sections reinforced why I prefer this series as Ryu. Compared to Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, NG4 lacks the variety of playable characters. NG2B let you play as several badass female characters, which made the game even more enjoyable. NG4, however, primarily focuses on Yakumo, who honestly feels more like a character for younger audiences, while Ryu is for adults. I get why some might call it Ninja Gaiden, but it feels more like a spin-off. Luckily, New Game+ allows you to play entirely as Ryu. Yakumo is okay, but I never fully clicked with him.

The jump-and-run segments are fun, and the boss designs are solid, though NG2B still had the better bosses.

Story-wise, it’s nothing mind-blowing. One moment I didn’t enjoy was the battle between Yakumo and Ryu, I wish the cutscene had Ryu letting Yakumo win. I’m just not ready to see Ryu head into “retirement.”

There are other frustrating issues: loading screens kill the momentum of intense battles. Even on PS5 Pro, they feel obnoxiously long. Losing a battle forces you to go through loading screens and manually switch talismans every time, which is unbelievably frustrating. Why can’t the game save the talismans from the last battle? This consistently killed the mood and gave me serious anger issues.

Fazit: Ninja Gaiden 4 is a great game, though imperfect. It could use some polish, especially in pacing and mechanics. I recommend playing it on easier difficulties for the first run, then enjoying Ryu on harder difficulties. And if you haven’t yet, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is still a must-play classic.

Little Nightmares 3 Review

The aesthetic is as cute yet unsettling as the previous games, keeping that signature Little Nightmares vibe. That said, it feels a bit less like Little Nightmares overall. Unfortunately, it’s not as scary as its predecessors. The puzzles are easier too, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

The story was engaging, though the plot twist at the end didn’t catch me by surprise. Compared to the earlier entries, it’s not as deep, but it still offers a satisfying experience. I’d recommend playing it, especially with a friend, since this feels like the perfect co-op game. You can also play solo, as I did, the AI partner doesn’t backseat you and allows you to figure things out on your own. Overall, it’s still a great game, and I love it, even if it didn’t hit all the marks of the previous titles. Honestly, I feel Reanimal captures the true Little Nightmares 3 essence more than this game itself.

The biggest disappointment? There’s no couch co-op - it’s online-only. That’s a huge missed opportunity. Plus, there’s no crossplay, which limits who you can play with.