NINJA GAIDEN 4 is the latest official sequel to Team Ninja's classic hack-and-slash series and the first new mainline game in 13 years. With the game's release approaching on October 21st, AUTOMATON interviewed the game's directors, Team Ninja and Yuji Nakao (PlatinumGames), about their design philosophy for the new game and what both veteran and new players can expect.

Team Ninja began by stating that they hope players will simply enjoy the "pure action" experience that the NINJA GAIDEN series represents. While continuing the series' classic tradition while also opening the door to a new modern audience, NINJA GAIDEN 4 is all about immersing players in "ninja-style action." Team Ninja recommends, "If you've ever wondered what it's like to be a ninja, this is a must-play game."

On the other hand, NINJA GAIDEN 4 could reignite the passion of old-school action gamers. Yuji Nakao believes there's still a demand for "pure, raw hack-and-slash action" today, and the new game fulfills that need. "There are many 'pure action' game series that have endured, both past and present. I personally don't think 'pure action games' are outdated, despite the increasing diversity of the genre. I believe there are still many players (myself included) who crave that kind of experience, and NINJA GAIDEN 4 will satisfy them."

While the team has incorporated some modern elements into the new game, Yuji Nakao emphasized that they remained committed to maintaining the traditional action essence of NINJA GAIDEN throughout development: "No matter how time passes, that core, exhilarating action feel is something we will never compromise. We (PlatinumGames) maintained close discussions with Team Ninja throughout the development process, and it was extremely important for us to deliver the new game without changing the core elements of the series."

NINJA GAIDEN 4 will be released on October 21st for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.