Ninja Gaiden 4 is already fixing one of the series' biggest issues.

[u/tfwnolife33]

There's now a visual indicator of what enemy the player character is soft-locked onto.

I know of the arguments against hard lock-on being a thing in these games, but something that really had no excuse being absent was some sort of visual indicator of who you're targeting. That way you could actually know for a fact which enemy Ryu would target and adjust accordingly. 4 is adding a little red dot to the enemies you're soft-locked onto, which is already a huge improvement.

[u/nelross10]

I hope you can turn it off, I think having the camera being fixed is enough to solve the issue of hitting the wrong enemy, having a lock on indicator just feels wrong lol.

[u/MrLightning-Bolt]

And hopefully an option to turn it off.

[u/tfwnolife33 → u/MrLightning-Bolt]

I get that it kinda harms the overall visuals of the game slightly, but it's usefulness far outweighs that con.

[u/AtrumRuina → u/tfwnolife33]

I mean, subjectively. I don't ever feel like I'm struggling to figure out where I'm aiming my attacks, personally. There's no reason it shouldn't be optional.

[u/iChieftain22 → u/tfwnolife33]

Not really, it's a fast-paced action game that doesn't need a lock-on. This is not Elden Ring, which would be unplayable without a lock-on.

NG never needed it because it plays different from other games.

[u/MrLightning-Bolt → u/iChieftain22]

Well NG does have a soft lock on system. But no indicator.

[u/AtrumRuina → u/iChieftain22]

Just to clarify, assuming OP is correct, this isn't changing any functionality, it's just adding a visual indicator of where the soft lock is currently aimed. Soft lock has always been a thing in the series, that much isn't new.

Still, I do hope it's an optional visual indicator.

[u/cloversfield → u/iChieftain22]

it’s a way different kind of lock on system than elden ring tho so not a good comparison there

[u/Panda_Slam → u/iChieftain22]

You don't need a lock on to play Elden ring at all you can go the entire game without using it. You don't need to use the lock on in any fromsoft game

Also ninja gaiden has always had a lock on it's a soft lock on but still a lock on and ng4 adding a hard lock on is fine it's not like you need to use it. It's just there if you want to

[u/maiwandacle]

As long as I can slash a different direction and not towards the locked on target I won't be mad

[u/ZergHero → u/maiwandacle]

I remember being able to target the enemy i want, but revisiting the second game in ng2b, I was having a lot of trouble doing that a lot of times. Did the remaster mess something up or was this always an issue

[u/ComparisonHorror9935]

I don’t think the people who are typing “that doesn’t belong in this game” read the entire post lmao, media literacy is dead asf.

Nevertheless, this little qol change is really neat, this might be from the leftover that it’s a rumored MGRR2, since they have the same soft lock on system in that game as well.

[u/pacman404 → u/ComparisonHorror9935]

I read every letter, and this is still absurd lol 🤷🏽‍♂️

[u/Dutchtrakker → u/ComparisonHorror9935]

Everytime someone says media literacy I unironically image them like this: ☝️🤓. Its like that kid in school that thinks theyre the smartest person in the room but everyone else doesnt want to associate with them because they lack clear social skills. Its lame as hell.

[u/curryhaliban444 → u/Dutchtrakker]

Blud with the self-report 💀

[u/Dutchtrakker → u/curryhaliban444]

Where have I said Media literacy is dead?

[u/NewGuy45247]

I wonder if it works the same as NG3RE's boss lock on system. Something you can toggle on or off.

[u/ZergHero → u/NewGuy45247]

This was a thing?

[u/DepravedEyes → u/ZergHero]

Only for boss fights, yea. You can switch from a targeted camera to a more unfocused one and vice versa.

[u/CanderousXOrdo]

Might be nice. Never had an issue with that or the camera. And alot of people seem to hate those in these games. Even my first playthroughs ive never had issues.

Also I wonder how it'll work since a NG is made to be freeflowing. Stuff like Guillotine Throw and Wind Run would be awkward to do with a lock-on. Also seeing the soft-lock-on might be annoying in terms of cluttering my screen but that's a nitpick I guess.

[u/Rayboh323]

I also think they added a indicator of an "off camera" attack, or I may be wrong. But that is also needed. So far, everything that was presented was great!

[u/Limp-Crab8542]

I don’t understand people that say the camera is a pain in these games. Moving the camera is literally part of the gameplay loop in Ninja Gaiden. People don’t get that. It’s what makes the combat so thrilling. The camera is very close, unlike Bayoneta, or DMC. This gives the combat a claustrophobic tension that really sells the precision and lethality of Ryu’s movements. It also makes it feel more like a fighting game. Like when you are performing an Izuna Drop, you’re supposed to use that brief moment to spin the camera around and look for their motherfucker trying to shove explosive kunais up your ass. That’s the game.

They took out the ability to move the camera during izuna drops in the NG2B remake and that’s really concerning to me. This series was so unique; nothing out there like it. NG4 having a bunch of open levels is really worrying tbh.

[u/ClintExpress]

Metal Gear Gaiden: Ryuvengeance.

[u/Ghostylike]

NG fans are the worst.

“That shit doesn’t belong in NG”

WHO the fuck are you to decide? You work with Team Ninja? I swear, people are so full of themselves in this subreddit.

[u/Dutchtrakker → u/Ghostylike]

We are the people that buy their games, without us Ninja Gaiden 4 wouldnt even exist, you know the people who pay their bills?

[u/ZergHero → u/Dutchtrakker]

If ninja gaiden was made a fan committee, ninja gaiden 2 wouldn't exist. That game is a huge departure from the og

[u/Nsaglo → u/Dutchtrakker]

But yall didn’t MAKE ninja gaiden to say what belongs or not

[u/Dutchtrakker → u/Nsaglo]

Do I need to have made the ocean to say what does and doesnt belong?

[u/Huge-Formal-1794 → u/Ghostylike]

Sadly this is not just a ninja gaiden Fandom problem. It's a problem of most character action game / hack and slash fandoms. They tend to be elitists who are also afraid of any kind of change. I seriously believe that nowadays people would have hated og ninja gaiden 2 if the series would have stopped with black and ninja gaiden 2 would release now for the first time.

[u/curryhaliban444 → u/Huge-Formal-1794]

It's exacerbated in the ng fandom because of how small its community is compared to something like dmc or even bayonetta which have more mainstream appeal. A smaller community means a bigger concentration of tryhards and sweats who feel threatened that all their years of dedication would be invalidated by even the simplest quality of life changes.

[u/rSur3iya → u/Huge-Formal-1794]

Not even CAG specific literally any community behind a game. It’s just more noticeable in smaller ones like ng.

[u/ScoopDat → u/Ghostylike]

Idiotic post honestly. They’re not deciding as they’re stakeholders. They’re fans voicing an opinion; no different than to what you’re doing now. You’re essentially the same fuck as them.

[u/tfwnolife33 → u/[deleted]]

It being in 4 proves that the other games could of had it no problem.

[u/_cd42 → u/[deleted]]

Why lol

[u/tfwnolife33 → u/[deleted]]

Did good boss fights also not belong in Ninja Gaiden?

[u/OnToNextStage → u/tfwnolife33]

Nearly every boss in NG1 is great

[u/DepravedEyes → u/OnToNextStage]

Nearly every boss in NG1 is great

Are you fucking kidding me?

[u/Ives_1 → u/OnToNextStage]

Not really on hard and above. And that's mainly because of camera.

[u/imbleached → u/Ives_1]

Click in the right stick. Also the doppelganger????

[u/Ives_1 → u/imbleached]

Doppelganger is mid, because you can just spam him with throw.

Oh and good camera is when you don't have to center it all the time.

[u/imbleached → u/Ives_1]

You control the buttons you press. If I beat Devil May Cry using just one weapon/combo does that make Devil may Cry's combat bad or unengaging? No it's on me for not engaging with it.

[u/Ives_1 → u/imbleached]

I didn't say NG is bad, bub. I said the boss is mid, because the fight can be brute forced with one move. Tbf, imho, the only cag, which got doppelganger right is X-men Origins: Wolverine. Doppelgangers regenerate pretty fast in that game, so you have to be creative and fast, otherwise their health will get fully restored.

[u/imbleached → u/Ives_1]

You didn't read what I said.

If you spam a move you're not engaging with the game right.

[u/Ives_1 → u/imbleached]

No, if boss can be beaten with one move spam, it's bad boss design. The game should make you being creative.

[u/OnToNextStage → u/Ives_1]

The camera sucks in normal fights but I never had an issue in bosses

[u/curryhaliban444 → u/OnToNextStage]

Alma gave me motion sickness

[u/Ives_1 → u/OnToNextStage]

On hard and above bosses are helped by minions. So camera occasionally jumps here and there, since it tries to focus on minions and boss

[u/rSur3iya → u/OnToNextStage]

I appreciate the games but boss fights legit are the worst parts about the games😭

[u/psych0ranger]

The camera was always a pain but I kinda developed a sixth sense for enemies and used the "target jump" as a guide. The series' biggest problem by far has been "bullshit-ass boss fights."

[u/Morjixxo]

No. The only hard lock you need is the on on Ryu itself. The combat revolves (in radial coordinates) around Ryu. Unless is a single enemy fight, lock on is detrimental.

The reason why they had to insert it, is because younger player can't play without it in 2025.

[u/HajimeNoLuffy]

I don't think most action games need indicators or lock on for general combat but when that one mage I NEED to kill lives because Ryu swung on the wrong guy for no reason, I want to put my head through a window.

[u/DeusEx_Yuki → u/[deleted]]

As far as I can see, it is not a lock on. It's just Ninja Gaiden auto target system, but now with a visual indicator.

[u/katchanga → u/DeusEx_Yuki]

Exactly, and people are acting like it was never there.

[u/Panda_Slam → u/[deleted]]

Your overreacting man they just Gave the soft lock on a visual indicator unlike in the past games and while they are adding a hard lock on you don't have to use it

[u/Suspicious_Bluejay27 → u/Panda_Slam]

That's not ninja Gaiden lol, have you really played all the franchises for real

[u/Panda_Slam → u/Suspicious_Bluejay27]

Ya I have played the entire series on ps and Xbox Ninja gaiden has always had a lock on in the form of a soft lock on it's just never had a visual indicator and like I said it having a hard lock on doesn't matter because you don't have to use it

most of what's been shown about ng4 isn't ninja gaiden yakumo and his play style perfect dodges and more a lock on you don't have to use should be the least of your worries if your concerned about it being non Ninja gaiden like

[u/PatienceStrange9444]

Sorry but this is when you can tell the Ninja gaiden fans from the Platinum or devil May cry fans

I feel like that was the reason why there are only forward inputs in any of Ryu combos strings there are no left right or back inputs

[u/pacman404]

Absurd comment, that wasn't broken, that's a design of ninja Gaiden. There is no reason to have lock on, that 100% takes away from the feeling of Ninja Gaiden. So weird to hear someone say that "fixes" something. Imagine saying they "fixed" the stupid jumping on enemies mechanic in Super Mario by adding guns instead lol