After playing both Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 in 2025, I am flabbergasted at why Obsidian feels the incessant need to continue recycling this structure of game. I cannot help feeling as if I’ve essentially played the same game three times already. There is nothing inherently wrong with these games at a base level. They’re built well and are mostly technically sound. The engine has these games function well enough and they are fine to play. Being simply ‘fine’ is utterly disappointing however relative to what Obsidian can accomplish as a studio.
With all that in mind, it makes Ninja Gaiden 4 really quite difficult to recommend. There are so many games out right now that could offer you more for your money. It is releasing in a month where a game such as Ghost of Yōtei could give you more bang for your buck.Unless you really love the Character-Action genre over anything else, it is hard to justify spending a full 70 dollars on a game that is only around 9 hours long, with a severe lack of other content. Granted, the game did release Day 1 on Xbox Game Pass, so subscribers should absolutely give it a shot if they so desire. Nonetheless, it is a great game and I am very happy to see the triumphant return of Ninja Gaiden. If we can receive more Ninja Gaiden games in this same vein, I believe the future of the series should be very bright - so long as they work on those noted flaws.
Keeper has no dialogue whatsoever, and that is by design. This is a story told entirely through its gameplay and minimal amount of cutscenes. It works for the better, ensuring the player stays immersed in the game’s energy and presentation. Early on, I even wondered if Keeper would end up being a walking sim game before puzzles were inevitably thrown my way. Keeper is a puzzle game, though you wouldn’t expect as much from your first impression. None of these puzzles are particularly hard, mind you, but rather ‘comfortable’ would be the word to describe them.