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How to Play as Ryu in Every Chapter of NINJA GAIDEN 4

Ryu joins the first-run story in Chapters 14–18. After finishing the campaign, Chapter Select lets you replay any chapter as Ryu.
WorldEvery Chapter of NINJA GAIDEN 4 Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Story spoilers: On your first Story Mode run, Ryu is playable in Chapters 14–18. Finish the story once, then use Chapter Select (also called Chapter Challenge) to replay any chapter as Ryu.

When can you play as Ryu?

On a fresh Story Mode run, the story determines which ninja you control. PCGamesN reports that Ryu’s playable stretch runs from Chapter 14 through Chapter 18; the story returns to Yakumo in Chapter 19. Team NINJA’s official system page confirms the post-completion replay feature, but does not list chapter numbers. PCGamesN’s chapter guide is the source for that precise first-run range.

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You cannot choose Ryu for Chapter 1 in a new Story Mode playthrough. Director and producer Yuji Nakao explained in an Xbox Wire interview that story assignments are fixed according to who is in each world and what they are doing. Choosing the other character is a replay option, not an alternate full story path.

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How to replay every chapter as Ryu

  1. Complete the original Story Mode campaign once.
  2. Open Chapter Select / Chapter Challenge from the game’s chapter-replay options.
  3. Choose the chapter you want to replay, then select Ryu as the playable character.

Team NINJA’s official system page says that after completing the story, all chapters can be replayed as either Yakumo or Ryu. The chapter’s original story presentation remains in place: the feature lets you play the stage with the other character, and does not establish new Ryu-specific dialogue or cutscenes for chapters written around Yakumo.

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  • DELUXE EDITION: Comes with the Base Game (disc) and exclusives like character and weapon skins for Yakumo and Ryu, Future Gameplay Content*, 50,000 Bonus NinjaCoin, and additional in-game items.
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  • An endless rain of miasma hangs over a near-future Tokyo in the wake of an ancient enemy’s resurrection. The fate of the city lies in the hands of young ninja prodigy, Yakumo.

Ryu is also selectable in Challenge Modes and Training Mode after the first completion, according to PCGamesN. For replaying the campaign chapter by chapter, however, Chapter Select is the relevant option.

What to know about Ryu’s combat

Ryu is the Hayabusa Clan ninja known as the “Super Ninja,” a descendant of the Dragon Lineage. His signature weapon is the Dragon Sword, and his character-specific combat state is Gleam Form (called Gleam State on the official system page). It uses gauge resources to enable powerful attacks. Do not confuse it with Yakumo’s Bloodraven Form: both consume resources, but their actions and move sets differ.

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  • Experience a return to the intense, high-speed combat that established NINJA GAIDEN as a premier action game series. Prepare for a legacy reborn with captivating style for a new generation of players.
  • NINJA GAIDEN 4 fuses Team NINJA'S tempered combat philosophy with the stylish, dynamic action gameplay of PlatinumGames. Engage in visually stunning combat that rewards precision and strategy.
  • An endless rain of miasma hangs over a near-future Tokyo in the wake of an ancient enemy’s resurrection. The fate of the city lies in the hands of young ninja prodigy, Yakumo.

PlatinumGames producer and director Yuji Nakao describes the design intent this way: “I wanted to preserve the Ryu experience as much as possible, so aside from a few techniques, I aimed to keep the core of Ryu intact.” Nakao also points to usability improvements, new techniques, and aerial combo extensions. Read the PlatinumGames developer blog.

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Developer-recommended techniques

The following recommendations come from the developer’s guide, not independent testing. Inputs use the guide’s notation; PlayStation equivalents are included where given, and Xbox button labels may differ. PlatinumGames’ Ryu technique guide has the move details.

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  • Spread attacks across a group: In Gleam Form, use Full Rotation → X (PlayStation: Full Rotation → Square). Nakao recommends the move to spread follow-up attacks around an enemy; he notes that Ryu generally has short attack range, making it useful when several enemies are nearby.
  • Continue pressure with Flying Swallow: The guide lists the XYXXY route into Flying Swallow, as well as XXY while midair (PlayStation: Square-Triangle-Square-Square-Triangle, or midair Square-Square-Triangle). These routes can extend pressure or help close distance to a target.
  • Use forward Perfect Reverse Wind to reposition: Tilt the stick forward during Perfect Reverse Wind to perform Cicada Surge, which moves Ryu behind an enemy. The developer says Ryu can activate it in the air, including while falling against ranged attacks.
  • Check move properties in Training Mode: Approximate dismemberment rates are displayed per skill. Dismemberment creates an opportunity for Obliteration.
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Does The Two Masters add more Ryu content?

Yes, but it is separate from the base campaign’s Chapter 14–18 first-run stretch and its Chapter Select feature. Team NINJA’s The Two Masters DLC page lists the expansion as available and says it continues the story after the original campaign. It adds three chapters that require completion of the original story to access, Ryu’s Jakotsumon serpent gauntlets, new enemies and bosses, and an Abyssal Road endurance mode. Check the store for your platform and edition to confirm the DLC requirements and availability; the Xbox product page identifies The Two Masters as included with the Deluxe Edition, not every base-game edition. Xbox’s product page.

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