Ninja Gaiden, released for the Microsoft Xbox in 2004, is a fast-paced action-adventure game that rejuvenated the classic franchise with a new 3D look. Players assume the role of Ryu Hayabusa, a ninja on a quest to avenge his clan and recover a stolen sword. The game is renowned for its challenging gameplay, intricate level design, and fluid combat system that allows for a variety of ninja techniques, weapon combos, and acrobatics. It's set within a dark, supernatural world filled with fierce demons and complex puzzles, epitomizing the hack-and-slash genre with its precise and technical combat.