How to unlock Ryu in Ninja Gaiden 4

How do you play as Ryu in Ninja Gaiden 4? Yakumo holds his own as the new protagonist in Team Ninja's action game series, but no one can usurp the Dragon Clan's best boy. Ryu Hayabusa puts the 'ninja' in Ninja Gaiden, and since Yakumo plans to free the Dark Dragon in his efforts to slay it for good, you can bet that Ryu has something to say about it.

If you're a die-hard fan, you'll be pleased to know that Ryu's appearance in Ninja Gaiden 4 isn't just a quick cameo for the sake of the ninja game's plot. He's actually a playable character in several Ninja Gaiden 4 chapters, wielding his Dragon Sword that features a Gleam Form alternative to Yakumo's Bloodraven Form. Here's how to unlock and play as Ryu Hayabusa, the Super Ninja.

Can you play as Ryu in Ninja Gaiden 4?

Yes, Ryu is a playable character in Ninja Gaiden 4. In Story Mode, you play as Ryu from the beginning of Chapter 14 to the end of Chapter 18. You automatically unlock him as a fully playable character after you complete the game for the first time.

While you still won't be able to play as Ryu in a new playthrough of Story Mode, you can select him in all Challenge Modes, including Chapter Select, Purgatory Select, and Trials. You can also switch to Ryu in Training Mode - just open the Training Menu and select 'Change Character' to switch from Yakumo to Ryu.

Now that you've unlocked Ryu, head into new game plus to pick up any Ninja Gaiden 4 health upgrades you missed. We've also got a Ninja Gaiden 4 playtime estimate if you're still working your way through the action game, and the Ninja Gaiden 4 system requirements if you're yet to dive into Neo Tokyo.