Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a fantastic return to the 2D roots of the Ninja Gaiden franchise. The gameplay is fast and sharp, the visuals are gorgeous, and the length is just right for this sort of game. I ran into a couple of small bugs, but it’s nothing that won’t be patched out pretty quickly.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
Developer: The Game Kitchen
Price: $25
Platforms: PS4, PS5 (reviewed), Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC
MonsterVine was provided with a PS5 code for review.
When I previewed Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, I was extremely impressed with the game, based on just the few levels I played. So, imagine my pleasure in discovering that the full game is packed with levels that are just as good as the ones showcased in the demo. This is a home run from The Game Kitchen, and it reminded me that I’ve really got to get around to both Blasphemous games as soon as possible.
You don’t play as Ryu Hayabusa this time around, but rather as the less experienced Kenji Mozu and, essentially at the same time, the Black Spider Clan Kunoichi Kumori. Fused due to lethal circumstances, the duo have to save the world using their combined talents, despite their ideological and clan-based differences. It’s a fun dynamic that leads to some interesting exchanges throughout the narrative, which keeps the story exciting despite its more minimal presence.
Melee attacks are primarily performed by Kenji, while ranged kunai moves are Kumori’s fare. This separation works for both the story and the gameplay, as you occasionally have to take part in Kumori-exclusive platforming sections, whether to progress or to grab some well-hidden collectibles. These almost feel like mini challenge levels tucked within each stage, making the pacing feel even more varied and refreshing.
The mission-based structure of Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound makes for a game that’s easy to pick up and play for short periods, or to just blast through should you prefer that. Each stage has specific skill-based challenges and a ranking system that adds a solid amount of replayability to the title for those who wish to push themselves to play better and better.
And many will want to do that, as Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is certainly a skill-based hack-and-slash platformer. The base difficulty feels just right, as I died a fair amount but never felt frustrated or slighted. Enemy placement is clever but fair, and you respawn quickly after death at an always fairly placed checkpoint. The game was clearly made to be attempted as many times as possible with smoothness in mind, which goes a long way in making even the hardest parts feel entirely doable.
The bosses at the end of story stages in Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound are great endcaps to each level, providing you with varied and very cool boss fights that definitely test your talent. I probably died at least once to every boss but was always raring to go again as soon as Kenji popped back up. Figuring out the best way to take on each boss is plenty of fun and makes subsequent tries feel more efficient and ninja-like, which I can certainly appreciate.
Outside of the main story missions, there are more challenging extra missions that test what you’ve learned in the main campaign. These are a neat distraction between stages and add a bit of extra spice to the whole package. The two different endings also make replaying the last mission worthwhile, even with the challenging final boss standing in your way.
Ragebound Breathes New Life into Ninja Gaiden
As you’ve likely gathered from the screenshots in this review, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is an absolutely stunning game. The pixel art is beautiful to look at and even more impressive in motion, as the animations are smooth and crisp. The soundtrack is no slouch either, constantly amping you up to slash away at otherworldly demons and human foes as a ninja would.
The only issue I ran into was the occasional minor glitch, like enemies attacking me through cutscenes or foes getting stuck in animations. It wasn’t frequent, and I’m sure it’ll all be patched out pretty quickly, but it’s worth bringing up nonetheless.
The Final Word
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is an absolute blast through-and-through. The visual style is top-notch, the gameplay is tight and exciting, and the game is perfectly paced with plenty to do for those who wish to push themselves. Outside of a couple of minor bugs, this is one of the sharpest games of the year, and worth playing whether you’ve got any experience with the Ninja Gaiden series or not.
MonsterVine Rating: 4.5 out of 5 – Great
