Ninja action that slashes and slaps
By Paul Hunter
This year delivers a powerful Ninja Gaiden lineup, kicking off with Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, followed by Ninja Gaiden 4 later this fall, and now Ragebound brings back the classic 2D style fans fell in love with years ago. Developed by The Game Kitchen and published by Dotemu, the game benefits from Team Ninja’s careful guidance to stay true to the series’ core. Ragebound draws inspiration from the NES classic while elevating the formula with modern technology and thoughtful design.
You move through action-packed levels, defeating enemies, completing platforming challenges and finding hidden items. The game drops lives in favour of checkpoints and endless retries, balancing difficulty so you can focus on learning the combat. The fighting feels tight and responsive, mixing slashes with special moves that also help you jump across tricky areas. The pixel art shines in each level, bringing diverse locations to life, while the music carries familiar Ninja Gaiden themes.
With multiple Ninja Gaiden games hitting shelves this year, Ragebound is the 2D option that blends old-school grit with new-school polish. Is this the Ninja Gaiden reboot you’ve been waiting for? Let’s find out!
Kenji Mozu takes the lead in Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound while Ryu Hayabusa pursues his own mission. Set during the NES-era timeline, the game drops you into a sudden demonic invasion that threatens the village. Kenji must defend his home and uncover why the attack began.
Early on Kenji meets Kumori, an assassin from the Black Spider clan who would normally be an enemy. Their paths collide in violent encounters that leave both badly wounded. To survive they perform a magical rite that binds their souls together. This link changes how Kenji fights and moves through levels because Kumori’s spirit can be called upon for ranged attacks and secondary weapons.
The Demon Lord plots to enter the world through a demonic gate powered by crystals. Demonic lieutenants guard those crystals and must be found and defeated to halt the ritual. Each lieutenant acts as a major obstacle on Kenji’s path and a test of his growing abilities.
As the bond deepens Kumori grants access to powerful magic and these abilities play a key role in boss encounters and in breaking through sections that would otherwise stall progress. Regular cutscenes and dialogue build a broader cast that colours the tale and gives weight to the stakes involved.
The story centres on alliance and sacrifice. Two unlikely allies bind their fates and combine their strengths to protect the village from a demon threat, and that bond fuels both combat and the game’s key moments. The stakes rise as the narrative progresses.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound’s gameplay is a solid mix of old-school and new ideas. Kenji’s katana is your main weapon, with slashes that feel just right. The guillotine attack is a great new addition—it lets you bounce on enemies or objects to cross gaps, reminding me of Sonic's classic spin attack. It’s a fun mechanic that adds some platforming flair.
You also unlock ranged attacks and secondary weapons like axes or chakrams by making a pact with Kumori. Calling on Kumori’s spirit adds ranged fire and magic, including the powerful Ragebound attack that wipes out enemies on screen. These extras add variety and strategy, especially during boss fights. Speaking of bosses, they’re tough and really push you to use all your moves and learnings.
Kumori can leave Kenji’s body at certain altars, becoming a spirit for brief platforming trials. Her energy drains during these segments, so timing and route choice matter. Completing them rewards you and often opens up the path ahead so Kenji can continue the journey.
Levels have hidden skulls and scarabs, which let you buy gear. There are also missions like killing specific enemies or finishing without dying. These goals raise your ninja rank and give you reasons to replay stages. Sometimes, to get the top rank, you have to accept tough penalties like no health regen at checkpoints, which makes things thrilling.
The difficulty setting is flexible. Hard mode unlocks for a real challenge, but if you hit a wall, accessibility options can ease the pressure. Options include reducing enemy damage, changing the game speed, or even extending the size of your attack. Overall, the controls feel smooth, and the mix of swordplay, ranged attacks, and magic keeps combat engaging from start to finish.
The visuals of Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound leans on pixel art and fluid animation to tell much of its story. Backgrounds are highly detailed and layered, giving stages depth as you move through them. You pass from mountain clearings to busy city streets, dive into subways, and climb multi-tiered construction sites. Each setting uses effects such as flames, waterfalls and rain to add atmosphere. Colour choices are bold, and scenes are clean even when the on-screen action is busy.
Enemy designs are varied and range from traditional ninjas to grotesque monsters. The sprites carry personality, with demon designs ranging from corrupted soldiers to eldritch shapes. The game does not shy from gore; blood bursts and the occasional decapitation underline the stakes without becoming gratuitous. These moments make hits feel consequential and gives combat weight.
Boss encounters stand out as both visual moments and mechanical tests. Large, well-animated bosses move through sequenced patterns that force you to adapt. Their size and effects make each showdown feel like a distinct stage in the journey, where you must perfect your timing, movements, and use of tools.
The soundtrack backs this up with a rock-cinematic tone that often recalls older Ninja Gaiden themes. Music swells at key moments and pairs well with visual cues, especially during boss set pieces. In one fight I remember the drum hits lining up with flash effects and sprite shifts, which made the encounter feel tighter and more dramatic.
Overall, the art, animation and score form a cohesive package that supports combat and exploration, keeping your focus on timing and movement.
Final Score: 9/10 - Amazing
Developer: The Game Kitchen
Publisher: Dotemu
Genre: Action
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
This year delivers a powerful Ninja Gaiden lineup, kicking off with Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, followed by Ninja Gaiden 4 later this fall, and now Ragebound brings back the classic 2D style fans fell in love with years ago. Developed by The Game Kitchen and published by Dotemu, the game benefits from Team Ninja’s careful guidance to stay true to the series’ core. Ragebound draws inspiration from the NES classic while elevating the formula with modern technology and thoughtful design.
You move through action-packed levels, defeating enemies, completing platforming challenges and finding hidden items. The game drops lives in favour of checkpoints and endless retries, balancing difficulty so you can focus on learning the combat. The fighting feels tight and responsive, mixing slashes with special moves that also help you jump across tricky areas. The pixel art shines in each level, bringing diverse locations to life, while the music carries familiar Ninja Gaiden themes.
With multiple Ninja Gaiden games hitting shelves this year, Ragebound is the 2D option that blends old-school grit with new-school polish. Is this the Ninja Gaiden reboot you’ve been waiting for? Let’s find out!
Kenji Mozu takes the lead in Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound while Ryu Hayabusa pursues his own mission. Set during the NES-era timeline, the game drops you into a sudden demonic invasion that threatens the village. Kenji must defend his home and uncover why the attack began.
Early on Kenji meets Kumori, an assassin from the Black Spider clan who would normally be an enemy. Their paths collide in violent encounters that leave both badly wounded. To survive they perform a magical rite that binds their souls together. This link changes how Kenji fights and moves through levels because Kumori’s spirit can be called upon for ranged attacks and secondary weapons.
The Demon Lord plots to enter the world through a demonic gate powered by crystals. Demonic lieutenants guard those crystals and must be found and defeated to halt the ritual. Each lieutenant acts as a major obstacle on Kenji’s path and a test of his growing abilities.
As the bond deepens Kumori grants access to powerful magic and these abilities play a key role in boss encounters and in breaking through sections that would otherwise stall progress. Regular cutscenes and dialogue build a broader cast that colours the tale and gives weight to the stakes involved.
The story centres on alliance and sacrifice. Two unlikely allies bind their fates and combine their strengths to protect the village from a demon threat, and that bond fuels both combat and the game’s key moments. The stakes rise as the narrative progresses.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound’s gameplay is a solid mix of old-school and new ideas. Kenji’s katana is your main weapon, with slashes that feel just right. The guillotine attack is a great new addition—it lets you bounce on enemies or objects to cross gaps, reminding me of Sonic's classic spin attack. It’s a fun mechanic that adds some platforming flair.
You also unlock ranged attacks and secondary weapons like axes or chakrams by making a pact with Kumori. Calling on Kumori’s spirit adds ranged fire and magic, including the powerful Ragebound attack that wipes out enemies on screen. These extras add variety and strategy, especially during boss fights. Speaking of bosses, they’re tough and really push you to use all your moves and learnings.
Kumori can leave Kenji’s body at certain altars, becoming a spirit for brief platforming trials. Her energy drains during these segments, so timing and route choice matter. Completing them rewards you and often opens up the path ahead so Kenji can continue the journey.
Levels have hidden skulls and scarabs, which let you buy gear. There are also missions like killing specific enemies or finishing without dying. These goals raise your ninja rank and give you reasons to replay stages. Sometimes, to get the top rank, you have to accept tough penalties like no health regen at checkpoints, which makes things thrilling.
The difficulty setting is flexible. Hard mode unlocks for a real challenge, but if you hit a wall, accessibility options can ease the pressure. Options include reducing enemy damage, changing the game speed, or even extending the size of your attack. Overall, the controls feel smooth, and the mix of swordplay, ranged attacks, and magic keeps combat engaging from start to finish.
The visuals of Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound leans on pixel art and fluid animation to tell much of its story. Backgrounds are highly detailed and layered, giving stages depth as you move through them. You pass from mountain clearings to busy city streets, dive into subways, and climb multi-tiered construction sites. Each setting uses effects such as flames, waterfalls and rain to add atmosphere. Colour choices are bold, and scenes are clean even when the on-screen action is busy.
Enemy designs are varied and range from traditional ninjas to grotesque monsters. The sprites carry personality, with demon designs ranging from corrupted soldiers to eldritch shapes. The game does not shy from gore; blood bursts and the occasional decapitation underline the stakes without becoming gratuitous. These moments make hits feel consequential and gives combat weight.
Boss encounters stand out as both visual moments and mechanical tests. Large, well-animated bosses move through sequenced patterns that force you to adapt. Their size and effects make each showdown feel like a distinct stage in the journey, where you must perfect your timing, movements, and use of tools.
The soundtrack backs this up with a rock-cinematic tone that often recalls older Ninja Gaiden themes. Music swells at key moments and pairs well with visual cues, especially during boss set pieces. In one fight I remember the drum hits lining up with flash effects and sprite shifts, which made the encounter feel tighter and more dramatic.
Overall, the art, animation and score form a cohesive package that supports combat and exploration, keeping your focus on timing and movement.
The Verdict
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a focused 2D action title from The Game Kitchen and Dotemu. Tight swordplay and the guillotine jump form the core of combat, while Kumori’s pact adds ranged moves and a screen-clearing Ragebound attack. Boss fights demand full use of your kit, and altars let Kumori run timed platform trials that test timing. Collectibles such as skulls and scarabs feed a talisman shop and a rank system that rewards replay. Pixel art and a rock-cinematic soundtrack back the action, and cutscenes are polished. With its solid run time, the game offers an exceptional mix of challenge and accessibility.Final Score: 9/10 - Amazing
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound details
Platform: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PCDeveloper: The Game Kitchen
Publisher: Dotemu
Genre: Action
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.