Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound Review

Ninja Gaiden is a series that has seen a resurgence as of late. Just this year alone, we saw the return of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, and after more than 10 years, we have a new mainline title in Ninja Gaiden 4 coming later this year. Fans of the series are being spoiled, and what better way to continue the momentum than to go back in time with a pixel art 2D platformer from the makers of Blasphemous.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound merges the old and new, treating fans of the series with a title that delivers classic gameplay with modern touches that make it a joy to experience. It’s a veritable blast from the past, but the game is anything but old, and it shows how not everything needs to have ultra-realistic graphics or be a soulslike to enjoy success.

Feel the Rage

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound sees Ryu Hayabusa set out for America to fulfill his late father’s final wish. In his absence, the barrier separating the human and demon realms collapses, and the once-peaceful Hayabusa Village is soon overwhelmed by a fearsome horde without a protector.

Protagonist Kenji takes on Ryu’s mantle and goes on a quest to protect the village, while meeting an unexpected ally along the way. Titles in the series do not have the deepest narratives, but its simplicity is welcome because the focus of Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound lies in its incredibly slick and responsive controls and fast-paced gameplay that greatly impresses.

That’s not to say that the game is complicated, because Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound relies on only a few systems to carry its gameplay. That said, it seamlessly uses all of these together to create sequences where players can enter a satisfying flow of killing and platforming.

Kenji is equipped with a basic attack, jump, and dodge, which form the base kit that players will be using throughout the game. While missing a double jump, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound provides players with a key move called the Guillotine Boost, which is basically a mechanic that allows players to literally bounce off of enemies and projectiles unharmed, thus acting like a double jump of sorts.

One other system is Hypercharge, which essentially powers up your next strike by killing an enemy with a distinct aura around them, slicing down more formidable enemies in a single blow. While many of the foes you encounter can be downed in one hit, there are a few throughout the level that are tougher but can be taken down with a single Hypercharged attack. Alternatively, when no enemies are around, Kenji can sacrifice a bit of HP to Hypercharge his next attack.

In particular, Hypercharge is a great tool to use during boss encounters, where a hypercharged hit will briefly stun or down the boss for significant damage while opening them up for extra slashes. During these fights, it boils down to pattern recognition, and while most are manageable, some will take a few tries before conquering. It’s a great exercise in patience, as some fights are rage-inducing, but it still feels fair at the end of the day.

Jump Around

Put together, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound’s loop of killing, platforming, “bouncing” using the Guillotine Boost, and prioritizing enemies with Hypercharge creates such a satisfying flow that makes it tough to put down the game.

Level design fully complements this loop, and while this isn’t a Metroidvania that requires backtracking and full exploration, its straightforward platforming that combines climbing and wall grabs makes it great. Everything in the game conspires to deliver a rhythm with a satisfying flow that rewards skillful play and rarely lets you touch the ground once mastered.

Each stage is designed for replayability, featuring collectible blue skulls and scarabs, optional challenges like no-damage runs or enemy quotas, and plenty of speedrun potential. Difficulty spikes are present and stay true to the Ninja Gaiden name, offering a challenge that will demand precision and skill.

Just when players settle into the rhythm, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound introduces Kumori, a second playable character wielding throwable kunai and offering a vastly different playstyle. The game handles this transition well, allowing seamless mastery of her moveset. Some enemies have color-coded auras requiring either sword or kunai kills, and certain platforming sections prompt players to switch between Ryu and Kumori mid-stage.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound also uses a simple system where players can wear Talismans to improve specific aspects of their character, like recovering health after a killstreak or increased damage when low on health. Paired with Ragebound Arts like a Kunai Barrage, and you can dish out significant damage or heal yourself, depending on your chosen loadout. While nothing too deep, certain Talismans and Ragebound attacks are better than others, so choosing which ones to equip is a somewhat straightforward choice.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is an audiovisual treat, too. The developers really know how to utilize pixel art to great effect, as the action remains readable even during the most frantic sequences. The soundtrack amplifies the adrenaline with stunning guitar riffs and rock-infused energy that goes with the action quite well.

Playing on a PC and Steam Deck, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound performed flawlessly, sticking at a rock-solid 60fps even with a lowered TDP limit. We’re pretty sure it’ll hold as well on consoles like the PS5, but it’s reportedly rough on the Switch. That said, this felt like a great Steam Deck title, and it’s good to know that it performs as well as it looks.

Verdict: Buy it!

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound proves that going back to basics can be an excellent choice, especially when done right. With its finely tuned mechanics, replayable level structure, and fluid gameplay, the game delivers an exciting platforming experience that feels both familiar and fresh. Players are constantly rewarded for execution as the game sticks to a tried and true formula that feels perfected.

Despite some minor nitpicks regarding difficulty spikes and game length, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is another feather in the cap of an already successful series. As a new mainline installment looms on the horizon, this entry is an exceptional way to bide the time.

*Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound was reviewed on a PC and Steam Deck with a review code provided by the publisher.