Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound Delivers Classic 2D Action with a Modern Twist – Here’s Why You Should Play It Now
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound – A Fresh 2D Ninja Experience Worth Your Time
Looking for a new take on the Ninja Gaiden series? Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound might just be the game you need to check out. This latest entry offers tight combat, smooth platforming, and a solid storyline that makes it an excellent starting point for newcomers and a satisfying playthrough for fans of classic 2D action games.
- Introduction to Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound’s gameplay and story
- Key combat mechanics and character abilities
- Level design and replay value
- Visuals, sound, and overall presentation
- Availability and platforms
Meet Kenji Mozu and the Ninja Gaiden World
In Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, you play as Kenji Mozu, a young ninja apprentice from the Hayabusa clan. While the legendary Ryu Hayabusa is off on his own adventures, Kenji’s village faces a demonic invasion aiming to bring their demon lord to power over humanity. Kenji is no rookie; his katana slash takes down most foes, and his signature move, the Guillotine Boost, lets him somersault and bounce off enemies to navigate tricky platforming sections and boss fights. This move is a nostalgic nod to Ryu Hayabusa’s iconic 8-bit flips.
Combat Depth and Strategic Gameplay
Kenji’s combat toolkit includes a dodge roll granting brief invincibility and Hypercharged Attacks, powerful slashes that can stun bosses and slice through enemies. You build Hypercharge by defeating glowing-aura enemies or sacrificing some health, adding a layer of strategy to fights. Taking on heavily armored foes or shield bearers often means you’ll want to “aura farm” to power up.
Things get even more interesting when Kenji fuses with Kumori, a rival ninja whose skills focus on ranged attacks like throwing kunai. This fusion expands Kenji’s abilities with multiple projectile options and a devastating screen-clearing super move called the Ragebound Art. You can customize these arts to suit your style—swap a massive damage attack for healing or a protective shield, for example.
Level Design and Replayability
The levels in Ragebound are carefully designed with a clear critical path and consistent enemy placement, making it easy to learn and master the rhythm of each stage. Whether you’re playing for the first time or aiming for top scores, the game encourages perfecting your runs, with ranks from B up to S.
Replay value is boosted by optional challenges and a shop where you can buy talismans that alter abilities or increase difficulty by limiting checkpoints. The game is generally friendly to players, with frequent and well-placed checkpoints, generous health refills, and quick reloads after failure.
Visuals and Sound That Hit the Mark
The Game Kitchen delivers fantastic sprite work with smooth animations for Kenji, Kumori, and enemies. The game’s soundtrack pays homage to classic ninja games, blending 8-bit Ninja Gaiden vibes with Shinobi’s mix of traditional Japanese music and ’90s techno beats, creating a nostalgic yet fresh atmosphere.
Final Thoughts
There’s almost nothing negative to say about Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound—except that it ends too soon. However, plenty of secrets, side missions, and challenges await after the main story wraps up, giving you good reasons to stick around. The game successfully captures the spirit of multiple Ninja Gaiden eras while standing on its own thanks to solid gameplay, tight controls, and sharp presentation. It’s truly ninja magic.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. The review was based on a PS5 pre-release code provided by publisher Dotemu.
