As we know, the Ninja Gaiden series has always been about fast-paced ninjas, action, and third-person shooters. With Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, the series takes a very interesting twist on the platforming world, and it does so in a truly amazing way. Unlike other Ninja Gaiden games that focus on Ryu, here we play as Kenji, a young ninja from Hayabusa Village.

However, what makes the game incredibly fun is that you will encounter a skilled assassin named Kumori throughout the game, and when you die, you will receive her powers. The dual power-up technique and the ability to control Kumori for short periods of time add a lot of depth to the gameplay and story.

For me, the ability to lock certain levels behind Kumori’s powers, or not be able to complete a level without it, shows how important it is to have both types of skills. Fortunately, there is no shortage of ways to use these skills in certain levels, and every time I did, I felt like a badass ninja.

What’s great about Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is that while there are many levels, they are not repetitive like most platformers. Instead, each level feels fresh and interesting, adding new enemy types, new mechanics you can use, new threats, and more.

Ninja Gaiden fans will definitely find familiar enemies, but there are also plenty of new ones. This is where Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound shines for me. Of course, I’ve played all the previous Ninja Gaiden games, but even newcomers who finished this game, even if they didn’t know the backstory, found it to be a lot of fun. Yes, this game does a great job of appealing to existing fans, but it’s also a perfect game for those who don’t have any previous Ninja Gaiden experience.

The amount of detail you can find in each of these levels is truly incredible. Each new level has impressed me because their theme is perfectly implemented, there are many secret areas and special items for you to unlock, but you have to try your best and complete the level without dying. Of course, those who like to find all the collectibles will be amazed by this game, as there are so many secrets. It’s also very suitable for running at a fast pace, based on the linear structure of most levels.

The pixel art in Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is amazing, unique, and absolutely stunning. They took the pixel art style of the 90s and updated it to modern standards, adding some great animations and creating a great visual style. For me, this is one of the best platformers to come out in recent years, and the best part is that it’s not short. The level design is also very well done, and you’ll be faced with many unexpected challenges every time you step on it.

Whether you’re fighting a kraken or a dragon chasing you from the left side of the screen, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound doesn’t shy away from putting you in ridiculous situations. While it’s a tough game, it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Honestly, that’s to their advantage, as Ragebound captures the fun of the 90s platformers that the developers were so lucky to have.

The gameplay remains true to its core, and it’s nice to see that it’s still there. When it comes to combat, Ragebound does a great job of keeping it simple. You have your normal attacks and Kumori’s dagger attacks, which you can combine. For me, the hardest part of the game comes from the various tricky platforming sections.

Some levels require a lot of precision to get through, and I found myself dying a few times. It’s not a deal-breaker, but if you’re not a great platformer, you’ll probably die a few times when these sections come up. Not a deal-breaker, of course, but something to keep in mind.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound features amazing music in every level. You can really get a modern take on the 90s music. You’ll be reminded of the old SEGA and Gameboy era and suddenly feel like a kid again. Yes, the music is amazing, all the melodies match the action on screen, and you really feel like a ninja destroying all your enemies.

The Good Side

• Exceptional level design, great visuals
• Lots of secrets to uncover, great replay value
• Very interesting story with some unique twists
• The dual character battles feel refreshing and fun

The Bad Side

• It’s very short, especially if you’re not hunting for collectibles
• The enemy spamming in some levels artificially increases the difficulty

Conclusion

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a love letter to 90s platformers while still feeling fresh. I don’t know how they did it, but this game is a masterpiece of its genre and remains true to the world of Ninja Gaiden. The level design is amazing, and they did a great job of maintaining a high level of detail throughout the experience.

It’s nice to see the two characters in the game complement each other perfectly, and each character’s experience/skills are needed to progress the game. Also, the boss fights are great, adding to the game’s progressive ideas and exceeding expectations while keeping things interesting and engaging. Whether you’re a fan of Ninja Gaiden, a platformer, or just want a quick game to get going, I think Ragebound delivers everything you’re looking for and more. Yes, there are some frustrating levels, and you may have to restart sections a few times, but that’s the nature of the beast.

Review key provided by the publisher