Much like the finest reboots of beloved franchises, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound exudes a timeless charm that feels as if it could have emerged from a bygone gaming era. Developed by The Game Kitchen, the studio behind Blasphemous, Ragebound is a purposefully retro-inspired action title that captures the very heart and soul of the classic Ninja Gaiden series. Boasting tight, precise gameplay, grueling levels, and wonderfully nostalgic visuals and soundtrack that would fit seamlessly on the Super NES, it also builds upon this classic foundation with clever new gameplay mechanics—elevating it beyond a mere copy of the games that came before it.
Instead of putting players in control of series icon Ryu Hayabusa, Ragebound centers on two brand-new protagonists: Kenji Mozu, an unproven apprentice of the legendary Hayabusa Clan, and Kumori, a enigmatic kunoichi hailing from the rival Black Spider Clan. When Kenji steps up to defend Hayabusa Village from a sudden, ferocious demon invasion, the fates of these two warriors become intertwined, forcing them to form a fragile alliance. Together, they must harness their unique abilities to stand against the demonic hordes that threaten to engulf the world.
Much like many other elements of the game, Ragebound’s storyline is pure Ninja Gaiden through and through: disjointed, nonsensical, and ultimately irrelevant to the core experience. In their quest to prevent the Demon Lord from being unleashed upon the world, Kenji and Kumori travel across various locations throughout Japan, battling grotesque creatures, taking control of vehicles from time to time, and eventually getting tangled up in the affairs of the CIA. It’s delightfully absurd, and it gives the developers ample opportunity to take players on a journey through a variety of unforgettable set pieces—from ancient Japanese villages and castles to bustling construction sites, flooded pirate coves, and top-secret military bases.
The early chapters of the game shift focus between the two protagonists, each offering a distinct playstyle thanks to their unique abilities. Kenji plays like a classic Ninja Gaiden hero, relying on his trusty katana to cut down foes with precision. Kumori, on the other hand, prefers ranged combat, taking out enemies from a distance with her deadly kunai. Both characters share a few core skills, such as a dodge roll that can be used to evade attacks or combined with the attack button to execute a powerful lunge. The controls are smooth and responsive, and both warriors move with the acrobatic grace and lethal precision you’d expect from a ninja.
Beyond this basic moveset, The Game Kitchen has introduced several intelligent new abilities that enhance the action even further. The most prominent of these is the Hypercharge. By defeating an enemy with a special aura (or sacrificing a small portion of your own health), you can enter a temporary supercharged state that drastically boosts the power of your next attack—allowing you to take down most foes in a single strike. It’s an exhilarating addition; slicing through waves of enemies with perfectly timed Hypercharge attacks as you race through a level is incredibly satisfying, and it reinforces the feeling of being an unstoppable ninja warrior.
Equally important is the Guillotine Boost, a spinning kick that lets you bounce off enemies and projectiles while mid-air. This move serves dual purposes as both a defensive tactic and a traversal tool; many levels require you to chain Guillotine Boosts off a sequence of airborne enemies to cross dangerous hazards or climb to higher sections of the stage. This adds a satisfying platforming element to the fast-paced action, blending two genres seamlessly.
Midway through the story, Kumori’s soul fuses with Kenji, granting him her abilities and unlocking another new skill: the eponymous Ragebound Arts. These devastating special attacks can be unleashed once you’ve collected enough Rage Orbs, and they’re especially useful in tense situations—such as when you’re overwhelmed by enemies or facing off against one of the game’s formidable bosses. As you progress through the game, you can also purchase and equip different Ragebound Arts, giving you some freedom to customize your playstyle to suit your preferences.
Even after fusing together, the game often splits Kenji and Kumori apart, requiring you to use both characters to progress. At certain points in a level, you’ll encounter a Demon Altar; stepping into one will switch control to Kumori, who must navigate a section of the stage alone to reach an otherwise inaccessible switch and clear the path for Kenji. However, the kunoichi is bound to an energy bar that depletes gradually as she explores, giving you only a short window of time to complete your objective. This adds a satisfying puzzle-platforming element to the game, as you must quickly maneuver through winding sections of the stage while fending off enemies. Fortunately, there’s no penalty for failing these segments, so they never become frustrating.
This sense of fair design carries over to the entire game. Like previous entries in the Ninja Gaiden series, Ragebound is a challenging title—but it never feels unjust. Each level is a relentless gauntlet of enemies to defeat and hazards to navigate, often in rapid succession, and you’ll die frequently on your way to the end. Crucially, enemies and traps are never placed cheaply; any setback you face feels like your own mistake, not a cheap trick by the developers. Checkpoints are generously scattered throughout each stage, ensuring you won’t have to replay large chunks of content when you do fail.
The game also offers compelling reasons to replay levels. Hidden throughout every stage are various collectibles, such as crystal skulls and golden scarabs—the latter of which can be used as in-game currency to purchase equippable talismans and Ragebound Arts. At the end of each stage, you’re also given a performance rank; unlocking new items in the shop requires achieving a specific rank, encouraging you to revisit earlier levels to improve your score and master your skills.
Despite its many strengths, Ragebound does have a few minor flaws. While its pixel art visuals are stunning overall, there are occasional moments when it’s hard to distinguish between stage scenery and hazardous elements—leading to times when you unwittingly wander into danger. Furthermore, some levels, especially those in the latter half of the game, drag on a bit too long, recycling the same hazards and enemy types repeatedly. This makes a handful of stages feel more repetitive than challenging, breaking the game’s otherwise tight pacing.
The overall adventure is also on the short side, with fewer than 30 stages in total across its main missions and secret ops levels. The hidden collectibles do add some replay value, and clearing the story unlocks an even more challenging Hard mode for experienced players—but the adventure still feels like it ends too soon. The Xbox One version also suffers from occasional slowdown, particularly when too many enemies are on screen at once. While this doesn’t affect playability, it is noticeable, making current-gen platforms the ideal way to experience the game as intended.
In the end, these minor complaints don’t detract from what is an otherwise exceptional experience. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is an exhilarating revival that successfully captures the spirit of the classic series while building upon it with inspired new mechanics. It remains to be seen if the upcoming Ninja Gaiden 4 will live up to the series’ high standards, but with Ragebound, Koei Tecmo has gotten its Year of the Ninja off to an impressive start.
