NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound Review for PlayStation 5

NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound Review

I’ve always admired The Game Kitchen for their work on the “Blasphemous” series, so when I saw their name attached to a new entry in the “Ninja Gaiden” franchise, I was immediately interested. “Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound” is a 2D action-platformer that blends the old-school DNA of the original 8-bit titles with some of the mechanical depth and stylistic flourishes seen in the later 3D games. It’s a sharp, tough-as-nails return to side-scrolling form, and while it’s not without flaws, I found myself completely hooked by its fluid combat and clever level design.

This isn’t a Ryu Hayabusa-led story, at least not directly. Ryu makes a brief appearance at the start, having left for America to fulfill his father’s will. In his absence, a demonic invasion devastates Hayabusa Village. That’s where Kenji Mozu steps in. A young ninja trained by Ryu himself, Kenji becomes the new protagonist, carrying the weight of this new threat on his shoulders. The narrative isn’t particularly elaborate, but it sets the stage for some solid character moments, especially when Kenji is forced to ally with Kumori, a kunoichi of the Black Spider Clan, after a supernatural soul-fusion binds them together. From a gameplay standpoint, Kenji feels fast and responsive. He’s equipped with a katana and excels in close-quarters combat. Most enemies go down in a single hit, but the game keeps things interesting by introducing color-coded enemy variants that can only be taken down using specific techniques. Clearing these tougher foes charges Kenji’s Hypercharge state, which temporarily lets him dispatch anything with a single strike. Combat is quick and satisfying, and there’s a nice balance between aggression and precision. You’re constantly on the move, air-dashing, climbing, bouncing off walls and enemies, and threading between traps with split-second timing.

Platforming plays a huge role here, and Kenji’s mobility is at the center of it. He can deflect ranged attacks, cling to ceilings, and use a Guillotine boost that lets him ricochet off both enemies and projectiles. Every level feels designed to test those abilities, and by the time I was deep into the third act, I was fully locked in, reading enemy placements and environmental hazards like sheet music. The game doesn’t hold back on difficulty, but it’s rarely frustrating, it gives you the tools to succeed, and the challenge comes from mastering them. Eventually, you’ll gain access to Kumori’s skillset. While Kenji handles melee combat, Kumori specializes in ranged attacks with kunai and short-distance teleportation. Her unique movement options let you explore alternate paths and solve traversal puzzles that would be impossible with Kenji alone. Ragebound smartly alternates between these two playstyles, and the addition of a demon world, unlocked via special altars, adds extra layers to both the story and platforming. These sequences are timed challenges that test your mastery of Kumori’s movement, and they’re some of the most mechanically engaging moments in the game. I just wish the rewards for completing these stages were a bit more rewarding.

Combat evolves further through the use of Ki, a resource harvested from enemies that can be spent to summon powerful Spider Weapons. These include options like Kama and Chakram, expanding your arsenal in creative ways. While the main campaign is only about five hours long, there’s a lot of incentive to replay levels to master your performance, earn higher ranks, and fully explore the interconnected mechanics of Kenji and Kumori. Visually, Ragebound nails its aesthetic. The pixel art is richly detailed and animated with flair. Enemy designs are vivid and grotesque, and environments are varied and packed with visual storytelling. From the burning remnants of Hayabusa Village to twisted demon realms, every stage looks great and feels distinct. The soundtrack deserves special mention, too, it’s energetic and stylish, matching the frantic pace of the action and helping to sell the atmosphere. The presentation feels like a true evolution of what the classic games might have looked and sounded like if they were made today.

If I had to nitpick, I’d say the game leans a little too hard on auto-scrolling levels. They’re not bad, but there are more of them than I would’ve liked. The boss fights, while entertaining, do start to blend together over time. There’s some enemy and boss recycling across the campaign, and I wouldn’t have minded more variety, especially near the end. Also, the overall runtime is pretty short. I finished the game in around five hours, and while it does have strong replay value, I was still left wanting more. The core gameplay is so strong that I’d have gladly played through double the content if it were available. Still, these are relatively small issues in the grand scheme of things. What matters most is how the game plays, and “Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound” plays exceptionally well. Whether I was breaking through auras with timed strikes, stringing together midair combos, or figuring out the fastest route through a demon realm segment, I was fully engaged. It’s one of those games that you don’t want to put down because every level dares you to be just a little sharper, a little faster, and a little better.

For fans of action-platformers or the Ninja Gaiden legacy, “Ragebound” is absolutely worth diving into. It’s a confident blend of classic roots and modern ideas, executed with clarity and polish. The Game Kitchen has managed to capture the essence of what made the old-school games great, while introducing enough new elements to give it a distinct identity of its own. It may not star Ryu this time, but it definitely carries his spirit.

9/10

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Nick Navarro

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Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87