Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound Review – A Masterpiece of 2D-Action Design

One of my most highly anticipated games this year quickly became The Game Kitchen-developed Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, a 2D action-adventure with an apparent high level of difficulty that felt natural for the Blasphemous team to tackle. My excitement then grew tenfold with the arrival of the free Steam demo that put the title’s pristine induced flow-state on full blast. Now, having experienced this lofty new throwback in full, Ragebound has become my current game of the year, and I’m thrilled to see it hopefully make waves.

Story: An Unlikely Ninja Alliance

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound follows the new character Kenji Mozu, a young ninja residing in the Hayabusa Village, and the assassin Kumori from the seemingly antagonistic Black Spider Clan. The two form an unlikely and unwilling alliance after they are overpowered by invading demonic forces. In the meantime, the familiar Ryu Hayabusa, who has been training Kenji, heads back to America due to familial strife. However, this is Kenji’s and Kumori’s story, featuring the two steadily growing closer and taking on a common assortment of foes.

The narrative, while not the core central focus of Ragebound, is more present than you would likely expect if you have a history with the series. Kenji and Kumori’s bond takes center stage, and the matters of the veiled motives at the antagonists’ helm are moderately intricate. Put bluntly, it’s not an intensely emotional ride, but there’s far more genuine cohesion in between stages than I anticipated, resulting in a complete plot that doesn’t come across as dryly obligatory.

Kenji and Kumori’s bond is also a highlight, though the gradual endearment they feel toward each other is a tad rushed. More cutscenes depicting the two characters conversing would probably have alleviated this mild shortcoming; however, it still felt natural within the broader context. Plus, the ending scenario is quite memorable, effectively cementing the two’s relationship.

Gameplay: Precision Platforming and Addictive Combat

Still, the story is not the primary appeal here. Prospective players will, of course, be in for the 2D action-platforming, of which Ragebound absolutely excels at in just about every way you can conceive. The natural gameplay loop here has you traverse hazard and enemy-filled stages with Kenji as the usual leading man, with a stage select screen following afterward that also contains a shop menu. This vendor has various purchasable equippable upgrades for both characters. The currency needed for these enhancements isn’t money, though. Instead, special collectibles hidden throughout most stages are used for this very purpose, providing excellent motivation for replaying levels to discover secrets.

Said upgrades include alterations to Kenji and Kumori’s toolkit of attack types, as well as challenge amulets that enforce restrictions with the benefit of score multipliers for higher stage rankings. There’s no shortage of these trinkets to equip that bolster replayability even further, while also embracing an intricate sense of player trust and freedom in how one chooses to approach levels. Making matters more addictive is how, despite the game’s brief, roughly ten-hour length, the levels are a masterclass in 2D action design.

Each stage is filled to the brim with meticulous foe placement that expertly ingrains gradual proficiency into the player. Enemy design is all distinctive, benefiting from the use of different maneuvers, striking a fine line that encourages depth without ever straying into needlessly contrived territory that feels obtuse for the sake of artificial difficulty. Impressively, the pacing of the challenge is also pristine, hitting a balance where the early stages are demanding yet approachable, while the endgame is brutal. A few vehicle sections add variety as well.

Challenges and Replayability

Further, for those seeking to experience just how far this game’s difficulty can push you, there are multiple avenues to do so. Firstly, you have the aforementioned stage rankings, which are decided by several criteria, including the accomplishment of level-specific missions. To be entirely candid, no mission felt gratuitous to impose a longer playtime; I’m still highly impressed upon reflection. As for the tasks themselves, they range in type significantly, such as simply not dying, or defeating enemies in specified ways several times. Of course, these stages are crafted in ways to make these missions reasonable, too.

Another avenue of challenge is rooted in Secret Ops, ultra-difficult levels that are unlocked by finding hidden scrolls throughout the normal stages. These levels are arguably where the game is at its peak in terms of general navigation. Speaking of, it’s worth delving into the intricacies of movement. Kenji is capable of deftly using a blade for short-ranged strikes, ground-dodging that can be chained into a high jump, and performing an aerial parry of sorts, dubbed the Guillotine Boost. The lattermost technique is one of the most crucial as it can be used to essentially platform across enemies to traverse gaps and the like. It’s an immensely cathartic practice to pull off, especially in more rigorous locations.

Then, Kumori, who inhabits Kenji’s body for plot reasons, can throw kunai and her Spider Weapon, typically to create distance in crowded contexts. Her most significant contributions, though, come in the form of sections where she is fully playable for a limited duration. She’s often tasked with hitting a switch, opening a path, or even just finding collectibles. These scenarios, while not wholly differing from Kenji’s playstyle, offer variety since they’re timed nature makes matters welcomingly stressful. Plus, in the Secret Ops levels, these portions can be incredibly strenuous.

Boss Battles and Presentation

And speaking of the boss battles, Ragebound is undeniably stellar in every single bout. Each boss fight boasts well-honed telegraphs, sophisticated arena design, and a fervent degree of difficulty that is pure Ninja Gaiden. Fans of the franchise will have a delightful time against these potent adversaries. Then there’s the unlockable Hard mode once you clear the game for the first time, granting even more incentive to experience this game all over again in its strictest form.

Before concluding, I have to mention Ragebound’s outstanding presentation and soundtrack. The former brilliantly echoes classic 2D pixel titles, bolstered by excellent audio impact upon every hit received and given. At the same time, the songs here had me speechless at points, potentially being my favorite in the series as a whole. The sheer, intensely infectious energy that so many of these songs effuse is unbelievable.

Final Verdict: A Must-Play for Platforming Fans

2D action platformers are a dime a dozen in these contemporary times, but I’m willing to claim that Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound stands at the peak with the beloved greats. Every facet of gameplay, from splendid level craftsmanship to terrific boss fights, is enhanced by slick, intuitive, and multifaceted controls.

When considering the optional collectibles, Hard mode, and a genuinely endearing duo of lead characters, it’s indisputable that this latest outing displays how much love the developer The Game Kitchen has for this series. Prospective players may have concerns over the ten-hour-ish playtime, but the phenomenal polish and replayability-focused design make that worry moot.

All in all, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a masterclass and must-play for platforming enthusiasts worldwide, regardless of your familiarity with this storied IP.