The legend has returned with a title that combines the past with the present, in an experience not suitable for heart patients.
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It’s a year of celebration for fans of one of the most beloved franchises in the industry, one that has been delivering thrilling experiences since the 80s and still manages to surprise us with each new installment.
I’m referring to Ninja Gaiden, especially the titles that originated the legacy left by Koei Tecmo. Now, the evolution of this series has fallen into new hands, with a golden opportunity for a studio whose reputation precedes it.
The Game Kitchen, the creators of Blasphemous, are leading this new foray with Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, bringing their personal touch to offer us their vision of what will be a title that recovers the bases of the saga without missing any details.
The year of the ninja continues with this game that recovers the 2D style of the Ninja Gaiden saga - ¡Comparte!
Technical Section
It’s evident that the game seeks to bring back the legacy that saw its birth. By this, I mean we’re dealing with a work that bets on an old-school style, where 2D, sprites, and pixel-art stand out, capable of captivating you at first sight.
In short, it’s a great success to see that Ninja Gaiden has returned with Ragebound, preserving a retro essence but with enough modernity to balance the classic with the current, taking full advantage of the talent of its developers.
As we mentioned at the beginning, The Game Kitchen is in charge of the project, and it shows in every corner. The details, animations, enemies, and each setting are surprising; they are true masters in what they do, and that reflects in the game.
At first, I had my doubts, thinking I had already seen this in Blasphemous due to its similar visual and aesthetic aspect. However, that feeling dissipated quickly as I began the adventure and took control. The game differentiates itself from everything the studio has done before.
The artisanal touch in its artistic section is what allows us to appreciate its virtues. As in the original, animated scenes are very present, with a careful aesthetic and visuals that capture. The game doesn’t decay at any moment, and that’s perceived from start to finish.
Regarding the soundtrack, it’s simply great. It fits and adapts to each level, with rhythms that unleash action in seconds. It’s very well worked and manages to transmit all the intensity of combat.
Additionally, it includes Spanish localization that accompanies each dialogue, and believe me, there’s a lot of text in each scene, but it’s made enjoyable. With all this, I can tell you that the title is solid in this aspect and shines in every situation.
A title that possesses a mix of 2D, pixel-art, action, ninjas, and its own identity. - ¡Comparte!
Gameplay
A name that had gone over 30 years without appearing in its 2D version and left us wanting to continue its story since the 90s. I’m referring to Ninja Gaiden, a work with enough charisma to become an iconic game in the industry, and it succeeded.
For this reason, Koei Tecmo has chosen The Game Kitchen as responsible for returning the glory to this beloved IP with Ragebound. This return is situated in the same timeline as the original Ninja Gaiden on NES.
That is, parallel to the events of the Ninja Gaiden of 1988, Ryu Hayabusa embarks on his personal mission, leaving his village under the protection of his pupil Kenji Mozu, who will be our protagonist in this story.
From the introduction, it’s made clear that Kenji is a skilled swordsman, perhaps not at Ryu’s level, although he has all the potential to be. Thus, he embarks on the mission to fulfill his promise and protect his people.
We’ll begin our journey. We’ll have our valuable sword, capable of eliminating common enemies with a single blow. We can jump, climb walls, and even hang from ceilings and other surfaces.
Kenji’s agility is palpable at the controls, with smooth handling that demands almost millimetric precision in movements. Any error can cost us a fall into the void or enemy damage. In short, the character’s versatility must be accompanied by our skill to get the most out of his repertoire.
Although the above may seem like all the game offers, soon a new character is incorporated that improves the experience: Kumori, a ninja from the spider clan who, due to life circumstances, forms an alliance with Kenji, merging both styles into one character.
Kenji and Kumori are the soul of the game. Their combination is the highest point that the title offers us: while we attack with the katana, we can also throw daggers and use other additional elements. Additionally, between both, they perform a devastating special attack.
The game is pure adrenaline: the old school with new ideas. The result is incredible. The tension and the temper we must maintain to survive convert each combat into a mortal dance, pushing us to improve in each level.
Added to the gameplay is the possibility of equipping and activating talismans, which grant us improvements, some passive and others active. Although many are advantages, others complicate the game, increasing the challenge to enormous levels.
The basic enemies are simple to defeat, but in groups, they become a true challenge. It’s convenient to eliminate them as we advance to not accumulate dangers. We’ll also find classic obstacles, such as precise jumps and spikes (they couldn’t be missing).
The icing on the cake is put by the final bosses: enormous, imposing, and with a spectacular challenge. You’ll die more than once; it will be necessary to learn their patterns and move like a true ninja to emerge victorious. Achieving it is extremely gratifying.
We’re dealing with a complete game. Not only does it include the levels of the main story, but it also offers secondary missions that demand even more from us. The difficulty starts smooth, but it increases progressively until it becomes a true barbarity (in the good sense).
The difficulty is very present at all times, although you can activate the assisted mode, which adjusts certain parameters to facilitate the experience for beginners. But if you prefer to suffer like me, I recommend not changing anything and living the experience as it’s intended.
To conclude, I’m very satisfied with this return. Not only does it bring fresh air, but it also reflects a great effort to give it a place within the original story, expanding the lore and offering something familiar and, at the same time, different. It doesn’t feel forced; it’s demanding, gratifying, and the feeling of satisfaction is always present.
A precise, direct, and demanding gameplay, a true Ninja Gaiden. - ¡Comparte!
Duration
I recall that the first Ninja Gaiden games in 2D weren’t exactly long. They were based on a system of time and challenges that put our lives upside down, which prolonged the experience and made us invest hours trying to overcome each act that was presented to us.
In Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, it’s not different in terms of difficulty, although the time factor no longer pressures us. On the contrary, we can explore each scenario with some freedom, although with certain limitations. There are collectibles everywhere, so we’ll have to be attentive if we want to get all the game’s content.
We’re dealing with a generous title: to complete the main campaign, we can invest between 8 and 10 hours, maybe less for more expert players. And don’t worry, there are collectibles, secondary missions, and a lot of replayability, so you’ll be entertained for a long time. That, without a doubt, is already a great advantage.
A game that offers a lot to the player and its replayability is one of the best - ¡Comparte!
Conclusion
I firmly believe that choosing The Game Kitchen for the return of Ninja Gaiden with Ragebound has been a complete success. The quality overflows from wherever you look, and the best part is that the lore not only is respected but also notably expanded, offering us what we expected from this franchise.
Story, action, enemies, bosses… this return has it all and shines with its own light. It manages to complement and find its place parallel to the original story, maintaining its identity and standing out thanks to a pair of characters that, although they’re not Ryu Hayabusa, possess the charisma necessary to take the title down the right path.
It’s an essential game in the Xbox catalog, a jewel that demonstrates that past and present can converge to offer us a fresh and unique experience. It’s fast, lethal, and, without a doubt, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a firm and worthy step for a saga that deserves everything.
Thanks to Dotemu for providing us with the code to carry out this analysis.
Video game, Xbox, PC and Nintendo Switch enthusiast. Frank is one of the most active video game news writers on the web. He covers absolutely every topic. In terms of games reviewed, as of 2024 he has already passed the 60 mark and his average score, according to Open Critic is 80.
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