NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound Reviews
A worthy successor to the classic NES trilogy.
For fans of Black, Sigma, or even the NES originals, this is the closest we’ve gotten to the true spirit of Ninja Gaiden in over a decade.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound brings the series back to its roots with incredible style. The core gameplay feels fantastic, with satisfying, fast-paced combat and platforming that'll put your skills to the test. With a wealth of challenges to meet and things to find, there's a real richness to each level that gives it plenty of replay value. The wonderful art style is the icing on the cake, and aside from one or two small nitpicks, fans should be very pleased with this throwback adventure.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a love letter to 2D action platform games, fusing arcade heritage with modern solutions and a kick-ass mise-en-scene. Short but dense, the game manages to impress with inspired design gimmicks, fiery direction and two protagonists perfectly integrated into the gameplay. The challenge is not brutal at first, but those who want to go further will find bread (and katanas) for their teeth. A return in style for a legendary saga - and a damn promising taster in anticipation of the real Ninja Gaiden.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The result is a near-perfect concoction that makes roleplaying a ninja not only something to be enjoyed in the moment, but also something not afraid to test these skills by offering up a decent challenge.
Ninja Garden: Ragebound is the perfect return to the franchise’s 2D roots. Each area, encounter, and boss fight is meticulously crafted to challenge players while letting them fully embrace the fantasy of being a ninja.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is great. I don't know how they got the controls so tight, but it's magic. Bonus points for tying up a story for a game I still loathe to this day. And more Kumori please.
The main story’s baseline difficulty is quite measured, but each stage offers optional challenges for you to complete—say, slay a certain number of spectral samurai, or avoid every pit of spikes along the way.
The excellent momentum of the initial episodes is unfortunately lost in a repetitiveness caused by a lack of variation, while the few missions available leave the title's longevity dependent on the individual player's desire to obtain the highest ratings in each mission.
Review in Italian | Read full review
It's a must-have game in the Xbox catalog, a gem that proves that past and present can come together to provide a fresh and unique experience. It's fast, lethal, and, without a doubt, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a firm and worthy step for a series that deserves it all .
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is an adrenaline-pumping action platformer with killer pixel art and fast-paced gameplay. Levels are challenging -- especially in hard mode -- and bosses are not to be underestimated. Stages feel dynamic and always have something new to offer, so I was hooked from start to finish.
At the start of Ninja Gaiden (1989), two men stood in a field under a full moon. This being a game on the Nintendo Entertainment System, with its bou...
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a near pitch-perfect interpretation of Ninja Gaiden's long-dormant 2D roots. The Game Kitchen has taken its pedigree in the space and crafted a blisteringly satisfying side-scrolling action game that feels at home in any console generation.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound features 18 main stages and eight secret ops, or challenge levels, with the game taking around 9-10 hours to complete.
Paying homage to the classics while simultaneously serving as a breath of fresh air, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound masterfully builds on the side-scrolling format of the older titles while adding its own twists.
Ninja Gaiden Ragebound is a fun, action-packed homage to the classic series that blends retro charm with a few modern twists. While it doesn’t reinvent the formula, it delivers a solid experience that longtime fans will appreciate and newcomers can still enjoy; punishing difficulty, with a bit of cheapness and all.
Furious combat and fiendish difficulty collide in this challenging yet satisfying revival.
NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound is more than a tribute, it's a modernized take built on a sharp understanding of the original. It retains the series' signature challenge and slick combat while introducing fresh elements like dual protagonists, offering a new experience for both veterans and newcomers.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is built on respect ' respect for the legacy of the series and respect in how it modernizes a nearly 40-year-old concept. While it might seem like just another pixel-art action platformer at first glance, this is a well-crafted game that delivers a great experience for both longtime fans and newcomers alike. There are minor design flaws, but the engaging and fun gameplay easily overshadows them.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound brings the 2D series into the modern age with respect. A diverse range of levels constantly introduces fresh ideas to stave off repetition, and the focus on satisfying momentum-based gameplay that rewards mastering of abilities is the perfect match for ninja hack and slash platforming. Speedrun goals, collectibles and unlockable harder stages mean this is a game that will keep being returned to long after the main quest is over.