NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound Reviews
An outstanding game that goes back to the series roots
Ragebound can be a hell of a ride, and on these terms it has been one of my favorite games of the year.
Few games manage to capture the spirit of classic arcade titles this successfully. It’s a game worthy of the Ninja Gaiden name, both in beauty and in challenge.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Ninja Gaiden Ragebound is easily one of the best 2D action games ever and possibly the best 2D title in the series to date. The gameplay constantly challenges the player's precision and provides all the necessary mechanics for seamless fighting and jumping if skilled enough. The Game Kitchen not only respected the 2D Ninja Gaiden format they elevated it to a new level.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
A fast, challenging, and rewarding Ninja Gaiden revival with precise combat, clever mechanics, memorable bosses, and strong replay value.
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.
Ninja Gaiden Ragebound isn't just a nostalgic nod to the NES classics, but it is a modern classic that took this genre to it's peak
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a pitch-perfect revival of the NES classics. It captures the same fun run-and-slash feel of the original games while modernizing enough to be exciting to play, whether you're a returning fan or a newcomer. The fantastic soundtrack and excellent graphics elevate it and make the entire package shine. The closest thing I can come to as a complaint is the somewhat low difficulty level, and that is more in comparison to the franchise as a whole rather than this game being too easy. If you're a fan of action-platformers or a Ninja Gaiden fan in general, you'll find a ton to love in Ragebound.
NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound is a perfect addition to the series. It looks and sounds amazing, and with accessibility options it feels more fair. It's great!
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a genuinely challenging action game with lovely visuals and rewarding fast-paced gameplay. It feels a bit rough in places, though, and often borders on being simply too chaotic for its own good. Assist options mean that anyone can see the journey through to its end, but better balancing or difficulty levels would have been preferred.
An exciting action platformer take on Ninja Gaiden that reminded me of the classic titles for the NES. Good difficulty and excellent accessibility options make it easy to reccommend.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a new classic in the series, appealing to retro lovers and new players alike thanks to its fast-paced and addictive gameplay.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound is a great modern interpretation of 2D ninja action and although it can range from tedious to frustrating at times, the core of the experience remains exciting, tight, and action-packed. 👺
Ragebound continues Ninja Gaiden’s successful year of revival by delivering a best-in-class experience that looks and sounds beautifully retro, feels modern in its controls and production value, yet is nonetheless faithful to the franchise with its firm but fair challenge level. The Game Kitchen clearly have a lot of respect for this IP, and I hope they are given the green light to make a modern trilogy of retro revival 2D platformers, whether via more new characters or perhaps finding a gap in the timeline for Ryu to be playable again. Now that the bar for 2D has been set, Ninja Gaiden 4 has a lot to live up to for the 3D era to be on the same level. Succeeding that, and this will easily be one of the highest quality franchise revival attempts we’ve seen in recent memory.
On the whole, I got a lot of joy from Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, and perhaps in different hands, more skilled hands, the opinion would be even more positive. Perhaps those who will play this, yearning for the days of TMNT in a grotty arcade will get a kick out of the quirks and eccentricities here. I have my complaints, but I’d still recommend this game to everyone I know who likes a challenge or appreciates the retro style.
NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound succeeds in bringing the series back to its 2D roots without feeling like a mere exercise in nostalgia. The Game Kitchen demonstrates a deep understanding of the source material, reinterpreting it with respect while also injecting its own stylistic and gameplay identity. The result is a fast-paced and demanding 2D action-platformer that embraces the franchise’s punishing nature while refining it through smart, modern mechanics. A few minor shortcomings do little to undermine an otherwise solid foundation. The game is capable of delivering moments of great satisfaction while balancing them with more punishing sections that remain faithful to the series’ original spirit. What we have here is a convincing return, one that speaks both to longtime fans and newcomers alike. Despite its modern presentation, Ninja Gaiden still embraces the very mechanics that made the franchise both beloved and dreaded by generations of players. To quote The Leopard: “If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a brilliant tribute to the series’ early entries, with superb pixel art, instant controls and a finely tuned mix of action, platforming and vehicle stages. It is short, but secrets, endings and New Game+ give it extra value.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a very difficult and perfectly balanced 2D pixel-art platformer. If you love action platformers and high difficulty is what you’re looking for, Ragebound is a great choice. If you’re mainly looking for a relaxing gaming experience, though, you’re better off staying away. You’ll spend plenty of time practicing and dying over and over again against every boss. It’s not for the impatient. It often wears me out, and I have to take breaks lasting several days. Ragebound is an intense game that offers a great sense of satisfaction when you defeat any boss.
Review in Czech | Read full review
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is an excellent title that combines the old with the new, creating gameplay of unparalleled fluidity, but not without flaws here and there.
Review in Italian | Read full review