NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound Reviews
NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound is the perfect example of nostalgia done right, with a great score, challenging gameplay, and superb visuals. While the story and repetitive elements do feel noticeable in its nine-hour runtime, The Game Kitchen successfully brings Ninja Gaiden back to the spotlight in all its gory glory.
Anyone who is a fan of the series, especially the first games, or enjoys a simple, non-stop action game will not regret playing NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound brings the series back to its 2D roots with tight controls, sharp level design, and satisfying challenge. The dual-character system, Guillotine Boost, and Hypercharge mechanics add variety without overcomplicating things. Combat and platforming feel smooth and skill-based, with modern touches that respect the NES originals. The campaign is short but focused, and extra modes offer reasons to replay. If you grew up on the classics, this one hits the right notes without feeling stuck in the past.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a triumphant return to 2D for Ninja Gaiden. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait decades to see the series follow up on it. I genuinely loved every single level. The team at The Game Kitchen does a fantastic job of continuing to build upon established mechanics while also finding new ways to twist them and entirely new twists to throw at players through the game’s four acts. Any fan of action games needs to check this one out.
Sometimes, the best scenario lines up for the best possible outcome. I already had some reasonable expectations going in with this game because of what it is and who’s behind it. But it’s always a satisfying thing to see when your expectations are met in the way you expect. I do have my nitpicks, but this isn’t a game I would look over in favor of others. The Game Kitchen shows once again that they’re a very skilled studio, and their efforts in handling a franchise like this is a testament to their own skillset.
NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound is, without a doubt, a fantastic game that modernizes the original formula without losing the soul of what the original games were. Dotemu is quickly becoming the go-to publisher for this kind of retro-modern fusion. If you are a veteran of the NES games, or you’re coming into this one fresh, you’ll be well served by what the game brings to the table.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is an exciting and satisfying side-scroller that never gets dull, and offers amazing combat set in a gorgeous world.
NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound is a solid revival of the series in a 2D style, featuring fast-paced combat, well-placed platforming challenges, and high-level pixel art visuals. The dynamic between Kenji and Kumori adds variety to the gameplay with both close-range and ranged attacks, strategic use of Overload, and alternate stages in the demon realm. Despite some repetitive moments and sections where mechanics feel forced, the game maintains a steady pace and offers pleasant surprises throughout the campaign. With customization options, extra challenges, and a good balance between action and exploration, Ragebound provides a memorable and accessible experience that respects and revitalizes the franchise's legacy.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is my action game of the year. It’s an incredibly polished and tightly designed 2D game with the right amount of challenge, combat depth, and enemy variety. Kenji and Kumori are a fun duo to follow, and The Game Kitchen has done a fantastic job honoring the original trilogy while introducing plenty of new ideas. It’s a gorgeous game to look at, with some of the best animation work on the market. With plenty of replay value, it’ll be a while before you put Ragebound down.
The team behind Blasphemous has done it again! Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound offers plenty of ninja fun for players of all skill levels to enjoy.
With six to eight hours of gameplay at a price tag of $25, I cannot recommend Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. It lacks anything of interest other than this side story to the original Ninja Gaiden game, and even then, it's just introducing different ninjas that are fighting monsters. This game was supposed to be a love letter to the original trilogy, but instead, it's more like a bad photocopy of a love letter made by someone who didn't seem to care that much.
Instead of focusing on feeling like retro Ninja Gaiden, Ragebound focuses on a more modernized gameplay approach. A gameplay that’s reminiscent of the Blasphemous series for obvious reasons, but with a massive increase in speed and momentum. However, more important than feeling like Ninja Gaiden, Ragebound perfectly captures the spirit of Ninja Gaiden, which results in the best of both worlds. Often times when there is a mashup in the gaming sector, the outcome can be less than predictable. Thankfully, Ninja Gaiden Ragebound is exactly what you would expect if you gave the iconic Ninja Gaiden IP to The Game Kitchen, who have put themselves on the map with their incredible work on the Blasphemous series. Ninja Gaiden Ragebound has all the necessities that anyone could ask for. Gorgeous pixel art, extremely precise gameplay, a soundtrack and story that are highly evocative of the 90’s, and disturbingly fantastic, rage inducing bosses. Fans of Ninja Gaiden, 2D platformers, or Blasphemous all need to check out Ragebound and the bar has now been set high for Shinobi Art of Vengeance
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a gorgeous side-scroller that's hard to put down.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound brings back the classic Ninja Gaiden gameplay in a modern way that I fell in love with. The gorgeous world and animations mix with the precise platforming and one-hit combat that I couldn't get enough of. Even with a short runtime, each level and boss fight felt distinct and enjoyable. Some of the dodging and climbing got in the way of my fights, and I didn't utilize upgrades much, but it was a ton of fun where quality over quantity goes a long way. On top of that, it's a gem to play on the Steam Deck. Just switching to 60 FPS fixes the minor issues I found at 90, and lowers the battery drain considerably. This is a perfect game to take on the go.
NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound revisits the franchise classic formula without relying on nostalgia, instead embracing highly enjoyable gameplay mechanics and compelling characters to carve out its own identity within the Hayabusa clan saga.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Ninja Gaiden Ragebound is a return to the series' roots and the result is a fast paced action platformer with gorgeous pixel art and incredible boss fights that really test your skills while never feeling unfair.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a great fresh start for the franchise. The game recaptures what made its predecessors special, but brings unique things to the table and stands on its own. I ended up fully satisfied with the game and with a taste for more.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is the best 2D platformer of the year and one of the greatest Ninja Gaiden titles out there. While it isn't the longest, it is highly replayable and packed with depth.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a fantastic return to 2D action for the franchise. It delivers a challenging action-platformer with tight mechanics, excellent level design, eye-catching visuals, and a wild story worthy of the Ninja Gaiden name.
NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound looks great, and is a lot of fun. A few balance issues and a short run-time vs. its $40 price hold it back from greatness.