NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound Reviews
Dotemu and The Game Kitchen deliver a solid homage to the roots of classic action-platformers with Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound - sharp as ever in gameplay, nostalgic to the core, but lacking the surprise and staying power to truly stand out in this triumphant year of the ninja.
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Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound offers some of the best 2D combat and movement I've ever experienced in an action platformer. Almost every level is designed to maximize your abilities in combat and platforming, and test your reflexes in all the best ways. There are perhaps a few too many auto-scroll levels for my liking, and I wish the bosses were a little more varied; however, these are minor issues in an overall fantastic package. Ninja Gaiden is back.
There is a lot of heart, here, and I have to reward not only the effort and passion, but the totality of the amazing experience. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound takes a slight step away from the original trilogy, but it’s a stealthy ninja step in the perfect direction.
With a brisk seven- to eight-hour runtime, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound doesn’t overstay its welcome. If anything, I wish it were longer. Some longtime fans may find the more balanced difficulty a bit tame, but for most, this will feel like the Goldilocks zone between old-school punishment and modern approachability. Whether you’re here for the tight mechanics, the sharp pixel art, or the emotional pull of a cursed ninja buddy-cop duo, Ragebound delivers. It’s the most I’ve enjoyed a Ninja Gaiden game in years, and serves as a reminder of why this series still matters.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is one the best 2D action game throwbacks that's long overdue, given the last Ninja Gaiden game was back in 2014, a 3D action title, and utter dogs***. It's beautiful, plays great and has spot-on controls, it's accommodating yet challenging, has a Hard mode that will test your mettle; there's a lot to love for old-school ninja fans out there. In short, the whole 2D pixel-savvy action-heavy package that utterly delights. Even with some odd bugs here and there, Sega's ninja efforts may have their work cut out for them thanks to this pseudo-indie effort.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is an incredibly engaging game, offering excellent gameplay elements. It sports great references that series fans will appreciate, and an overall phenomenal experience, making it one of the best games of its genre.
The Game Kitchen really cooked here, because this looks and feels like a classic Ninja Gaiden game, but with way more going on. The sublime controls and gorgeous pixel art will cement the notion that “Ninja Gaiden is back!” While I don’t love the levels themselves, the game’s combat is a vehicle that takes you from place to place that you won’t be bothered by it. NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound takes the series back to its roots, even rivaling its modern 3D counterparts with ease.