Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound review (PS5)

For decades, Ninja Gaiden has been shorthand for fast, punishing action, whether in its side-scrolling 8-bit heyday or its slick, acrobatic 3D reboots that count among the best early Xbox games. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound doesn’t just pick a side – it tries to fuse them. Developed by Blasphemous creators The Game Kitchen and published by Dotemu, this new chapter tells a fresh story while channelling both the brutal precision of the originals and the layered combat systems of the modern games.

The plot is straightforward but effective: with Ryu Hayabusa away in America, a demonic invasion threatens his home village. Stepping into the protagonist role is Kenji Mozu, a younger ninja determined to defend the clan. It’s a simple setup, but one that works well enough to carry the action, especially with brief cutscenes that add just enough dramatic weight without bogging things down. Still, Kenji’s journey lacks the richer character beats that might have made this feel like more than an interlude in the larger saga.

Gameplay is where Ragebound shines, and it shines brightly. Levels unfold as tightly designed side-scrolling gauntlets, each demanding careful study of enemy patterns, deliberate platforming, and quick reflexes. Combat feels crisp and immediate, with responsive controls that make every slash and dodge feel intentional. A layered upgrade system adds modern depth, letting you unlock new moves and refine your style, but the core is still easy to learn yet hard to master. It’s a difficulty curve that rewards patience, though some encounters – particularly mid-level minibosses – can feel like skill checks that punish even minor mistakes.

Boss battles are a highlight, each one a set-piece blending memorisation and improvisation. They’re spectacular in execution, though the punishing checkpoint placement can turn a few into frustration loops for less hardened players. The game isn’t trying to hide its roots in this sense – it wants you to sweat, maybe even swear, but eventually overcome and triumph.

Visually, Ragebound is gorgeous. The pixel art style is a loving homage to the 16-bit era, but pushed far beyond what the hardware of the time could do. Backgrounds teem with detail, enemies are sharply animated, and special attacks erupt with flashes of colour that fill the screen without obscuring the action. The soundtrack matches that dedication, weaving in modern arrangements of familiar Ninja Gaiden themes alongside new tracks that capture the same sense of urgency and danger. Sound effects are sharp and satisfying, though some players might wish for more voice work to give the story moments extra punch.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound isn’t a reinvention, and it doesn’t want or need to be. Instead, it’s a confident, demanding homage that understands what made this series tick in both 2D and 3D eras, stitching them together with modern finesse. It won’t win over anyone put off by the series’ difficulty, but for veterans – and for newcomers willing to train under its unforgiving tutelage – it’s a razor-sharp return to form and an easy recommendation.

Score: 9.0/10