BrutalGamer Bringing you Brutally Honest feedback from today's entertainment industry.
The latest adventure in an iconic side-scrolling series is here, as Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound arrives from Dotemu and The Game Kitchen.
Slice and dice
Another classic of a series, Ninja Gaiden first appeared in the arcades, before getting an almost wholly original adaptation for the NES back in 1989. Brutally hard, that action platformer was hailed by both critics and fans, and arguably became the most memorable version of the title for a good number of fans. It even delivered a pair of sequels on the console. Fast-forward a few decades though, and Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is looking to add to that original legacy.
While the series had moved onto 3D action, Ragebound takes the series more or less back to its roots. A side-scrolling, platforming action title, this new game hails from Dotemu and developer The Game Kitchen, and takes place concurrently with the original NES game. Along with the different narrative too, it stars a pair of new heroes.
Those would be Kenji, from original hero Ryu’s own clan, and an Kumori. The latter is a female warrior from the Black Spider clan, long time foes to Kenji’s Hayabusa clan. They’ll have to put aside their grudges though, if they want to survive agains the hordes of enemies that are out for both of their blood.
NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound continues the saga of the original NES NINJA GAIDEN. The veil between the human and demon realms has broken, leaving the world linked with a gate to darkness. Since Ryu Hayabusa leaves the Hayabusa Village to avenge his father, Kenji Mozu, a fledgling Hayabusa Clan Ninja central to NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound must rise to slay the forces of evil.
Dotemu press release
The Game Kitchen is looking to bring fans back to the Ninja Gaiden glory days with this new entry, with “fast-paced combat paired with the skill-demanding platforming”. So don’t expect this journey to be a cakewalk. According to the press release, players will be able to both unlock and upgrade their abilities across the campaign, as well as uncover “hidden collectibles, secret missions, and optional challenges that test your ninja prowess”.
And while the game certainly looks the part of a modern day continuation for the series Sergio de Prado heads up a soundtrack that should be on point as well. Longtime fans can look for that to include work from guest composers Keiji Yamagishi, Ryuichi Niita, and Kaori Nakabai. Recognize those names? Yep, they all contributed to the music in the original NES trilogy.
If you’re ready for some ninja action, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is out right now for the PC (via Steam), Switch, PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X|S. A digital release, the title is priced in at $24.99 USD, and has a 10% discount sale price through August 7th.
