NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound made headlines when it was announced during The Game Awards 2024. Developed by The Game Kitchen and published by Dotemu with Koei Tecmo’s license, this single-player 2D hack-and-slash side-scrolling action game looked incredible and poised to be a key highlight of the summer.
I played the Steam Next Fest demo in June shortly before attending Summer Game Fest, and walked away convinced that this could be the sleeper hit of the summer. After completing the campaign last week, I’m pleased to say that Ragebound has greatly exceeded my expectations and will make many fans of the franchise happy. Here are more details about the game, along with my thoughts on exactly why this is a must-play.
An Unstoppable Force
Ragebound follows the trials and tribulations of new protagonist Hayabusa Ninja Clan member Kenji Mozu. While Ryu Hayabusa heads to America to avenge the death of his father, his aspiring protege takes on the overwhelming task of stopping a massive invasion after the barrier is broken between the human and demon worlds.
As the threat continues to escalate, Kenji must form an unlikely bond, literally and figuratively, with rival Black Spider Clan Assassin Kumori. Together, the duo embarks on a life-altering quest that will push them to the limit with relentless enemies and challenging obstacles around every corner.
From a narrative standpoint, Ragebound is spectacular from start to finish. Fans can expect an action-packed 6-8 hour campaign, complete with a prologue, four gripping acts, and an engaging epilogue. I love the fact that you get to spend time playing as Kenji and then Kumori before bringing them together to create the ultimate unstoppable force. The story is filled with twists and turns and includes alternate endings based on a key decision made late in the game. I completed my first playthrough on standard difficulty in approximately 9 hours and 30 minutes. I also unlocked 18 out of 36 Steam achievements and fully intend to replay certain levels to unlock the remaining achievements.
Diving into gameplay and controls, Ragebound is superb and easy for anyone to pick up and play. Kenji’s preferred choice of weapon is a sword, while Kumori is a Kunai throwing master. Using an Xbox controller on PC, you press the X button to attack and the A button to jump. Pressing up on the directional pad lets you grab hold of ledges while pressing down, and the A button allows you to drop down from ledges. When you jump towards certain walls, you can also climb them. Kenji and Kumori have a shared Guillotine Boost attack that you can perform by pressing LB or the A button while in mid-air. This is an important maneuver as it can be used in combat and while traversing throughout each stage.
Pressing RB allows you to dodge attacks and lunge when pressing X at the same time. The final two shared techniques that the duo has are Hypercharge and Ragebound Art. Hypercharge is activated once you see an enemy or obstacle illuminated with an aura and destroy it. After doing so, you are filled with an aura, and your next attack on an enemy kills them instantly. The Ragebound Art is achieved after building up your gauge and performing a devastating attack that can damage various enemies or bosses.
Speaking of enemies, you can expect to face a wide array of enemy types, ranging from demons to humans and so much more. These encounters are fun on their own and serve as the perfect practice for the epic boss battles that await you. I mentioned earlier that it took me over 9 hours to beat this game. This was specifically because of the late-game boss battles. Not only were these fights exhilarating, but they really will challenge you, which is exactly what you should expect from a NINJA GAIDEN game. The challenge isn’t anywhere crazy like a Dark Souls or Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, but it is the most memorable fun moments you’ll have in this game.
Each level you complete has a set of optional challenges that you can complete. One example of these challenges is to complete a level where you’re on a moving object without falling to your death. Your mission completion time, number of kills, max combo amount, number of successful challenges completed, and collectibles found determine the rank score you can receive at the end. The rank score ranges from D on the low end to S at the top level. In addition to this, as you progress through the game, you’ll be able to shop for new attacks and abilities that can be purchased with your collectibles. Both of these options add a layer of replayability to the overall experience, especially for players who are determined to get an S rank level on every stage.
Regarding graphics and performance, Ragebound looks amazing and runs at a solid 60 FPS on my PC. The beautiful character and level designs are fantastic and reminiscent of the older 2D games. This art style, coupled with an awesome soundtrack, perfectly sets the tone for this world. It performs well on the Steam Deck now, despite it not yet being Verified. It’s not only a great game to play while on the go, but it’s also a damn good way to spend a weekend if you have some free time.
Final Verdict
NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound is a non-stop adrenaline rush and undoubtedly the best 2D action side-scroller game I have played this year. The Game Kitchen goes above and beyond to deliver an exhilarating experience that brilliantly honors the legacy of Koei Tecmo’s franchise and excites me about future games in the series. If you’re a NINJA GAIDEN fan or love action games, this should rightfully be your next purchase. At only $24.99 digitally or $39.99 physically, it’s well worth the price of admission.
This review was written based on a digital review copy of NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound for the PC provided by The Game Kitchen and Dotemu.
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